Paper. Seriously, guys does it even matter? Well, yes. Actually it matters quite a bit if you are printing your own coloring pages at home. But there are WAY too many choices out there. And your ultimate paper preference can really depend on your personal preferences and the coloring supplies you like to use.
Some paper terminology we should get out of the way:
Paper weight is measured in LBS or GSM.
LBS is how paper is measured in the USA. It is calculated by weighing 500 sheets of paper in the “base size”. The higher the LBS the thicker the paper.
GSM stands for “grams per square meter”. This form of measurement is based on a sheet cut to one square meter in size. So it’s way more consistent for all your measurement needs. But it’s almost never used in the USA, so…..yeah. ::American shrug of sorrow:: Anyway, the higher the GSM, the thicker the paper.
(Quick Note: Standard every-day printer paper is 80 GSM or 20 lbs)
Paper Tooth. Step aside tooth fairy! This one’s for the artists! Tooth is the surface feel of paper. Generally, the more tooth a paper has, the rougher it feels. You could easily exchange the term for the words, “texture,” or “smoothness.”
Acid-free means the paper’s wood pulp cellulose was purified to remove lignin and acids. That means the paper wont yellow over time. You want that.
So remember a few lines up when I mentioned that your paper preference depends on YOU. Well if you’re printing at home is also, kind of depends on your printer. So take a moment to check what size and type of paper your printer can handle. I strongly recommend you don’t push the technology – it will just result in a paper jam and frustration.
You can totally try to cut paper to the size your printer prefers. But don’t let our feelings get hurt if your printer disapproves of the home-cut paper. Remember, it’s a machine. It doesn’t understand your need to CREATE.
OK here’s the list of top paper recommendations:
Neenah Cardstock Bristol Vellum: This pack has an acceptable paper weight of 67 lb (147 GSM). Personal favorite. So I’m naming it first. Because I play favorites with my art supplies. There, I said it. No Shame. This paper is designed for printing and works with both inkjet and laser printers. What’s more, it’s marvelously affordable and it works great with both pencils and markers. GAH! Read that again: Affordable AND great for markers and pencils. OK, so it’s not as heavy as some of the other papers I like to use, but it’s printer friendly. So definitely makes the top of the list.
Strathmore 400 Series Colored Pencil Paper: This paper is 100LB (163 g/m2) and has medium tooth. That’s SUPER great for colored pencils. It has a texture that can take a LOT of layers of color without wimping out. You can even toss on some charcoal without breaking a sweat (or the paper)!
Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth Surface: This pad of paper is 100 lb. (270 g/m2) and has a smooth tooth(less) surface. OK, it’s not totally toothless. It’s just fantastically smoother than some rougher paper out there. Smooth Bristol is all thigs wonderful for mechanical drawing, marker, airbrush work and drawing with pen or ink. But if you’re like me (madly deeply in love with realism) then you’ll realize you can easily whip out you colored pencils on this paper. Smooth = no interruptions in your pencil line.
Springhill Digital Bristol Vellum: This paper is 67LB (Not sure about the g/m2 – looked for a solid minute then moved on with my creative, coloring life) This lovely paper is created specifically for printing, so it is great for coloring pages. (Hello! No pre-cutting required!) It’s surface texture is higher quality and acid-free. It’s amazingly great for pencils! But maybe not so much for markers – because of the bleeding.
Fabriano Studio Watercolor Hot Press 200 GSM: This watercolor paper is 90 lb (200 g/m2) Hot pressed means it has a surface texture that’s super smooth. With this pad of paper in hand you can whip out the water colour, tempera, gouache, acrylic, ink and colored pencils. Maybe not all at the exact same time, because that would be messy and chaotic.
Ohuhu Marker Pad: This one has an impressive weight of 120 lb (200 g/m2). Yes, it’s heavier. Yes, this can play a little funny with your printer. Just go slow and give yourself and your printer a chance to check it out. This paper is exquisitely smooth and works well with alcohol markers. Can you say “No bleeding or feathering”?! And pencils, charcoals and even pastels can step onto this paper and help you create your next masterpiece.
Bonus Tip: Need some tried and true colored pencils? I often fall back on my Prismacolor Pencils! Check out this Set of 36 Prismacolor Pencils!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a commission if you click them and make a purchase (at no cost to you). This post is otherwise NOT sponsored or endorsed by any of the brands mentioned or reviewed.
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About Artistry By Lisa Marie:
Artistry By Lisa Marie is a very small art studio located in Rochester, NY. It currently consists of Lisa Marie, a hoard of colored pencils and her two small boys Luke (4) and Michael (1) (her husband John is a computer geek with no artistic skill and has bowed out of the art business). Lisa Marie has been professionally creating art for over a decade and has created an extensive library of stunning hand-drawn coloring pages, all available for digital download. While she has a Master’s in Art History and can talk your ear off about the Old Masters, her background is custom pet portraits and beautiful coloring pages. Her main interests are encouraging creativity and helping colorists release their inner artist and relax.
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