Paper Stock
Equally important to the drawing medium is the surface to which that medium is applied.
Not all paper stocks are appropriate for every medium. Paper stocks have several attributes that the illustrator must consider before choosing which to use.
As a professional best practice, you should always consult the available submission guidelines for the publication you intend to send your work to—some require only digital copies in certain specific formats, others might have similar restrictions on physical formats. In any case, the responsibility falls upon the illustrator as a professional to know what is expected before submitting.
Techniques
Some common paper stocks:
Different papers have different weights, which affects water absorption—a critical element for a successful water-based medium. In addition, there are different textures to paper that will affect how the medium reacts to the surface. For watercolor paper, cold-press paper has a tooth, or small ridged texture, whereas hot-press paper is smooth. Markers require marker paper, a thin, slick surface ideal for moving alcohol ink across. Dry media such as pencil, pastel, and charcoal, works best on vellum paper, which also features tooth for the pigments to cling to.
There are also toned papers which can enhance a tint effect. Among the most popular are toned tan, for a warmer color, toned gray, for a cooler color, and black, ideal for images that feature heavy shadow and rich, muted tones.
