Identifying the best calligraphy paper can be a tricky job, especially when you are a newbie. There are certain factors; for instance, the paper’s size, surface, or weight play a vital role in calligraphy. We discuss these factors in detail below. Before buying paper for calligraphy, you must check those factors. So, to make your job easy as pie, we did thorough research on calligraphy papers. We also examined calligraphy papers by our experts to have a better grasp of these products. Finally, we picked up the top 10 best calligraphy paper to make your journey comfortable.
Table of Contents
10 Best Paper for Calligraphy Reviews
1. Studio Series Calligraphy Paper
Since 1928, Peter Pauper Press is providing high-quality art supplies. They maintain their quality and value in all these years.
First of all, this pad has a sturdy construction, which will impress you. In everyday use, the top-quality tape-bound pad holds together efficiently. You can free the sheets from the place with no curl.
Each thick sheet of paper is around 140 gsm. It also features a smooth finish so that you can write quickly. Furthermore, they do not bleed. The nibs won’t skip or catch on the paper surface.
This paper pad is also excellent for various media and styles. You can try varied calligraphic styles, for instance, Spencerian, brush lettering, Italic, Copperplate, and other kinds of lettering.
This pad also comes with a pre-printed grid for slanted lettering. It’s a different matter that the diagonal line on the page isn’t everybody’s preference. But they are excellent for beginners and help them to learn calligraphy.
What is more, you can use calligraphy markers, reed pens, brushes, fountain pens, dip pens with this paper pad.
Move on to the measure of this pad. This calligraphy pad’s standard bar is 11 inches wide by 8-1/2 inches high (27.94 cm by 19.05 cm).
- This pad prevents bleed through, even with a watercolor brush and heavy ink lettering.
- It has a perfect weight.
- The surface is delightfully smooth for most pens and brushes.
- It’s tape-bound for easy tear-away.
- The texture of the paper is fragile.
- A few customers complained that the paper is fragile.
Verdict:
This paper pad is divine for brush calligraphy. It’s also an excellent beginner paper. Beginners can practice their skills with this paper efficiently. The slanted lines offer a guideline for writing to the paper. The price is also very much affordable. So, it will make a lovely addition to your art supplies.
2. Strathmore 405-11 STR-405-11 50 Sheet
Another sensational paper for calligraphy is from Strathmore. It provides a suitable texture for smooth ink flow. However, the paper is not extremely smooth.
In my experience, I will say that it works well with finer point tip. And contrary to popular belief, smooth paper is not always the best choice for calligraphy.
The weight of this natural white paper is 20 pounds. The pages are tape bound (8 1/2 in. x 11 in). You can tear out them easily.
This pad contains 50 sheets. Some consumers mentioned that the paper is thick enough to write both sides of the paper without any issue. However, in my experience, I faced a bit of feathering.
This pad is versatile. From beginner to expert, it will be a suitable choice. It’s manufactured in the USA.
- The creamy colors add a nice touch.
- It has a good solid cover.
- The paper is thick.
- The paper has a perfect weight.
- It’s not spiral-bound.
Verdict:
The thickness, size (8 x 0.4 x 11 inches), weight (12.8 ounces), color, feel, texture, in short, everything seems praiseworthy. It provides great value for the money.
3. DAISO Japanese Calligraphy Paper
Each pack of this product has 100 sheets. It’s extremely cheap paper. It can be used for calligraphy, Sumi-e-painting, crafting projects, wrapping, scrapbooking, and writing. I will recommend it as a practice paper.
A few consumers stated that it’s edible. And they are using it for this purpose. However, the brand states explicitly that it shouldn’t be used for purposes other than its intended purpose, which, I believe, is calligraphy practice. So, I will not recommend it to use with food.
What is more, it’s very thinner. So, the chances are that it can disintegrate when it encounters such moisture.
One side of the paper is super smooth, and the other side is a bit rough. You can comfortably use the smooth side of the paper. It holds up excellently to watercolor painting.
- It works fantastically with alcohol inks.
- It is effortless plus comfortable to use.
- Great for beginners.
- It’s an excellent paper for practicing calligraphy.
- Sometimes, the inks bleed through the paper.
- It’s extremely thinner.
Verdict:
It’s an inexpensive, functional paper for beginner calligraphers. However, it may not be the best choice for the experienced calligrapher as they do not possess a pricey art paper’s nice finish. So, highly recommended for beginners.
