What's the difference between drawing paper and regular paper?

Question

Supply stores sell drawing paper, sketching paper, and all sorts of bound pads and books of the same.What makes this paper different than regular notebook or printer paper? How is it better suited for drawing? What makes the charcoal paper different than drawing paper, when both are used for drawing?

Answer 1

It depends on your use of the drawing. If you want something archival, you will want something non-acidic so it won't yellow with time. It helps a lot to have paper with "tooth" or bumps that catch graphite better than a smooth paper would. The weight of the paper will also teach you how hard you should be pressing, as well as feel a little "higher quality".