For the basal paper of karakami the dan-shi (Japanese paper of high quality made from mulberry trees) (a kind of kozo paper) and torinoko paper (a kind of ganpishi) were originally used, and for 'Kyo karakami' torinoko paper and hoshogami were used.
から紙の地紙はもともと檀紙（楮紙）や鳥の子紙（雁皮紙）が使われ、「京から紙」は主に鳥の子紙と奉書紙が用いられた。