UPDATE: I’ve been using Stonehenge Aqua hot press paper for about a year now and have become very accustomed to working with it in my illustration work. I adapted my technique a bit to accommodate the paper’s very smooth, slightly delicate surface and quick drying time. The effort has definitely been worth it and am very satisfied with how this hot press paper performs. I decided to update my review here, as well as add a few photos of my illustrations painted on it, to reflect what I have been able to accomplish in my illustration work since this has become the go-to hot press paper used in my work. I have also increased my rating on this paper from four to five stars, since I have overcome the issue that I mentioned in my original review regarding masking tape. I found two brands of artist tape that I can remove without damaging the paper - the white artist tapes from both ProArt and Art Alternatives work well, as long as you remove the tape slowly and with care. Also, I have been able to use masking fluid on this paper without any problems. You do have to make sure it is completely dry first and not leave it on the paper for too long, but that is fairly true regardless of the paper used. I try to stay within a 2-24 hour window and have had no problems doing that with this paper. Note: I used masking fluid for the sprinkles in the macaron’s illustration that I’ve shared and the paper was a-ok after removing it, as you can see. Side note: I’m also glad to see that the title of this item has been corrected to reflect that this is Stonehenge Aqua paper and not Yupo. ORIGINAL REVIEW: First of all, this is NOT Yupo paper. This is Stonehenge Aqua Hot Press paper under the wrong title. I was hesitant to order because the title of this item was changed to Yupo, but I took the chance and ordered it hoping to receive Stonehenge and that's what I received. Now, that said, I've tried several different brands of watercolor paper in both cold and hot press surfaces. I most recently have been buying Fabriano Artistico, but since the manufacturing process was changed a couple of years ago, the paper quality has not been the same. I needed to find a good hot press paper for detailed work. Thus far, this paper is fitting my needs fairly well. It is bright and smooth. Inks on it don't feather nearly as much as on Fabriano Artistico. And, it holds up fairly well to scrubbing. Pros: * It has a smooth surface suitable for ink, watercolor, gouache and airbrush, but also enough tooth for colored pencils. It's versatile. * Colors hold their vibrancy fairly well, even when working with many layers. The value shift as watercolors and inks dry is mild. * When doing detailed work, edges remain nice and crisp. It really holds details very well. Big plus here. * The paper handles moderate scrubbing without pilling or looking overworked. * Other: Stonehenge watercolor papers are starch-sized, making them suitable for use by vegan artists. Cons: * The main negative I have with this paper so far is that the surface is delicate when used with masking tape. And, I mean delicate! Even my drafting dots, with a low tack designed specifically for use on paper, have caused a bit of the surface to tear off when removed. It is important to use a hair dryer to heat the tape and soften the glue before attempting to remove it. I don't know how well this paper will withstand the use of masking fluid, but I have some concerns. I will definitely test it before using it on an actual piece of work. It's just something to consider when buying this paper. Other: * This paper dries relatively quickly. It's certainly been quicker than Fabriano Artistico for me thus far. I've found that, when painting in my studio, I have to wet the paper twice before using wet-in-wet techniques to get the paint to flow well. As of this review, Stonehenge is slightly more affordable than Fabriano Artistico and fares better with ink and detail work using watercolor. I will continue to use it for illustration, reserving the Fabriano for use in looser work where less detail or use of ink is required.