4. HP Printer Paper
HP paper is the best calligraphy printer paper in the market. HP paper can be used for proposals, color presentation, and other business documents.
Curiously enough, customers love this HP paper to work with fountain pens. They find it absolutely delightful.
Moreover, the HP printer paper is heavy (32-pound weight) and thick. It has a white paper shade and provides an elegantly smooth finish.
The company also gives you the option to pick up a case of paper or a ream of paper. So, you can pick up whatever suits your business.
What is more, it’s acid-free paper. And it meets the requirements to be a laser printer paper, inkjet printer paper, and all kinds of copier paper.
- It’s a fabulous paper for printing.
- It’s sturdy as well as bright.
- It has a perfect thickness to bleed through.
- It’s extremely smooth.
- A few customers complained about the poor packaging of this product.
Verdict:
The HP printer paper is the crowning glory for laser printing. It adds a touch of professionalism. So, if you are searching for a printer paper for calligraphy, this one might be what you need.
5. Canson XL Series Marker Paper
It’s a semi-translucent white paper that can be used with a pencil, marker, pen, etc. However, as it is semi-translucent, you literally will not be able to write both sides of the paper.
This pad contains 100 sheets. And they are acid-free. So, you will get enough space to practice your writing.
The weight of the paper is 18 pounds/70 grams. So, it’s quite lightweight if we compared it to other papers.
Additionally, It’s thin paper. So, it may not manage absorption particularly well.
- It’s a fabulous paper for printing.
- It’s sturdy as well as bright.
- It has a perfect thickness to bleed through.
- It’s extremely smooth.
- A few customers complained about the poor packaging of this product.
Verdict:
These 9*12 inches pads make an excellent pad of paper for beginners. It’s a great paper to practice tracing calligraphy letters.
6. Tomoe River FP Loose Sheet
The tomoe river paper is literally super fun and great to use with a dual brush pen. It contains 100 sheets.
The weight of the paper is 52 gsm. It’s quite lightweight and half the thickness of the copy paper.
In addition to that, the paper is resistant to bleeding plus feathering. Consumers say that this paper is absolutely a delight to work with fountain pens and calligraphy pens.
The ink takes a lot of time to dry than standard papers Due to the smooth texture. However, smooth texture is also a factor that you can write easily. It also prevents feathering.
- It is ideal for design or drawing from rough sketch to finished form.
- It doesn’t bleed through.
- It blends fine.
- The paper feels so smooth.
- It’s an excellent paper for all different mediums.
- The paper is fragile.
7. JapanBargain Japanese Chinese Calligraphy Paper
The Japanese practice rice paper is divine for brush calligraphy, Chinese, and Japanese calligraphy. You will get 100 sheets in this deal, which are excellent for selecting brush calligraphy ink without feathering.
The thinness and crispness of the rice paper are enjoyable. But it’s really thinner than average brands.
Calligraphy practice rice paper provides pleasant support while you are painting. It does not bleed and makes your work fun and easy.
This Japanese rice paper is versatile. I can give you some fun ideas which you can try with this paper. For instance, you can paint illustrations on it. You can use it to wrap gifts. Isn’t it great? This paper is different. You may have some more fun ideas that you can try with this paper.
- The paper is awesomely smooth and thin.
- It is resistant to bleeding.
- It comes in an array of sizes.
- It is imported and manufactured from Japan.
- This paper is not excellent at managing a broad nib.
Verdict:
This is a very good-sized, durable rice paper to practice on. It has a very lower price. So, within a tight budget, you are getting high quality 100 sheets. It seems a fair deal to me.
8. Bienfang Calligraphy Parchment Pad
This parchment pad contains 50 sheets. It is ideal for calligraphy ventures and practice. However, in the features part, they stated that assorted colors.
If you are wondering, what you get in the assorted colors, let me tell you, you will find the colors, for instance, slightly marbled pink, marbled grey, pretty shade of deep yellow, slightly marbled pink, and cream. It’s a beautiful combination of calligraphy.
Furthermore, it is an excellent surface for use with ink & pen. It’s not extremely thick, so it’s slightly translucent.
Additionally, the parchment pad doesn’t bleed at all. It contains 50 sheets of 50lb, which are acid-free.
