Fabriano Studio Watercolor Pad: 25% Cotton, 140 lb

Drawing of the Fabriano Studio watercolor pad, 9 × 12 in, 229 mm wide, 300 g/m² cold press with 12 sheets, glue-bound at the head, closed and with a grey watercolor landscape on the top sheet; inset: cold-press grain, 25% cotton — The 9 × 12 in cold-press pad, closed and painted, drawn to scale; the cover artwork is simplified.

Product facts

Product: Fabriano Studio Watercolor Pad, Cold Press, 9 x 12 in, 140 lb (300 gsm), 12 sheets
Brand: Fabriano
Brand origin: Italy
Made in: Italy^*
Material: 300 g/m² (140 lb) watercolor paper, 25% cotton and lignin-free cellulose, cold press, glue bound
Price range: $$$5–20 per ream or pad

Notes on these facts

Made by Fabriano (Fedrigoni Group). Made in Italy: Larry Post's product description says "Made in Italy. FSC Mixed Sources." for the 9 × 12 in cold-press pad. Fabriano's Italian product page says the paper is made with hydroelectric power but doesn't name the country. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.

Key takeaways

Fabriano's Italian site describes Studio as 25% cotton with lignin-free cellulose, acid-free and FSC-certified, in 200 and 300 g/m² (140 lb).
Dick Blick sells cold-press pads in 8 × 10 in (12 sheets) and 9 × 12 and 11 × 14 in (12 or 50 sheets); hot-press pads also come in 50 sheets.
Fabriano's data sheet lists 300 g/m² Studio pads of 12 sheets in 20.3 × 25.4, 22.9 × 30.5 and 28 × 35.6 cm, and of 50 sheets in the two larger sizes.
At 25% cotton it sits between the Canson XL Watercolor pad, for which retailers state no cotton, and the 100% cotton Arches block, all three at 140 lb.
Larry Post lists the 9 × 12 in cold-press pad as made in Italy.

What is the Fabriano Studio watercolor pad?

It is Fabriano’s student-to-intermediate watercolor pad: 140 lb (300 g/m²) paper made of 25% cotton and lignin-free cellulose, bound with glue. Fabriano’s Italian site gives the fiber mix and calls the paper acid-free and FSC-certified, and Blick lists the pads as glue bound.

Fabriano’s Italian page also says the paper is made with hydroelectric power and suits watercolor, gouache, acrylic, ink, drawing and mixed media. It names Studio in the hot-press (“grana satinata”) finish; US shops also sell it in cold press.

Fabriano Studio watercolor pad specs

Spec	9 × 12 in cold-press pad
Size	9 × 12 in (229 × 305 mm)
Sheets	12 (a 50-sheet pad is also sold)
Weight	300 g/m² (140 lb)
Fiber	25% cotton, lignin-free cellulose
Sizing	Internal and external
Surface	Cold press (hot press also sold)
Archival	Acid-free; FSC-certified (Fabriano)
Binding	Glue bound; DeSerres says glued on one side
Made in	Italy

Fiber, acid-free and FSC claims come from Fabriano’s Italian site; sheet counts, weight and binding from Dick Blick; sizing from DeSerres and Utrecht; origin from Larry Post. Fabriano’s cold-press Watercolour page adds that the cellulose is ECF (elemental chlorine free).

What sizes does the Studio pad come in?

Fabriano and Dick Blick list three main sizes, 8 × 10, 9 × 12 and 11 × 14 in, all at 140 lb.

Size (in)	Size (cm)	Sheets
8 × 10	20.3 × 25.4	12
9 × 12	22.9 × 30.5	12 or 50
11 × 14	27.9 × 35.6	12 or 50

Fabriano’s data sheet gives the same sizes as 20.3 × 25.4, 22.9 × 30.5 and 28 × 35.6 cm, with 50-sheet pads only in the two larger sizes, and adds lighter 200 g/m² pads of 20 and 75 sheets.

To-scale drawing of three Fabriano Studio watercolor pad sizes from a shared corner: 8×10 in with 12 sheets, and 9×12 and 11×14 in with 12 or 50 sheets, all 300 g/m² (140 lb) — The three 140 lb pad sizes drawn to scale from one corner.

Cold press or hot press?

Pick cold press for general watercolor and hot press for smooth, detailed work. School Specialty describes cold press as having a slight texture and tooth and calls it the most popular watercolor surface.

Hot press is the smooth surface: better for fine lines, ink and wash, and botanical detail, and less forgiving for big textured washes. Walmart and Jerry’s Artarama list hot-press Studio pads in 9 × 12 and 11 × 14 in with 50 sheets.

How does it compare to Canson XL and Arches?

All three are 140 lb (300 gsm), but the stated cotton content steps up from none to 25% to 100%.

	Canson XL Watercolor	Fabriano Studio	Arches block
Weight	140 lb (300 gsm)	140 lb (300 g/m²)	140 lb (300 g/m²)
Fiber	No cotton stated by retailers	25% cotton, cellulose	100% cotton
Format	Pad, 30 sheets	Pad, 12 or 50 sheets	Block glued on 4 sides, 20 sheets
Made in	Not stated	Italy	France
Price band	$$	$$	$$$$

Canson and Arches figures come from our guides to them. A pad, unlike a block, doesn’t hold the sheet flat, so tape the sheet down for heavy washes. For mixed media and lighter washes, the 98 lb Canson XL Mix Media pad is the cheaper sheet.

How much does it cost?

The 9 × 12 in 12-sheet pad sits in our $$ band ($5–20 per pad) at the US shops we checked in October 2026. The 50-sheet pads cost more per pad but less per sheet.

Who makes Fabriano, and where is the pad made?

Larry Post lists the Studio pad as “Made in Italy”, and Fabriano is an Italian paper brand, now part of the Fedrigoni group. Fabriano’s own history page cites a parchment, kept in Matelica, showing cotton paper made in Fabriano by 1264, the year in the name of its 1264 line. Fabriano’s Italian page says the Studio paper is made with hydroelectric power from the company’s own small plants, without naming the country.

Frequently asked questions

Is Fabriano Studio watercolor paper 100% cotton?

No. Fabriano's Italian site describes Studio as 25% cotton fibers with lignin-free cellulose, as do Dick Blick and Utrecht. Fabriano's 100% cotton paper is the Artistico line.

What weight is the Fabriano Studio watercolor pad?

The standard pads are 300 g/m², which is 140 lb. Fabriano's data sheet also lists lighter 200 g/m² Studio pads of 20 and 75 sheets.

How many sheets are in a Fabriano Studio watercolor pad?

The 8 × 10 in pad holds 12 sheets, and the 9 × 12 and 11 × 14 in pads come with 12 or 50 sheets. Check the cover, since both counts are sold in the same size.

What is the difference between cold press and hot press?

Cold press has a slight texture and tooth, which School Specialty calls the most popular watercolor surface. Hot press is smooth, which suits fine detail, ink and botanical work.

Is Fabriano Studio good for beginners?

It is a step up from all-cellulose student pads, with some cotton and internal and external sizing, at a price in our $$ band. We haven't yet tested how it handles lifting and layered washes.

Is Fabriano Studio paper acid-free?

Yes. Fabriano's Italian site lists it as acid-free ("senza acidi"), as do Dick Blick and DeSerres.

Where is Fabriano Studio paper made?

Larry Post lists the Studio pad as made in Italy. Fabriano is an Italian paper brand; its own history page cites a parchment showing paper made in Fabriano by 1264.

Sources (18)

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