Meaning & use
suspension paper
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Meanings
noununcountabletechnical
A thick, heavy paper whose long fibers let it hold water or ink without tearing or buckling.
Grammar: Used as a mass noun: you say 'a sheet of suspension paper', not 'a suspension paper'.
Patterns
- a sheet of suspension paper
- made of suspension paper
- print on suspension paper
The studio keeps a roll of suspension paper for large watercolor pieces.
Because suspension paper is so absorbent, the paint dries slowly and evenly.
She chose suspension paper instead of thin drawing paper for her ink wash.
noununcountabletechnicalspecialist
A type of strong paper in which fibers stay loosely spread through the sheet rather than being pressed flat.
Grammar: Also uncountable; talk about 'some suspension paper' or 'the suspension paper' when the type is clear.
Patterns
- the fibers in suspension paper
- a batch of suspension paper
Under the microscope you can see the fibers in suspension paper lying in every direction.
The mill produces suspension paper for bookbinders who need a flexible covering.
Suspension paper takes embossing well because the fibers have room to move.
Common combinations
- a sheet of suspension paper
- He cut a sheet of suspension paper to fit the frame.
- heavy suspension paper
- Heavy suspension paper will not wrinkle when you flood it with water.
- print on suspension paper
- Artists often print on suspension paper when they want deep, soft tones.
- suspension paper for watercolor
- This shop sells suspension paper for watercolor and for printmaking.
- the surface of suspension paper
- The rough surface of suspension paper gives charcoal a grainy look.
Synonyms and how they differ
- watercolor paper
- The everyday term for paper made to take wet paint; it is broader, since not every watercolor paper has loosely spread fibers.
- printmaking paper
- Names the paper by its job rather than by its structure, so it fits better when you are talking about prints rather than painting.
- rag paper
- Refers to paper made from cloth fibers; it says what the paper is made of, not how the fibers sit in the sheet.
Word family
- suspension noun
- The state of particles being held spread through a liquid or, more generally, a temporary stop.
- suspend verb
- To hang something up, or to stop something for a time.
Commonly confused: suspension paper or suspension? suspension paper or tissue paper?
suspension paper vs suspension
As a printing term, 'suspension' alone often means a fine spray of ink or pigment held in liquid, not the paper itself.
suspension paper vs tissue paper
Sounds similar in rhythm but means a very thin, light paper used for wrapping, the opposite of this thick, strong sheet.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'suspension paper' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Suspension paper is a heavy art paper that can be wetted without falling apart, so soaking it before a wash fits. Wrapping fragile items calls for thin tissue paper, and writing to a bank involves a letter or note, not this paper.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “suspension paper”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.