A list of 12 Black paper brands - Archival and Acid Free options

Somerset black ​Archival & Acid free WHERE to purchase suppliers outside the uk Vertical Divider

Somerset is a very popular grade of printmaking paper from the historic St. Cuthbert’s Mill in the UK, first introduced in the early 1970’s. In addition to its popularity in printmaking, Somerset found success as a wonderful drawing paper due to its soft handle and supple feel. Made with improved black pigments, Somerset Black has a deep, warm shade combined with a soft velvet surface. The internal structure of the sheet exhibits even darker fibres, which gives dramatic results, especially when laser etched. It is made to archival standards from 100% cotton and is fade resistant to the Blue Wool scale 6+. Mould made from 100% cotton to high archival standards. Read our Somerset article. ​ Company: St. Cuthbert's Mill ​Weight: 280gsm Texture: Velvet (Like NOT surface) Composition: 100% Cotton ​Suitable for: Pastel, pencil and charcoal. Block/relief printing, embossing, intaglio/etching, hand/stone lithography, laser printing, letterpress and silkscreen/serigraphy. Sizes available: Sheets only (30" x 22" & 30" x 44") Company base: UK ​Accessibility: Limited suppliers. ​Vegan: Yes

UArt Black paper ​Archival WHERE to purchase Vertical Divider

UART Premium Sanded Pastel Paper accepts a wide variety of wet media for underpainting without compromising or damaging the tooth. The company states that you can add layer upon layer, correcting and creating, without impairing the surface of your artwork. From the toothiest grade (240), which is ideal for blending and layering, to the finer grades that are perfect for delicate and detailed work. You can add layer on top of layer without losing tooth. The abrasive surface eliminates the need for fixatives. The colour of the paper fluctuates depending on which grades you are using: while the 400 & 500 grades provide a rich black texture, the 600 & 800 grades lean towards a dark charcoal colour, as the higher the grade, the smaller the pigments. UART employs a state-of-the-art manufacturing process that ensures a consistent grain application on every inch of the paper. Read our UArt dark paper article. Company: Uneeda ​Grades: 400/500/600/800 (Abrasiveness) ​Texture: Abrasive Composition: Unsure - This is a sandpaper ​​Suitable for: Pastels, Pencils, Charcoal, Watercolour, and Conté. Accepts all wet media (alcohol, mineral spirits, turpentine, water) for underpainting. Sizes available: Sheets, Mounted boards and rolls. Company base: New York, USA Accessibility: Accessible in various countries ​Vegan: Yes

Stonehenge black ​Archival & Acid free WHERE to purchase Vertical Divider

Stonehenge was created in 1972 specifically as a 100% cotton deckled paper for the printmaking community. Over the years, it has gained worldwide recognition as a paper that works well across a range of other fine art applications. The paper of choice of many members of the Colored Pencil Society of America, Stonehenge has the ability to take multiple layers of wax-based and oil-based coloured pencil without any buildup, allowing colours to penetrate and absorb into the surface of the sheet. Neutral pH and no optical brightening agents (OBA's can cause fading). Read our Stonehenge article.  Company: Legion ​Weight: 250gsm Texture: Vellum Composition: 100% Cotton ​Suitable for: Coloured Pencil, Pen & Ink, Pastel, Charcoal, Watercolour, Hand Lithography, Intaglio, Letterpress, Offset, Relief Printing and Silkscreen Sizes available: Sheets & rolls Company base: USA ​Accessibility: Easier to access in the USA ​Vegan: Yes

Velour pastel ​Archival & Acid-free WHERE to purchase Vertical Divider

Velour paper is an artist quality pastel paper with a velvety texture that grips soft pastel and give them a delicate soft edge. Hahnemuhle Velour is an artist-quality 260gsm pastel paper which is both acid-free and archival. It is composed of an acid-free backing sheet which is coated with inert synthetic fibres. This gives the surface a velvety feel which has sufficient tooth to hold soft pastel, as well as oil pastel, charcoal or soft pencils. Velour can hold a lot of pastel, so it is perfect for painterly pastel artists who create works with soft edges and is particularly suited to pet portraiture. Company: Hahnemühle Weight: 260gsm ​Texture: Texture ​Composition: Cellulose Suitable for: Soft & Oil pastel, soft pencil, Charcoal and Conté crayons​. Sizes available: Sheets and pads Company base: Germany Accessibility: Although not widely available, it is accessible online. ​Vegan: Yes

