Watercolor Paper Cold Press Vs Hot Press Vs Rough
For example hot press paper has almost no tooth but cold press paper has a more pronounced tooth.
Watercolor paper cold press vs hot press vs rough. It tends to be a little thirstier in my experience. Rough hot pressed hp and cold pressed cp or not as in not hot pressed. In a nutshell the terms hot press and cold press refer to the paper s surface finish or texture. Hot press paper has a soft surface.
However that being said there is some cold press paper where the tooth of the paper is very fine compared to others. It s not as hard to get color into the paper but more than most prefer. Cold pressed paper has a slightly bumpy textured surface. Paint tends to sit a little more on its surface and may take a little longer to dry.
These are the two main watercolor paper types. Because personally i like the smoother. It is the most popular surface for watercolour painters as it allows for a little texture in your work as the paint will sink a little into the dimples on the surface of the paper but it will also be sympathetic to some detailed work. To keep this one straight i like to think of the paper have goosebumps due to the cold.
Unlike the hot press in the cold press the fibers are turned into a sheet by the sheer pressure of a metal slab. And that s a short explanation of the difference between. I ve actually been on the search for a months now for a cold press paper that has the texture similar to hot press. In the making of rough watercolor papers the sheet is just crafted from the fibers and then it is left in the sun to dry up.
Cold press paper has tooth aka texture. Watercolor paper that feels smooth to the touch similar to mixed media or drawing paper just way way way thicker is called hot press paper. Is cold pressed watercolor paper as good as hot pressed watercolor paper for colored pencil or graphite drawin. But hot pressed paper has a smooth surface finish.
This is why the watercolor paper is such a personal preference. Not and cold pressed paper amount to the same textured surface this is the name given to paper with has a slight tooth to it. I am an absolute fan of cold press. Watercolor paper comes in several types and weights.
It somewhat smoothens the fibers but overall is not as smooth as a hot press paper. Which type of paper is right for your project. Rough watercolor paper has a prominent tooth or textured surface. This is one of the most common paper types used for watercolor though.
To keep this straight i like to think of the paper being hot ironed flat. Hot press cold pre. It is very smooth making it easier to get the color into the paper with colored pencil graphite or airbrush. Mold made and machine made watercolor papers come in three surfaces.
This creates a grainy speckled effect as pools of water collect in the indentations in the paper. Bumpy texture watercolor paper however that has a bumpy feel to the touch is known as cold press watercolor paper. It tends to absorb paint faster. You will also hear artists talking about the tooth of the paper.