Understanding Paper for Art Prints & Guide

November 13, 2026

I've been looking at different kinds of paper for fine art printing and found three options that really caught my eye: matte paper, textured cardstock and 100% cotton rag paper (like watercolor paper).

100% Cotton Rag Paper/Watercolour Paper : Similar to watercolour paper, with a natural feel and subtle texture.
Textured fine art paper: More pronounced texture, similar to traditional art paper.
Matte Paper: Non-glossy finish that gives artwork a soft, natural appearance.

What I’ve found is that fine art artists generally prefer low-gloss or non-gloss paper finishes, such as the ones mentioned above. The papers have a subtle, natural look that works beautifully with artwork. Since most of my original work is done on cold-press thicker paper I also like prints that have a similar texture and feel. This allows the customer to feel closer to the original artwork and makes the print feel more authentic and part of the artist’s creative process.

My Two Trial Prints on 100% Cotton Rag Paper and Textured Fine Art Paper

But how are fine art printing papers different from the regular drawing paper I use for my original artwork?
I use mostly cold pressed, fairly thick, acid free paper for drawing. About 300gsm. To put that in perspective, this is the equivalent of card greeting paper but almost twice as thick. The general rule of thumb is that fine art printing paper is made to control ink absorption, and to prevent ink from spreading. This is also the reason why printer manufacturers usually do not recommend using ordinary art paper in the printers. It will affect the quality of the print and the ink will bleed.

The textured paper has a stronger, roller-like impression.

I also started experimenting with different types of paper to see how the artwork would look when printed on each one. My first impression was that I didn't particularly like the results on non-glossy paper, probably because I'm so used to seeing artwork printed on glossy finishes.

The impression on 100% cotton rag paper is much smoother.

However, I did notice something interesting: the watercolour paper (100% cotton rag paper) had a very slight sheen compared to the more textured paper. It's a subtle difference, but one that was quite noticeable.

Comparison of Matte Paper (left) and 100% Cotton Rag Paper (right)

I compared the different paper types and realized that the choice of paper is as important as the artwork itself. At first I was more taken with the gloss paper but the matte and textured finishes had a more natural, traditional feel. For my work I would want a paper that captures the original colors, details and texture as close as possible, giving customers a print that is more like an original piece of art.
Ultimately it comes down to personal preference, the sort of artwork and the kind of finish you are looking for.

So much love and appreciation,

Raj Darshi