Aqua Stonehenge ​Archival & Acid free WHERE to purchase Vertical Divider

​Stonehenge Aqua Black Watercolour paper is a cotton paper with excellent wet-on-wet performance. Paint can be easily manipulated without drying up. Like any other top-quality watercolour paper, it withstands repeated wetting/drying with no damage to the paper. The paper allows for easy lifting and blending and ensures you have excellent control of your colours.Colours won't blur, bleed, or mix in undesirable ways like other black papers can. It holds multiple layers of colour and holds up to masking and scrubbing. ​Company: Legion Weight: 300gsm ​Texture: Hot pressed and NOT Composition: 100% Cotton ​Suitable for: Coloured pencils, Pen & Ink, Pastel & Charcoal, Metallic/Interference/Iridescent paint, Gouache, Acrylics, Watercolour, Watercolour pencil, Pigment sticks, Markers, Calligraphy, Intaglio, Letterpress and Silkscreen. Sizes available: Blocks, pads and sheets Company base: USA Accessibility: Available but easier to access in the USA ​Vegan: Yes

Colourfix™ black Archival & Acid Free WHERE to purchase Vertical Divider

Colourfix papers are sheets of high-quality, archival 300gsm hot pressed European watercolour paper, screen printed with Colourfix Primer. The natural, toothy surface will hold multiple layers of pastel without the need for fixative, allowing the velvet bloom and vibrant colour of pastel to be preserved. Erasing is also easy with Colourfix™ – simply lift off excess pastel with clear adhesive tape, brush off with a dry brush, or use a pencil eraser. Alternatively, errors can be overpainted or areas touched up with the matching colour of Art Spectrum Colourfix™ Primer. The tough, toothy surface can be sanded, scrubbed, soaked and reworked over and over. Read our Colourfix smooth article. Company: Art Spectrum ​Weight: 340gsm Texture: Fine (Smooth), Medium (Original) & Rough (Supertooth) surfaces ​Composition: 100% Cotton and primer ​Suitable for: Pastels, oil colours, acrylics, inks, oil pastels, gouache, watercolours and dry media such as charcoal and pencils. Sizes available: Sheets and pads Company base: Australia Accessibility: Available across many countries. ​Vegan: Yes

Tiziano pastel paper Archival & Acid free WHERE to purchase Vertical Divider

​Tiziano is a high rag content, acid-free, pH neutral and with high archival permanence. The colours are highly lightfast. It is a cold press surface, containing cotton. Tiziano is Acid Free, produced with ECF pulp (Elemental Chlorine Free), FSC® certified from forests responsibly managed respectful of environmental, social and economic standards. Particularly suited to soft and oil pastels due to its good pigment uptake. Company: Fabriano Weight: 160gsm ​Texture: Tooth ​Composition: High rag content Suitable for: Pastel, pencil, graphite, charcoal and airbrush. Can also be used with all printing techniques. Sizes available: Sheets, pads and rolls ​Company base: Italy Accessibility: Easily accessible  ​Vegan: Yes (Synthetic sizing)

Mi-tientes 'Touch' Acid free WHERE to purchase Vertical Divider

Canson Mi-Teintes Touch Paper is particularly suited to soft and oil pastels as well as pencil, but is also suited to wet techniques and acrylics. The Touch Paper is micro-abrasive with a finely textured, sandblasted finish. It is lightfast and age-resistant. The innovative surface holds the pigments and creates the possibility of superimposition of colours and colour mixing. Colours are rendered remarkably, and fine details stand out. ​Read our Mi-tientes Touch article. ​Company: Canson Weight: 350gsm ​Texture: Abrasive surface (Medium) Composition: watercolour paper and a primer ​Suitable for: Pastel, sanguine, charcoal, chalk and acrylic. Sizes available: Sheets & Pads Company base: France Accessibility: Not as accessible as its pastel paper  ​Vegan: No. (sized with gelatin)

Mi-tientes pastel paper ​Acid free Vertical Divider WHERE to purchase

This paper is a pulp-dyed colour paper that contains more than 50% cotton. It has the advantage of having a different texture on either side: a honeycombed side; and fine grain on the other. It has 50 light-resistant tones including the black. Pulp-dyed, colours are light-resistant and its high cotton content makes it both robust and flexible. Complies with ISO 9706 standards on permanence, to guarantee excellent conservation. It is acid-free and has no optical brightness additives (OBA's can cause fading). ​Company: Canson Weight: 160gsm ​Texture: 2 sided - Fine and Textured (Like NOT paper) Composition: Cotton rag (50% cotton) ​Suitable for: Pastel, charcoal, sanguine, pencil, even watercolours and gouache. Handicrafts such as folding, cutting, gluing, making cards, etc. Sizes available: Sheets, rolls and pads Company base: France Accessibility: Easily accessible ​Vegan: No. (sized with gelatin)

