Nib Type Vs Bleed Through

[theverdictis]

Does the size of a nib e.g. Fine or a Medium determine the amount of bleed through that will occur on a paper. Or are there other factors that also effect the amount of bleed through such as the thickness of the paper etc.

 

Do Fine nibs ever bleed through more than thicker nibs? Are there any inks that are particular bad for bleed through?

 

Any suggestions on this topic would be much appreciated.

 

Ben

[hypnostene]

Generally:

1. The more ink on a page, the bigger chance for bleedthrough.

2. A wider nib will leave more ink on a page.

3. Given same width, some nibs will leave more ink on a page (depends on design).

4. Some inks will flow more freely (be more wet), others less (be more dry) - that works for point 1 as well.

5. Depending on ink characteristics, some will bleed more than others.

6. Thicker paper will generally get less bleedthrough. Other elements of paper quality influence that as well (say, paper for inkjets reacts differently than ink for laser printers).

Edited April 5, 2014 by hypnostene

[KBeezie]

Generally:

1. The more ink on a page, the bigger chance for bleedthrough.

2. A wider nib will leave more ink on a page.

3. Given same width, some nibs will leave more ink on a page (depends on design).

4. Some inks will flow more freely (be more wet), others less (be more dry) - that works for point 1 as well.

5. Depending on ink characteristics, some will bleed more than others.

6. Thicker paper will generally get less bleedthrough. Other elements of paper quality influence that as well (say, paper for inkjets reacts differently than ink for laser printers).

 

One of my Examples.

 

Goulet 1.5mm Stub Nib, with Waterman Intense Black, it hardly bleeds thru any more than a medium or fine nib even with wetter ink. But out some Noodler's Bad Green Gator or Platinum Carbon Black behind the 1.5, and it bleeds thru most papers I have very easily. I've also had a fine nib that was pretty juicy that it would bleed or feather faster than most of my other nibs.

 

So some nibs regardless of size can just simply be wet in their setting.

[ac12]

Ben, as hypnostene said, there are MANY factors that affect bleed through, and I've run into all of the ones listed.

 

Some of the items listed interact.

Example 1; a dry ink (#4) in a dry pen (#3), will put down only a little ink and in fact may put down so little ink that it is not usable.

Example 2; a wet ink (#4) in a wet pen (#3) with a wide nib (#2) will put down a LOT of ink (#1) and the ink may look like a puddle on the paper. And example of this is using a wide stub or italic nib. Write on thin coarse paper (#6) and you will get bleed through.

 

The best way to test in YOUR pens is to get ink samples of the inks that you are interested in. This way you can test the ink in YOUR pens and on YOUR paper. I have had cause to REJECT an ink based on the ink sample, and that saved me $$ in buying a bottle of ink that I would not like.