Some artists require ultra smooth watercolour paper for their work and are responding to recent changes in their favourite papers.
As a few artists have noticed recently, the surface texture of the Fabriano 5 and Fabriano Artisico Hot Pressed papers have changed slightly. We have been told that the Fabriano paper mill in Italy uses the same machine to produce other papers than just artists papers and that the texture change of Fabriano 5 and Artistico is the result of some changes to the machine, designed to make the production of a variety of papers more efficient. Both papers are now slightly less smooth. Most artists will still find the surface texture very good for their work. The colour and composition has not changed. But artists such as botanical watercolour painters who rely on these papers for their ultra smooth surface, have been asking about alternatives.
Fabriano 5 and alternatives
Fabriano 5 is a 50% cotton paper with a very white surface designed for watercolour painting and lithography printing, but can also be used for charcoal, graphite, wax, pastel and calligraphy. It is an immensely popular product with watercolour artists and printmakers alike. It is most popular with botanical watercolour painters who require a smooth surface to enable them to acheive the minute accuracy required for their style of painting. As an alternative many artists have been happy with a new paper from St Cuthbert’s Mill – Botanical Ultra Smooth Watercolour Paper.
Fabriano Artistico and alternatives
Fabriano Artistico is a 100% cotton paper in Traditional White and Extra White designed for watercolour artists. The Hot Press surface used to be super-smooth. We have had reports of the surface being less smooth and also acting a bit different as if the surface sizing has changed. If you find that Fabriano Artistico no longer works as you’d like you might wish to try Saunders Waterford Hot Press which is also a 100% cotton paper in two shades of white. The mill has made a few adjustments to their paper-making and has made the Saunders Waterford even smoother, so soon all the new stock will be extra smooth.
Click on the underlined link to go to the Paper Department on the Jackson’s Art Supplies website.
Postage on orders shipped standard to mainland UK addresses is free for orders of £39.
18 thoughts on “Fabriano Paper Changes”
Thank you for this information. I recently purchased two types of Fabriano Artistico – a single cut sheet, and a ‘block’. I must say, the difference between the two is quite pronounced with the blocked paper being both stiffer and rougher. The latter doesn’t seem as suitable as they suggest for pencil work, as the tooth is too deep and light values are very hard to achieve without looking grainy, even with Polychromos pencils and blending fluid.
Given this article I think I will switch to another brand as soon as I have used up my current supplies.
I noticed you now have Saunders Waterford New Surface blocks on sale. Will this new surface be available as individual sheets as well? Also is it possible to get samples of this new paper? I have not seen a paper sample option in the store. I did already try out Botanical Ultra Smooth and I liked it for smaller illustrations.
Hi Minna
We are expecting in sample pieces of the new hot press surface next week.
They will be on the website as soon as they arrive.
PSHWSAM – Saunders Waterford Watercolour Paper HP : High White
PSWSAM – Saunders Waterford Watercolour Paper HP : White
I have found that the Fabriano HP has
changed so much that I will have to find
an alternative. It’s not accepting
smooth layers of washes like it used to.
That is disappointing to hear. Thank you for letting us know. If you have the time could you please come back and let us know which paper you choose as a replacement? I’m sure other readers would fine the information useful.
Thanks for this info. I’ve been going
crazy trying to figure out why the
new batches of Fabriano Hot Press are
different. Its quite a shame, it was
such a good paper and now for smaller
detailed watercolors I’ve found it is
unusable. Watercolor on the new paper
looks grainy and washed out. I
managed to get a decent photo of the
difference between new and old if
you’d like to see.
On the hunt for a new brand now –
thanks for the suggestions.
This is such a shame that progress has ruined an
incredible surface to work on. I spent fourteen years
working exclusively on Fabriano Artistico 300lb HP and
had a lot of love and affection for what you could create
on its super smooth surface. After taking an eighteen
month break from creating Traditional Art I am
disappointed to discover that something very special has
been lost. Not only that but the German manufacturer
who’s pencils I used to use has given up making pencils to
focus on making highlighting pens and office supplies!.
Hi James
I agree, it is sad. It is true in everything, not just art supplies. I need new walking boots and just want the same perfect ones I have worn out but they don’t make them anymore, they make ‘new improved’ styles that don’t fit.
I wish I’d bought two pairs back in the day.
