Which is better? hot pressed, cold pressed or rough watercolour paper?
Notes and swatches comparing the different types of professional Arches Watercolour Papers and helpful tips to keep in mind when deciding which one will be best for you!
Everyone is different, therefore has different styles and ways of painting so there’s no definitive ‘Better’ paper
Read and compare my swatches to decide for yourself
Arches Hot Pressed Watercolour Paper
Has the smoothest surface of all three, and can achieve perfect exact fine lines so will be the best paper for painting intricate details
In my opinion it would be better suited for artists who have excellent water control abilities as the colour tends to flow unpredictably compared to the other paper textures
Arches Cold Pressed Watercolour Paper
The most consistent of all three papers and in my opinion, the easiest to work with
Can achieve exact fine lines and has a more predictable colour flow and smoother washes
Arches Rough Watercolour Paper
Hard to achieve exact lines and takes a lot more water to cover the same surface area that can be covered on hot or cold pressed paper
Better suited to bigger brushes with excellent water holding capabilities
Colours flow beautifully and this paper brings out some amazing granulation effects - great for an abstract or intuitive watercolour artist
