Testing Paper -- Bigger Effect From Pen Or Ink?

[Dronak]

I guess this is mainly a question about paper, but it's kind of a pen/ink/paper combination, so mods should feel free to move this if they deem appropriate. To keep this relatively short, I have a bunch of pens, inks (samples and cartridges), and papers that I've been trying out. There are differences in the resulting writing, of course, but what's the primary cause of them? I realize that line width is mostly likely nib size, but what about things like feathering, bleed- or show-through, dry time, etc.? To simplify things a little bit, let's fix the paper type: on a given paper, what differences in the resulting writing are due more to the pen, and what are due more to the ink? I realize there are differences between papers, but since I'd like to use a bunch of different pens and inks in each individual notebook, I'm trying to work out whether less-ideal results are more because of the pen or the ink. Since I have a lot of pen/ink/paper combinations already with lots more possible, it's not easy for me to do systematic tests, meaning it's a little hard for me to tell the cause of differences. That's why I thought I'd ask here and see if I could get some help. Thanks!

[dvalliere]

The simple answer is that all three matter. I can use the same pen & ink combo on different papers and get differing results including noteworthy variation in line width. I can use the same ink on the same paper from different pens and get varied results. And so on.

 

Generally speaking, each variable (pen, ink, paper) has some general characteristics which you can use to extrapolate probably results. An ink prone to feathering might do alright on quality paper, especially from a nib that's fine enough/not overly wet but you can bet that it'll be a failure on absorbent paper.

 

IMO, if you want to prioritize: paper is most important, then ink quantity (nib size & flow rate), and finally ink characteristics. EVERYTHING works well on Tomoe River paper. Most everything works well on Rhodia, Clairefontaine, etc.--regardless of ink and pen details. Some paper is so poor that almost nothing works on it (perhaps save an XF pen with feather resistant ink).

[sirgilbert357]

In my rather limited experience paper is very important. Probably the most important. After that, ink and then nib. That's how I'd rate them anyway...