Hot Press vs. Cold Press Watercolor Paper: A Comprehensive Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Watercolor painting is a beautiful and expressive art form, and the paper you choose plays a crucial role in the final outcome of your artwork. Two of the most common types of watercolor paper are hot press and cold press, each offering distinct textures and characteristics that influence how the paint behaves. Understanding the differences between these papers is essential for any watercolor artist, from beginner to professional. This comprehensive guide will delve deep into the nuances of both hot press and cold press paper, outlining their unique properties and providing detailed step-by-step instructions on how to use them effectively.

Understanding the Basics: Hot Press vs. Cold Press

The terms “hot press” and “cold press” refer to the manufacturing process of the paper, specifically how the paper is dried and pressed. These processes directly impact the texture, or tooth, of the paper’s surface.

Hot Press Paper

Hot press paper is created by pressing the paper between heated, smooth metal rollers during the drying process. This results in a very smooth, almost velvety surface with minimal texture. Key characteristics of hot press paper include:

• Smooth Texture: The most prominent feature is its exceptionally smooth surface, which is nearly devoid of texture.
• Fine Detail: The lack of tooth makes hot press ideal for intricate details, precise lines, and delicate washes.
• Controlled Washes: Paint tends to sit on the surface of the paper, allowing for very controlled and even washes.
• Less Absorbent: Due to its smoothness, hot press paper is less absorbent than cold press, which can lead to longer drying times.
• Ideal for: Detailed botanical art, illustrations, portraits with fine details, and techniques like glazing and layering.

Cold Press Paper

Cold press paper, on the other hand, is pressed between unheated rollers, resulting in a more textured, slightly bumpy surface. Key characteristics of cold press paper include:

• Textured Surface: The paper has a noticeable tooth, creating a grainy texture that’s more visually apparent and tactile.
• Granulation and Texture: The texture of cold press paper allows for interesting granulation effects, where pigment particles separate and settle into the paper’s valleys. This creates a more textured appearance.
• Absorbent: Cold press paper is more absorbent than hot press, allowing the paint to seep deeper into the fibers. This can lead to faster drying times.
• Blends Well: The texture is conducive to blending, allowing the artist to create soft edges and diffused washes.
• Ideal for: Landscapes, loose and expressive watercolor styles, plein air painting, and techniques where texture and granulation are desired.

Choosing the Right Paper for Your Project

The best paper for your project depends entirely on your artistic goals and the style you wish to achieve. Here’s a simple guideline to help you decide:

• Choose Hot Press if: You require smooth, precise details, prefer a controlled wash, are working on highly detailed or illustrative art, or enjoy the challenges of glazing and layering techniques on a less absorbent surface.
• Choose Cold Press if: You prefer a textured, expressive style, want to experiment with granulation effects, are painting landscapes or other subjects with a loose feel, or prefer a more absorbent paper that speeds up drying times.

Preparing Your Watercolor Paper: Stretching

Before you start painting, it’s crucial to properly prepare your watercolor paper, especially if you plan to use wet-on-wet techniques or large washes. Untreated paper can buckle and warp when wet, which can ruin your artwork. Stretching the paper is a process that ensures the paper remains flat during the painting process. While there are several methods, here are two popular approaches:

Method 1: Stretching with Gummed Tape

This is the traditional method of stretching watercolor paper and is particularly useful for larger sheets.

Materials You’ll Need:

