If you're an artist getting ready to sell or display your work as 11x17 prints, one of the first decisions you'll face is paper. Watercolor paper and cardstock are two of the most popular choices — but they serve very different purposes. Here's what you need to know before you order your next batch of 11x17 art prints.
What Is Watercolor Paper?
Watercolor paper is a thick, textured stock originally designed for painting with wet media. When used for printing, its textured surface gives 11x17 art prints a natural, brushstroke-like quality that closely resembles traditionally painted work. It's the go-to choice if you want your prints to feel handmade and fine-art worthy.
Best for: Illustrations, painted works, fantasy art, botanical prints, and anything with an organic or painterly feel.
What Is Cardstock?
Cardstock is thicker and more durable than traditional printer paper, but thinner and more flexible than cardboard. It comes in varying weights — typically from 75 GSM to 450 GSM — and is available in gloss, matte, or luster finishes. For 11x17 art prints, it's the workhorse of the convention and online selling world.
Best for: Bold digital art, fan art, convention prints, vibrant illustrations, and anything color-heavy.
The Best of Both Worlds: Textured Cardstock as a Watercolor Paper Alternative
If you love the look of watercolor paper but need to keep costs down, textured cardstock — like a felt 100# cover stock — hits a sweet spot between the two. It brings a tactile, fine-art feel to your 11x17 prints without the fine-art price tag.
What Is Felt 100# Cover Stock?
Felt cover stock is a heavyweight cardstock with a soft, lightly textured surface that mimics the tooth of watercolor paper. Thick enough to feel premium in hand, yet affordable enough to order in volume for conventions, Etsy shops, or large print runs.
Why It Works
- Cost savings: Significantly less per sheet than true watercolor paper — practical for high-volume orders.
- Consistent print feed: Runs reliably through digital printers without the jamming or uneven absorption that watercolor paper can cause.
- Tactile appeal: The felt texture adds a handcrafted feel that smooth cardstock can't match.
It won't fully replicate the deep grain of cotton watercolor paper, but for printed reproductions felt 100# cover stock delivers about 80% of the watercolor paper aesthetic at a fraction of the cost.
Pro Tip: When listing on Etsy or your own store, describing your paper as "textured felt cover stock" signals quality to buyers and sets your prints apart — without overpromising the watercolor paper experience.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Texture & Feel
Watercolor paper wins here. Its textured surface promotes a fine-art feel that captures the authenticity of physical artwork. Each print carries a subtle character that feels unique in hand. Cardstock is smoother and more uniform — which is actually a plus for crisp, graphic digital work where clean lines matter.
Color Vibrancy
Cardstock takes the edge here, especially in gloss or luster finishes. Glossy and satin papers amplify color intensity and contrast, making them ideal for highly saturated, vibrant artwork. Matte papers absorb more ink and produce softer, more muted tones. Watercolor paper tends to produce slightly subdued color — beautiful, but intentionally understated.
Archival Quality
Both can be archival — it comes down to the specific product and ink type. For long-term display and maximum print life, pigment inks are more stable than dye inks. Pair pigment inks with archival-grade cardstock or cotton-based watercolor paper for the best longevity in your 11x17 prints.
Price
Cardstock is generally more affordable, especially for large convention or Etsy orders. Watercolor paper commands a premium — which can work in your favor if you're positioning prints as fine-art pieces and pricing them accordingly.
Handling & Durability
Cardstock's thickness and weight make it sturdy enough for repeated use — great for conventions where prints are pulled in and out of display bins all day. Watercolor paper is durable but benefits from protective poly sleeves to preserve its texture.
Quick Comparison: Watercolor Paper vs. Cardstock for 11×17 Prints
Different papers give 11×17 art prints a very different look and feel. Here is a simple side-by-side breakdown to help artists choose the right fit for their style, budget, and selling goals.
Watercolor Paper
Textured Cardstock
Smooth Cardstock
So Which Should You Choose for Your 11x17 Prints?
The honest answer: neither wins outright. Watercolor paper, textured cardstock, and smooth cardstock each serve different art styles and different buyers. Many artists keep two in rotation — watercolor paper or felt cover stock for premium editions, and smooth cardstock for high-volume convention orders.
The best way to decide? Order single prints and order the same piece on each. Comparing them side by side in real light — not on a screen — is the only way to know which surface is right for your work.
Pro Tip Before You Order
Nothing beats hands-on testing. Ordering single prints lets you print the same artwork on multiple paper types and compare how each handles color, detail, and overall mood before committing to a large order. Most quality print shops offer sample packs for exactly this reason.
Ready to order your 11x17 prints?