3 Main Types of Watercolor Paper | Pros and Cons

Perhaps the most fun yet tricky part of watercolor painting is: The many different types of watercolor paper. With so many textures, weights, and options to choose from, it’s only natural to feel stuck with making the right choice. Unless you don’t want to disfavor your artistic self, investing in a decent watercolor paper is a must! 

Your choice has the power to make or break your painting experience since cheaper options don’t quite hold well. In this guide, we’ve broken down the basic types of watercolor paper so you can pick one that best fuels your creativity! 

Understanding Watercolor Paper 

Before heading to the types of watercolor paper, it’s essential to understand the basics and what makes it so special for painting. Unlike regular paper, watercolor paper is designed to handle the flow of colors in a way that makes them look luminous and bright. 

As with everything else, the quality of watercolor paper depends on what you pay for. For instance, many high-quality papers are 100% cotton, so they support long-term artwork (and they don’t even turn yellow!). On the flip side, low-quality watercolor papers often buckle, tear, and don’t hold up under washes. 

Better yet, these types of paper can also be used for acrylics, pastels, and charcoals and can even be primed for oil painting! 

Watercolor Paper Sizing 

When it comes to watercolor painting, you’ll often come across the term ‘sizing.’ Simply put, sizing is the treatment applied to paper to control how much water it absorbs. If the paper absorbs water quickly, the paint soaks in pretty fast. But if it’s not absorbent enough, the paint just floats on the surface. You need the right balance to ensure that your paint can flow and settle in just right! 

Typically, brands use ‘gelatin’ as the sizing agent, which works fantastic in absorbing wet paint into the paper fibers. It’s popular mainly for the water resistance, ensuring the paint doesn’t soak in much. 

However, no two brands use the same amount of sizing for different papers. More so, you can’t exactly determine how much sizing is used. So, finding a watercolor paper that sits well with your paint style will often take some experimenting! 

Surface Types of Watercolor Paper 

Now, let’s get to the main question. Given the surface and texture, there are three types of watercolor papers out there. Here’s a closer look at each type: 

Hot Press (HP) 

Given the fine texture, hot pressed paper is the smoothest option available, ideal for artists who seek fine detailing. No wonder it’s a favorite among painters for its smooth, flat surface, who want greater control over their brushstrokes. Made by pressing between hot metal rollers, it also works great with pens, inks, and other graphite drawings. 

Out of the three basic textures, this one is the least absorbent. This means that watery paint sits on the surface longer, which allows you more time to manipulate the paint. Naturally, it’s perfect for painting portraits, precise drawings, and other things where precision is a must!  

Pros: 

• Ideal for technical and intricate paintwork 
• Less absorption leads to a polished final look 
• Ideal for pen, pencil, and a couple of other painting tools 

Cons: 

• Takes longer to dry completely
• Less texture watercolor paper means you might not always get the desired results. 

Cold Press (NOT) 

Also known as ‘NOT’ paper, cold pressed watercolor paper is hands down the top choice among most artists, especially for beginners. This type of watercolor paper is made by pressing the paper through cold metal rollers, giving it a medium texture. Compatible with most painting styles, this texture is the perfect balance between bright-colored and detailed work. 

The best part? Cold pressed paper is beginner-friendly yet fit for experienced artists, which means it works well with quite a lot of techniques. The slight texture helps the paint sink slightly into the surface while still letting you control your work. A painting on cold pressed paper usually gives off a velvety finish. 

Pros 

• Easier to correct any mistakes you make while painting
• Provides an excellent grip on the brush without being too rough 
• Makes the layering of paint simple

Cons 

• Might sometimes lead to pigment bleeding 
• Less suited for highly-detailed artwork 

Rough Press 

Among other types of watercolor papers, this one stands out for its extremely textured surface. True to its name, it’s an ideal choice for artists who prefer rough, bold, and expressive work with a pronounced texture. Basically, rough pressed paper has deep grooves — all of which allow the watercolors to settle in (like valleys), which in turn produces granulating effects. 

Needless to say, the rough texture is less suited for finer details yet perfect for a loose, textured feel. Since it absorbs water well, this type of watercolor paper is ideal for those with a freer painting style. This is precisely why bolder artists opt for rough pressed papers to give their work those stunning organic effects. 

Pros 

• Brilliant for landscape and abstract painting 
• Perfect for wet-into-wet applications and glazing 
• Granulated effects bring depth and texture to paintwork 

Cons  

• Incompatible with artists seeking finer details
• Harder to control than other watercolor papers 

Quality of Watercolor Paper 

Now that we’ve seen the types of watercolor paper closely, it’s time to shift focus to quality. 

Generally, the materials used in the making of watercolor papers determine their quality. Depending on the quality, there are two grades of watercolor papers: Student Grade and Professional Grade. The one you opt for depends on your artistic requirements, so let’s look at the two grades deeply: 

Professional-grade

Also referred to as ‘cotton rag,’ professional-grade paper is made from 100% cotton. This pure cotton nature makes it durable and fantastic for absorbing paint to achieve a ‘watercolor’ finish. As the name suggests, professional-grade paper will really amp up your work and give it a professional look. 

Student-grade 

Made with wood and pulp and relatively more affordable, student-grade paper may not handle water and paint so well. Mostly, this paper isn’t pH neutral, so it turns yellow after some time. However, this cheaper option works well for beginners or practice purposes. Since it doesn’t absorb water as well as cotton, you can expect mediocre results. 

Different Weights of Watercolor Papers 

Although the types of watercolor paper majorly determine how the artwork turns out, another critical factor is the weight of these papers. Watercolor papers come in different weights, mostly measured in pounds (lbs). It’s important to determine the weight beforehand to know how much water your paper can absorb and if it’s likely to buckle soon. 

• 90 lb

Since this one is the lightest watercolor paper, it buckles up quickly when used with a lot of water. This makes the 90 lb-weighted paper unfit for wet techniques. 

• 140 lb

Generally considered a good paper for watercolor, it achieves a good balance between thickness and flexibility. But it must be stretched to prevent buckling. 

• 300 lb 

This heavy paper is the most expensive of the lot. Ultimately, it easily handles a good amount of water without warping— making it excellent for highly-saturated pieces! 

Final Thoughts 

The answer to the question of what kind of watercolor paper is best depends on your artistic style and the finish you’re aiming for. Understanding the types of watercolor papers helps you make a smart decision that sits well with your ‘personal’ style. 

Planning a watercolor painting session soon? Get in touch with PaperPapers for your favorite watercolor paper today!