• Your chosen watercolor paper (hot press or cold press)
• A drawing board or sturdy flat surface (slightly larger than your paper)
• Gummed paper tape (also known as brown paper tape)
• Clean water
• A sponge or wide brush
• A ruler or straight edge (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Soak the Paper: Fully immerse your watercolor paper in a tray of clean water for 5-10 minutes. Ensure the paper is thoroughly saturated. This allows the fibers to expand fully.
2. Remove Excess Water: Gently remove the paper from the water and lay it flat on a clean surface. Use a sponge to carefully blot away any excess water from both sides of the paper. The paper should be damp but not dripping wet.
3. Center the Paper: Position the damp paper on your drawing board. Try to center it as best as possible, leaving an equal border on all sides.
4. Apply Gummed Tape: Cut four strips of gummed tape, each long enough to overlap the edges of the paper by about an inch. Moisten the gummed side of the tape with water, using a sponge or brush. The tape should be wet, but not soaked.
5. Secure the Edges: Carefully adhere the moist tape around the edges of the paper, overlapping the paper by about half an inch and the drawing board by the other half. Use a ruler or straight edge for more precise placement. Press firmly along the tape to ensure good adhesion.
6. Let it Dry: Allow the stretched paper to dry completely, preferably overnight. As the paper dries, it will contract and become taut on the drawing board. The tape will keep it firmly in place and prevent warping.

Method 2: Stretching with Staples (for Smaller Pieces)

This method is suitable for smaller pieces of paper and can be quicker than using gummed tape. This method, while faster, can be more prone to damage to the paper and may not achieve the same level of tension as gummed tape.

Materials You’ll Need:

• Your chosen watercolor paper (hot press or cold press)
• A drawing board or sturdy flat surface
• Stapler
• Clean water
• A sponge or wide brush

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Soak the Paper: Fully immerse your watercolor paper in a tray of clean water for 5-10 minutes. Ensure the paper is thoroughly saturated.
2. Remove Excess Water: Gently remove the paper from the water and lay it flat on a clean surface. Use a sponge to carefully blot away any excess water from both sides of the paper. The paper should be damp but not dripping wet.
3. Position the Paper: Center the dampened paper on your drawing board, leaving a small border.
4. Secure with Staples: Start by placing a staple about half an inch inside each corner. Then add staples along each side, about an inch or two apart. Be sure the staples penetrate the paper and securely attach to the board. Try to maintain even tension as you go.
5. Allow to Dry: Allow the paper to dry completely, preferably overnight. As it dries, the paper will contract and become taut.

Working with Hot Press Paper: Detailed Instructions

Now that your paper is properly prepared, let’s delve into techniques specific to hot press paper.

Step-by-Step Guide for Painting on Hot Press Paper:

1. Planning Your Composition: Before you begin, sketch out your composition using a light pencil. The smooth surface of hot press paper is ideal for detailed sketching. Consider what kinds of effects you wish to create – delicate lines, controlled washes, or layered glazes.
2. Diluting Your Paints: Since hot press paper is less absorbent, you’ll want to use slightly more water with your watercolors. This will help the paint flow smoothly and prevent it from drying too quickly, avoiding harsh edges.
3. Applying Initial Washes: Start by applying your initial washes, using a soft brush and thin washes. Work methodically, allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next. This will help maintain the clarity of your colors and prevent muddying.
4. Adding Details: Use fine-tipped brushes to add intricate details, as this paper is ideal for these. Practice your line control to get precise results. Remember that the paint sits on the surface more than cold press, allowing you more control over line work.
5. Glazing and Layering: Hot press paper is well-suited for glazing techniques. Once your initial layers are dry, apply thin transparent layers of color over existing layers. This is called glazing, and builds depth and luminosity in your painting. Because the paper is not as absorbent, this technique is easier to control on hot press.
6. Lifting Color: If you need to lift color while the paint is still wet (wet on wet) or lift it from a dried surface, the smoother surface makes it easier to remove unwanted paint with a slightly damp brush, paper towel, or clean sponge.
7. Refining and Final Touches: Take your time to refine your artwork, adding final details and adjusting colors as needed. Don’t be afraid to use very diluted paint for subtle shading and highlights.

