Cold-pressed paper is characterized by:

• A. A perfectly smooth surface.
• B. A completely rough surface.
• C. Having a texture that sits between hot-pressed and rough papers.
• D. Being unsuitable for water media.

Answer: (C)

Cold-pressed paper is the middle ground between smooth hot-pressed and rough textured papers. It has a moderate texture (tooth) that provides some grip for pigment and water without the heavy texture of rough paper. This balance lets watercolor washes spread nicely and blend softly while still letting you tease out fine details when needed. Since it holds water and pigment well, it’s widely used for watercolor work, not unsuitable for water media. The other options describe surfaces that are too smooth, too rough, or claim water media wouldn’t work, which doesn’t match cold-press.