If you're new to sketching, you may be initially confused by some of the terminology for types of paper in sketchbooks. Most of the best sketchbook brands will display the grams (or lb) per square metre of their paper. This refers to the weight of the paper. Generally, the heavier, the higher the quality of the paper. For watercolours, you will generally want a paper of at least 300 gsm / 140 lb. Ideally, you will want heavier paper than tat to avid having to stretch the paper beforehand. Cotton paper, sometimes called 'rag paper' is better than wood pulp paper for watercolours, especially if you do a lot of scrubbing and masking, but it is usually more expensive. How we tested the best sketchbooks for this guide And then there's tooth. This describes the surface of the paper, with high tooth having more texture and low tooth being smoother. Higher-tooth papers are good for sketching with charcoal, pastels and pencils while low-tooth or smooth paper is good for ink and pen. XL (19 x 25 cm), XXL (21.6 x 27.9 cm) and A4 size notebooks (21 x 29.7 cm) are designed for ideas that need more space to grow. These larger sizes are great for studying and large-scale projects.

Are you looking for a high-quality notebook to note down ideas and fill with personal and professional projects? Discover Moleskine’s wide selection of notebooks with various size, color and cover options. Dotted notebooks give you the best of all worlds: the structure of ruled lines along with the freedom of plain paper. The loose structure of dots is enough to write in straight lines, but also perfect for drawing and sketching.• Choose The Size That Fits You How do you plan to use your paper journal? Are you taking notes in meetings or sketching in the subway? Choose between:Paper with a weight of 75-90 gsm / 50-60 lb is generally heavy enough for sketching with pencils, pastels or charcoal but too thin for ink or markers, which could bleed through it. A weight of around 100-130 gsm / 70-80 lb is generally suitable for finished pieces in a range of media. For very rough sketches, really any kind of paper can suffice, even office printer paper, which tends to have a weight of around 80 gsm. However, it doesn't offer the most satisfying feel and isn't the most practical to carry around and keep your sketches.