Other than that, the weight of the paper should be at least 90 lbs. In my experience, this amount of weight is just right to essentially hold inks and keep smudging at bay. But if you’re working on immense calligraphy projects, superior resilience is a must. Hence, the heavier the weight, the better. In addition to that, this kind of paper is acid-free or neutral PH that does the job to preserve the vibrant and bold colors of your work. It protects the beautiful hues, preventing it from turning yellow and fading even when exposed to light. Sizing refers to the type of material or substance that modifies the absorption characteristics of the paper, making it less absorbent so that inks won’t bleed through it. Other Important Factors to Consider For a superior quality Chinese calligraphy paper, this Sheng Xuan paper renders a premium quality surface that lets you practice a traditional writing technique.

Frisk Bleedproof Marker Pad A4 70gsm 50 Sheets - Ryman Frisk Bleedproof Marker Pad A4 70gsm 50 Sheets - Ryman

It isn’t the smoothest you can find but it can still let you practice your techniques and lettering styles with many different types of calligraphy pens. It also offers a remarkable versatility that can accommodate a variety of ink types. For this reason, I consider it the top-rated paper for lettering.While that makes it an ideal material for my medium, it can provide more spaces so I won’t have to spend on more sheets or paper pads in the long run. That’s definitely a steal for thrifty artists like me, not to mention its affordable price! I also thought that the surface was a contributing factor to maintain a clean and pristine artwork. Because there isn’t any rough or textured finish, it ensures neat applications and strokes without skipping and smearing. In terms of its design, it has slanted lines that can serve as guidelines for precise writing. The grid lines are slightly similar to Juvale paper pad, only this is longer and wider. Because the surface has a little bit of texture, I recommend using pens with Italic nibs or those with rounded edges and flat tips. This allows you to write seamlessly on the surface without scratching it or getting caught on tidbits of fibers. When it comes to its texture, it isn’t overly smooth nor too rough. I actually found myself being fond of its finish because it can handle varied lines and transition of strokes.

Best Paper for Copic Markers: Bleedproof, Durable and Cheap Best Paper for Copic Markers: Bleedproof, Durable and Cheap

If you’re an amateur calligrapher who is still working on your lettering styles and structures, this paper has dots and lines that can elevate your consistency so you can write on a straight line and create a better formation. As for me, I prefer this type of texture at times, especially when I work with brush pens and my Pilot Parallel. It can provide a little tooth and hence, it grabs the ink and prevents smearing and spreading throughout the paper. It also amazes me that every stroke and a few applications don’t cause any ink feathering. Although these reputable brands are definitely worth every penny, I’ve also found brands that provide great quality sheets and paper pads for calligraphy such as Southworth and Studio Series. Some are non-branded but keep up with very nice paper quality like the ones mentioned on our list.Sifting through its properties, a calligraphy paper stands out with its exceptional characteristics. It doesn’t work like any regular pen papers or copy papers that you’d normally use for everyday printing. What makes it special is its sized surface that makes it bleedproof and hence, it can accommodate inks without feathering, bleeding, and smudging. You’ve just bought a paper to practice your calligraphy. Then, you took out your pen and started with a nice and steady stroke but as you went on, something didn’t feel right. Just before you know it, the ink had bled through the paper and your work became nothing short of a mess. Thanks to its decent finish and quality, producing lines and creating characters with brush pens and markers aren’t much of a trouble.

Best Calligraphy Papers Reviewed and Rated in 2023 - Art Ltd 10 Best Calligraphy Papers Reviewed and Rated in 2023 - Art Ltd

On the other hand, I also want to walk you through some of the types of papers that don’t do well with calligraphy pens. I’ve tried it with a dip pen before using almost every sort of ink. Surprisingly, producing upstrokes and downstrokes wasn’t a struggle because it has a smooth surface that allows my pen to seamlessly glide on. They also offer a wide range of art supplies for your choice of medium and many other products that will boost your artistic efforts whether you’re a beginner or a professional artist. It is one of the ideal options for Asian style brush painting because it is raw, meaning it has optimum absorbency that exhibits every stroke and character the best way possible. At the same time, you can also illustrate stunning dramatic effects and bolder strokes.To keep your calligraphy papers in the top and pristine shape, you should keep them in a storage box or case if you’re not going to use them. This will protect your art paper from getting crumpled or deformed, which won’t be an ideal surface if you’re going to frame it later on. Another way to find the perfect type of paper for your skills is to sort out which calligraphy writing tools you often use. For instance, if brush pens are your primary medium, you should go for a calligraphy paper that is suitable for brush lettering. For many new calligraphers, keeping the letters in Italic style is sometimes a struggle. But to resolve this common dilemma, a lot of calligraphy pads provide pre-printed grids to help beginners achieve the perfect slanted writings.

Letraset Bleedproof Marker Pad, 70 gsm, 50 Sheets - A2 Letraset Bleedproof Marker Pad, 70 gsm, 50 Sheets - A2

If you’re at the early phase of learning calligraphy, you have probably watched several tutorials or tried tracing characters from booklets. But if you’re after a calligraphy paper for beginner and perfectionist artists, you’d probably love these practice sheets as much as I do. A sized paper should also be considered if you want to make sure it is bleedproof. This type of treatment reduces the absorption ability of the surface, thereby keeping the inks from bleeding or smearing. Yes, it is but you have to be careful which variant you should choose. Watercolor papers can either be cold press or hot press. For a quality that can accommodate calligraphy inks, opt for a hot press watercolor paper. This variant is less absorbent compared to a cold press paper. Pastel Paper: With initial applications, I thought this was one of the top alternatives for calligraphy papers. However, it isn’t bleedproof, especially if you transition your hand at a slower pace. Textures vary from light to heavy, which are typically too rough for calligraphy pens. This paper can also handle various calligraphy pens such as dip pens, markers, and brush pens. I found this quite an advantage for those who love to experiment with different lettering styles using a wide range of calligraphy tools.

There are a ton of brands for calligraphy papers but the ones that never miss my list of trustworthy brands are Strathmore and US Art Supply. You’re probably familiar with these brands as they have been pretty popular for their vast lineup of high-quality art papers such as calligraphy papers. When calligraphy papers are not available, I always find parchment papers an excellent substitute. One of the few brands I trust for my set of parchment specialty papers is Southworth. When chiseled markers or Pilot Parallel pens are your main calligraphy tool, you might find yourself enjoying this paper pad from U.S Art Supply. The top-tier paper for calligraphy should be Acid-free or Neutral PH. It’s a certain treatment that will do the job to preserve your work for the longest time possible without any discoloration, even when it’s exposed to light. It saves your masterpiece from turning yellow, fading, or even becoming brittle in the long run.