Search the Community

I've been trying to brush up on some calligraphy - it's been a while, but I'm enjoying trying. I've noticed a few demo's online that use an angled lined paper as a guide for Copperplate and such scripts. It is gridded but with angled lines running down the whole page which make it particularly useful for judging spacing and symmetry. Does anyone know a supplier? (preferably European)

Thought I would share this. My family is always looking for things to get me for Christmas. Knowing that I love to write, they often get me paper. This year, I open up a box and there are 3 writing pads from Dollar General discount store. I open up the cover and look at the paper and it doesn't feel like the usual bargain store paper. So, I figure, Ii'll check it out with the fountain pens I currently had inked up. TWSBI Diamond 580 - 1.1mm nib with Noodler's Golden Brown Bexley Poseidon Magnum II - fine with Iroshizuku Asa-Gao Pelikan Stola III - medium with Pelikan Royal Blue Hero 616 - Extra fine with Private Reserve Spearmint I was pretty impressed that it handled all that with no feathering, no bleed through(normal writing, even calligraphy faired OK). I went to my local Dollar General and the Writing Pads were $1 each. I bought them out. Another Dollar General is close to my work, so I went there a few days later, and they had steno books and yellow legal pads with the same writing quality!! the Steno books were $1 each and the legal pads were $1.80 each package, 2 pads per package. 120 pages in the writing pad, 100 pages in the steno, and each legal pad was 50 pages(100 pages total). If you have a Dollar General near you and you want some decent, FP friendly paper - definitely check it out! Made in Indonesia might have something to do with the FP friendliness. Writing Sample: Bleed through - I needed to write in that same area for about 5 seconds to get this kind of bleed through. Show through is minimal

Hello! I am new to calligraphy (I started in June 2016). I practice quite a bit, and hope to eventually use the skill as a side business addressing and designing invitations / cards. When you do work for clients, where do you buy your paper? Do you buy it online, if so which websites are best? Or can I find good stationary at a store like Michaels? I appreciate any help. Thank you!

Hi all, I know I'm at fault for not doing too much of my own research on this one, but masters applications leave me with no time. I've been doing pen and ink doodles for years now, but I always used paper that I found in basements and garages, regardless of quality. A friend has asked me to help him design a logo for his company. I was thinking about a dip pen and maybe India ink to do something like copperplate text, but I need paper that won't bleed and feather. Anyone have suggestions for something moderately priced? I'll take loose leaf or pads-- don't care. Would love an ink recommendation too if anyone has one. I've just been using Quink black this whole time, but maybe something else will also help to stop bleeding and feathering. Thanks!