Fabriano Artistico has been my favourite paper for years, too. I am trying a few new papers to find a replacement, please let me know if you find another paper you like. A few people have recommended I try Moulin du Roi.
Thanks Julie,
You hit the nail on the head with that one word to
describe this change, sad. When I first took up art
after leaving school the first thing that blew my
mind was walking into my artist supply shop and
being amazed at the myriad types of media to
experiment with. Each visit to that shop was an
experience and lasted an hour or more as I quizzed
the shop owner on what each material was for
what could be achieved with it. As time went by
and a lot of trial and error, I eventually found in my
opinion the best pencils and the finest paper. I still
remember being presented with a piece of Fabriano
Artistico for the first time. The look of it was
special with the deckled edges and the C M
Fabriano watermark marked this out as being a bit
special. The weight of it and the supersmooth
surface just felt awesome and I couldn’t wait to get
it home and create something worthy. I fell in love
with it very quickly. The thing I always found
impressive is that it was 100% cotton and always
loved telling customers that, using cotton buds
and balls on a cotton surface to blend pencil just
worked wonders.
What I learnt years ago when doing my homework
on CM Fabriano is that they have been making
their products the same way for centuries and no
doubt have made many changes along the way.
This recent change wont deter me from continuing
to use Artistico 300lb HP but it has made me
consider using different products from other
manufacturers. Not out of disloyalty but out of a
need for consistent performance. I will give the
Moulin du Roi a try and see what else is available.
One of my lecturers at art college gave me a
sample of hand-made paper from a supplier in
London which was remarkably similar in
performance. It might be a good idea to either
track down that supplier or look into making my
own paper for my own use or for sale to other
Artists. I will let you know if I find a similar surface
to the Artistico 300lb HP,
Yes, consistency is the key.
Thank you.
I don’t find the Saunders paper a good alternative and stopped using it a while ago .Dreadful news about Fabriano Artistico- I really need an alternative. It was lovely to work with. Thanks for your honesty. Hoping for a solution soon. I’ll probably keep the tiny block which just arrived.
Hi Susan
The Saunders Waterford was made extra smooth a few years ago, have you tried it since then?
Yes, I miss the Artistico, too.
I have just tried the Fabriano Artistico
samples and it was like a sandpaper!! It
actually blunted my extra fine fountain
pen, which is now more like M! I really
can’t imagine using that. Are they all like
this? It’ was cold press sample I believe. I
don’t really need anything super smooth, I
am fine with some texture, but not like
sandpaper! Just a normal watercolour
paper texture. Are the other Fabriano ones
better? The basic one or Fabriano 5?
Looking for something usable and
inexpensive I can rely on.
Hi Jana
Unfortunately, paper blunts metal. For example – people who sew are most insistent that no one uses their fabric scissors for cutting paper, as it blunts scissors almost immediately. Considering that these scissors are made of high quality hardened steel it does seem surprising that paper would be so damaging. With the flexibility required of a fountain pen, the nib is probably made of a much softer metal than scissors, if it is gold, then it is indeed a very soft metal.
I asked our expert paper supplier for some input and he said:
“An essential ingredient of high-quality paper is Calcium Carbonate (primarily chalk), which protects it from atmospheric acidity. My suspicion is that this is potentially quite abrasive. This will be the case irrespective of the surface texture.”
I did some research and found that most fountain pen users prefer a very smooth surface such as Bristol Board or the Stillman and Birn smooth Epsilon & Zeta papers or the Rhodia notebooks.
Watercolour papers are not generally used with fountain pens because the paper is quite absorbent and the nib catches on the fibres of the paper. This has been reported even for smooth hot press papers, though they are better than the Not/cold press surface you tried. But if you wish to use watercolour paper you might want to try a hot press, hard-sized paper such as Arches to see if that works for you.
We have a great article on the blog about dip pens that you might find useful A Guide to Dip Pens and Drawing Ink
Is the front the side that stamped with
the Fabriano name?
Hi Vanessa
Yes, the way the watermark logo reads right, is considered the front of the paper. Though in most cases there is not a big difference between the front and the back of the paper.
I am new to using watercolor paper and
my experience is mostly with fine pen
work. Has there been progress on
finding the smoothest high quality
watercolor paper?
Hi Dane
All the hot press watercolour papers we stock are very smooth.
The Stillman and Birn Zeta paper is a favourite with pen and ink artists that we know.
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