• Unsanded Pastel Paper

The pastels will hold to the texture of fibers in the paper. The advantage of this paper is that it conserves the amount of pastels used to provide full coverage on your piece of art. It is also easier to control lighter strokes, which can create a smoother look in the end. Sometime it is referred to as a vellum texture.

• Sanded Pastel Paper

The sanded pastel paper is created very similar to fine grit sandpaper. In the case of pastel paper, the grit is created with a vegetable grain, so that it is acid free and is safe to store for longer periods of time.  The advantage of using the sanded is paper is the pastels stick to the paper much easier. With all the grit, soft pastels easily adhere to the surface if you have fast strokes. 

A paper is produced but pressing fibers into sheets under high pressure. With a little research you will find that the sheets are made from 100% original cotton or linen or less expensive wood pulps. There are three types of pressed papers available in any good art supply shop. These are listed below:

1. hot-pressed
2. cold-pressed
3. rough paper

Hot-pressed papers are ideal type of paper when an artist is planning to make a painting that has great emphasis on details. This type of paper allows smoother blending of colors.  However, if you want to use pastels then it is not recommended that you buy this type of paper.

The cold-pressed and rough papers have almost the same characteristics. They are both ideal for painting that involves pastels, charcoal and colored chalks. Due to the roughness of the paper you will get darker color results. This is because of the “tooth” of the paper that has the ability to hold more graphite.

An ideal art supply shop can offer you the following paper types which are useful for different type of painting.

1. If you are looking for a paper for ink and graphite painting then the ideal paper for the purpose will be the “smooth paper”. It is a great paper when used for portraits as it allows excellent surface for contrast and shade effects.
2. A very good paper for graphite and color waxing is the “Fine Grain Paper”.
3. If you are interested in using pastels, crayons as well as watercolors and inks then you might want to have a look at “Medium Grain Paper”
4. A very good and durable paper for watercolor work is the “Course Grain Paper”.
5. A paper that has been available in market for the last 100 years is the “Ingres Paper”. It offers the painter with some tooth which makes them an excellent choice for charcoal, pastels and conte as well as ink and graphite.
6. “Bristol Boards” are multipurpose papers that comes with medium or plate finish. This board is ideal for fine detailed work and it can easily sustain wash work.
7. “Illustration Boards” are available in variety of both smooth and medium plates i.e. hot-pressed plates and cold-pressed plates.

Art boards are used for different types of art applications. Their use is also for applications related to crafting. One such board is the multimedia art board. It is a paper based material. It is made up of polymerized thermo set resins. This product is very durable. It has an approximate thickness of 0.025 inches and it can be used with any medium. It can also be used with a combination of different mediums. The mediums which can be used are oil, pastel, watercolor, acrylics, color pencil, charcoal and collage. It is free of acid, archival and linen. It is a non-buckling board and both sides of the board can be used. It can be sanded. Five sheets are provided along with every pack.

Art films are of the following types:-

1.        All Purpose Frisket Films. It is a low tack film and it has a clean and easy cut. It perfectly masks for all types of media and the peel is very smooth. It can also be reused and does not tear. It is available in both matte and clear finish and as compared to the vinyl films it is very cheap.

2.        Artool Frisket Films.  This is a low tack and self adhesive film. It can be used very effectively with many mediums. It is available in two types of finishes, gloss and matte. Its advantage is that you can remove it and reposition it without any problem. Under an airbrush spray it does not flutter ad neither does it wrinkle.

3.        Chartpak Laser Applique Films. These films are used in copiers and laser printers. They do not cur and give a very crisp and clean image. They also do not stick.

4.        Foto Frisket Films. It is a stenciling material which is self adhesive and transparent. It is easy to stick and remove and does not cause any damage. It is available in gloss and matte finish.

5.        Safmat Adhesive Films. These are acetate films which are very transparent. They become invisible when burnished. It has a compatibility with inkjet printers and also laser jets. It is best suited for multi layered visuals and mock-ups.

6.        Stencil Films. You can create your own stencils with the help of the stencil film. It is transparent blue in color. It is also a heavy weight film. All you need to do is draw a trace of the design you want and use a knife to cut it. It is very durable.

1.        Gray Glue –On. These are large sized easel backs and can be best used for big presentations. Adhesive tapes are not used in these easel backs.

2.        Lineco Self-Stick Easel Backs. For presentations and displays these boards are very practical. It has a permanent adhesive which can stick to any surface either uncoated or coated. It is made up of a 10 ply board. It is simple to use and stick on to any surface.