Elsewhere at FPN https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/309411-ten-notebook-bleed-through-battle/ jaysongo posted a comparative review of several high end papers. Inspired by that, and in keeping with the thread I started earlier on cheap ink cartridges, https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/314342-cheap-ink-cartridges/ I decided to test some more modest papers. In this thread I will look at paper that is roughly half the size of standard printer paper. Here in the US of A, that means 5X8 and 6X9 inch papers. I tried to test mainly currently available papers near the bottom of the price range -- roughly one US dollar for a pad of 100 sheets. The sample is limited to papers readily available in the US of A in general, and the state of New Hampshire in particular. Where possible I tried to obtain papers from national chains of stores. I use such papers mainly for letter writing and for jotting down notes that would not fill a full-sized page. The smaller pads are also handy to carry around. Later I hope to do the same tests on loose leaf notebook filler paper. All the papers in this test come as pads with gummed adhesive or a binding at the top that is supposed to let you easily and cleanly tear sheets off one at a time. All are ruled to guide handwriting and the line spacing is what is called "wide" in the US rather than the narrower "college". I will not try to assign the numerical grades jaysongo used but instead will scan both sides of the page so you can see for yourself exactly what happened. To offset the doubling of the number of pages scanned, I will not post a series of tests with ever more inks but will instead use a small number of inks so that there are but two scans of each paper, one for each side. The Inks Inks were chosen for a variety of reasons. Something I already had loaded in a pen had an advantage here. I also tried to include a variety of inks with respect to how likely bleed though might be. At one end was Noodler's Anti-feather and the fairly tame Sheaffer Blue. At the other were inks known to bleed such as those from Levengers. Some inks were chosen because they were already loaded in a pen I wanted to use. Noodler's Anti-Feather for obvious reasons. Herbin Perle Noire because Herbin inks are so safe you can drink them (and because it was already loaded in my M200). Pilot Black to match my black 78G which I wanted to include for its broad nib. Levengers Smokey because Levenger inks have a tendency to bleed and feather. Slovenian Sheaffer Blue because of its reputation as a "safe" ink. Thornton purple to match my magenta Hero 395. Pelikan Lilac to match my Hero 5028 which I wanted to include for its calligraphy nib. Slovenian Sheaffer Red because of its reputation as a "safe" red ink. Thornton Red as I was testing this ink at the time and wanted to compare it to the Sheaffer. Levengers Always Greener because Levenger inks have a tendency to bleed and feather. In the test pages you will see this labeled as Herbin Vert Pre. As it showed more bleed through than any other ink tested, I wondered if there was a mix-up. I did a separate side comparison of these two inks and Diamine Kelly Green and found that it was Always Greener that bled badly. Later I found notes from tests on the pen used here that stated that the pen was loaded with Always Greener. I decided to trust my notes and observations over my memory. The Pens Pens were chosen from a similarly wide range. At one end was a Sheaffer that is about XXF. At the other were calligraphy pens broader than a normal "broad." One of those was exceptionally wet as well. Sheaffer Imperial Lifetime cartridge pen with broad nib for the headings. Sorry, I do not know what is in this for ink. (Anyone remember the USA Sheaffer ink cartridges that had the color printed on the side? A bright idea not copied often enough, and lost on the boat to Slovenia.) Sheaffer of unknown model but it is styled like the Lifetime Imperial but with a gold plated inlaid steel nib and a brushed chrome finish. This is the finest nib with which I can comfortably write an entire letter so I hoped that would make it resistant to bleeding and feathering. Pelikan M200 because I figured it would be a well known quantity at FPN. Fine nib. Pilot 78G with a nib labeled "broad" but which looks and acts like a calligraphy nib. Chosen as a very wide nib. Parker Beta pens (3) with fine nibs as inexpensive pens you can easily buy if you want to extend or reproduce my tests. Hero 395 for its fairly flexible nib, chosen to increase variety. Hero 5028. In contrast with the Pilot, this is sold as a calligraphy pen but writes like a double broad. It is a very wet writer, too, so I thought it would give the papers a real workout. Hero 50 with about an XF nib, included as something that might be resistant to feathering and bleed through. Jinhao 599 that had just arrived and I wanted to test it right away. Fine nib.

Here I leave you some of the notebooks, "Venvstas Bohéme Montmartre" made in Paris, in our atelier in Montmartre. Crude leather and carbon fiber. http://www.venvstas.com/copy-of-accessories

I got five notebooks from Massdrop this week, just as I needed to start a new one. The "1951" notebook is a revival of an older product, with a sort of composition book styling only more sophisticated. I like the monochrome cover with an overall fishnet-stocking pattern and a blank cartouche for a title. They're book-bound, with Clairfontaine's brilliant 90-gram paper. I have the A5 size, which I've come to like a lot. The paper is wonderful: very smooth, substantial, with no bleed-through whatsover. I use slightly desaturated inks, so your experience may be different but it works a treat for me. It's right on the edge between absorbent and resistant, so I don't have to blot everything. i also like the purple color of the ruled sheets. The cloth binding is very high-quality, but it prevents the notebook from lying flat, which is an inconvenience to a left-handed writer. Otherwise it's one of the best notebooks I've ever used, and I'm glad I have multiples.

