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So many papers! How does one choose?
Paper is made from a host of diverse materials, including cotton, mulberry bark, linen, and even plastic (BPA free, that is). Parchment and Vellum were originally made from animal skins. Your typical sketchbook paper is made from acid-free alpha cellulose, or wood pulp with the natural lignin removed to prevent yellowing.
Fun fact: rice paper is not actually made from rice
(unless we’re talking about the edible kind). “Rice” is just a reference to a paper’s translucency, usually some variety of mulberry paper.
The plot thickens when you consider things like weight, sizing, and texture. You might have noticed a weight designation of some kind on a sketchbook or a box of printer paper. Weight is gauged in both pounds (lb) and grams per square meter (gsm). Pounds refers to the weight of 500 sheets of that paper. GSM is similar, but more accurate since it also accounts for sheet length and width. The term Sizing refers to additives, such as gelatin and (ick) rabbit skin glue that affects the papers' absorbency and surface adhesion. As for Texture, papers on the rough side have catchy names like, vellum, cold-pressed, and well, rough. On the smooth side you have hot-pressed, plate, and just plain smooth.
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