The choice criteria are very different depending on the technique being used.
Usually they are divided into two categories : DRY and WET.

Of course the techniques can be mixed and the most appropriate paper should be selected.

DRY covers all the dry techniques (non diluted and without solvents): charcoal, red chalk, chalk, dry or oil pastels, lead pencils, coloured pencils.

WET includes the techniques using varying degrees of diluted colours.
They can be subdivided into two sub-categories corresponding to different solvents. :

• Water (felt tip, ink, watercolour, gouache, and acrylic)
• Oil, turpentine and similar mediums (alkyd)