Mixed media refers to artwork combining more than one media - photography, pencil, paints, and others. Red River Paper is your source for photo and art papers that are best for mixed media projects.
What makes a paper good for mixed media? Our experience and feedback from customers say that matte surface papers work best. Matte means a non-reflective finish. Matte papers can be made of tree fiber or cotton. They can have a smooth or textured surface. You will find them listed below.
Does that mean I cannot use reflective surface paper? No. It means that matte products work best enhancing and holding ink, pencil, and paint. You are free to try a glossy or satin paper if you want to start with that photographic look.
If your printer supports roll paper, you can paint on top of our Palo Duro Matte Canvas to create embellished stretched canvas prints.
Note that all of our media have a coating that acts like gesso and keeps pigments (and water) more on the surface rather than soaking into the paper, so you may need to adjust your techniques when using watercolors. If you are using pigment inks, allow your print to set for 24 hours before painting.
We highly recommend ordering samples. You can see and feel them in person, test them with your printer, and experiment with your tools and techniques to find the best option.
Have questions? Ask us Questions About Papers for Mixed Media.
Polar Matte 230®
Red River's Polar Matte raises the bar for imaging excellence. This paper brings you professional quality in every sense of the meaning.
- Paper Tone: Bold Bright White
- Paper Weight: 230 gsm / 60 lb.
- Thickness: 10 mil
- Reverse Side: Plain paper
Polar Matte 330®
The heaviest, highest quality photo matte available today.
- Paper Tone: Bold Bright White
- Paper Weight: 330 gsm / 88 lb.
- Thickness: 16 mil
- Reverse Side: Plain paper
Aurora Art Natural 300
Made using fine 100% cotton rag content, Aurora Natural offers the look and feel of fine art paper.
- Surface: Semi-Smooth (Hot Press)
- Paper Tone: Warm Tone
- Paper Weight: 300 gsm
- Thickness: 18 mil
- Optical Brighteners: None
Aurora Art Natural 250
Made using fine 100% cotton rag content, Aurora Natural offers the look and feel of fine art paper.
- Surface: Semi-Smooth (Hot Press)
- Paper Tone: Warm Tone
- Paper Weight: 250gsm / 64 lb.
- Thickness: 13.5 mil
- Optical Brighteners: None
Aurora Art White 300
Made using fine 100% cotton rag content, this Aurora features a brighter white shade for crisp color tones, semi-smooth surface, an acid-free base stock and coating.
- Surface: Semi-Smooth (Hot Press)
- Paper Tone: White
- Paper Weight: 300 gsm
- Thickness: 18 mil
- Optical Brighteners: Minimal
Aurora Art White 250
Made using fine 100% cotton rag content, this Aurora features a brighter white shade for crisp color tones, semi-smooth surface, an acid-free base stock and coating.
- Surface: Semi-Smooth (Hot Press)
- Paper Tone: White
- Paper Weight: 250 gsm / 64 lb.
- Thickness: 13.5 mil
- Optical Brighteners: Minimal
Palo Duro Etching 315®
- Surface: Non-reflective Etching surface has a texture. This surface also called Cold Press or Velvet
- Made From: 100% cotton rag
- Paper Tone: Natural white
- Paper Weight: 315 gsm
- Thickness: 21 mil
- Optical Brighteners: None present
Trinity River Velvet 315
- Surface: Matte with highly textured Velvet finish
- Made From: 100% cotton rag
- Paper Tone: Natural white
- Paper Weight: 315 gsm
- Thickness: 20 mil
- Optical Brighteners: None present
Baram Hanji
Baram Hanji is a semi-smooth Korean paper made in the ancient Hanji tradition. Baram has a modern, high-performance coating for remarkable print quality and saturation.
- Surface: Semi-smooth
- Paper Tone: Natural white
- Paper Weight: 110 gsm / 30 lb.
- Thickness: 8.4 mil
- Optical Brighteners: None present
Noori Hanji
Noori Hanji is a textured Korean paper made in the ancient Hanji tradition. Noori has a modern, high-performance coating for remarkable print quality and saturation.
- Surface: Medium texture
- Paper Tone: Natural white
- Paper Weight: 110 gsm / 30 lb.
- Thickness: 8.4 mil
- Optical Brighteners: None present
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Last updated: January 19, 2026
