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Who can tell me how to flatten a warped watercolour ?

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Pat Harrison

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Posted
Although I have used heavy watercolour paper (125 lbs) it still ended up warped in places. Searching the forum has not given me an answer, so here I am asking the experts. I am hesitant to take the advice I have found on the web, like dampening the back of the paper or using a steam iron. I would rather use the method I have applied successfully on my acrylics. Here I would put a clean sheet of see-through plastic over it and weigh it down with books over night. What works for you?
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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I'd probably use much the same approach, but 125lbs isn't heavy watercolour paper, unless my brain isn't working at the unwontedly early hour at which I've arisen.... even 140lbs isn't heavy. If that's really the weight you meant, I'm not surprised it's warped.... Did you mean 225lbs?
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Yes, on the whole I'd avoid the wetting the paper approach if I possibly could - it always depends on the paper and the paint, but you don't want to leave a watercolour damp. Bamboo paper - well now you never SAID Bamboo paper.... different construction; but it'll still warp. (I saw bamboo underwear the other day .... you have to wonder what that's going to feel like....)
michael

Michael Edwards

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A lot of advice all along similiar lines - for what it's worth I simply wet the back, put it face down on clean paper on top of the carpet with a sheet of hardboard or similiar on top wighted down with weights of some sort and leave it overnight. Always okay the next morning and always worked for me - nowadays I use heavier weghted paper and don't have the problem.
michael

Michael Edwards

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I've never had any trouble Pat - I use a fine mist spray bottle which I use for my acrylics - an old perfume bottle in fact.