Highly absorbent watercolor paper for art prints provides several advantages for fine art printing, making it a popular choice for high-quality photography and fine-art recreations.

Why the Right Paper Matters

While people often believe that all paper types are equal, some significant differences exist. Printer paper is relatively thin and smooth, while craft paper is much thicker but has a similar finish. The right paper blends texture, absorbency and thickness aspects to provide the ideal paper for fine art printing processes.

What Is Watercolor Printing Paper?

Watercolor printing paper is a thinner, coated version of standard watercolor paper. The special coating ensures that ink cannot spread significantly, guaranteeing crisp details when printing on the paper.

Watercolor paper is made from pure cotton or a cotton and wood pulp blend. Its highly textured surface and excellent absorbency make it ideal for watercolor paintings.

Key Features of Watercolor Printing Paper

When you purchase textured watercolor paper for printing, certain unique traits ensure a one-of-a-kind printing experience.

Cold Press vs. Hot Press Paper Texture

Watercolor printing paper is typically manufactured in one of two ways.

Cold-pressed paper is a highly textured archival watercolor paper, manufactured by pressing cotton or wood pulp between rollers. No heat is applied, which means the resulting paper lacks smoothness. It’s ideal for any print requiring texture, from fine art to nature paintings.

Hot-pressed paper is created under the force of high-pressure manufacture, imparting a smoother, flatter surface. It is the best paper for watercolor prints requiring precision or sharper focus. These traits make hot-pressed paper ideal for intricate portraits and other prints where clarity and detail are essential.

It’s worth noting that there’s a third option, known as rough watercolor paper. This paper is manufactured using a textured plate or dried on a textured surface to create a rough texture. It’s best used for bolder prints like abstract art.

Weight and Thickness

Watercolor printing paper is considerably thicker and heavier than most other paper types. Quality is also determined by weight — the heavier the paper, the better the quality and the more expensive it becomes. Standard paper types, by comparison, are much thinner and lighter.

The weight classes for watercolor paper include:

• Light: At the lower end, light watercolor paper weighs 190 grams per square meter or 90 pounds per 500-sheet load.
• Medium: This intermediate option weighs 140 pounds per load or 300 grams per square meter.
• Heavy: The best watercolor paper weighs 640 grams per square meter, or 300 pounds per load.

Base Material

Most paper types consist mainly of plant fibers, particularly wood chips and shavings. Sometimes, paper may also include cotton to create a smoother or finer texture and quality.

Watercolor paper generally consists of a blend of wood pulp and cotton, which ensures it is more absorbent than most standard options. This manufacturing approach also makes the paper more resilient when exposed to water.

• The best watercolor paper options will consist solely of cotton, maximizing absorbency and improving durability.
• Common watercolor paper features a blend of cellulose and cotton, with the quality improving as the cotton ratio increases.
• Student-grade paper consists mainly of cellulose, with some percentage of cotton.

Why Choose Watercolor Paper for Art Prints?

Printing art on watercolor paper offers some significant benefits, including:

• Better texture: With the greater texture of watercolor printing paper comes added depth and dimension, which is ideal for any print requiring an enhanced texture or detail.
• Greater color accuracy: Using watercolor paper for art prints offers significant shading and color gradation benefits by expressing subtle tones like those found in Renaissance and pointillist artwork.
• Archival quality: An archival watercolor paper is museum-quality and acid-free, ensuring the prints have a long lifespan.
• Durable resilience: Its absorbency and general sturdiness make watercolor printing paper more resilient than standard paper alternatives, resisting scratching, bending or disintegration when exposed to humidity.
• Conventional feel: The greater texture and fine-art appearance of watercolor paper make art reproductions look like they’re done on a more traditional medium, which is highly attractive to collectors.

Framing Prints on Watercolor Printing Paper

Consider the following when choosing frames for watercolor art or prints on watercolor paper.

Paper Type

As mentioned earlier, watercolor paper may be manufactured in several different ways. When choosing a paper, ensure it’s archival watercolor paper to preserve the prints. Archival paper is acid-free, eliminating acid-related ink fading and similar challenges.

Glass Type

Some aspects remain constant whether you practice digital printing on watercolor paper or frame actual watercolors. Both materials are sensitive to light, so prints exposed to regular direct light will invariably fade and degrade. Choosing UV-resistant glass protects the prints from light damage.

Matting Materials

When framing any print, consider the framing materials’ quality and composition. Most images require matting and a backing board to emphasize the print and keep it stable. Choose archival-quality, acid-free mats and boards to preserve your prints even further.

Support

While watercolor printing paper is thicker than many standard paper types, it’s still soft and bendable. Choose a sturdy backing for your frame to ensure your print doesn’t bend, curl or deform over time. The right support will smooth out your print and hold it in place to prevent deformation.

Choose a Matching Frame

Highlight your print’s unique composition by selecting a matching frame. Some tips for choosing a frame include:

• Find a frame style that matches the print content. The frame should complement or contrast the image composition and style.
• Ensure your frame is the right size to house the image and the matting. Ideally, the frame should be around 10% larger than the picture to accommodate any matting or borders.
• Consider the available materials, and choose something that matches the print. Brushed aluminum or steel frames are ideal for retro photography, while wooden frames work well for landscape watercolors and other low-contrast images.

If you can’t find the ideal frame for your prints, consider custom-made frames as an alternative.

Print Your Watercolor Artwork With Tribeca Printworks

Whether you’re interested in making a recreation using giclée printing on watercolor paper or you want to achieve a more textured photography print, try watercolor printing paper. Our team can help you plan the perfect print and frame, combining a custom approach with decades of experience.

Contact us today to discuss your watercolor printing project or to book an in-person consultation with one of our helpful, professional team members.

FAQs About Watercolor Printing Paper

Can you print photography on watercolor paper?

Yes, you can make watercolor photo prints and print anything you would print on other kinds of paper. Consider the photo’s composition. Sharp, detailed images print well on smooth paper, while pictures requiring texture work well on rough or cold-pressed paper.

Is watercolor paper good for digital art?

Watercolor paper can be good for digital art, especially when you want to give your prints more texture and make them feel less generic. It may not be the best option for digital art requiring a glossy finish.

What’s the difference between watercolor paper and regular paper?

These paper types differ significantly. Noteable differences include thickness, texture and absorbency. Watercolor printing paper is thicker, more absorbent and has a more textured surface than traditional paper.