Soft Or Hard Cover/thick Or Thin Journals Or Even Loose Paper

[Pussinboots]

Just out of curiosity, which you do prefer?

[abstract49]

I like a hard cover, although the choice is not a deal killer compared to other issues. I like the stability that a stiff or rigid cover gives. This is more especially important when writing in a thinner journal (notebook), which I generally prefer, just for the relative ease of writing toward the bottom of the page.

[mwpannell]

Most often, hard cover. Truly hard that's stiff enough to hold it in your lap to take notes. I've bought covers to put soft cover notebooks in (and some so-called hard cover notebooks and composition books) that I can also slip truly hard stock in the front and back to create a hard cover, note-taking system. Sometimes soft cover fills a need, but most often it doesn't for me.

 

As far as thickness, I like and use a range but I do lean toward medium/thin. It's simply a matter of writing comfort and quality to me.

[NinthSphere]

Indifferent to soft or hard, thick or thin, since I can back it with something if need be. Something bound in some manner with perforated pages, in the event that I need to remove them, is a must.

[Studio97]

I just want them to hold together

[dcwaites]

Drafts on loose-leaf, final copies in a good notebook. Cover style not important, just the quality of the paper.

[ac12]

I really do not have a preference.

 

I currently use a soft cover, spiral bound notebook.

 

But I will be soon switching over to loose paper that I will store in a ring binder. This is because I want more control over the quality of the paper, and I can't seem to do that economically with a notebook. The only hassle is that loose paper is BLANK, so I have to either print my own lines or use a guidesheet under it.

[Anne-Sophie]

I really do not have a preference.

 

I currently use a soft cover, spiral bound notebook.

 

But I will be soon switching over to loose paper that I will store in a ring binder. This is because I want more control over the quality of the paper, and I can't seem to do that economically with a notebook. The only hassle is that loose paper is BLANK, so I have to either print my own lines or use a guidesheet under it.

I use Rhodia notepad grid paper, which I punch, that way, I have the lines, the good paper and, the ability to fit the sheets into a binder.

 

I think a dot paper would be good as well, probably even better.

[tinta]

I have a strong preference for notebooks that have soft covers & have relatively few pages.

As a dedicated finger writer who presses down fairly hard, I do no want too much of a drop off between the level of the pages in the workbook & the heel of my whiting hand which rests on the table.

 

My favourite journal booklet is the APICA's D11, which only has 28 pages. One of these notebooks lasts me a couple of months.

This notebook also provides me with lined, A5 sized letter paper if I chop up one of these notebooks. Inexpensive & good paper.

[ac12]

tinta

I understand the height drop off at the bottom of the page on a notebook.

It is a hassle, but what I do is take about 10-20 pages, then flip the notebook, so that I am writing on the 10-20 pages side, and the 80-90 pages are on the left. That way there is a much smaller height drop off when I get to the bottom of the page. But it is a hassle to do all the time.

 

But then I write a lot more than you. A 100 page notebook would last me about 2 months.

[ac12]

 

 

I use Rhodia notepad grid paper, which I punch, that way, I have the lines, the good paper and, the ability to fit the sheets into a binder.

I think a dot paper would be good as well, probably even better.

 

Anne-Sophie,

I agree. I think the dot pad would be much better than lined/ruled paper.

The problem that I have with lined/ruled paper is that the color of the lines will sometimes clash with the color of the ink, and make it more difficult to read. What I do not understand is that the common color of ink that people use, is blue. And the lines on the paper is blue or a blueish color. That makes the lines and ink blend to a certain degree, making it harder to read. Why not lines in light grey...argh. The dots would significantly reduce that line color problem, and eliminate the distraction of the lines.

[tinta]

tinta

I understand the height drop off at the bottom of the page on a notebook.

It is a hassle, but what I do is take about 10-20 pages, then flip the notebook, so that I am writing on the 10-20 pages side, and the 80-90 pages are on the left. That way there is a much smaller height drop off when I get to the bottom of the page. But it is a hassle to do all the time.

 

But then I write a lot more than you. A 100 page notebook would last me about 2 months.

I'm sure I write less in my journal than many, as it is often difficult for me to complete even a single side of an A5 page. A hundred page notebook could easily last me a year or more.

 

This is interesting. I've explained my difficulty with the height drop off from thick notebooks a number of times, yet you have been the first person to say that you understand what I mean. For a long while I felt as though I was the only one having this problem. At least now I've been validated.

 

Thanks for your tip about how to reduce the drop off. When you said to flip the notebook, it would mean that some written pages in your book would then be upside down. How would you be able to make it easy for you to find your former entries?

 

I do page flips when using lined Rhodia pages that have margins. At the end of each page I flip the page to maintain the margin on the left. This method is used for my personal correspondence.

[mwpannell]

... I've explained my difficulty with the height drop off from thick notebooks a number of times, yet you have been the first person to say that you understand what I mean. For a long while I felt as though I was the only one having this problem.

 

I'm with you there, too. That's what I meant above when I said, "As far as thickness, I like and use a range but I do lean toward medium/thin. It's simply a matter of writing comfort and quality to me."

