Vellum paper
Vellum Paper: read the 90 to 180 gsm examples and handling notes. Folding, cutting and glue tips. Find craft uses, sheet sizes and weight equivalents.
Modern craft vellum is a translucent cellulose paper; Clearprint, for example, makes its cotton sheet transparent with a solvent-free process. “Vellum finish” on opaque drawing paper describes a surface texture, not translucency.
- Typical weight
- 90–180 gsm
- US lb · calculated at the named basis
- 23.9–47.9 lb bond equivalent (17 × 22 in, 500 sheets)
Weights to look for
Canson Vidalon is 90 gsm; heavier translucent printing stock reaches 180 gsm. Supplier lb labels are often writing weights, and their nominal pairs may differ from calculated equivalents.
Folding, creasing, cutting and gluing
- Fold
- Use for simple overlays or gently folded panels. The dense sheet can show a pale line where it is bent sharply.
- Crease
- Score heavier vellum with light pressure before folding. Check a spare corner before creasing the finished piece.
- Cut
- Cuts cleanly as a single sheet and works for windows or layered silhouettes. Keep fingers away from the finished visible surface.
- Glue
- Hide narrow tape or small glue dots behind a border or another opaque layer. Excess liquid can leave a visible patch.
What to make
Use as a card overlay or as a separate translucent backing behind a cut-paper shape. It is not the best first sheet for a many-layer snowflake.
Common sheet and pack sizes
Letter-size 8.5 × 11 inch packs are common; Grafix also lists 12 × 12 inch vellum pads.