The Best Glassine for Protecting Paintings, Drawings, and More
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A smooth, glossy paper that’s air, water, and grease resistant, glassine is used by artists to wrap paintings and to place between stacked drawings, etchings, prints, maps, and watercolors. Because its surface is so smooth, the material isn’t abrasive to delicate drawings rendered in easy-to-smudge mediums like vine charcoal or chalk pastel. An environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to plastics, films, and foils, glassine is also used as a barrier between food products like meat and baked goods. There’s really no substitute material for glassine, as tissue paper is too thin to properly protect your work and wax paper is too sticky and not environmentally sustainable. Glassine is a smart buy for both art storage and cooking needs. Browse our selection of the best options below.
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Canson Glassine Interleaving Paper
Canson is a trusted artist’s brand for quality, reasonably priced archival supplies, and this glassine is no exception. Acid-free and medium weight, with a 0.001-inch thickness, this translucent material keeps your art well-protected in storage and transit. It is also easy to cut into custom sizes. Available in 36-inch-wide rolls ranging from 10 to 100 yards, and 48-inch-by-10-yard rolls, there are plenty of options to choose from, and each roll will last a long time. Plus, this format allows you to store the glassine safely to avoid creases or tears.
Buy: $23.40–$155.57
Canson Glassine Paper Rolls
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Lineco Acid-Free Glassine Sheets
If you tend to work with small-scale artworks, consider getting a pack of glassine sheets. These from Lineco measure 16 by 20 inches, each one precisely cut and well weighted to guard against dust and abrasion. They are museum-quality—characteristic of Lineco—which means they are acid-free and unbuffered for safe use with colored prints, textiles, and watercolors. Note that these papers arrive folded, which means they will showcase some creases.
Buy: $11.54
Lineco Acid-Free Glassine Sheets
ANOTHER GOOD OPTION
Apadana Acid Free Glassine Paper
Like the sound of precut papers, but need bigger size? Look no further than Apadana’s product, which measures 24 by 36 inches—making these sheets the largest precut option available on this list. You get 25 acid- and sulfur-free sheets, all made in the USA. The material is ultra-crisp and arrives packaged in a reusable tube for crease-free safekeeping.
Buy: Apadana Acid-Free Glassine Paper $19.99
EDUCATORS’ CHOICE
Bright Creations Glassine Paper
Students looking to stock up on supplies for the school year should go with this bulk pack of loose-leaf glassine sheets. Bright Creations’ product offers convenience and quality at a good price. Smooth and glossy, each sheet measures 16 by 20 inches and has a weight of 58 gsm. Available in a 100-sheet pack, this option comes at a great value—offering enough for you to even share with classmates or studiomates.
Buy: Bright Creations Glassine Paper $16.99
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Borden & Riley Glassine Paper
Another option that comes packaged in a roll, this 25-pound glassine paper is transparent, which allows you to place it over a grid and cut custom sheets with ease, according to the dimensions of your project. It is totally smooth to help reduce friction between it and your art and to prevent any pigment from smudging or rubbing off. This glassine paper is made in the USA and comes in a convenient roll measuring 24 inches by 20 yards.
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Buy: Bordon & Riley Glassine Roll $20.47
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1. Canson Glassine Art Paper Roll
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, ARTNews may receive an affiliate commission.
Canson is a trusted artist’s brand for quality, reasonably priced archival supplies, and this glassine is no exception. Acid-free and medium weight, this material keeps your art well-protected in storage and transit. Available in rolls ranging from ten to 100 yards, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Buy: Canson Glassine Art Paper Roll
2. Borden & Riley Glassine Paper
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, ARTNews may receive an affiliate commission.
Another option that comes packaged in a roll, this glassine paper allows you to cut custom sheets according to the dimensions of your project. Thick and transparent, this glassine paper is made in the USA, and comes in a roll measuring 24 inches by 20 yards.
Buy: Borden & Riley Glassine Paper
3. Bright Creations Glassine Paper Sheets
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, ARTNews may receive an affiliate commission.
Students looking to stock up on supplies for the school year should go with this bulk pack of loose-leaf glassine sheets. Smooth and glossy, each sheet measures 16 by 20 inches. Available in a 100-sheet pack, this option comes at a great value and has plenty of material.
Buy: Bright Creations Glassine Paper Sheets
4. Lineco Glassine Storage Sheets
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Those in the market for a pared-down pack of precut sheets should choose this set of twelve. Each sheet measures 16 by 20 inches and is acid free. Super smooth and lightweight, this material is easy to fold but holds its shape well if laid flat.
Buy: Lineco Glassine Storage Sheets
5. Apadana Acid Free Glassine Paper
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, ARTNews may receive an affiliate commission.
Artists looking for the perfect paper should choose this set of 25 acid- and sulfur-free sheets. Measuring 24 by 36 inches, these sheets are the largest precut option available on this list. Made in the USA, the material is ultra crisp and arrives packaged in a reusable tube for crease-free safekeeping.
Buy: Apadana Acid Free Glassine Paper
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