Tips for Success with Hot Press Paper

• Use Light Pressure: Because hot press is smooth, don’t press too hard with your brush or you may scratch the paper. Use light and delicate strokes.
• Work in Thin Layers: Build up your colors gradually using thin washes rather than applying thick layers of paint at once.
• Control the Water: Be mindful of the amount of water on your brush, as the lack of absorption may cause colors to run if you are not careful.
• Embrace the Details: Take advantage of the paper’s smoothness to create highly detailed and intricate art.
• Don’t Overwork: Avoid overworking a specific area, as this may lead to muddy colors. Move on to other areas of your painting and come back with fresh eyes.

Working with Cold Press Paper: Detailed Instructions

Let’s explore the techniques that work best with the textured surface of cold press paper.

Step-by-Step Guide for Painting on Cold Press Paper:

1. Planning Your Composition: Like with hot press, start with a light pencil sketch, paying attention to the details you will want to enhance with the texture of the paper. Cold press is very forgiving to sketching errors so don’t worry about being overly precise.
2. Loading Your Brush: Cold press paper requires slightly more pigment because it is more absorbent. Adjust the water to pigment ratio, using more pigment, especially if you want bold colors.
3. Applying Initial Washes: Use larger brushes to lay down washes quickly and broadly. The tooth of the cold press paper will provide a subtle broken color effect. This allows for more expressive and less uniform washes.
4. Embrace Granulation: Cold press is an excellent paper for exploring granulation. Use colors that are prone to granulating (like ultramarine blue, burnt umber, or raw sienna) and let the paper’s texture enhance this effect. Allow the pigments to settle in the paper’s valleys for a unique look.
5. Wet-on-Wet Techniques: Cold press is ideal for wet-on-wet techniques. Apply a wash of clean water to an area, and then drop in your colors. This creates soft, blended edges and allows for beautiful, unpredictable blooms.
6. Adding Texture: Let the paper’s texture work for you. Use dry brush techniques by loading a little paint onto a mostly dry brush and gently swiping across the surface of the paper. This will create beautiful, broken lines that can evoke feelings of grass, fur, or tree bark.
7. Lifting Colors: While cold press is more absorbent, you can still lift color. However, it will require a little more effort as the pigment will tend to stick to the paper. Lifting with a brush while the paper is still wet, or using a sponge, is more effective.
8. Refining and Final Touches: Don’t overwork specific areas of the painting. Let the texture and the paint interplay to add detail. If you must touch up an area, do so delicately. The texture is your friend when painting on cold press paper.

Tips for Success with Cold Press Paper

• Use Generous Water: Don’t be afraid to use plenty of water with your watercolors when working on cold press paper.
• Embrace Imperfection: Let the paper’s texture dictate the flow of the paint, rather than trying to control every single stroke.
• Layering is Key: Use a layering approach to build rich, luminous colors on the surface. The texture can create a wonderful, almost three-dimensional effect with layering.
• Explore Textural Techniques: Experiment with dry brushing, splattering, and other techniques to fully utilize the paper’s texture.
• Enjoy the Process: Cold press paper is ideal for expressive painting. Embrace the unexpected and have fun with the process.

Comparing the Drying Time

One noticeable difference between hot press and cold press is how they affect drying time. Hot press paper, with its smooth, non-absorbent surface, tends to dry more slowly. This is because the water sits more on top of the paper. On the other hand, cold press paper, being more textured and absorbent, dries more quickly, as the water is absorbed deep into the fibers. This difference can greatly affect the way you work, and you will need to take it into account when you plan your painting sessions.

Conclusion: Embracing the Unique Qualities of Each Paper

Both hot press and cold press watercolor papers offer unique advantages and cater to different styles and techniques. Understanding their properties and learning how to utilize them will greatly enhance your watercolor journey. Experiment with both types of paper and see how their specific traits influence your work. Whether you are seeking the precise detail and controlled washes of hot press, or the expressive texture and granulation of cold press, you are sure to find joy in working with these beautiful and versatile painting surfaces.

By following the detailed step-by-step instructions provided in this guide, you will be well-equipped to confidently explore the world of watercolor painting, regardless of which paper type you choose. Remember, the most important element of painting is practice. So grab your brushes, your paints, and your paper and start creating!