- It holds ink nicely without feathering.
- It’s resistant to tearing.
- The ink dries evenly and quickly on this paper.
- It’s compatible with brush calligraphy, fountain pen calligraphy, Chinese and Japanese calligraphy.
- It’s extremely transparent.
- The paper is terrific for ink marbling.
- It’s not very great to withstand water exposure.
Verdict:
The price of this product is super budget-friendly. It’s a wonderful investment in practicing your craft.
9. Bienfang 9 x 12 Inches Calligraphic Practice Paper
If calligraphy lined paper is what you are searching for, Bienfang makes a fantastic notepad with lined handwriting practice sheets.
The dimension of this product is 9 x 12 inches, so it’s a bit oversized. However, there is no doubt that you will get plenty of surfaces to write letters or practice.
Brilliantly enough, the thickness of this paper is divine. It prevents bleeding and feathering through the paper.
Meanwhile, it’s designed a slanted grid. So, you can use slanted grid paper to make your handwriting perfect and even. I must have to say; the grid is really beneficial to practice handwriting.
- Excellent selection of colors.
- It doesn’t bleed.
- Great for novices.
- Great parchment to encourage practice.
- A few customers complained that the paper is fragile.
Verdict:
This paper is a wonderful pick up for beginner or pro. Even if you are a pro, you can use this paper to perfect your handwriting.
10. Bee Paper Calligraphy Practice
Another great paper we are reviewing today is the Bee paper calligraphy practice pad. It has a delightfully smooth surface, which is just wow for practicing calligraphy. It comes with 5o sheets.
You can see the grid lines of the paper as it’s incredibly transparent. However, the grid lines are precise. So, you don’t have to draw them.
The weight of the paper is nearly 16lbs 60gsm. Keep in mind that you can only use one side of the paper.
- The lines are easy to see plus abundant enough to get the perfect slant while writing small or large.
- It’s fabulous for practicing Italic lettering.
- Usually, it doesn’t bleed. However, if you use too much ink, the scenario could be a bit different.
- It has a perfect size, not too small or not too big.
- The binding is not really great as the pages fall out easily.
Verdict:
It’s a lovely paper for practicing calligraphy. It can be a great help to beginners in their journey of learning calligraphy.
Wrapping up
Well, these are our top 10 best calligraphy papers. Here we include an array of options for newbies and professionals. I will only give you one tip, which I believe the secret for a perfect calligraphy artist. It’s the best combination of paper and ink.
You have to pick up a paper that is compatible with your pen or ink. In my case, I tested a few out. Then, see what is compatible with my style. Now, some of the papers are stated above are my favorite. I frequently used them in my projects. So, at first, try some paper and see which works best for you. If you have any questions regarding calligraphy, comment below.
Necessary accessories of calligraphy
1. Lettering and Modern Calligraphy
The book is divine to learn modern calligraphy. It’s the ultimate beginner’s guide. Every page is designed with delightful tips, tricks, encouragement, plus practice space to begin your lettering adventure. Interestingly enough, you can learn 5 different alphabet styles with this book. Here, you will also get upper- and lower-case letters, detailed, and 15 delightful lettering projects.
2.Hand Lettering Pens
These hand-lettering pens come in 4 different sizes, for instance, fine, brush, medium, and extra- fine. They are suitable for lettering, bullet journaling, watercolor illustrations, art drawing, beginner writings, and calligraphy. Furthermore, these pigment-based inks are non-toxic, hence very safe for the environment. Also, they are blendable and non-bleeding.
In addition to that, these refillable lettering pens have no odor. They also last longer as they are refillable. The set includes a little hard brush so that you can try different drawing and lettering techniques. They come with a 1-year warranty.
Factors to consider while buying Calligraphy Paper
There are some factors that you must check before buying a calligraphy paper.
Size
Calligraphy paper size depends on your individual choice. However, I individually feel A4 paper is quite small for calligraphy writing. So, I will suggest you go for the A4 size.
Surface
The most suitable surface for calligraphy is smooth. You can successfully execute neat strokes on a smooth surface. Your calligraphy markers can also easily glide. So, a smooth surface should be your priority. Nevertheless, some artists prefer a little roughness in their calligraphy paper due to its capability to hold ink.
Acid-free paper
The regular papers deteriorated when they were exposed to light. It starts to yellow over time. But the neutral pH or acid-free paper doesn’t change over time. They last for a long time.
