Does Art Made With Color Aid Paper Light Proof
Best Newspaper for Colored Pencils
Finding the best paper for colored pencils can exist tricky because there are so many paper products on the marketplace! But have no fear, because I'1000 here to help you out! To help y'all pick the correct paper for your art style and budget, we're going to focus on the iv about important factors: quality, texture, weight, and form. Then we'll conclude with my product recommendations. Let'southward get started!
Introduction
Did you know that colored pencils tin can be used on a broad range of surfaces beyond newspaper—such as wood, plastic, metal, clay and more?! For this article nosotros're going to simplify things by focusing only on paper, which is by far the most popular option amidst colored pencil artists. Paper is cheaper than other mediums (like canvas), easy to get in a variety of styles, and provides a delightful surface for colored pencils.
Every bit is the case with other fine art supplies, the best colored pencil paper for you comes downwardly to personal preference, which is why I don't merely say "Buy this one!" Your pick hinges on your budget, art style, and skill level. This article is designed to help yous figure out what will work best for your particular needs.
When you lot're at the fine art supply shop looking for colored pencil newspaper, you'll probably observe yourself facing an huge range of similar products, oft described with unusual terms like Bristol, vellum, and cold press. It tin be downright overwhelming! In this article I'll demystify the jargon and give y'all the tools to narrow your search downwardly to a handful of newspaper products that meet your criteria. Subsequently that, the most crucial step is for yous to practice and experiment with your own colored pencils.
Quality and Longevity
Drawing paper can vary wildly in quality, which not simply affects how long your art will final, but also how well your colored pencils perform. If you buy cheap paper, information technology might be frustrating to use because it'll be hands damaged past rough techniques (like burnishing and erasing) and will warp or buckle if y'all utilize wet media. And if you manage to end your artwork, in that location'south a good adventure that it will become yellow and brittle within a few years.
It's fine to save coin by using a cheap sketchbook for practicing, but otherwise you should ever attempt your all-time to help your artwork last as long as possible by using quality materials designed for longevity. Colored pencils are a slow medium, subsequently all, and information technology would exist a shame to spend many hours on a single artwork only to have information technology deteriorate quickly merely considering you saved a few bucks on paper! Plus, if yous plan to sell your artwork you'll definitely desire information technology to concluding as long as possible to keep your collectors happy.
So how practice you lot spot quality? Labels such as archival or (the less stringent) permanent are helpful, just they're not a guarantee and may be used differently depending on the manufacturer. Hither are some more specific labels to look for.
Cotton is used to make archival paper
At a minimum, the paper yous buy should be acrid-gratuitous. This is important because any acid in the paper will set on the fibers and cause them to deteriorate and go yellow over fourth dimension. For instance, most of the drawings I created in loftier schoolhouse were done on cheap drawing paper, and now over ii decades later, the paper is fragile and yellow, which has altered the colors in the artwork. If merely I'd listened to my loftier school art instructor!
Most papers are made from forest pulp and cellulose fibers that naturally become more acidic with age (cheers to the lignin they contain). It'south quite common for manufacturers to neutralize acids during production, but the best brands take extra steps to stop the acid from returning: they add alkaline buffers and reserves, and some even remove the lignin itself (look for the characterization "lignin-gratuitous").
High quality acrid-gratuitous paper will last a long time, merely because of what they're made from, there'due south still the possibility that acid will re-occur. For truly archival newspaper, look for paper made from 100% cotton (sometimes called "rag newspaper" or 100% rag). Cotton fibers are naturally acid-free and will not deteriorate every bit much over fourth dimension. If cared for, they tin last for centuries! Paper made from cotton is too strong and pliable, assuasive it to stand up to rough techniques.
The downside, as you've probably guessed, is that 100% cotton papers are expensive. If yous're just a beginner or on a budget, don't despair. As you'll meet below, manufacturers take constitute ways to make affordable, loftier-quality papers that aren't 100% cotton. As long as they're properly looked after – stored to avoid heat, humidity and direct calorie-free – they'll last long enough for all simply the well-nigh ambitious artists!
Texture
The surface texture of your paper has huge sway over how your pencils feel, and how they perform. So information technology's crucial that you discover the best texture for your art manner!
Paper texture – sometimes chosen grain, tooth or finish – results from the different manufacturing methods used. Technically, terms like molar and texture mean different things (due east.g. the peaks and valleys of the newspaper vs. the surface pattern of the fibers), but for the purposes of this article, I'k going to use them interchangeably.