Anybody know of any nice printed stationary that is fountain pen friendly? Not cards, but sheets of paper? I'm tired of using the same old blank Tomoe River on EVERY LETTER. (I love T.R. but enough already lol) The more specific you are about the name of it, the easier my googling will be. Extra points for customizable stationary.

I really do like sheen, I think that it and shading are the two most beautiful properties you can have in an ink, but after some research, it looks like the best way to get sheen is to use an ink resistant paper. Now, that wouldn't be a problem, but I'm left-handed! What kind of papers should I use to get sheen while not letting my hand blot the ink everywhere and ending up with a blue/purple/red left hand? If it helps, when I write, the pen will usually be about 3-4 cm away from my hand, long fingers (this might help with allowing a little more dry time). Thanks!

I found this paper at my school and decided that I just had to share it here. It's SOL copy paper, made in Australia, suspiciously unavailable online, but there's tons at my school so I'm happy about that. Since I assume it's not readily commercially available, this'll just be a short blurb about the paper in case other people chance upon it. Specs: Brand: Australian Made (?) Name: SOL copy paper Recycled: 30% Size: 8.5x11 letter size but also available in A4 size Brightness: 96 ISO Weight: 20lb (74 gsm) Format: Loose leaf copy paper, 500 sheets/ream URL: http://www.australianmade.com.au/licensees/australian-paper/sol-copy-paper Summary of the review: Good shading, some sheen in a Japanese F nib, very little feathering, allows for a fine line that's a little rough around the edges. Fairly white and fairly light.This paper makes me happy. So the outside is very unassuming, to put it nicely. Here's a picture from the internet: http://www.eurobiuras.lt/media/dynamic/img/preke_319842/18135_large_po-dau-35573.jpg The paper's light like one would expect, and it's something I like in a paper. The pen and ink here is a Pilot Metropolitan F with Diamine Blue Velvet. "But Tea," you exclaim "Japanese fines don't hardly feather on ANYTHING!" Okay, kind of true, but they still do better on some papers than others, and I only have one pen with me, and some review is better than nothing. Enough talk, time for show and tell. The paper isn't slippery smooth but it's smoother than most copy papers. From my experience it feathers* a tiny bit, maintains a good line width, and shows shading and what little sheen I can expect from a Japanese F nib on something other than Tomoe River. No bleedthrough and barely any showthrough. http://i.imgur.com/mDKbwpTh.jpg yay shading yay thin lines! The two most important things to me tbh. The lines look fuzzy but trust me it's not spreading. I'm pretty sure it's cause the paper's not smooth enough so when the ink pools it settles in the weird cracks and dips on the paper's surface. When the ink comes down thicker it smooths out some. Close-up. http://i.imgur.com/BCnXzcUh.jpg Comparison with a Red Uniball Signo DX 0.38. http://i.imgur.com/mDKbwpTl.jpg If you look closely you can see sheen. Picture has been edited because the colors wouldn't come out right; the first pics are more accurate but this one shows the pinkish red sheen like it appears irl. It's not very obvious and looks kinda like jpg compression artifacts but it's there. http://i.imgur.com/mF7eCKWh.jpg Comparison to the same pen and ink in a Campus mid-grade notebook. yes, the line here is thicker than on the SOL paper. http://i.imgur.com/o3VM7pSh.jpg That's it! Anyone else have this paper and have opinions on it? Have you seen it in stores before? I sure haven't but I'd like to.

