The most common types of watercolor paper come in either cold press or hot press surfaces. Generally, cold press paper is rougher and more absorbent so that watercolor paint dries more quickly, allowing less time to fix mistakes. Cold press paper also has a paler quality to the paint color upon drying. The rougher surface of cold press paper, however, adds to the texture and interest of the final piece. Most watercolor artists use cold press paper of various weights.
By contrast, hot press paper is smoother and less absorbent so that you have more time to adjust the paint on the surface and lift it off, even after it dries. Paint on hot press paper dries with a slightly more bright, vibrant, and velvety quality due to the surface characteristics. Additionally, the smoother the surface, the more you can control the finer lines in a painting.
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Hot press paper also holds more water and paint layers without warping or having to stretch it or tape it down. If you like the freedom to turn your paper in all directions as you paint, taping it down won’t really work well for you. If you tend to use a fair amount of water, cold press paper may not be sturdy enough. If you use more layers of color than the average watercolor artist, using heavier paper is a must. Another consideration is whether you want to embellish your work with ink, colored pencils, or other media. In such cases, hot press paper is a better choice.
If you find that you have a lighter touch, use less water, prefer a more subtle flat color style, or pre-plan your artwork such that you use fewer layers or need less time to rework your paint, then cold press paper may work perfectly well for your needs. It may be best to try a bit of both types of paper to see what works best for your individual painting style and aesthetic goals for each piece.
It’s also important to use artist-grade paper that is archival quality, acid free, pH neutral, and 100% cotton rag so that the quality of your artwork holds up indefinitely. No one wants their artwork to yellow or degrade over time. You can also buy large watercolor sheets and then cut them into the exact size that you need for each piece, rather than using the preset sizes of watercolor pads, watercolor panels, and watercolor boards.