Watercolor Paper Weights Explained

The standard weights of machine made paper for artists are.

Watercolor paper weights explained.

The basic premise is the bigger the number the thicker the paper. Artists don t typically purchase 300 pounds of paper at a given time. The pound per ream is a reference to what a ream of 500 sheets of paper would weigh. Watercolour paper is measured by the weight of 500 sheets of paper at imperial size 20 x 30 51 x 76 cm.

Paper weight in the us is stated in lbs. One characteristic of all paper including paper meant for watercolor paintings is its weight. Text paper on the other hand can vary from 50 to 100 pounds 74 to 148 g m 2 depending on the coating used white shimmer paper matte paper etc. Which is what we will be comparing in today s study.

The heavier the paper the more it weighs and the more water it will take without buckling. Paper weight is determined by two different methods. Light paper is anything less than 140 lb 300 gsm and heavy is 300 400 lb 600 850 gsm. The three standard watercolor paper weights are 90 140 and 300 pounds.

Watercolor weighs at 140 pounds 300 g m 2 and is slightly heavier than other styles of paper due to its use in holding water. And is determined by weighing 500 sheets a ream in the basis size of a particular paper. The 4 basic weights of watercolor paper is 90lb 140lb 300lb and 400lb. 90 pound paper is a student grade and is rather thin.

Watercolor paper is measured by how much it weighs per 500 sheets. Standard watercolor paper weights. For example the basis size or in other words the master sheet size of our watercolor papers is 22 x30. The lighter the weight the more buckling and warping you will encounter the higher the weight the thicker the papers and less as a result less warping.

638 gsm 300 lb. The manufacturer weighs a ream of 500 sheets of paper in its uncut state and gives it a number to indicate the paper s weight. Weight indicates the quality and usually the price of the paper. Typical weights for watercolor paper are.