What's the Difference Between COLD and HOT Pressed Watercolor Paper? Comprehensive Guide for Artists

when you start with watercolors, A lot of beginners usually get confused with Hot Pressed and Cold Pressed. My personal preference is cold-pressed because it has a textured surface and provides a nice detail when you dry brush it. However, I use cold-pressed to do rainy scenes/wet scenes it gives a really nice smooth transition.

Hot Press:

Cold Press:

Hot Press Blending:

In the hot press, you can see the edges are textured and give and sparkly impressions of waters.

Cold Press Blending:

In the cold press, you can see the edges are smoother and give smoother transition impressions of waters.

Advantages of COLD Pressed Watercolor Paper

• Versatile: Cold pressed watercolor paper can be used for a variety of painting styles, including wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and dry brush techniques.

• Texture: The medium tooth of cold pressed watercolor paper provides a nice texture that enhances the visual interest of your artwork.

• Durability: Cold pressed watercolor paper is more durable than hot pressed paper, which means it can withstand more scrubbing and lifting of paint without damaging the surface.

Disadvantages of COLD Pressed Watercolor Paper

• Blending: The textured surface of cold pressed watercolor paper may make it more difficult to blend colors smoothly, especially if you're using a lot of water.

• Details: If you're doing highly detailed work, the tooth of cold pressed watercolor paper may interfere with your ability to achieve fine lines and details.

Advantages of HOT Pressed Watercolor Paper

• Smoothness: The smooth surface of hot pressed watercolor paper allows for clean and precise brushstrokes, making it ideal for detailed work and illustrations.

• Color accuracy: Hot pressed watercolor paper provides a more accurate representation of color, as the smooth surface reflects more light and produces brighter and more vibrant colors.

• Blending: Hot pressed watercolor paper allows for smoother blending of colors, as the paint sits on the surface longer and doesn't soak in as quickly as cold pressed paper.

Disadvantages of HOT Pressed Watercolor Paper

• Absorbency: Hot pressed watercolor paper is less absorbent than cold pressed paper, which means it can be more difficult to achieve certain techniques, such

If you have any other questions, comment below.

Happy Painting!!!