Black Paper And How To Use Paper Pads

[moif]

So it's probably not a great idea to put two topics in one thread, but it's easier for me, and it's both paper related at least.

 

Lately I've been using dip pens and metallic ink, and some of the inks are like white or near-white and only look good on darker paper, but I've found when I try to use cardstock or construction paper it can make my dip pens scratchy and that's not good. So I want to know if there are friendlier papers that I can use?

I just got test sheets from JAM papers, that has some different black sheets so we'll see if those are any good, but does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

Now onto my second inquiry.

I have recently fell in love with the look of the Rhodia Ice pads, and will probably buy more as soon as I get paid again, but they only come in a staple-top-bound pad form which I'm not used to using at all. Right now I'm a college student, so I mainly write to take notes in class, which means I'm not about to rip off the sheets as I use them, I'm more likely to turn the page, and want to use the back-side. Is there a common or better way for doing this? It just seems like pads aren't really made to be used that way, and yet to me it defeats the purpose of getting paper that's bound together to begin with. Is there maybe some easy way to save the paper together after you take it off the pad? I'm totally up for DIY ways of doing this as well if there's a good proven way.

Edited August 28, 2014 by moif

[TXKat]

Try this place. They might be able to help. I have subtly lined royal blue and also black paper designed for Gel pens. Maybe you could find something along those lines?

Can't help on the Rhodia....out of my league!

 

DUH! the link helps!!!!

http://www.millerpadsandpaper.com/Black-Gel-Sketch-Pad-8x105-2010.htm

Edited August 28, 2014 by TXKat

[moif]

Try this place. They might be able to help. I have subtly lined royal blue and also black paper designed for Gel pens. Maybe you could find something along those lines?

Can't help on the Rhodia....out of my league!

 

DUH! the link helps!!!!

http://www.millerpadsandpaper.com/Black-Gel-Sketch-Pad-8x105-2010.htm

 

Thanks for the suggestion!

Though I must ask, would you consider the paper of that rougher than say your average copy paper? Because I have some black gel pen paper myself on hand, but it's just slightly less rought/toothy than cardstock or construction paper, and so it also doesn't do my dip pens much good.

[stonezebra]

Used to run across black paper all the time in drug/chain stores, not as much anymore, maybe Hobby Lobbys or Michaels if you're in the States. As for the notepad - I'd write all the way thru the pad one direction and then turn it over and write on the back side of all the pages. That way you don't have to flip the whole pad over while taking notes.

[moif]

Wanted to put my results here.

 

I found a wonderful linen black paper here: http://www.jampaper.com/

That while it does have a texture to it, isn't tearing into my dip pens.

 

And I was introduced to the Circa system, which is just another version of the discbound notebook systems. I've bought the rings, and the hole-punch for it, so I'm able to just rip out the staplebound's pages, punch them, and turn them into a notebook. I make my own covers too, so no need to worry about it being an exact size to house the varying pages unless I want to put different types of pages in one notebook. So far it's been working really well.

[TXKat]

Thank you for the great link! I"m intrigued!

[annettefhorn]

When I was a student I used top-bound pads in a good ol' clipboard. That way, I could rip the pages out and turn them over to write on the other side. I segregated class notes by folder (easy to carry).