Best Papers for Brush Lettering
What are the best papers for brush lettering? I get asked this SO many times on social media, and today I’m answering it here!
Why Do you need special paper for Brush Lettering?
Brush Pens have a flexible brush tip that is pointy when you buy them. This point frays very easily on rough/ wrong kind of papers. Once a marker frays, you will no longer get crisp lines from it.
What are the papers for brush lettering?
Below, are the best papers for brush lettering. For reference, I used the Tombow Dual Brush Pens to test these and of them win! I’ve linked each sketchbook individually so that you can easily shop.
Rhodia Dot Pads: Perfect for Guided Lettering
The Rhodia Classic Orange Notepad and Rhodia Black Dot Pad have smooth marker paper that is perfect for brush pens to glide on. The black pads have a light grid on each page, which make practicing drills for beginners very easy. The orange pads have blank pages great for larger brush pens.
HP Premium 32lb Paper: The Best for Everyday Practice
This HP Printer Paper is different than your regular printer paper as it has a glossy smooth finish. I use this to print lettering worksheets and practice without fraying your brush pens. I use our everyday Canon PIXMA TS3722 for printing daily practice sheets on the HP paper.
Canson Paper: For Blending and Wet Techniques
The Canson XL Mix Media Pad sketchbook is a great beginner choice and comes in many different sizes. This is a great starter sketchbook as it is comparatively inexpensive and the papers are thick that you can use both sides. The paper is smooth and is especially great for watercolor lettering
Bristol Board: The Best Choice for Final Artworks
The Strathmore Mixed Media Pad has a super smooth vellum surface finish to the paper. This sketchbook has the smoothest pages ever and lettering on it is such an enjoyable feeling. The sketchbook is rather larger in size, but great for brush lettering quotes.
Conclusion: Best papers for brush lettering
When shopping to buy the best papers for brush lettering look for the words “smooth” “glossy” or “marker paper” in the description of the product. If you run your palm flat over the sheet of paper, your hand should glide smoothly and feel no dramatic tooth or texture.
This was great thanks! Canson watercolor paper also comes with a spiral side
Yes I’ve seen that one with the spiral binding too. Which do you prefer- spiral or any binding? Am I the only one who doesnt like the glue binding?
Hi, I love to use the Tombows for watercoloring in my bullet journal. I have tried the Scribbles that matter one (160g/m2), but the color doesn’t look good on the paper and it doesn’t blend easily. The same happened with the Moleskine art sketchbook ((165 g/m2). I usually use the Leuchtturm 1917 (80 g/m2), because it’s the best I’ve found so far, even though there is some ghosting and bleeding. I also have to put some books on top of the bullet journal to flatten the pages once I’m done using the watercolor because the paper bends with the water. Do you have a special brand for bullet journal that works well with the Tombows dual brush for watercoloring?
Most dot journals I have used do not work well for watercoloring with Tombows. Mixed media papers or watercolor papers are the best really
Great, easy-to-digest, valuable information! Thanks for giving your time to write this!
My favourite paper is Canson. I’ve tested it with several pens and pencils and it works fantastically. I had no problems with this paper using the brush pens I have. The pens glide so effortlessly across its surface. It’s also acid-free, so the paper will not turn yellow over time.