Tomoe River Cream Vs. White

[penhand]

I just got in some Tomoe River White and thought I'd compare it to the Cream. Which do you like best (if you have an opinion)?

http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/w397/penhand/NoodlersWhitevsCreamlighter.jpg

[Edit: updated with a lighter picture]

Edited October 29, 2012 by penhand

[inkstainedruth]

I was able to get a small pad of sheets made up by a guy in my local pen club. I'm presuming the paper color is (maybe) cream (it's sort of yellowish) but I don't know what all the options are. On my screen even the white looks sort of yellowish in your photo (particularly against the bright white of the copy paper). So I had to vote "can't tell from picture" in your poll.

I must say that Tamoe River is really nice paper to write on (although some inks are very slow drying on it -- I got to try PR Electric DC Blue at the meeting last week, and even the next day I suspected it was still smudging...).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Silent Speaker]

The pics are dark, but one can use the stark white printer paper as a general guide.

 

I really don't like stark white paper, but decent off-white/ivory/cream/whateveritscalled is hard to come by where I am.

 

That being said, I think the "white" is very nice; not too creamy, not that horrible eyesearing polar white. I would like such a paper for a journal, for example - something I would use on a daily basis. It's "just right", I think.

 

The darker cream is nice for personal correspondence, IMO.

 

So I like both - it really depends on their usage.

 

(Brown inks really excel on off-white/cream paper!)

[penhand]

I was able to get a small pad of sheets made up by a guy in my local pen club. I'm presuming the paper color is (maybe) cream (it's sort of yellowish) but I don't know what all the options are. On my screen even the white looks sort of yellowish in your photo (particularly against the bright white of the copy paper). So I had to vote "can't tell from picture" in your poll.

I must say that Tamoe River is really nice paper to write on (although some inks are very slow drying on it -- I got to try PR Electric DC Blue at the meeting last week, and even the next day I suspected it was still smudging...).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Ruth, that was me you got the pad from. You are correct that the white is a bit creamy. I thought it would be more like a US bleached bright white but it is more like Neenah's Natural White.

 

Regarding drying time, this is very dependent on the ink. I did a side-by-side of Noodlers Heart of Darkness and bulletproof black. Hands down Bulletproof black dried much faster than HOD. I think the smooth papers tend to have tight grain or are coated during processing which tends to keep some inks from drying quickly.

 

I updated the picture with a brighter version to try and illustrate the color difference better.

[Hennypenny]

I just got an order of the white and like it a lot - I like the cream equally well. I make my paper into stationery using stamps, glitter pens,etc., and some colors need the "cool" white, and others the "warm" cream. The white color is not stark or harsh.

 

Murky purple inks (think Diamine Damson or De Artrementis Aubergine) look best on the cream, I think. Cool blues are better on white.

 

I've also made some small journals using card stock and decorative papers. Again, different colors require white vs cream. If I get ambitious, I'll post a pic.

 

I haven't noticed any difference in the properties of the paper itself.

 

HP

Edited October 29, 2012 by Hennypenny

[dcpritch]

I haven't seen or tried the white TR paper, but I sure do like the cream. Best fountain paper I've ever used, period.

[inkstainedruth]

Ruth, that was me you got the pad from. You are correct that the white is a bit creamy. I thought it would be more like a US bleached bright white but it is more like Neenah's Natural White.

 

Regarding drying time, this is very dependent on the ink. I did a side-by-side of Noodlers Heart of Darkness and bulletproof black. Hands down Bulletproof black dried much faster than HOD. I think the smooth papers tend to have tight grain or are coated during processing which tends to keep some inks from drying quickly.

 

I updated the picture with a brighter version to try and illustrate the color difference better.

 

Hi! Didn't know what your screen name was.

So -- was that pad the cream paper? I used it for one of my entries to the "inspiration" contest that Pendleton Brown is running this month. I also want to use it for an entry for the Fountain Pen Day contest, but I keep borking the fair copy

I've been using the back sides (and margins) of the bad versions to try different hands (and text sizes), different inks, random notes, and so on, so the really nice paper hasn't been totally wasted by my poor transcription skills....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Hennypenny]

OK, here's some of my TR stationery - the butterflies are on white, the koi on cream. What you can't see very well is that the colors (the dots on the butterflies and most of the koi), are shimmery glitter paints - wonderful colors! HP

[Hennypenny]

And here are 2 of my little notebooks. The peacock feather paper is really iridescent - almost like a hologram. The peacock notebook has white paper; the other has cream. BTW, this month's Martha Stewart magazine has directions on how to bind the notebook with twine - the first thing I've found really useful in her mag, other than color schemes. HP

[penhand]

So -- was that pad the cream paper?

I've been using the back sides (and margins) of the bad versions to try different hands (and text sizes), different inks, random notes, and so on,

Yep, the pad that you have (and the few I have left in the classifieds) are all cream. I just got the white today, it was lucky to make It out of JFK this weekend on the way here.

 

The nice thing about the paper is even though it is so thin, using both sides usually isn't a problem.

[DrCodfish]

"The nice thing about the paper is even though it is so thin, using both sides usually isn't a problem."

 

I tend to broad wet nibs, with rich dark colors and have written a few letters on this (cream colored) paper, written on both sides. The inks never bleed through, but given the thinness of the paper there is show through, so I am considering writing on one side with this combination of nibs and inks. With fine or medium nibs I would have no hesitation at all writing both sides of the page. It's fun paper to write on.

 

And Ruth, paper covered with writing, whether practice on purpose, or practice by accident isn't wasted. The act of writing is a pleasure, a useable note or letter is a side benefit. Then again I suppose we could say anything done just for the joy of it is a waste, (there goes my bicycle riding hobby)

 

Yr Pal DrCodfish

[TMLee]

I had the privilege of receiving a handwritten letter on the Cream version of Tomoe River paper.

 

There were at least half a dozen different inks used.

From dark coloured to light colored inks such as orange.

 

The varied inks gave me a good idea of the superior quality of the paper.

I dont know about the off white version , but the Cream coloured paper showed off the ink colours very well, just like other cream coloured papers.

 

The paper is very thin.

No bleedthrough nor feathering.

But showthru was evident. Especially with the dark coloured inks.

So only one side of the paper was written on.

 

The darker the paper, the better it conceals showthrough.

 

I wonder if TR papers come in grey tint ?

Or Wedgewood Blue?

That would be interesting.

[inkstainedruth]

Ooh. Wedgewood blue. Now that would be interesting....

Oh, and in case anyone is interested, I just did a project on the cream paper I got, and Diamine Indigo looks quite lovely on it (lots of shading, and I really like the warmth of the paper against the relative coolness of the ink tone).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[DanF]

I like both, not a huge difference in the tone, pretty subtle. I think some inks would look better on the white, but performance wise they appear to be identical.

 

Dan