 

It's the "comfort" thing and affects the "quality" of my writing. You put it well describing it as drop off, which duh, is what it is. I never termed it anything. To me it's not insurmountable, but not at all welcomed. I've tried solutions but nothing has been great, including using a writing mat under a number of pages and ramp it down out the end of the notebook to the desk. I have reason to use thicker at times and just deal with it, but it's troublesome and not pleasant.

[Notgatherox]

I like loose leaf - I generally don't like notebooks for most things.

 

Loose leaf gives me the freedom to rearrange my notes and whatnot - and if I or someone else misplace/destroy one piece, it's only one piece. Can't say the same for notebooks - if it's misplaced, that's much time gone; if one page gets destroyed, say by spilling liquid over it, the liquid inevitably goes to other pages, so same issue.

 

I do however use notebooks - for quotes. These stay at home so they're relatively protected from misplacement and destruction.

 

 

~Epic

[migo984]

I'm with you there, too. That's what I meant above when I said, "As far as thickness, I like and use a range but I do lean toward medium/thin. It's simply a matter of writing comfort and quality to me."

 

It's the "comfort" thing and affects the "quality" of my writing. You put it well describing it as drop off, which duh, is what it is. I never termed it anything. To me it's not insurmountable, but not at all welcomed. I've tried solutions but nothing has been great, including using a writing mat under a number of pages and ramp it down out the end of the notebook to the desk. I have reason to use thicker at times and just deal with it, but it's troublesome and not pleasant.

I use thick journals (350+ pages) most of the time. When I reach bottom 1/3 of a page I just take another notebook of similar thickness, turn it sideways and butt it up to the bottom edge of the one I'm writing in. I rest my writing hand on the level 'extension' created by the second notebook. Works fine for me, and feels comfortable, but is only a solution if you are writing at a desk. No good for writing on the go, or on-your-lap journaling.

[Anne-Sophie]

 

 

Anne-Sophie,

I agree. I think the dot pad would be much better than lined/ruled paper.

The problem that I have with lined/ruled paper is that the color of the lines will sometimes clash with the color of the ink, and make it more difficult to read. What I do not understand is that the common color of ink that people use, is blue. And the lines on the paper is blue or a blueish color. That makes the lines and ink blend to a certain degree, making it harder to read. Why not lines in light grey...argh. The dots would significantly reduce that line color problem, and eliminate the distraction of the lines.

You might want to consider Rhodia Ice notebooks, which are lined in light gray.

https://rhodiapads.com/collections_ice_top_stapled.php

 

I happen to love the purple/blue color of Rhodia grids.

I agree that blue ink somewhat blends into the pattern, I think the closest color to those lines/grids is Herbin Bleu Pervenche.

 

Here is the Dot line, I never realized it was that extensive!

https://rhodiapads.com/collections_dot_everything.php

 

I am not a sales person for Rhodia, but it is the provider of smoothest paper, at a reasonable price.

 

After trying many brands of printer paper, I realized that the cost of printing grid guidelines was more expensive, less smooth and pleasant with my fountain pens, than a Rhodia notepad .

 

Printer paper is fine for its intended purpose, quick notes in pencil, rollerball, ballpoint and gel pens, drafts and as paper craft helper.

 

When I have used up my Rhodia blue/purple grids, I will most probably switch to the Ice and Dot Pad line, Ice for writing and Dot Pad for Calligraphy practice, custom planner pages, graphics...

 

I also use the blank Rhodia notepad for letter writing, a couple of my blue grids pages tore up unevenly and I used them as guidelines under my blank notepad.

 

What kind of binder size do you use?

Edited May 5, 2017 by Anne-Sophie

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

What a variety we have!

 

I much prefer to work on loose [unlined] pages, which can be up to A0 size, or larger if I am writing on an A0 printer roll.

 

For the most part pages are bound within a day or two of writing, using the DIN standard for folding. ~ https://www.google.ca/search?q=DIN+standard+folding&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiksqnO1tnTAhXL7YMKHZ8JDzAQsAQIOA&biw=1112&bih=647

 

Some of my stuff is rolled-up in tubes after scanning.

 

Some of my stuff is in file drawers.

 

Some of my best stuff is tucked in someone-else's pillowcase...

 

Bye,

S1

Edited May 5, 2017 by Sandy1

[Pinkys.Brain]

Until recently I used Tsubame A5 notebooks, because I like the paper. But it's very humid where I live, so it feels like the writing quality deteriorates rather quickly. So I switched to Maruman loose paper in B5. The coating on that paper is quit good, so let's see how that goes. Also,I like they now there's no step at the edge of the paper.

Edited May 6, 2017 by Pinkys.Brain

[mwpannell]

... I just take another notebook of similar thickness, turn it sideways and butt it up to the bottom edge of the one I'm writing in. I rest my writing hand on the level 'extension' ...

I think you've probably got the best solution there, as you say, for desk work. Edited May 6, 2017 by mwpannell

[MHBru]

Soft.. I use it primarily at a desk so I don't need the cover for support and I carry it in my backpack (along with a ton of other stuff) and don't need the extra bulk.... and while we're at it.. nothing wire bound... stitched or stapled so it slides in and out of said backpack without catching on stuff... I detest wire bound anything... nothing but a PIA in my book (no pun intended)