Derwent Black Mixed Media paper (New) Acid free Vertical Divider WHERE to purchase

The Derwent Professional black paper pad is ideal for creating dramatic art with a variety of media types. This fine grain, smooth paper offers artists a dramatic backdrop that maximises the performance of metallic mediums, including metallic and opaque pencils, paints and inks. The heavyweight 300gsm composition provides a sturdy and reliable foundation of the highest quality for both wet and dry media, differing from other Derwent black paper surfaces that suit dry media only.  Company: Derwent​ Weight: 300gsm ​Texture: Smooth Composition: 100% Recycled ​​Suitable for: Pens, pencils, markers, inks. Wet and dry media. Sizes available: A4 Pad only Company base: UK Accessibility: New product 2022 - Derwent sell their products worldwide. ​Vegan: Uncertain

Frisk Black watercolour paper Acid free Vertical Divider

Rough textured paper, keeps colours clean and bright. Wash and blend with all grades of watercolour. Extremely effective results with opaque, metallic and interference colours. Also available as a mixed media pad and a canvas pad. Company: Artcoe ​Weight: 320gsm ​Texture: Textured Composition: Unsure ​​Suitable for: Watercolour, pens, pencils, markers and brushes Sizes available: Gummed pads (A6, A5, A4, A3) Company base: UK Accessibility: Products sold internationally ​Vegan: Uncertain

Sakura sketchbook Acid free WHERE to purchase Vertical Divider

​Sakura Sketchbooks and Notebooks are suitable for all ages, and for both experienced and aspiring artists. The hardcover book comes with a pen holder that perfectly fits pens such as the Pigma Micron and Sakura Gelly Roll. In the back of the Sketch notebook, an expandable envelope is included for storing sketches and notes. The elastic closure band ensures the book stays closed and compact when travelling.  Company: Royal Talens Weight: 140gsm ​Texture: Smooth ​Composition: Acid free Suitable for: Ink, pencil, oil pastel & charcoal Sizes available: Notebook only (5 sizes) Company base: Netherlands Accessibility: Accessible online ​Vegan: Uncertain

Which black paper surface do you prefer?

What is your favourite black paper not on this list and what medium do you use with it?

Any hints and tips for artists using black paper with a particular medium?

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below, so we can help inspire other artists.

​Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Smooth is manufactured by screen printing Colourfix™ Smooth Primer onto European Archival 300gsm Hot Pressed watercolour paper making 340gsm pastel paper.
​Colourfix™ Smooth is a versatile surface that can be used for pastels, oil colours, acrylics, inks, oil pastels, gouache, watercolours and dry media such as charcoal and pencils.
The Colourfix™ Smooth texture is ideal for pastel artists who are looking for a not so toothy surface. The surface still has enough soft tooth to enable the artist to do multiple layers of pastel.

Colourfix™ Smooth is available:
Colours: 20 (As the Colourfix standard)
Sheet sizes: 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”) and 50x70cm (20” x 28”) 10 sheets per pack.
Rainbow packs available in 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”)
Cool and Warm packs in 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”) size

Primer You can also purchase Colourfix smooth as a primer which allows you to paint it over any surface and create your art over the top. The primer is available in all colours found in the paper surfaces.

How does the Colourfix smooth compare to Pastelmat?

Violet flower on Colourfix smooth paper

**NEW** COLOURFIX™ OPTIMUM BOARD
ORIGINAL (MEDIUM) TEXTURE

​Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Optimum Board is a high density archival and acid free foamcore board, hand screen printed with Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Primer..
The secret that separates this board from all others is a super thin layer of Aluminum within the board that prevents warping and helps provide this substrate’s lightweight and sturdy characteristics.
Colourfix™ Optimum Board has a robust toothy surface that will hold layers of pastel without the need for fixative, allowing the velvet bloom and vibrant colour of pastel to be preserved.
The new Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Optimum Board comes in 6 lightfast colours all with the Original Colourfix™ tooth. It is a superb substrate for pastels, oil colours, acrylics, inks, oil pastels, gouache, watercolours, and dry media such as charcoal and pencils.
Colourfix™ Optimum Board is available in 16 x 20” and ready to be framed without the need for a backing board.
​
What else you should know about this board:
The substrate board is acid free containing no lignin’s.
The glue used in this product is also acid free.
Aluminum thickness: 6.3μm
Colours available: White, Soft Umber, Terracotta, Rose Grey, Blue Haze and Deep Black.
Also available Rainbow Pack which includes one sheet of each colour