Best Vellum for Drafting, Tracing, and More – RisePEI

Historically, vellum refers to a particular parchment constituted of animal pores and skin—usually of a calf, goat, or sheep—that has been fastidiously cleaned, scratched, and cured. Because the papermaking trade advanced, so did the time period, which has immediately additionally come to discuss with paper surfaces which might be translucent, not not like tracing paper. Skinny and easy, trendy vellum is usually designed to face up to redrawing and erasing and can be utilized for drafting, tracing, and overlays. As our picks under present, it’s essential to choose the fitting kind to fit your wants.

ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Canson Vidalon Vellum
Designed to take quite a lot of mediums, Canson’s vellum presents a surprising writing and drawing floor. Every 55-pound sheet—noticeably sturdier than typical tracing paper—has a uniform translucency and feels tremendous easy. You possibly can draw on this archival vellum with pencil, pens, and ink—and even use gouaches with out the floor buckling—and it captures refined particulars, resembling shading and texture, very properly. It even stays crisp after repetitive erasures. We additionally like the flexibility of format: Select from single sheets in two sizes or pads in 4 sizes.

WE ALSO LIKE
Borden & Riley #90 Vellum Sheer Hint
With a 55-pound weight, these papers are comparable in sturdiness to our prime decide however are a contact cheaper. They’re satisfyingly clear—you possibly can see by way of them even with out a lightbox, making them splendid for overlays and transfers. This vellum can be versatile sufficient to feed into inkjet or laser printers. It additionally presents a easy floor that holds each pen and marker inks superbly with out warping or rippling, however we do discover Canson’s to be barely extra sturdy. Select from 4 sizes.

ANOTHER GOOD OPTION
Strathmore Laser Vellum Inkjet Paper
When you primarily have to print designs with a laser printer, that is the most effective vellum to feed into your machine. As soon as inked, the letter-size sheets dry shortly, and whereas they’ve easy surfaces, these aren’t vulnerable to smudging as they transfer by way of the printer. The vellum additionally has quantity of translucency to indicate any inked message on its floor whereas nonetheless permitting particulars of something positioned beneath it to return by way of. Outcomes would possibly range barely relying in your printer, however these sheets are usually proof against curling as they get inked. Every pack comes with 50 sheets of vellum.

PROFESSIONALS’ CHOICE
Clearprint Design Vellum Pad
Architects swear by this vellum, which presents a clear and satisfying translucent floor to attract on. Product of one hundred pc cotton, the 16-pound paper stands as much as erasing and holds ink with no ghosting, feathering, or warping, so your strains all the time look sharp and crisp. Acid free and archival, it affords a flawless and uniform floor each time. Out there in sheets and rolls in a variety of sizes.

ALSO CONSIDER
Canson Vidalon Vellum Roll
Our best choice in roll format, this vellum is a should for artists searching for expansive surfaces for drafting or panoramic work. Every roll measures 36 inches large and 10 yards lengthy and presents superior visibility for frustration-free tracings. The 50-pound paper can be utilized with technical pens, inks, and fiber ideas in addition to for microfilming, offset, and letterpress. Even in the event you’re working with massive sheets, it holds up properly, resisting crumpling and tearing. And, identical to Canson’s sheets, it may well deal with a whole lot of vigorous erasing.