Whatman paper: sizes and colors

Whatman paper is a popular and adaptable material that’s frequently used for family crafts, art classes, and school projects. It is well-known for having a smooth surface, making it ideal for sketching, drawing, or making posters. However, it’s useful to know the various sizes and colors available before getting started.

Whatman paper is available in a range of sizes, so you can use it for larger ideas or smaller projects requiring more detail. This allows you to select the ideal size for your unique requirements with more freedom. It also comes in colored options, so you can add creativity and variation to your projects instead of just white.

Whether you’re looking for the ideal match for a school assignment or a fun family project, we’ll go over the common sizes and colors of Whatman paper in this post.

Size	Color
A1 (594 x 841 mm)	White, Cream, Light Blue, Pink
A2 (420 x 594 mm)	White, Yellow, Green, Light Gray
A3 (297 x 420 mm)	White, Light Green, Beige, Orange
A4 (210 x 297 mm)	White, Red, Purple, Light Brown

What is it?

• lack of clearly defined texture,
• high strength;
• presence of surface gluing;
• resistance to abrasion.

Drawing paper is what Whatman paper is categorized as.

Types

There are various varieties of this paper available in stores:

1. Universal – suitable for use in various fields.
2. Primed – has a primed surface on which it is convenient to draw with any paints, as well as pencil, pastel, charcoal. This type of Whatman paper is very expensive, for this reason it is rarely seen in stores in our country, but it is very convenient to work with.
3. Heavily glued paper. In order to make such paper, a dense base is well spilled with special compounds that are very similar to those used in the manufacture of watercolor paper. This type of Whatman paper is hard, resistant to high humidity and oil-based paints. It is heavier than regular Whatman paper.

A little history and purpose

James Whatman, the man who created Whatman paper, began producing it in the middle of the 1750s, and it soon became widely known.

The first people to take an interest in this kind of paper were artists. It was later put to use in book printing. Professionals in the technical fields also expressed great appreciation for the paper’s excellence.

It is frequently offered to kids who are just starting to draw in real life. It is also used for making different wall newspapers and posters. It’s frequently used to create backdrops for pictures, greeting cards, and unique congrats with presents.

Whatman watercolor paper makes a great painting canvas. It can tolerate high humidity levels without rolling. Because paints don’t spread on a thick layer, artists can use them to create unique color combinations and tints. The completed piece dries rapidly, so the image quality is not compromised. This kind of paper works well for watercolor or gouache drawings.

Use Whatman paper (brand A) for drawing. For creating drawings and graphic works using pencil, ink, watercolor, or gouache, drawing paper is perfect. The sheet’s properties remain unchanged despite repeated erasures.

Size

The Whatman format A1, also referred to as educational, is the standard. Its standard is the A0 format, which sets it apart from regular paper. The 24 paper format was another name for Format A1.

European international format standards state that a Whatman sheet A1 should measure 59.4 * 84.1 cm; however, the dimensions of the widely used Goznak paper are different. The dimensions of this manufacturer’s Whatman format A1 are 61 * 86 cm.

Whatman paper from Goznak is slightly larger than European sizes, so if you cut a sheet in half, you won’t get the standard A2 format, which has dimensions of 42 * 52.4 cm. In our nation, the A2 format standard is used.

The largest format that can be used in consumer printers and copying machines is the A3 Whatman paper sheet. It measures 29.7*42 cm in width and length as standard. The A2 format can be divided in half to obtain it.

Whatman paper sheets in A4 format are standard in daily life, unless a different size has been prearranged. The majority of the time, office work and printers and copiers use this format. This sheet measures 21 by 29.7 cm. The A3 format can be divided in half to obtain it.

The A5 format, which can be obtained by cutting an A4 sheet, is best suited for printing different kinds of brochures. It measures 14.8 by 21 centimeters.

The most common sizes are these ones. Whatman paper is available in additional formats, though. You can familiarize yourself with them by looking at the table, where series A denotes an area of 1 square meter for the maximum sheet size, series B denotes a length of 1 meter for the short side of the maximum size sheet, and series C denotes the envelope format for sheets of series A.

A roll of Whatman paper is another option. Although it is not as frequently available, this is a more affordable and practical choice. You can use it to create a non-standard format sheet that you’ll need for work.

Colors

These days, stores carry Whatman paper in a variety of formats and colors, as well as white. This colored paper is actually fairly similar to Whatman paper in that it is dense and easy to work with using pencils and different paints. However, since this is typically referred to as "white paper of the highest grade," it is actually not a Whatman paper at all.

How to stretch it on a tablet?

A tablet is a board with variable dimensions that is shaped like a square. Adhesively bonded plywood is attached to a frame. The frame base maintains its smoothness and rigidity even when it comes into contact with liquids. For work, an architect or artist might require a tablet.

