Hot Press vs. Cold Press Watercolor Paper: which is right for you and your art?
If you paint with watercolors, you’ve likely come across the terms hot press and cold press when shopping for watercolor paper. I will admit it can get confusing fast, but the differences are pretty simple.
What does hot press and cold press mean, and does it matter which one you choose to paint on?
It does, and choosing the right watercolor paper can significantly impact your painting experience and final result.
In this post, I discuss the differences between the two papers and why you may want to use one over the other. I’ll also share what I prefer to paint on. Let’s get into it!
Hot Press vs. Cold Press Watercolor Paper
Your watercolor paper guide to choosing the best paper for your artwork. 🙂
Right away it’s pretty obvious the difference is mainly texture, but that alone can greatly affect your work. Let’s start with breaking down the differences between hot press and cold press paper.
What is Hot Press Watercolor Paper?
Hot press watercolor paper is smooth, and has very little texture. It’s ideal for artists who love detail work and smooth washes.
Hot press is preferred by artists who need precision and fine detail in their artwork.
Pros of Hot Press Paper:
- Smooth Surface: Perfect for fine details, ink, and mixed media.
- Vibrant Colors: Paint appears more saturated due to less absorption.
- Great for Scanning: The lack of texture makes digital reproduction easier.
Cons of Hot Press Paper:
- Less Absorbent: Can be tricky for beginners.
- Prone To Buckling: If you use a lot of water, hot press paper can warp and buckle.
- Paint Can Lift Easily: Since it doesn’t absorb water as much as cold press, reworking areas may cause previous layers to lift.
Related: My Favorite Watercolor Supplies
What is Cold Press Watercolor Paper?
Cold press watercolor paper has a textured, bumpy surface and tends to be the most popular choice for most watercolorists.
Pros of Cold Press Paper:
- Textured Surface: Adds depth and character to watercolor paintings.
- More Absorbent: Holds water well, allowing for soft blending and washes.
- Great for Beginners: Easier to control water flow and pigment dispersion.
- Ideal for Traditional Watercolor Techniques: Works beautifully with wet-on-wet painting.
Cons of Cold Press Paper:
- Less Detail-Friendly: Fine details can be harder to achieve due to the texture, but not impossible.
My Favorite Watercolor Paper
10000% cold press paper.
Even though I don’t care for hot press paper, I still have some on hand in case I need it for a specific project. I don’t buy it often, but it has its uses every once in a while. I like drawing with oil pastels on hot press paper because it’s smooth.
Recently I wrote a post on my favorite watercolor papers, so check out that blog if you want to read more about watercolor paper!
Hot Press Vs. Cold Press Example
On the left is hot press paper, and on the right is cold press. These are tiny, quick paintings (under 3″) and I used the same colors to show the differences.
Since I’m not very experienced using hot press paper, I definitely struggled with blending and moving the paint around on it. When I started painting the mini landscapes, I quickly realized the techniques I use when painting on cold press paper won’t work as well with hot press paper. It’s crazy how different the painting experience is from one paper to another!
A few of my quick takeaways from my experiment are that the hot press paper is definitely more vibrant, which is fun. The cold press paper shows the granulation in the paint much more than hot press as well.
Even from these small, quick examples, it’s clear to see how hot press paper is better for detail and smoothness.
Cold press paper allows for more movement and flexibility (which I love) so the landscape turned out looser.
Which Watercolor Paper Should You Choose?
If you’re new to watercolor painting, I recommend getting both papers so you can see the differences first hand. Truly the choice between cold press and hot press depends on your painting style and preferences.
You may surprise yourself with the paper you prefer after practicing with them both.
To put it simply:
Choose Hot Press Paper If: You want smooth washes, enjoy creating highly detailed illustrations, want to incorporate ink, colored pencils, etc.
Choose Cold Press Paper If: You prefer traditional watercolor techniques, like the textured look, want to use a lot of water, etc.
Final Thoughts On Watercolor Paper Types
No two artists are the same. From paint brands, to brushes, paper, palettes, and more, we all have our likes and dislikes. The journey of being an artist is finding what works for you and your artwork. That’s the fun of it. 🙂
Which type of watercolor paper do you prefer? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for reading 🙂
-Amanda
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