[/indent]After reading all of the nice things concerning Black 'n Red notebooks I sprung for one at the local Office Max store. I wanted a notebook for my business book reading so I picked one up. Paper feels nice, slick and of a decent weight. But what a suprize when I started writing with my favorite jounaling pen, a thin Sheaffer Balance. It is loaded with PR American blue. I am a modified lefthanded overwriter. I almost never smear! But after writing a paragraph my hand was blue and the page was a smeary blue mess. UGLY!

I removed the page and decided to test a couple of pen/ink combinations. Using a nother Shaeffer Balance F filled with Waterman's Havana brown there was now smearing. The ink dried as it went on the paper. The same with a Noodler's Midnightblack in a Wing Sung 237 XF. Using a Parker "51" filled with Noodler's Ellis Island also did not smear.
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I am curious, has anyone else had smearing problems with PR American blue? Or smearing problems with Red 'n Black note books? I've used Ampland and Mead and never have has any issues with smearing ink.
PMS

I'm also a lefty over-writer (still haven't made the conversion to under-writer, but still working on it!) and I have similar issues with PR American Blue as well as some Black 'n' Red papers. I generally find American Blue to be a slow-drying ink irrespective of paper, but I put up with it because I like the color.

I recently also picked up a B'n'R notebook (for answer keys to stats homework problems), and I found myself smudging pretty badly with Aurora Black in a Lamy 2000 with an XF nib. The Lamy writes a little wet, though, so that might have been the problem.

Don

Same here.

I've had smearing problems with the RnB spiral notebooks, but not with the RnB tablets. The tablets seem to have a softer finish or less sizing or whatever it is that makes it easier for a pen to write and faster for the ink to sink in.

This is very helpful information. I'm also a lefty overwriter, and I was thinking of ordering some Black N Red pads. Now I'm wondering if I should stick to Rhodia and 24 pound laserjet paper.

The notebook I bought was one of the spiral bound variety. I've had no problems with the Black 'n' Red legal pads smudging; they take ink fairly well. The problem I've had with the legal pads is that the sheets often don't tear off cleanly. I hate that.

Don

I've had bad luck with PR DC Supershow Blue drying in the same fashion. Oddly enough, PR Copper Burst has no problems.