For even easier blending, apply a colorless layer of the Silk-Screen Medium or Acrylic Glazing Liquid to the surface before any paint additions. This can allow for stronger, undiluted colors to be applied and manipulated without drying too quickly. Preparing the Paper Selecting the Paper Without going too deep into what is the correct type of paper to use for fine art, it is important to know what makes a paper archival. This becomes critical when the artist has done enough experimentation and is ready to focus on creating fine art with the monotype process. This means that they are produced from cotton rather than wood pulp.
Newsprint is made from wood pulp, which fades and crumbles very rapidly.
Watercolor paper is typically made from just rag fibers, which resist breaking down 3 . Today, manufacturers of high quality papers produce papers that are slightly alkaline, which serves to buffer the paper from the harsh acidic environmental factors, especially smog and acid rain. Preparing the Paper for Monoprinting Traditionally, dampening the paper is required to allow it to easily pull away from the surface. When monoprinting with slow drying acrylic mediums, it is not necessary. However, some types of paper or conditions may require it.