II was thinking about making my own dot notebook, because I really like dotted paper, but I find the standard market notebooks and pads too dense (5mm isn't enough for me). I've looked around and I wasn't able to find any suitable free tool to generate dotted paper I could print myself (the tools were either not customizable enough, or it included nasty looking watermark). So I've decided to make my own and I would like to share it with you (I've posted this already on Reddit, but I figured I should post it here as well ) Dot Paper Generator How does it work? First you set up how you would like your dotted paper to look, and click one of the generate buttons. The javascript will generate LaTeX source code for such sheet which you can compile to a PDF and print. When you click Generate your browser should open a new tab or window with the LaTeX source code (if it doesn't, make sure you allow pop-ups for the page). If you don't know anything about LaTeX, don't worry, basically all you need to do is access some free on-line distribution, for example I use this one: ShareLaTeX. There create a new empty project, copy the whole source code there, hit recompile and download the resulting PDF which you can then print. If you click Generate and open in Overleaf your browser should open the free on-line LaTeX distribution Overleaf and automatically load the source code there, so all you need to do is wait a little bit for the page and preview to load, then hit PDF button in the top menu to download the finished document. Features No ugly watermarks Highly customizable (page format, dots spacing, size, color, ...) Multiple sheets per page (e.g. if you want to create small notepad, but you are printing on a standard size paper, you can fit multiple sheets on a page and cut it) Easy double-sided printing Samples sheet You can download the Dot Paper - Color And Size Samples Sheet (pdf) with various dots sizes and colors, so you can print it and choose the right combination for yourself. This sheet uses 5mm spacing. The Dot Paper - Spacing Samples Sheet (pdf) might help you find the ideal spacing of the dots for your style of writing. The dots on this sheet are set to size 0.1mm and A0A0A0 color. If you would like to try other dots sizes, colors, or spacings you can take the LaTeX source files Dot Paper - Color And Size Samples Sheet (tex) or Dot Paper - Spacing Samples Sheet (tex), alter the values to your liking (the places where to change values are marked) and recompile it. I hope you will find the tool useful If you encounter any bugs or unexpected behavior, or if you would like to add some feature leave a comment (preferably, so everybody can see it) or PM me.

Background: Right handed. Been using fountain pens on and off for a couple of years. Only recently gotten more serious about pens, cursive writing, nib types etc. My goal is to improve my cursive handwriting, and eventually to move on to calligraphy and advanced scripts. So I recently got some flexible nibs, played around with line variation, and came upon an article that says the "sweet spot" is when the pen is under the lining of writing, and the nib is perpendicular to it. This makes a bit of sense to me, so I tried it out (quite weird to say the least!). My original way of writing is a kind of side writing. One thing I did notice upon switching to underwriting at 90 degrees is that pens write wetter and line variation much more achievable (esp for nibs previously thought to be nails).' So I just want to throw this out to the community of much more experienced writers. Which is the more "correct" way to position the nib with regard to the direction of writing? Right now I find the need to rotate my page awkward and underwriting somewhat fatiguing to the wrist. Any tips of advice? The bottom line is that I want to get started with the correct writing posture, that will serve me well if I move onto dip pens and calligraphy. My original way of holding pen: New, correct?? way of holding pen:

Hi, I am normally a fan of Rhodia paper and have used them without any problem. Anyway, I heard good things about Leuchtturm and decide to give it a try and bought an A5 hard cover dotted notebook from them. With great expectation, I tried the notebook with my wet noodle swan and here is the result. Is it normal for this brand? Here is the same pen and ink on Rhodia notebook

Hi everyone, after almost 2 years I'm going back to school, and for the first I have to properly ask myself: which paper would be best to use for daily use. I prefer to use wirebound notebooks, so I can organise the individual sheets into the right folders after class. Naturally I have to consider which pens and inks to use, too, but we all know how the paper affects things such as dry time, etc., too. So ideally I'd like to get a ring wired notebook, that isn't too smooth as ink tends to take its time to dry (which is what I experienced with Rhodia a lot). On the other hand I'd like to avoid feathering and bleed through as much as possible. I quite like Rhodia's dotted paper, though, due its subtleness and clean look, and it helps, of course, to write fairly neatly. Anyone's got any suggestions? I'd be very grateful.

