Why cold pressed paper is not a neutral middle ground

Cold pressed paper is often described as balanced. Neither too smooth nor too rough. A safe default. A neutral choice.

In practice, cold pressed paper is anything but neutral.

Its irregular surface creates multiple drying speeds within a single wash. Some areas retain moisture longer. Others release it quickly. This uneven timing encourages localized pigment movement, edge formation, and unexpected granulation.

On hot pressed paper, water movement is more uniform. On rough paper, texture dominates the interaction. Cold pressed paper sits between these extremes, but that position creates complexity rather than balance.

Granulating pigments respond strongly to these micro variations. What looks like a consistent surface is actually full of small interruptions. Tiny ridges, valleys, and plateaus affect how pigment travels and where it settles.

Cold pressed paper amplifies subtle timing differences. A moment of hesitation becomes visible. A slight excess of water pools in one area and not another. Granulation concentrates unevenly.

This makes cold pressed paper rich, but also demanding. It rewards attention. It also exposes inconsistency.

Calling it a middle ground oversimplifies its behavior. It is not neutral. It is responsive.