Canson XL Marker Pad: 70 gsm Semi-Translucent Paper

Drawing of the Canson XL Marker pad, 9 × 12 in, 229 mm wide, closed with its black fold-over cover and opened to a grey marker drawing with a second sheet laid over half of it so the drawing shows through; inset: semi-translucent, 70 g/m² — The 9 × 12 in pad, closed and open, drawn to scale; the cover artwork is simplified.

Product facts

Product: Canson XL Marker Pad, 9 x 12 in, 18 lb (70 gsm), 100 sheets
Brand: Canson
Brand origin: France
Made in: Not stated^*
Material: 18 lb (70 g/m²) acid-free, semi-transparent, very white and very smooth layout paper; FSC certified (French range)
Price range: $$$5–20 per ream or pad

Notes on these facts

Made by Canson (Annonay, France). Country of manufacture not stated: Sources conflict or are missing. Canson's French site says its papers are made in France at Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay, but it doesn't say where the US XL Marker pad is made or assembled. One marketplace listing for the 9 × 12 in pad gives France; other Canson XL pads are listed as made in the USA. Check the back of the pad. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.

Key takeaways

Each pad holds 100 sheets of 18 lb (70 g/m²), acid-free, very white marker paper; Canson lists the weight and says the paper has a barrier that keeps ink on the surface.
The 9 × 12 in pad (229 × 305 mm) is the common US size; Europe sells A4 and A3 pads of 100 sheets.
The sheets are semi-translucent, so a drawing on the sheet below shows through for tracing.
An Amazon snapshot shows about 3,140 ratings averaging 4.6 stars for the 9 × 12 in pad.
At 70 gsm, a sheet weighs about a quarter of a 270 gsm Strathmore 300 Bristol sheet.

What is the Canson XL Marker pad?

It is a pad of 100 sheets of light, bright white, semi-translucent 18 lb (70 gsm) paper made for markers. Canson, the French paper maker based in Annonay, sells it in its XL line beside the Canson XL Mix Media and Canson XL Watercolor pads.

It is also widely reviewed: an Amazon snapshot shows the 9 × 12 in pad with about 3,140 ratings averaging 4.6 stars, and Dick Blick shows 4.4 stars.

Canson XL Marker pad specs

Spec	Value
Brand	Canson (XL line)
Paper weight	18 lb (70 gsm)
Color and surface	Very white, very smooth (Canson)
Opacity	Semi-transparent (Canson)
Ink barrier	Water-resistant, keeps ink on the surface (Canson claim)
Archival	Acid-free
Sheets	100
US size	9 × 12 in (229 × 305 mm)
Other sizes	A4 and A3 (Europe)
Binding	Glue bound (Blick) or fold-over cover with tape binding (Jerry’s)
Made in	Not stated

Weight, surface, opacity and the ink barrier come from Canson’s US and French pages; sheet count from Dick Blick and Jerry’s Artarama; the A4 and A3 pads from Cult Pens and Artway. In France the paper is sold as “XL Marqueur Layout”, in pads glued on one side.

Why is marker paper so thin?

Thin, smooth paper lets you trace earlier drafts and lay marker color evenly. At 70 gsm the Canson XL Marker sheet is semi-translucent, so a sketch on the sheet below shows through well enough to redraw it cleanly.

Bar chart of art paper weights to scale: Canson XL Marker 70 g/m², Strathmore 400 Sketch 89, Canson XL Mix Media 160, Strathmore 300 Bristol 270 and Canson XL Watercolor 300 g/m² — Marker paper is the lightest of the common art pads.

Canson says the paper is water-resistant and has a barrier that keeps ink on the surface, so it doesn’t go through the sheet. That’s a maker claim we haven’t tested: alcohol markers soak into most light papers, so keep a scrap sheet under the page until you know how yours behaves.

Which markers work on it?

Canson says it takes all types of felt pen, including spirit- or solvent-based markers. That covers alcohol markers as well as water-based markers and fineliners; Canson adds that it gives even flat tints.

For water-based washes or heavy layering, a thicker sheet such as 98 lb (160 gsm) mixed-media paper holds up better.

How does it compare to Bristol and mixed-media paper?

Marker paper is the lightest and most translucent; Bristol and mixed-media paper are heavier and opaque.

Pad	Weight	See-through	Best for
Canson XL Marker	18 lb (70 gsm)	Semi-translucent	Marker roughs, tracing, design sketches
Strathmore 400 Sketch	60 lb (89 gsm)	No	Dry-media sketching
Canson XL Mix Media	98 lb (160 gsm)	No	Markers, ink, light washes
Strathmore 300 Bristol	100 lb (270 gsm)	No	Finished ink and marker art

Pound figures use different basis sheets for different paper types, so compare by gsm.

Which size should you choose?

In the US, the 9 × 12 in pad is the size retailers list; in Europe, choose A4 or A3. All hold 100 sheets.

9 × 12 in (229 × 305 mm): desk-sized pages for character sheets, product sketches and lettering practice.
A4 (210 × 297 mm): close to the US pad, sold by UK and European shops such as Cult Pens.
A3 (297 × 420 mm): twice the area of A4, for larger layouts and presentation roughs.

Does Canson make another marker pad?

Yes: Canson also sells an Artist Series Pro Layout marker pad, a 50-sheet 9 × 12 in pad with a fold-over binding. Zoro lists it with France as the country of origin. We haven’t compared the two papers side by side, and the listing we found doesn’t give the Pro Layout paper’s weight.

Is it glue bound or tape bound?

Listings disagree: Dick Blick describes a glue-bound pad, and Jerry’s Artarama a fold-over cover with tape binding and a chipboard back. Either way the sheets come off the head of the pad, so check the label if you prefer one binding.

Where is the Canson XL Marker pad made?

Canson doesn’t say for this pad. Its French site says Canson papers are made in France at the historic Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay mill, but one marketplace listing gives France for the 9 × 12 in pad while other Canson XL pads are listed as made in the USA. Check the back of the pad you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What is marker paper?

Marker paper is a light, smooth, bright white paper made for markers, often semi-translucent so you can trace an earlier drawing. Canson's XL Marker paper is 18 lb (70 gsm).

Can you use alcohol markers on the Canson XL Marker pad?

Yes. Canson says it suits all types of felt pen, including spirit- or solvent-based markers, and that a barrier keeps the ink on the surface rather than going through. Until we've tested it, slip a scrap sheet under the page anyway.

Is Canson XL Marker paper see-through?

It is semi-translucent: you can see a drawing on the sheet beneath well enough to trace it, which helps when you refine a sketch over several sheets.

How many sheets are in a Canson XL Marker pad?

100 sheets. Retailers list 100 sheets for the US 9 × 12 in pad and for the A4 and A3 pads sold in Europe.

Is the Canson XL Marker pad glue bound or tape bound?

Listings differ. Dick Blick describes a glue-bound pad, while Jerry's Artarama describes a fold-over cover with tape binding and a chipboard back. Either way, sheets tear off the head of the pad.

Is Canson XL Marker paper acid-free?

Yes. Canson's US and French pages list it as acid-free, as do Dick Blick and Jerry's Artarama.

Where is the Canson XL Marker pad made?

Canson doesn't say for this pad. It says its papers are made in France at its Annonay-area mill, but one marketplace listing gives France while other Canson XL pads are listed as made in the USA, so check the back of the pad.

Sources (10)

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