Selecting the right tissue paper.
The more photo encaustic images I create — and see from others — the more convinced I am of how truly unique tissue paper makes this process.
There’s something almost magical about it.
But let’s be honest — it can also be so confusing!
When I first experimented with tissue paper, it was just in passing. Over the years (and through plenty of trial and error), I’ve learned how to make it work beautifully — even for large-scale pieces like my 48×48-inch zebra, tiled together from nine individual tissue paper prints.
Today, I teach an entire online course dedicated to working with tissue paper in photo encaustic art — covering everything from choosing the right paper to preparing images, printing, and embedding them into wax.
One of the most common questions I hear — especially on Facebook and social media — is: What kind of tissue paper should I use for photo encaustic art?
If you’re just starting out, don’t overthink it. Head to your local art or hobby store and grab some tissue paper to experiment with. Just be mindful of any shiny coating — that can prevent proper fusing and cause delamination over time.
For practice pieces, don’t worry too much about archival quality. But once you begin creating serious, lasting work, it’s important to honor your art by using archival materials.
What is Archival Tissue Paper?
Archival tissue paper is acid-free and has a neutral pH (7.0 or higher). It’s often made from cotton fibers or purified wood pulp. This helps ensure your artwork won’t yellow, deteriorate, or react with wax over time.
You may see terms like acid-free and archival used interchangeably — but they’re not always the same. “Acid-free” simply means no free acid at the time of manufacture; it doesn’t guarantee long-term stability.
Beeswax helps protect against moisture and air, but it won’t block UV deterioration, so non-archival tissue papers can still yellow over time.
Buffered vs. Unbuffered Tissue Paper
Buffered paper includes calcium carbonate, which neutralizes acids and helps prevent environmental damage. While wax encasement already provides protection, I still prefer buffered archival tissue paper whenever possible — it adds another layer of confidence and care.
Understanding how your materials interact with wax is essential — not just for longevity, but for maintaining the integrity of the photo encaustic process.
If you’re ready to go deeper and truly master this technique, I invite you to join my online course: Embracing Tissue Paper Course.
I purchase my paper from Archival Methods and you can find a link to them here>>
Let me hear from you and your experiences with using tissue paper prints. I’d love for you to join the conversation.
Be well….be creative,
I am interested to find the best tissue paper which i should use for burning images on my candles.
There should be no trace of the tissue. Only the words and image should be seen on the wax candle.
The normal tissue paper which i buy at any store comes loose from the candle after a while. I take pride in all that i do.
Your response is greatly appreciated.
I’m not an expert on adhering tissue paper to candles, but tissue paper should mostly ‘disappear’ to the eye when wax is melted into the tissue. I’m not sure how this works with your candles and making sure the tissue is embedded properly.