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Canson XL Series Watercolor Pad, Heavyweight White Paper, Foldover Binding, 30 Sheets, 9x12 inch
Best student watercolor paper

Canson

Canson XL Watercolor Pad

A 9 x 12 inch pad of 30 heavyweight 140 lb watercolor sheets with a cold press finish, acid-free paper and a foldover binding.

Best for: Painters who want a pad of acid-free cold press watercolor paper

Size
9 x 12 in
Weight
140 lb
Sheets
30
Surface
Cold press

Buy it if

  • You want 140 lb cold press watercolor paper in a 9 x 12 inch pad
  • You want acid-free paper
  • You want a foldover pad you can flip over and keep working on

Skip it if

  • You want 100% cotton paper. The listing does not state the fiber content
  • You want a smooth hot press surface. The Arches Hot Press Watercolor Pad is hot pressed

What the Canson XL Watercolor Pad is

The Canson XL Watercolor Pad is a 9 x 12 inch pad of 30 sheets of heavyweight white 140 lb paper. The sheets have a cold press finish, which Canson calls a durable surface, and the pad has a foldover binding.

The listing says the paper is acid-free. It does not state the fiber content, so it does not claim cotton. One listing bullet mentions a 12 x 19 inch pad, but the title and size say 9 x 12 inches with 30 sheets.

Key features, explained

Based on the manufacturer's Amazon listing.

  • 140 lb heavyweight paper

    Canson lists the paper as heavyweight, at 140 lb.

  • Cold press surface

    Canson calls the cold press finish a durable surface. Cold press paper generally has a light texture, while hot press is smooth.

  • 30 sheets, 9 x 12 inches

    The title lists 30 sheets in a 9 x 12 inch pad.

  • Acid-free

    The listing says the paper is acid-free. Acid-free paper is made to resist yellowing over time.

  • Foldover binding

    Pages fold back over the top of the pad, so you can keep working through it.

Canson XL Watercolor Pad specifications

Type
Watercolor paper pad
Size
9 x 12 in
Sheets
30
Weight
140 lb
Surface
Cold press
Paper
Acid-free (fiber content not listed)
Binding
Foldover
Color
White
Series
Canson XL
Model
100510941

Who the Canson XL Watercolor Pad suits

  • Watercolor on cold press. The pad is sold as watercolor paper with a cold press finish.
  • Painters who want 30 sheets. The pad holds 30 sheets, against 12 in the Arches pad and 40 in the Soucolor pad.
  • Painters who keep their work. The listing says the paper is acid-free.

Look elsewhere if: you want 100% cotton paper. The Arches Hot Press Watercolor Pad lists 100% cotton.

Canson XL Watercolor Pad vs similar picks

  • Canson XL Watercolor Pad

    Size
    9 x 12 in
    Weight
    140 lb
    Sheets
    30
    Surface
    Cold press

    Choose it for: A foldover cold press pad

  • Soucolor Watercolor Paper Pad 9x12

    Size
    9 x 12 in
    Weight
    300 gsm / 140 lb
    Sheets
    40
    Surface
    Cold press

    Choose it for: More sheets in the same size

  • Arches Hot Press Watercolor Pad

    Size
    9 x 12 in
    Weight
    140 lb (300gsm)
    Sheets
    12
    Surface
    Hot pressed, 100% cotton

    Choose it for: 100% cotton, hot pressed

Before you buy

  • Taping a sheet to a board before big, wet washes is a common way to keep any watercolor paper flat.
  • The listing does not state the fiber content, so do not assume cotton.
  • It is a cold press surface. If you want a smooth sheet, look at a hot press pad.
  • One bullet on the listing says 12 x 19 inch pad. The title and size say 9 x 12 inches, 30 sheets.

Frequently asked questions about the Canson XL Watercolor Pad

Is Canson XL watercolor paper good for beginners?
The listing does not say who it is for. It is 140 lb cold press, acid-free watercolor paper in a 30 sheet, 9 x 12 inch pad.
Is Canson XL watercolor paper 100% cotton?
The listing does not state the fiber content. For 100% cotton paper, the Arches Hot Press Watercolor Pad lists 100% cotton.
Is Canson XL watercolor paper acid-free?
Yes. The listing says the paper is acid-free.
How do I stop Canson XL watercolor paper from buckling?
The listing does not cover buckling. A common method for any watercolor paper is to tape all four edges to a board and let the sheet dry flat before removing the tape.
What surface does Canson XL watercolor paper have?
Cold press, which Canson describes as a durable surface.

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