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Uses for Cotton Rag Paper

Cotton rag paper is primarily used for art, important documents and money. Cotton rag paper is a high- quality paper that is strong, durable and usually acid free. Cotton rag paper holds pigments and inks better than wood-based papers. As its name implies, cotton rag paper is made from cotton fibers. Sometimes additional fibers, such as linen, are added. Cotton rag paper is softer to the touch than its pulp-based counterparts.

  1. Fine Art

    • High-quality fine art paper is usually made from cotton rag.

      Watercolor paintings are usually painted on cotton rag paper, usually 140 lb or 300 lb. The paper can be hot pressed or cold pressed. Hot pressed paper is smooth, while cold pressed paper has a slight textured feel. Many watercolor paper manufacturers make their cotton rag papers by hand and emboss their manufacturer mark on a corner of the sheet.

    Important Documents

    • Important documents are often printed on cotton rag paper.

      Dissertations, some legal documents and resumes are often printed on cotton rag paper. Cotton rag paper can enhance the presentation of a printed resume. Legal documents and dissertations require a long shelf life, so that's why they are often printed on cotton rag paper.

    Legal Tender

    • Legal tender is composed of a combination of cotton rag and linen fibers.

      If you like the feel of money in your hand, there's a reason for that. U.S. currency is printed on a blend of 75 percent cotton rag 25 percent linen. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, it would take about 4,000 double folds for a bill to tear.

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