I'm currently taking a couple of college classes, and the poor quality notebook paper has been frustrating. I called Goulet Pens to see if they have the 8.5 x 11 inch notebook paper or know of any, and they said no and recommended I post here. So can anyone help me? I just want narrow-ruled notebook paper that's fountain pen friendly. Current paper I'm using is scratchy and bleeds through to the other side unless I use an extra-fine nib (which is scratchy and unpleasant to use on the paper). Any recommendations? Thanks much in advance for your help! Liora

Hi all, today I want to share with you a review of HP Inkjet Paper 24lb (HPB1124). I bought them last year from Staples when they were on sale ($8.99 USD). http://i.imgur.com/vcMp9n8.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mtgzAnm.jpg http://i.imgur.com/mRcKmpP.jpg Advantages: -You can print lines, grid, dot grid, or leave the paper blank. -There are no any visible feathering that I see. Disadvantages: -It is blank, but again, you can print your preferred format on the paper. -The paper gives you little to no shading. (I used Diamine Syrah, Noodler's Kiowa Pecan, and Diamine Sherwood Green.) -There are some slight bleedthrough/heavy show-through with the flex writing and wetter ink. Things to be aware of: -Ink generally dries in less than 20 seconds using a fine nib. -It is US letter sized. -I am pretty sure they come in reams (500 sheets). However, the pens that I have used mostly have fine nibs, so I would suggest using heavier paper if you use wetter or broader nibs, since I am not sure if they will perform equally well on this 24lb paper. You can find them on Amazon. They are currently $9.94 USD for 500 sheets. https://www.amazon.com/HP-Inkjet-Brightness-Letter-HPB1124/dp/B001B091J4 Thanks for reading, Sofia

I'm trying for the moment to focus my pen purchases so I don't break the bank. One of my interests has been in replacing a Place Vendome that disappeared with something I like as well or nearly as well. From the pens I've tried, I seem to like light slender pens. I have a few Vectors/Rialtos now that I'm comparing. Well, one actually can't be compared yet because it arrived leaking like crazy. I don't know if that's the pen or the cartridge. It seems to have been shipped with a full cartridge, which was sweet of the seller but which might not have been the best idea. I rinsed that one out and ordered a converter for it. I got that one because it was made in the UK. The other two I'm using right now are a used blue Vector made in the US and a new metal Vector I bought new off Amazon, for comparison. No country listed on that one; I'm guessing China. The metal is definitely a fine nib. I think the blue is as well. Both are using converters--the metal is using the converter it came with; the blue is using an old converter I had lying around. Both are filled with the exact same ink, from the same bottle. Here's the problem, which I first thought was the paper (which is another issue; I clearly need different paper but not sure what kind yet). When I wrote with the metal pen today, the ink created a wider line than it did on some paper I was using yesterday. The ink really sinks into the paper and spreads in an almost smearish way. So I thought, okay that's the paper, but let's try the blue pen anyway. The blue writes fine on the paper. Still sinks in enough to make the back side of the paper not usable, but doesn't smear or anything like that. Does anyone know what the problem with the metal pen might be? Cheaper nib? If so, is the solution to look for older nibs on ebay and replace it? (I know; I could just buy another pen, but I do want to know what's wrong with this one.) If the problem is just that the entire new pen line is so much more cheaply made that it's not worth using, I'd like to know that as well. Thanks, Tery

While I am enamored with the pen display, ink display, and desk displays of them,( I am confounded with an equivalently stylish and practical storage of sheet paper in office use sizes (8.5x11, A4, A5, A6, B5) sheet and inventory of notebooks. Used and full filing/storage paper and notebooks is a matter for another post. Any suggestions on an "at hand" cache for near the office and a "within minutes" storage inventory system. I use ~3 sheet paper styles in Japanese and US sizes, with cards and envelopes included, as well as Rhodia, Clairfontaine, Muju, and ~5 others that would be "within minutes" since I don't instantly finish a notebook. Since my paper investment is well beyond my ink and I change papers/stationery far more often for their appropriate use a proper storage vessel/system to maintain the integrity of the stationery is important. I have been using an office supply file storage box but the cardboard container and the stacking have not been ideal. I would show you my pics of my system but it's a file box and a bookshelf. Looking for better. Best wishes from the Goat

