The Arches Watercolour Block cold press finish has a light texture and is the most common. It reflects light well, retaining the transparent quality of watercolours. A light grain makes it easier to achieve certain details

All Arches papers are cylinder mould made as they have been for over a century. With long fibers, this thick, stable sheet is beautiful, durable, and resilient.

Each sheet of Arches Watercolour paper is tub-sized in a bath of pure natural gelatin and then air dried to add additional strength and durability

The best quality controls. The paper undergoes sophisticated testing and monitoring, with every sheet individually inspected to assure the finest quality

Arches Quality

Carefully selected 100% cotton fibers produce uniformity, adaptability, colour fastness, and longevity. All papers have an alkaline buffer and are made without an optical brightening agent.

Equipment

Papermaking on a cylinder mould allows even, uniform transfer of fibers onto the wire support. Each paper has a handmade appearance without the defects of handmade paper. It's principle has remained unchanged for over 200 years

Watermark of Authenticity

By using paper signed with the Arches watermark, artists can be sure that they have a medium with unchanging properties at their disposal, a medium that has revealed some of the greatest talents over centuries.

Gelatin Sizing

Arches is the only paper mill in the world to gelatin size its watercolour paper 'to the core'. This preserves the lustre and transparency of the colours whilst preventing paints from penetrating the paper. Resists erasing and scratching without tearing or linting.

Quality Control and Expertise

Arches carries out, throughout every production run, a succession of checks and inspections: mechanical, optical, chemical, visual. We ensure even distribution of the fibers in all directions, thereby improving the stability of the paper when wet.