To cover the tablet with Whatman paper, the following materials are required:

• Whatman paper, the size of which will exceed the size of the tablet by approximately 5 cm on all sides;
• tablet;
• buttons with which we will fasten the sheet, or a furniture stapler;
• water (this can be a jar of water and a sponge, a shower stream, etc. ).

A sheet of Whatman paper must first be wet on both sides with water. You can accomplish this by dipping a leaf in a big container (like a bathtub), holding it under the shower, or using a sponge and jar of water. The Whatman paper needs to be completely submerged. A wet sheet rips easily, so proceed with extreme caution.

The Whatman paper must then be placed on the table. Lay it flat on the Whatman paper in the center of the tablet and begin repairing the paper right away, without waiting for it to dry. This can be accomplished by bending it on one side and using buttons or a furniture stapler to secure it to the tablet. Secure the other sides of the Whatman paper in the same manner.

The following phase will be crucial. The Whatman paper’s corners need to be fixed. Using your hands, gently crumple the corner and place it with the eye facing upwards. The crumpled paper in this instance needs to be turned up first, then to the side.

Once all of the corners are secured, secure the Whatman paper to the frame between the center and the corners with a few more paper clips. Your only task now is to let the Whatman paper dry. The drying needs to be done in a completely horizontal orientation.

The drying tablet should not be placed close to any heating sources because the wet spot on the sheets could cause them to become soggy and crack.

A perfectly flat sheet of Whatman paper stretched over the tablet is the result of a job well done. You pulled the paper too tightly if the corners suddenly turned out to be torn after drying. If waves are visible, this indicates that the Whatman paper was not securely attached to the tablet.

How to smooth out?

There are instances where straightening out a Whatman paper sheet is required. It might be necessary to straighten a crumpled document or a rolled sheet of paper. You can attempt to handle these circumstances on your own. This can be done in a few different ways. Let’s investigate more closely.

Press

Spray water onto the sheet from a minimum of 30 centimeters away, or dab it slightly with a wet towel. Use only distilled water; plain water will cause the paper to become brittle and hard due to the minerals in it. Water will smooth out the broken fibers and soften them. Place the wet Whatman paper beneath the press and allow it to air dry and become smooth. Usually, this takes two to five days.

You can also use layers of absorbent material (wool felt, blotter paper, or other absorbent materials) in place of a press. Even paper towels work well for them, though their embossment may leave a mark on the sheet. The absorbent material will need to be changed as needed.

If your sheet has artwork created with water-based inks, pastels, watercolors, or chalk, proceed with caution. You must spray the sheet from the back to keep water from washing them away.

Iron

It can be dangerous to use an iron for these purposes because the ink can fade or tear, and the sheet can turn yellow if the iron is held in one spot for an extended period of time. It is preferable to test it first on a little piece of paper.

Lay the drawing paper out flat and cover it with a towel. Start ironing at the lowest temperature possible. Check the sheet after ironing it for a minute, and raise the temperature if needed.

You should lightly mist the sheet with distilled water to moisten it if it’s too hot. For these uses, steam can also be applied to the iron. The sheet cannot be sprayed over water-based materials such as pastels, chalk, watercolors, or other paints.

Rolling a sheet on the edge of a table

If you have to quickly straighten a sheet and can’t wait for it to dry, you can utilize this method. It works best for removing wrinkles from large folds. It will be necessary to roll the sheet over the table’s edge multiple times.

Rolling into a roll

A sheet of Whatman paper that has been rolled up for a while and is now curling up can be straightened using this technique. The Whatman paper can be attempted to be rolled into a roll in the opposite direction and left to lie that way. Although no one can promise that this approach will work for you, it is still worthwhile to try.

You shouldn’t attempt to straighten an important document that you unintentionally crumpled yourself. Taking it to a restoration workshop where experts will handle it will make it safer.

Whatman paper is a popular option for a variety of creative projects because it is versatile in terms of both size and color. Its large format allows for expansive designs, and its sturdy texture supports a variety of materials, from pencils to paints, making it ideal for schoolwork, art, and family crafts.

Whatman paper comes in various sizes so it can accommodate both large posters and small sketches. Its color options offer even more versatility, enabling kids and families to create projects that are bold, striking, and memorable.

Whatman paper can be a useful tool for family bonding activities. This quality guarantees that creativity can flourish, whether working on school assignments or creating drawings together.

Whatman paper is a multipurpose paper that is frequently used for crafts, art projects, and educational endeavors. It can be used for a variety of tasks, from detailed drawings to posters, because it comes in different sizes, including A1, A2, and A3. Although it is typically white, it is also available in a variety of colors, giving kids and families who are working on projects together more creative options.

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