Arches Papers

Differences & Highlights Between Arches 88, Arches Cover, Rives BFK, Arches Platine, Arches MBM Ingres and Arches En-Tout-Cas

(The variety of papers from the Arches Mill stocked at Legion)

1. Arches 88

Key Features:

  • 100% cotton, mould-made

  • Ultra-smooth, soft, and absorbent (no sizing)

  • Heavyweight (300gsm)

  • No deckled edges

Best For:

  • Screen printing

  • Lithography

  • Silkscreen & monoprinting

What Makes It Unique?

  • No sizing, meaning exceptional ink absorption

  • Extremely smooth and soft, perfect for screen printing

  • Not ideal for wet media or drawing due to high absorption

2. Arches Cover

Key Features:

  • 100% cotton, mould-made, internally sized

  • Smooth with slight texture

  • Heavyweight (250-270gsm)

  • Acid-free, deckled edges

Best For:

  • Printmaking (intaglio, relief, lithography, silkscreen)

  • Drawing (charcoal, pastel, graphite)

  • Watercolor & gouache

What Makes It Unique?

  • More rigid & structured than Rives BFK

  • Sized for versatility, working for printmaking and some wet media

3. Rives BFK

Key Features:

  • 100% cotton, mould-made, minimal sizing

  • Soft surface, smooth but with slight tooth

  • Available in 250gsm & 280gsm

  • Acid-free, deckled edges

Best For:

  • Printmaking (intaglio, lithography, relief, monoprinting)

  • Drawing (charcoal, pastel, pencil)

  • Mixed media

What Makes It Unique?

  • Softer and more flexible than Arches Cover

  • Highly absorbent, great for rich ink saturation

  • Often preferred for delicate and detailed printmaking

4. Arches Platine

Key Features:

  • 100% cotton, mould-made, specially formulated for alternative photographic printing

  • Smooth yet slightly textured surface

  • 310gsm & 145gsm options

  • Sized with no alkaline buffer, making it perfect for platinum/palladium printing

Best For:

  • Platinum/palladium printing

  • Cyanotype, Van Dyke brown, Kallitype, alternative photography

  • Photogravure & high-end printing

What Makes It Unique?

  • Specifically made for platinum/palladium printing, not ideal for traditional painting or drawing

  • No buffering – optimized for chemical-sensitive processes

5. Arches MBM Ingres

Key Features:

  • 75% cotton, mould-made

  • Classic Ingres laid texture (fine parallel lines)

  • 95gsm (lightweight)

  • Available in multiple colors

Best For:

  • Pastel, charcoal, pencil, drawing

  • Calligraphy & bookbinding

  • Some light printmaking

What Makes It Unique?

  • Ingres-style laid texture holds pastel and charcoal beautifully

  • Lighter weight (95gsm) makes it more delicate than others on this list

  • Not suitable for heavy ink or wet media

6. Arches En-Tout-Cas

Key Features:

  • 50% cotton, mould-made

  • Textured, similar to watercolor paper

  • Sized for wet and dry media

  • 160gsm (medium weight)

Best For:

  • Sketching & mixed media

  • Watercolor, gouache, light washes

  • Pastel, charcoal, pen & ink

What Makes It Unique?

  • The most versatile paper in this list – works with both wet and dry media

  • More absorbent than MBM Ingres but lighter than Arches Cover or Rives BFK

  • Great for on-the-go sketching & mixed techniques

Final Thoughts: Which Paper Should You Choose?

  • For Fine Art Printmaking → Rives BFK (soft) or Arches Cover (sturdier)

  • For Alternative Photography → Arches Platine

  • For Screen Printing → Arches 88

  • For Dry Media (Pastel, Charcoal) → Arches MBM Ingres

  • For Mixed Media & Sketching → Arches En-Tout-Cas