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I made this chart for my own purposes, but thought others may find it helpful. I like to try different papers, but then end up forgetting if i liked them. This was to give me some ideas of what I like and what I don't. I am not an expert in paper, but I am rather picky about it.

By absorbency, I am referring to a paper's ability to take in just the right amount of ink so that the pen doesn't skip, but not so much that it bleeds, feathers or shadows.

The papers are in order of smoothness. The smoothest is first and the roughest is last. However, there is very little difference as you go from one to another. I made a comment when the papers go from being more smooth to Clairfontaine notebook paper to where they are less smooth than Clairfontaine notebook paper.

My favorite paper, Stora Enso 4CC, is not on the chart. According to the company, the mill where the 4CC paper was made has shut down and they have no plans to start making it again. The manager at pickquickpapers.com said this was a shame because this was one of the best papers ever made and he sold a ton of it. This chart is basically an endeavor to find a replacement for the 4CC paper. The manager at pickquickpapers.com recommended the Hammermill Color Copy paper as a replacement. He said Hammermill recently improved this paper in order to capture the hole left by the 4CC paper. It is a very nice paper. It is third on the list mainly because there is some show through.

I ordered samples of three more Hammermill papers from hammermill.com I will let you know how these compare to what is in the chart.

Someone else recently posted a chart. It might be nice to combine them and get a real database.

Thanks, interesting chart.

You should contact Luca - he is the one who recently posted a paper chart too. I believe he is gathering paper information.

I started something similar Here and was underwhelmed with the response.

I thought it would be useful to include sources and some basis for cost in the data.

Being rather unorganized, I didn't have all the receipts for all the paper. However, I do know that the HP Premium Color Laser Paper was the most expensive at $16.00 for 500 sheets at Office Max.

I do think it would be nice to put all the paper together. I liked your chart also. I tend to get papers I try all mixed up, so I thought it best to write it down. I finally figured out how to upload stuff so I thought I would post it.

I totally agree. Its a bit overwhelming when you look on here and then at the shelves in the store and there are so many with similar names, and listed attributes but may or may not be the same.

I just thought it wold be useful to other since I was doing it for myself.

Useful chart -- I like the mini-reviews. Thanks!

Nice. I am new to fountain pens and was worried all the usable paper would be very expensive.


Just a thought, perhaps you can post an online spreadsheet and let members post their own data/input.

Thank you, good review / approach. I appreciate it. I seem to be getting sucked into this paper review process. It started when I just got sick of the Levenger paper and decided it was time I just had to provide my own paper. I love high-end paper and had some really nice Strathmore Writing and Neenah around. I ordered some more and cut for my journals and notebooks, then realized that some of it provides a little more tooth than I like for my cursive italic pens. It is interesting that my really good pens, like my Montgrappa and medium old style OMAS feel almost no difference between some very different papers... but my cheaper pens are WAY different. Some less expensive pens become down right scratchy on some paper. So it poses a dilema. Hence I now seem to be evaluating papers. I did get a ream of the HP 32lb laser, which seems to be the most recommended of the common paper. I have a ream of Strathmore 100% Cotton on order that was recommended by a Forumee. It sounds like a good compromise, but I like very slightly colored paper, like Stathmore soft gray or blue... These are very slightly colored... unless you hold next to a white sheet, you would not notice they are colored. JD

Mary,

I see that we've tried out several of the same papers. Do you have any way of posting handwritten or in depth reviews of these papers?

For example, you say that certain papers are "way too dry" and I don't quite understand what you mean by this. And you mention both "shadowing" and "showthrough" are you using them interchangeably or do you mean different things by them?

BTW, Office Depot 28lb Color Laser and 24 Premium Color Ink Jet are my "daily driver" papers.

This is a very nice chart. Thank you for posting.

That's a very helpful chart. I was wondering how color copier paper would work. I know my Inkjet paper really isn't a bad solution.

Too bad bright white is the only option you get.

It is still on their website. However, they do not list any distributors in the US.