Paper Clip Art

Paper is a fundamental part of documentation and communication in society. The earliest paper-like material was papyrus, made from reeds in Ancient Egypt as far back as 3000 BCE. Paper as we know it traces its origins to 2nd century CE China. Paper at this time was made from fibers like hemp, rice straw, and bamboo. The process involved pulping the raw material by steeping it in water, then pounding it into a paste on a screen or mold to drain. This basic process is still followed today in paper production.

Papermaking spread to Korea and Japan over the next several centuries, then slowly to Europe. Early European paper was made from linen and cotton rags, as well as other fibrous plants. Paper production grew with the invention of the wooden printing press and rise in literacy. By the 1800s, industrialization helped paper mills grow in capacity and efficiency. Innovations like the paper machine increased output. Today more than 400 billion pounds of paper are produced globally each year.

Paper Production

Modern paper is primarily made from wood pulp from logs or recycled materials like newsprint. The paper all starts as a diluted pulp mixed with 99% water. This pulp goes through cleaning and screening processes to remove impurities. It is then sent through a headbox onto a wire mesh conveyor belt. As the fiber travels down the belt, water starts to drain to create a wet paper sheet. The sheet goes through mechanical presses to remove more water and begin the bonding of fibers. The pressed paper then travels through a series of heated drums to completely dry the paper. Calendaring rollers make the paper smooth. The final paper is wound into rolls, slit, cut into various sizes, and packaged.

Paper Types

There are thousands of varieties of paper available. Major grades include printing/writing paper like office paper, book paper, newsprint, tissues, paperboard for packaging, construction paper, and more. Paper is categorized by weight (grams per square meter), texture/finish of the surface, size of the sheet, moisture content, and other qualities that affect its intended purpose. For example, drawing paper is made with higher quality pulps and less acids for better longevity of artwork. Printmaking paper must be durable to pass through the printing press without fraying. Laboratory filter paper has very precise porosity. Paper can also be coated, laminated and treated to change its properties.

Paper Art

Beyond its purely functional uses, paper is also a creatively versatile medium. Paper art takes many spectacular forms. Origami transforms paper sheets into sculptures by folding without cutting or gluing. Quilling uses thin strips to create delicate filigree. Silhouettes and other paper cutting arts make images by incising and chiseling paper. Papier-mâché uses pulp, glue and other materials to form complex 3D objects. Modern paper artists also make furniture, clothing, and large environmental installations from paper. Some sculptural paper art pushes the boundaries of physics through geometry and engineering. Paper remains one of the most adaptable, innovative, and inspiring creative materials.

Paper Clip Art

Clip art refers to ready-to-use images that can be inserted electronically into designs, documents, websites and more. Paper clip art comprises graphics and illustrations depicting paper in various contexts. This includes different paper types, stationery supplies, paper products, paper actions and manipulations. Early paper clip art was made available with office suite software bundles and coloring computer programs in the 1990s as desktop publishing gained popularity. Paper clip art evolved to widespread use in web graphics, animations, user interface elements, logos, and branding. Today, paper clip art is available through stock image subscriptions and free basic libraries.

Paper Clip Images

Some typical subjects of paper clip art include loose leaf paper, notebooks, envelopes, origami paper shapes, paper airplanes, paper stacks and reams, paper balls and crumples, paper cuts and textures, paper shopping bags, cardboard boxes, egg cartons, sticky notes, wallpaper illustrations, paper filing and organization themes like file folders and cabinet images. Images may depict flat single sheets to imply paper, curved sheets to suggest paper’s flexibility, torn ragged edges to represent impermanence. Paper can symbolize bureaucracy, documentation, communication, creativity, and fragility. Related office supply clip art shows pens, pencils, paper clips, staplers, etc. Seasonal paper decoration clip art is also popular.

Using Paper Clip Art

Paper clip art can be used as decorative or narrative elements in designs. Images help convey stories and ideas associated with paper visually. Designers often layer paper textures and subtle paper-linked motifs through details like spiral notebook borders or postal stamp accents. Paper clip art injects visual interest through backgrounds, frames, dividers, and vignettes while retaining a clean minimalist structure. Website designers use paper clip art for visual cues about documentation, communication, creativity and wisdom. Educators employ paper graphics in learning materials and online lessons. Paper textures and colors make dynamic, warm, elegant palettes.

Paper Clip Art Styles

Paper clip art draws from various aesthetic influences. Vintage paper motifs hark back to classic school and office designs mimicking ink, pencil, chalk, wax seals, personalized stationery and postage. Mid-century modern paper graphics have sleek retro lines inspired by plastic, science and gears. Contemporary paper clip art uses bold solid colors, elegant gradients, stylized shapes and simple icons. Line art presents single continuous strokes. Etched illustrations have shading texture. Paper sculpture renders 3D forms and origami. Abstract patterns show swirls, dots, shapes and colors. Minimalist paper clip art incorporates lots of white space. Most collections offer diverse styles for adaptive usage.

Finding Paper Clip Art

Many resources exist for finding paper clip art graphics, illustrations and images to meet diverse needs. Large general stock image services like Adobe Stock include millions of paper photos, vector files, and illustrations often with extended licensing options. Focused paper texture libraries such as Texture King offer packs of high resolution paper images. Independent artists on sites like Creative Market sell paper illustration bundles and stationery elements. Open clip art libraries like OpenClipArt provide free public domain paper images to use without copyright issues. Simple Google image searches reveal unlimited paper clip art widely available online. With some creative hunting, artists can find beautiful paper graphics for nearly any project or purpose.

Copyright and Licensing

Using paper clip art legally does require awareness and respect for image copyright. Many clip art images fall under copyright by either the creator or repository site. Users should check licenses to understand usage rights, attribution requirements, commercial limits, derivatives policies and other constraints before incorporating paper clip art in new work. Some paper clip art is in the public domain if age or origin meets qualification for no copyright claims, allowing unrestricted usage. Open libraries and resources like Creative Commons licensed graphics are explicitly free to employ given proper attribution. For unique commercial products, custom illustration by a designer or artist may be the best option to avoid any legal gray areas when working with paper imagery and clip art.

In this page clipartix present 77 paper clipart images free for designing activities. Lets download Paper Clip Art that you want to use for works or personal uses.