Close up of paper texture
There is a wide spectrum of paper textures – from very rough to glassy smooth – but manufacturers typically grouping them into three primary categories: rough, medium, and smooth. Colored pencils are wonderfully versatile and tin can adhere to merely about whatever kind of paper, but they'll perform very differently depending on the texture.
Let'southward take a look at the pros and cons of each choice, ending with my recommendation for the best surface for colored pencils.
Rough paper
Rough paper has a lot of tooth, which allows for multiple layers because it gives the pigment something to grip. Merely that friction makes blending more than difficult and may chew through your pencils at an alarming rate (which can be worrying if you invested in an expensive prepare).
Artists who prefer rough paper capeesh the flecked, uneven look it achieves when the pigment has non filled the tiny valleys of the tooth (run across the close-up instance below). This allows some white of the paper to smooth through, which when employed properly, tin give your artwork a delightful luminescent quality that can exist quite expressive.
Fifty-fifty with heavy burnishing or the help of solvents you may nevertheless be able to encounter the grain of the paper, which is a stylistic choice that some like, just others may not.
Medium-textured paper
Next yous accept medium-grain paper, that is sometimes referred to equally common cold printing, vellum, regular or "Non" (meaning non hot press).
Colored pencil on medium paper
It has traditionally been the nearly popular choice for colored pencil artists, considering it'southward a adept compromise betwixt rough and shine. You have some molar, merely not as well much. Y'all're able to blend and layer freely, and you won't wear down your pencils too chop-chop.
Simply the grain or pattern of the newspaper will all the same show through, maintaining that rustic colored pencil look that many artists enjoy.
Smooth paper
Finally, y'all have smooth paper, which might also be chosen hot press, plate or fine grain.
It has minimal tooth, which makes it well-suited to fine details and seamless blending. Considering there aren't deep valleys in the tooth to fill in when yous utilise smooth paper, your colors will be more opaque and solid compared to using rough paper. See the example below comparing polish and crude paper.
The reduced molar limits the number of layers you tin can apply, but the binders in the pencils certainly give you some flexibility. When you're using smoothen paper, it helps to brainstorm laying downward color very softly, gradually building it upwards. If you press also hard early, y'all'll limit your layering options. You tin can give yourself more than layering capabilities by using a workable fixative, thereby enjoying the best of both worlds.
Shine vs. Rough paper texture
The best paper texture for colored pencils
As I mentioned earlier, cold-press (medium grain) paper has traditionally been the recommended surface for colored pencils, merely in recent years there'southward been a shift towards smooth newspaper. A big reason for this is that audiences (specially on social media) tend to favor artwork that is detailed and realistic (aka photorealistic) as opposed to loose and stylized. Artists have responded by shifting to smooth papers that allow for seamless blending and tonal transitions, often resulting in artworks that don't fifty-fifty look like they've been created with colored pencils. For this style, the grain of the newspaper merely gets in the manner, both practically and visually.
I've institute that smooth paper suits my detailed style, only I'd also recommend information technology equally a good choice for beginners who probably aren't going to be layering too much and don't want to have to fight with the newspaper to lay down color. Still I'd even so encourage you lot to endeavor out some different papers to see what suits you best.
Be enlightened that these terms to describe texture (e.chiliad. hot-press, vellum etc.) may vary depending on the manufacturer. What one product describes every bit cold-printing, may exist more similar hot-press for another.
Weight
Before we discuss why you should care about paper weight, it's important to compare the 2 main ways manufacturers measure out newspaper, because one method is better than the other.
You've probably seen paper labelled with something like 140 lb or 300 gsm (or both). This is not a case of brands choosing to use different units of mass (majestic vs. metric). Those measurements actually correspond two very dissimilar ways of weighing paper.
The outset method, originating in North America, takes a ream of paper (500 sheets) and determines its weight in pounds (lbs). The problem with this method is that different paper types are not produced in the aforementioned dimensions. So, a ream of watercolor paper (22" x 30") will be heavier than printer paper (17" x 22") because each canvas is larger. What this means in practise is that with this method, you lot cannot hands compare the weight of unlike paper types.
The other method originates from Europe and is more widely used, including by some manufacturers in North America. This method uses grams to counterbalance a single sail of paper that is exactly one foursquare meter in size (which is about 10.7 sq. ft). This results in a measurement of grams per square meter, which you lot'll see written as either gsm or thou/m2. Because the newspaper size is consequent, you can utilise this method to compare different types of paper (e.chiliad. watercolor vs drawing paper).
