Cotton fibers create a fundamentally different drawing surface than wood pulp papers. Canson Ingres sheets use 65% cotton content to deliver the kind of durability and texture that serious pastel and charcoal work demands. The paper accepts aggressive mark-making without pilling or tearing, while moderate tooth grabs and holds dry media with secure adhesion.

Gelatin sizing throughout the sheet provides just enough surface resistance for controlled layering. You can build up pastels gradually, blend charcoal smoothly, or work pencil details without the paper absorbing pigment too quickly. This same sizing allows light watercolor or ink washes when you need subtle tonal foundations beneath dry media, though the 100 gsm weight limits how wet you can work.

Colors mixed directly into the pulp ensure permanence under gallery lighting and studio conditions. The pigment penetrates every fiber rather than sitting on the surface, so the color won't fade or shift over time. Individual sheets give you flexibility to choose specific colors for each piece rather than committing to pads with predetermined color sequences.