Types of Paper for Paper Crafts

Paper crafts are a very creative way of designing your houses and offices. There have been thousands or millions of paper craft products available throughout the world. Paper crafts have so many uses in our lives now. They are not just for decorations. They can also be used as a gift.

There are many types of papers. They have different characteristics that make them appropriate for a certain project over another.

First is the watercolor paper. It was developed in 1750s by James Whatman. He created a wire cloth first used in printing. He observed that this material is easily damaged when wet. To improve, he used an alum-gelatin for watercolor paper. However, this invention had problems with acidity.

Later on, Strathmore developed watercolor paper made of pure cotton. Nowadays, watercolor paper comes in different sizes and in only three variations. These are cold press, hot press and rough finish. Cold press is ideal for beginners. It has a semi rough finish. The hot press have smooth vellum surface. The rough finish is less expensive. Its use may be effective with acrylic, pastels and paint stick.

Second kind of paper is drawing papers. They are permeable to graphite and durable to erasures. It should have not blot ink and it should absorb color freely. This kind of paper is grouped into five basic groups: bond paper, bristol, charcoal and pastel, graphics paper and sketching. Bond paper has ledger or layout bond. It is like a Bristol with vellum finish.

Bristol is the most durable and strongest drawing paper. It is for all purpose of drawing. It may come in plate or vellum finishes. Charcoal and pastel can be interchangeable. Its two finishes are laid and irregular. Graphics paper is sold as rag bonds. They are called translucent to bright white paper.

A print paper has a softer surface. It is easier to manipulate it to different shapes and sizes. It is good to use for origami or paper-folding art. Most print papers are mass produced in paper factories, while some are molded. The more expensive print papers, and also the better kind, are the handmade ones. This involves a more painstaking process, and each paper turns out unique from the rest of the stack.

Visualizing papers are transparent, like non-rag, graphic and rag tracing papers. It is laid on top of a design for copying. The transparent or translucent characteristic sees through the design well. This is most often used by engineers and drafters. But it is also commonly used in paper crafts for various tracing purposes. Visualizing papers can also be used to overlay a design for a more elegant effect or discreet look. It can also create an element of surprise.

Specialty paper can be interleaving or separation sheets, calligraphy, transfer paper, coated, stencil paper, cove and decorative paper. Interleaving or separation sheets are for artwork isolation protection. Calligraphy is a scratch and wrinkle free paper for pen and ink. Transfer paper is used to transfer drawing from the original set up to another surface. Coated is the one that is used for book binding, presentations and printing. Stencil paper has buckling resistance. Cove is the one that is used for catalogue and Magazines. Decorative paper is marbles, folk or printed paper.

Oriental paper is highly absorbent. It uses natural vegetable adhesive mucilage. It can be hand made or machine made.

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