In summary: when comparison the weight of paper, it's better to use gsm because information technology's consistent across unlike types of paper (east.1000. watercolor vs. drawing paper).
At present that you know how to evaluate paper weight, let'south discuss why it matters. Colored pencils can be used on any paper, but if you lot're going to be blending with solvents or combining your pencils with moisture media (which is common with watercolor pencils), you'll need heavyweight paper that won't warp or buckle.
Heavyweight paper (especially if it'due south made from 100% cotton wool) will also hold up better to rough techniques like burnishing or erasing.
If this describes your art mode, you'll want to get newspaper that is at least 300 gsm (approx 140 lb) or fifty-fifty heavier if you can afford information technology. Look for watercolor newspaper or mixed-media paper, both of which are manufactured to be heavier, and treated with "sizing" to tedious down absorption.
Heavyweight paper is more expensive, so if you don't think you'll really need the benefits it provides, y'all tin relieve some money by using a less heavy paper. If you're looking for paper to utilise with printable coloring pages, you'll want to make sure that the newspaper isn't also thick for your printer. Most printer user manuals will indicate the max weight the printer tin can handle (either in gsm or lb). I usually utilize cardstock that is 199 gsm (110 lb) and don't accept any issues running it through my printer.
Bristol newspaper (also called Bristol board) is a adept choice for artists who don't use wet media, merely still want an affordable heavyweight newspaper that can take a beating. Bristol paper consists of several sheets of paper – either 2-ply, 3-ply or 4-ply – that have been glued together under pressure. Despite the name, it is not fully rigid like an analogy board, but tin still exist quite stiff depending on the ply count. It's typically available in smooth and vellum (medium) textures, sometimes on both sides.
Form
Paper is bachelor in many user-friendly forms: single sheets, pads, sketchbooks, boards, and watercolor blocks.
For about purposes I recommend you buy unmarried sheets. This will allow you to easily experiment with different brands without spending a fortune, and they tin be cut to size for each project.
Tape-leap pads are convenient (each sheet peels off smoothly) and tin can be establish to contain high-quality paper, such equally in my kickoff recommendation below. I enjoy using wire-bound sketchbooks for practice or when I'm traveling, only be enlightened that they usually incorporate cheaper paper.
If yous're into wet media or prefer a stiff drawing surface, illustration boards are a good option. Watercolor blocks, which consist of a stack of sheets glued together on all sides, are too bully for wet media. Considering the paper is essentially stretched tight by the glue, you won't demand to worry about information technology warping. And when you're done, you just slice off the top sheet to reveal the untouched ane below.
Lastly, if you lot've establish a newspaper that you absolutely love, y'all can sometimes save some money past purchasing it in rolls.
1 popular paper product that I oasis't yet discussed is colored paper (sometimes called toned or tinted paper). Information technology's a fantastic way to add a certain mood to your artwork. You lot can too enhance the luminosity and popular of your colored pencils by drawing on a low intensity or nighttime value paper.
My Recommendations
Before I offer my specific recommendations, I want to reiterate that you ideally need to endeavor out a range of papers to (1) figure out the right texture and weight for your way, and (2) to find out which specific production or brand fits your criteria for quality and cost.
Don't get as well worried about the dissimilar newspaper types (eastward.g. watercolor vs. drawing vs. printmaking) because they will all work well with colored pencils to some degree. Just make sure the newspaper yous try is at least acid-costless, keep in mind texture and weight, and so practice exercise practice!
I've provided links below to the relevant products then that you lot tin can easily find them on Blick Art Materials, my favorite online art supplier. I'm a member of Blick's affiliate programme, which ways if you brand a buy after clicking on ane of these links, I'll receive a small committee (at no extra cost to yous). Your buy helps support this site and keeps it gratis of ads. Click here for more info.
Best Newspaper for Beginners
If you're reading this article, yous're probably a beginner or but drawing for fun. Unless your upkeep is flexible, it doesn't make sense for you to start off with an expensive, 100% cotton archival paper, especially when you lot're still learning and figuring out what you like. With that in mind, let'due south take a expect at some high quality (only cheaper) papers for you to become started with.
Annotation: Considering quite a few of my picks below are Strathmore papers, I want to clarify that Strathmore is not sponsoring this article. I simply recommend them because I've used their papers for years, and they've done the best job at producing loftier quality paper for every toll point.
