This page explains how this site makes money and how that affects — or rather, doesn't affect — what we write.
Affiliate links
When you click a product link on this site and buy something on Amazon, we receive a small commission. The standard rate for art supplies is around 4%. This costs you nothing extra. The price you pay is identical whether you arrive at Amazon from our site or from any other source.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
We also link to a small number of non-Amazon retailers (such as Tobio's Kits). We have no affiliate arrangement with these retailers. Those links are included solely because the products are not available on Amazon.
How commissions affect our recommendations
They don't. Our number one pick and our number eight pick earn us the same commission percentage. A product that fails our tests gets a low rating regardless of what it pays.
We have deliberately chosen not to participate in brand ambassador programs, sponsored content arrangements, or any other commercial relationship that would require us to write positively about a product in exchange for payment or free goods.
If that ever changes, we will disclose it clearly at the top of the relevant page.
We buy everything we test
We purchase every product we review with our own money. We do not accept free samples, review copies, or sponsored shipments from brands. If a paper is not good enough for us to spend our own money on, it is not something we are willing to recommend to you.
This policy is non-negotiable. It is the only way to guarantee that our opinions are not shaped by the cost of being honest.
How we test
Every paper and sketchbook goes through six standardized tests: flat wash, wet-on-wet, glazing, lifting, scrubbing, and dry brush. We use the same pigments and the same brushes across every test so the only variable is the paper. You can read the full methodology on our about page.
How often we update
We review and update our pages at least once a year. When a product is discontinued, reformulated, or changes in quality, we update the review and note what changed. The "Last updated" date at the top of each page reflects the most recent substantial review of that content.
Contact
If you have found an error in one of our reviews, or if you believe a product we have rated poorly has changed significantly since our testing, you can reach us at hello@bestwatercolorpaper.com. We read every message.