Find HS Code and trade information for watercolor book

Watercolor Book

A watercolor book, also known as a watercolor sketchbook or watercolor pad, is a bound collection of paper specifically designed to be used with watercolor paints. These books serve as a portable and convenient medium for watercolor artists of all skill levels, facilitating both practice and finished artwork.

Material

The defining characteristic of a watercolor book is its paper. Key attributes of the paper include:

• Fiber Content: Typically made from cellulose, cotton, or a blend of both. 100% cotton paper is considered the highest quality, offering superior water retention, color vibrancy, and durability. Cellulose paper is more affordable and suitable for practice.
• Weight: Paper weight is measured in pounds (lbs) or grams per square meter (gsm). Common weights for watercolor books range from 90gsm (140lb) to 300gsm (140lb). Higher weights are less prone to buckling and warping when wet.
• Surface Texture: Watercolor paper comes in three main surface textures:
  • Hot Press: Smooth surface, ideal for detailed work, fine lines, and controlled washes.
  • Cold Press: Slightly textured surface, offering a balance between detail and texture, the most versatile option.
  • Rough: Heavily textured surface, creating dramatic effects and visible paper grain.
• Sizing: Sizing agents (often gelatin or starch) are added to the paper to control water absorption and prevent bleeding. Internal sizing is more effective than surface sizing.
• Binding: Books are typically bound using spiral, glue, or sewn methods. Spiral binding allows the book to lay flat, while glue and sewn bindings offer a more traditional aesthetic.

Purpose

• Practice: Watercolor books provide a dedicated space for experimenting with techniques, color mixing, and brushwork.
• Sketching: Their portability makes them ideal for plein air painting (painting outdoors) and quick studies.
• Finished Artwork: High-quality watercolor books can be used to create finished paintings suitable for framing or display.
• Travel Journaling/Illustration: Compact sizes are popular for travel sketching and visual documentation.

Function

Watercolor books function by providing a stable and absorbent surface for watercolor paints. The paper's ability to hold water and pigment allows for layering, blending, and creating various effects. The binding keeps the sheets together, offering a convenient format for creating a series of paintings or a cohesive body of work.

Usage Scenarios

• Plein Air Painting: Artists use watercolor books to capture landscapes, cityscapes, and other outdoor scenes.
• Studio Practice: Used for exercises, color charts, and developing painting skills.
• Urban Sketching: Capturing scenes in cities and towns.
• Botanical Illustration: Detailed studies of plants and flowers.
• Calligraphy and Lettering: Some watercolor books are designed for use with watercolor-based inks and calligraphy brushes.
• Art Journaling: Combining watercolor painting with writing, collage, and other mixed media techniques.

Common Types

• Spiral-Bound Sketchbooks: Affordable, lay flat, easy to remove pages.
• Glue-Bound Sketchbooks: Traditional aesthetic, pages are typically not removable.
• Sewn-Bound Sketchbooks: High-quality, durable, lay flat.
• Watercolor Pads: Sheets are typically not removable, often used for more formal paintings.
• Travel Watercolor Books: Compact sizes, often with pre-cut sheets and a built-in palette.
• Mixed Media Watercolor Books: Paper designed to handle a variety of wet and dry media.
• Pan Watercolor Books: Include a built-in palette of watercolor pans.

Watercolor books fall under several potential classifications based on their specific characteristics. Here's a breakdown of relevant HS codes based on the provided information:

• 4903000000: This HS code covers “Children's picture, drawing or coloring books”. If the watercolor book is specifically designed for children, intended for drawing or coloring, this is the most appropriate classification. The tax rate is currently 0.0% basic tariff, 0.0% additional tariff, and will be 30.0% additional tariff after April 2, 2025, resulting in a total tariff of 30.0%.

• 4820102010: This code applies to “Registers, account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries and similar articles: Diaries, notebooks and address books, bound; memorandum pads, letter pads and similar articles”. If the watercolor book is structured like a notebook with blank pages for watercolor painting, this code may be applicable. The tax rate is 0.0% basic tariff, 25.0% additional tariff, and will be 30.0% additional tariff after April 2, 2025, resulting in a total tariff of 55.0%.

• 4811592000: This code covers “Paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibers, coated, impregnated, covered, surface-colored, surface-decorated or printed, in rolls or rectangular (including square) sheets, other: Other: In strips or rolls of a width exceeding 15 cm or in rectangular (including square) sheets with one side exceeding 36 cm and the other side exceeding 15 cm in the unfolded state: Printing paper”. If the watercolor book consists of coated paper sheets designed for printing or painting, and meets the size requirements (width > 15cm, one side > 36cm, other side > 15cm), this code could be relevant. The tax rate is 0.0% basic tariff, 25.0% additional tariff, and will be 30.0% additional tariff after April 2, 2025, resulting in a total tariff of 55.0%.

• 4811909035: This code covers “Paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibers, other paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibers: Other Paper in sheets, lined or ruled, having a width of 152.4 to 360 mm inclusive and a length of 225.25 to 360 mm inclusive”. If the watercolor book consists of paper sheets with lines or rulings within the specified dimensions (152.4-360mm width, 225.25-360mm length), this code may be applicable. The tax rate is 0.0% basic tariff, 25.0% additional tariff, and will be 30.0% additional tariff after April 2, 2025, resulting in a total tariff of 55.0%.

It is important to determine the precise nature of the watercolor book (intended use, paper type, dimensions, and binding) to select the most accurate HS code.