<p>Gelatin used in paper is made from animal hide cooked down into a gelatin form, while starch is made from wheat and chalk. So for a cruelty-free/animal friendly option, people do prefer to use starch over gelatin for paper-making.<br />
Because starch kind of puts a layer/barrier on the paper, it helps with the watercolor not saturating the paper and absorbing into the paper, which can be beneficial.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-14T16:35:06.283Z
2020-08-14T17:16:50.430Z
2020-08-14T17:16:50.430Z
Lyssagal
<p>I heard that watercolor papers are sized with different things.<br />
I want to know what the difference is between watercolor papers sized with gelatin and sized with starch.</p>

<paper><watercolor>
What is the difference between these watercolor papers?
Fariha
# What is the difference between these watercolor papers?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-13)

I heard that watercolor papers are sized with different things.  
I want to know what the difference is between watercolor papers sized with gelatin and sized with starch.

**Tags:** paper, watercolor


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-08-14. Score: 5

Gelatin used in paper is made from animal hide cooked down into a gelatin form, while starch is made from wheat and chalk. So for a cruelty-free/animal friendly option, people do prefer to use starch over gelatin for paper-making.  
Because starch kind of puts a layer/barrier on the paper, it helps with the watercolor not saturating the paper and absorbing into the paper, which can be beneficial.


---

