Watercolor Paper Weights Explained

1 measuring a ream of 500 sheets 22 x 30 in pounds lbs or 2 by measuring a single sheet in grams per square meter gsm or g m2.

Watercolor paper weights explained.

For example the basis size or in other words the master sheet size of our watercolor papers is 22 x30. The basic premise is the bigger the number the thicker the paper. The pound per ream is a reference to what a ream of 500 sheets of paper would weigh. One characteristic of all paper including paper meant for watercolor paintings is its weight.

638 gsm 300 lb. The three standard watercolor paper weights are 90 140 and 300 pounds. 190 gsm 90 lb or student grade 300 gsm 140 lb 356 gsm 260 lb and. Watercolor paper is measured by how much it weighs per 500 sheets.

Artists don t typically purchase 300 pounds of paper at a given time. 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. Standard watercolor paper weights. And is determined by weighing 500 sheets a ream in the basis size of a particular paper.

The heavier the paper the more it weighs and the more water it will take without buckling. Typical weights for watercolor paper are. 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.

Light paper is anything less than 140 lb 300 gsm and heavy is 300 400 lb 600 850 gsm. When you buy watercolor paper the first thing you should consider is its weight. Paper weight is determined by two different methods. 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.

Weight indicates the quality and usually the price of the paper. Paper weight in the us is stated in lbs. 90 pound paper is a student grade and is rather thin. 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.