Cartridge paper is a must-have for artists and illustrators, widely known for its signature unique textured feel and characteristic weight. But what is textured paper, and are there any benefits to using it?-
Even though you may not be familiar with the name, you can find cartridge paper nearly anywhere. You may have also used cartridge paper and know it by another name. Cartridge paper has been the paper of choice for many artists worldwide for a long time, but did you know it has numerous benefits beyond artistic uses?
Dig in and discover the many benefits of cartridge paper and why you should consider switching to cartridge paper.
What is Cartridge Paper?
Cartridge paper A4 is a type of paper with a distinctive weight, color, and texture. Many artists, illustrators, and creatives prefer it over ordinary paper for this reason. You may also wonder why it’s called cartridge paper. In other parts of the world, like the US, names like sketch or drawing paper are the most common and accepted names for cartridge paper.
As the name suggests, cartridge paper origins can be traced back to the 14th century when the paper was used to house gunpowder, primer, and bullets. Due to the limited technology at the time, metal jacketed cartridges were difficult and costly to produce in mass.
The paper cartridge was the next best alternative. With a sufficient coat of beeswax or animal fat, paper cartridges got the job done perfectly. They were sturdy enough to house all the components, waterproof (when coated with fat or beeswax), and generally safer since the gunpowder was safely housed, preventing accidental ignition.
Today, cartridge paper is making a comeback. The only difference is it’s now being used extensively as stationery rather than housing bullets. Its unique weight, color, and texture make it perfect for various uses like pencil, charcoal, or watercolor paintings.
Now that you have an understanding of what cartridge paper is, here are six benefits of cartridge paper:
1. Highly Durable and Long-lasting
Since its earliest days, manufacturers have developed cartridge paper for heavy-duty work. The durability of cartridge paper is built into the design, and for context, normal printer paper usually has, at most, 80 grams per square meter of material.
In contrast, cartridge paper has a minimum of 130 grams per square meter. This lends cartridge paper its unique feel and weight, but it also means it can take quite a beating compared to regular printing paper.
As such, cartridge paper is ideal for use in situations that require quality preservation over many years, like archival purposes or paintings. Capable of beating the ravages of time and normal tear and wear, cartridge paper can maintain the timeless quality of whatever you put on it.
2. Perfectly Balanced Texture
Cartridge paper is not too smooth or rough but is renowned for its optimally balanced texture. This makes for precise sketches, drawings, or prints while still ensuring color pigments adhere securely to the surface. It’s not easy to replicate the same with regular printing paper.
3. Sustainable and Environment Friendly
Thanks to its hardy, durable design, cartridge paper is relatively more sustainable than regular printing paper. This is because it’s more forgiving when working with it, as you can easily erase, redraw/ rewrite, or repaint without causing too much damage to the paper.
Down the line, this translates to less waste. Considering that most of the world’s paper is derived from trees, fewer trees must be cut to meet the demand for paper. To add to that, cartridge papers are sourced from renewable sources, and they’re also easily recyclable.
4. Extremely Accessible and Affordable
Despite its high quality, the uptake of cartridge paper is still low. A significant percentage of the population still doesn’t know the benefits of cartridge paper. The result is low demand and generally affordable prices.
The fact that cartridge papers are made from renewable sources also helps to keep costs and prices down. There’s always a near-endless supply of cartridge paper, so you can be certain you can find it in most places at any time.
5. Moisture and Bleeding Resistant
Unlike ordinary printing paper, cartridge paper is usually very thick. A minimum of 130 grams per square meter of material guarantees this. For this reason, it would take a significant amount of moisture or liquid to soak through cartridge paper.
With cartridge paper, you can say goodbye to pesky ink or paint bleeding in your projects, which leads to messy outcomes or more time to rectify mistakes. On top of this, moisture-resistant cartridge paper can preserve prints or paintings better than regular print paper as there’s less leaching.
6. Versatile and Cross Compatible
The beauty of cartridge paper is it comes in varying thicknesses and textures. No matter what you’re trying to do, there’s a perfect cartridge paper type for the job. Cartridge paper will do the trick if you’re trying to sketch or draw using charcoal or water paints.
Cartridge paper isn’t picky with what you use it for or the media you use to print, sketch, or paint. Even with one type of cartridge paper, you can still draw, paint, or sketch with an implement of choice and achieve remarkable results.
Final Thoughts
Cartridge paper, or sketch or drawing paper, better known in other parts of the world, is the paper of choice for many artists, illustrators, and visual creatives. Cartridge paper has had a long history, nearly as long as firearms. While they’re great for artistic applications, there are many more benefits of using cartridge paper, even if you’re not an artist.