My first option is the increasingly popular Strathmore 300 Bristol paper, which is available in smooth and vellum (medium) textures. You can get information technology in unmarried sheets or in pads of xx. This paper is heavyweight (two-ply) and acid-free, merely isn't archival or suited to moisture techniques. This paper's swell combination of price and performance have made it popular with beginners and artists akin.
There are several astonishing colored pencils artists, such every bit Morgan Davidson and Diego NL, who employ the polish variety of this newspaper to create stunning artworks. Call back that if you pick the smooth paper and brainstorm to have problem with layering, you tin utilise a workable fixative or add together actress details with other media like markers or gel pens.
If y'all're willing to pay a niggling bit more than, you lot can spring upward a level and get the Strathmore 400 Bristol Board, which can as well be bought in unmarried sheets (information technology's not a rigid board) and pads. The 400 series offers better quality paper (though nevertheless not archival) in 2-ply, iii-ply, and 4-ply varieties. Y'all could also endeavour the Strathmore 400 Colored Pencil paper, which has a vellum surface designed for colored pencils. Information technology's acrid-costless, but just 163 gsm, so besides non recommended if you apply moisture media or solvents.
For those of yous who'd really love some truly archival paper, but can't afford it, I've got you covered! For simply $3 per 32" x xl" canvass, you can buy Strathmore Museum Barrier paper, which is 100% cotton and acid-free. It's designed to protect artworks, but works fantastically with colored pencils! The polish surface is great for details, merely it's lightweight, so avert wet media or solvents.
If y'all know you'll be using wet media and need something heavier at an affordable price, bank check out Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media Pads (300 gsm). If you're interested in drawing on a board, the Canson Pure White Drawing Fine art Board is great value and suitable for wet media and colored pencils. The paper used is both acrid-free and lignin-free, which is as archival as you can get without using 100% cotton paper.
If yous make a purchase via the links below I receive a pocket-sized committee, which helps support this site .
All-time Newspaper for Artists
If you're an artist concerned about longevity or a beginner with deep pockets, these papers are all 100% cotton and provide a delightful surface for colored pencils.
Firstly, check out the Fabriano Artistico Extra White Watercolor Paper, which is all-time in hot-printing (polish) or cold-printing if you need more tooth. You tin can buy it in single sheets (or rolls if you really like it). The archival 100% cotton fiber paper is available in 300, 430 & 640 gsm weights. Information technology'south expensive, so this is for creating finished artworks, not practise.
In general, hot-printing watercolor paper works fantastically well with colored pencils – and is usually heavy enough for solvents and about wet media – so feel gratis to endeavour some other brands.
Next is Legion Stonehenge Newspaper, which is bachelor in single sheets and pads. Stonehenge newspaper is hugely popular with colored pencil artists, who love the vellum texture and need 100% cotton fiber, archival paper. The only caveat is that information technology'due south not as heavy equally my other creative person picks (250 & 320 gsm). If you're into moisture media, test it before you start an of import projection.
If y'all like a smooth surface and/or use wet media, check out the Strathmore 500 Bristol Board, which is the archival, 100% cotton version of my first beginner recommendation. This is available in 2-ply, three-ply, and 4-ply sheets, and you can choose betwixt plate (smooth) and vellum (medium). While the Strathmore 300 & 400 Bristol is not suitable for wet media, the 500 serial Bristol is heavy enough to have it.
If you lot adopt a rigid surface, you lot should try an analogy board similar the Strathmore 500 Series Illustration Board for Wet Media. It features a 100% cotton, vellum surface that has been internally sized, making it well suited to both dry and wet media. If y'all're more interested in using newspaper with your moisture media, cheque out the Fabriano mentioned above, or these Legion Stonehenge Watercolor Blocks.
Toned Paper
If you'd similar to experiment with colored paper, the highest quality choice is the Legion Stonehenge discussed above. The Canson Mi-Teintes Drawing Papers are hugely popular thanks to their massive range (42 shades!), competitive price, and double-sided texture (fine grain and medium grain). They contain 66% cotton wool and are treated to be acid-free and light resistant, making them durable enough for most artists.
If yous're on a budget, I've enjoyed using the Strathmore Artagain Paper, which is available in unmarried sheets or pads in a range of dissimilar tints. I love the texture for colored pencils, just they're lightweight and not suitable for moisture media.
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Source: https://www.art-is-fun.com/best-paper-for-colored-pencils
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