PURPOSE: To provide a method for producing raw paper of a base for photographic printing paper adequate for photographic printing paper having high smoothness.

CONSTITUTION: The raw paper surface on the side to be coated with a photographic emulsion in a first half part 10 of a drier part in this method for producing the raw paper of the base for the photographic printing paper including a stage for drying the raw paper made by a Fourdrinier machine by using a drum drier cylinder and drier canvass in a drier part is brought into contact with the surface of the drum drier cylinder and the raw paper surface opposite to the side to be coated with the photographic emulsion is brought into contact with the surface of the drum drier cylinder and is thereby dried in a second half part 11 of the drier part. The moisture content of the raw paper brought into contact with the surface of the drum drier cylinder is adjusted to 47 to 35% in the first half part 10 of the drier part and is adjusted to 45 to 2% in the second half part 11.