It is very easy to control the watercolour washes and it shows the granulation of the pigments beautifully. This is 300gsm cold pressed, acid free, 100% cotton extra white Fabriano Artistico paper. Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbook sample page It is best for single pass watercolour techniques and no fiddling. While it is cold pressed with a surface that takes pen or pencil beautifully, you have to work quickly with watercolours so it is more difficult to control. This is a brighter white paper like the Alpha, but in a heavier 270gsm weight. Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook sample page Personally I always prefer to use watercolour on cold pressed rather than smooth or hot-pressed papers, but many like the smooth surface.

It is gorgeous for pen and pencil but you need to use watercolour very quickly to keep in under control. This is a smooth surfaced 270 gsm paper in a bright white. Moleskine Watercolour sketchbook (2nd generation) sample page This sample is painted on the 'right' side. I understand it has improved but I haven't tried the latest version. But is has quite a different texture on each side of the paper. This is 200gsm paper in the same natural white colour as the Hahnemühle and Global. Moleskine Watercolour Notebook (2nd Generation) Moleskine Watercolour sketchbook (original) sample page It took pen and pencil well and watercolour behaved very predictably on it.

I loved this paper when I first started using it in 2009. The original Moleskine watercolour notebook had wonderful 200gsm natural white paper, with the same cold pressed texture on both sides. Moleskine Watercolour notebook (original)

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