Weight
Weight varies from project to project. For a simple venture, for instance, normal drawing or lettering requires lighter papers. 70 and 90lbs will do for it. Nonetheless, the bigger calligraphy ventures need heavy papers as those jobs are more detailed. So, they need a rigid surface.
Papers to avoid for a calligraphy venture
Paper plays a crucial role in calligraphy. It determines how good your work would be. An unsuitable paper can ruin your work. You definitely don’t want that. Do you?
Here I will give a brief idea of which types of paper you need to avoid for a calligraphy project. Let’s start –
Card stock
Undoubtedly, card stock is one of the most used papers on the market. It’s also quite smooth. But there is a complication. It tends to bleed, sometimes so much that it can make your venture a complete mess. So, you better not use cardstock for your calligraphy venture.
Regular paper for pens
Regular papers are elementary. From my experience, I can say that they are not the best solution. Even though they are somehow may work for you. But they have some huge drawbacks. They do not suck ink well. They do not have a perfect weight, which is necessary for calligraphy. They are somehow light and fragile. In short, they are not ideal for serious calligraphy.
Office bond
This one is comparatively better when we can compare this one to card stock or regular paper. However, I will not recommend it until you have no option available. By the way, beginners can give it a try for practice.
Pastel paper
Even though it seems a good paper at first, but don’t be mistaken. After some time, the ink bleeds incessantly where your hand moves slowly.
Frequently asked the question
Is it hard to learn calligraphy?
No, it’s not. But it can take a while to master it. The secret formula for learning calligraphy is practice and practice more. The more you practice, the better you will be.
Why should I learn calligraphy?
Calligraphy is an art. To learn means that you get a new skill. So, you can include it as a skill in your CV. You can send a beautiful card to your colleagues or boss where you can demonstrate your skill. It will definitely make you stand in the crowd. You will gain notice and appreciation. Research shows that calligraphy is a great way to relieve stress. It enhances your concentration and forces you to practice mindfulness. It is creative and inexpensive. You can practice it anywhere. You may never think about it as you take calligraphy as your hobby. But the thing is that you can take it as your business. But you must have to be professional and passionate about it. So, what I was saying that you can take calligraphy as your profession. Now you may ask how? Or in what way can you earn? Well, I can give you some ideas. For instance, you may target wedding invitations or cards. Couples fancy calligraphy on their wedding invitations as it makes the invitation card unique. You can also focus on different cards such as thank you cards, sorry cards, business cards, etc. in that way; you can grab your target customers. For your encouragement, I would like to point out that there are already many freelance calligraphy writers. You can be one of them. For inspiration, you may like to know top-rated calligraphy writers Seb Lester, eL Seed, Pokras Lampas, Retna, or Cu Bina. They are highly experienced and creative in their field. And my spidey sense says that you are also highly creative and passionate. You can be like them. Just be consistent and passionate.
Is calligraphy beneficial for children?
Yes, it is. It helps them to acquire peaceful concentration. Furthermore, it eliminates children’s impatience and irritation. It nurtures their spirit. It cultivated their heart and vision. Moreover, it helps them to choose a righteous path. Liu gong Quan, a famous calligrapher, said, “When the calligraphy is properly done, your heart will be righteous.” He is right. You will be beautifully surprised to notice how calligraphy can make a significant impact on your child’s mind. On top of everything else, it nurtures children’s propriety and diligence. It makes them a better person in every way.
What are the types of calligraphy?
There are three kinds of calligraphy, such as Arabic, oriental, and western.
Can you use a parchment paper for calligraphy?
Well, let me tell you a fact. Parchment is not paper, even though many people consider it as paper. However, it’s an excellent surface for calligraphy. But it’s incredibly costly.
Why you require the perfect calligraphy paper?
Why you require the perfect calligraphy paper? The perfect calligraphy paper makes your work fun and productive. It has an ideal surface that is super smooth for your pen. It also provides more resistance. The right paper also plays a crucial role in preserving the pen’s tip. Traditionally, ordinary papers wear out the nib of a brush pen. But a suitable paper does not do that. On the contrary, the right paper protects your pen. Then, along comes the bleeding part. When you use pens with regular papers, it tends to be bleeding. But the right paper prevents bleeding and keep your work intact.