Hi, I am planning to import Tomoe River paper from Japan. In case any of you are interested, let me know and i can perhaps order for you as well. Specifications: Size: A4 Colour: White/Cream (as majority decides) Thickness: 68gsm (normal is 52gsm, this is more expensive and has less showthrough as compared to 52gsm) Expected Price: INR 11-12 per sheet I will only place the order once i have confirmation of people taking 4000 sheets. Edit: To avoid any confusion, this group buy is only for Indians living in India. I don't have Paypal to accept money from abroad and neither do i want to fill customs forms for it Any postage cost incurred for postage inside India would be borne by you. If you are in Delhi or Mumbai, you can collect it at any of the meets.

i have just bought a pilot 912 with spencerian customization (mottishaw). any recommendations for a notebook that can handle the greater ink output (without feathering, bleeding etc.)? thanks in advance. best, nils

Hello guys. I have attached close-up photo of a sheet that has texture I am asking about. All I know is that this is kraft paper but I think it's just style of paper. Does its texture has specific term/name? Does it have texture mentioned in this article or it's something that is not there? Thanks

Our first year anniversary is here! Next month in July, we will be celebrating all month long with extra discounts! Most items in our online store are already discounted as much as 25% daily, but we will have a special discount that will be added at checkout! More on that next month...... New Items- we have added Edelstein Ink, and Clairfontaine "My Essentials" Bound Notebooks to our store! Other recent additions include Regal Pens, and Diplomat Pens! The current "Deal of The Day" is the Laban Galileo Model FP- Currently 25% Off! More at http://www.federalistpensonline.com/Laban-Galileo See you in August at The DC Supershow! We are in the same corner location in the small ballroom! Regards, Frank ("Federalist Frank") Federalist Pens and Paper

Howdy fellow writers, With the plethora of foreign-made papers available for fountain pen use it occured to me to seek out a Canadian brand of paper worthy of use. I've become aware of the Shinola Detroit brand which I will be investigating further but I cannot find a brand from my own country. The Hilroy brand comes to mind but that's for ham-fisted school children and is quite coarse. Can anyone recommend a brand of paper, preferably notebook inserts, that is produced by a Canadian company? My best, Jen

Hi, This is a review of the Fabriano EcoQua A5 Spiral Bound - graph 5mm notebook. See more at http://fabriano.com/en/267/ecoqua http://i.imgur.com/IDSu8Se.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/XNZwtje.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PWNDPuZ.jpg http://i.imgur.com/OKEvYtY.jpg http://i.imgur.com/drpaYuM.jpg Pros: It has nice paper (85 gsm). The paper is quite smooth, but not as smooth as Clairefontaine. There is minor show-through and no bleed-through. Cons: (Personally, I cannot think of any.) Things to consider: The paper is off-white. The notebooks are available in different binding, sizes, formats, and cover colours. The dry time is from about 20 to 25 seconds. The covers might not be very durable to some people, but I have no problems with it. I bought it from an art store for about $5.00 USD. Amazon has it, but with a higher price. http://www.dickblick.com/products/fabriano-ecoqua-notebooks/ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008VSMK4M/ Thank you for reading, Sofia

Hi all: My job is often filled with details I can't remember so I want to get a notebook I can write things down in and hopefully, remember them. I have read good things about the Leuchtturm 1917 in the that is about 5 x 8. I saw them in a store tonight but they are in plastic so I was unable to feel the paper. Any thoughts on this brand of notebook? I tend to write with broad nibs and use Noodlers ink. I do not mind a touch of bleed through but I am hoping it is held to a minimum. Any opinions on this for a notebook to use to jot down ideas and things to get done? If you do not like this one, I would love to hear what you do like in a similar size. Only other things I want in this grail notebook is that it folds flat when I write and it is a soft cover type. Also, as aside, it seem a bit strange to me to write on both sides of the paper. Do most people use both sides? Any help really appreciated. Best to all!