Seeking recommendations: best laser printer paper for use with fountain pens

[airstairesc]

Hello!

 

I'm searching for the ideal fountain pen-friendly laser printer paper that is currently in production and readily available in Canada. The paper will take heavy editing in red FP ink, and lots of writing in the margins, which will be done in blue and green inks, using (mostly) vintage western F and M nibs. I would also like the option to print double-sided to reduce waste, but this would mean I'll be writing on both sides of the sheet.

 

Just to include some additional information, I'll be using Montblanc Royal Blue and Irish Green inks for the marginal writing, as those are the two most normal ink shades I have on hand.

 

I've never owned a red ink, but I really like the Aurora anniversary edition Red/Rosso. It looks like a good, bright red. And I like that it looks pleasantly flat, almost like Crayola marker red. I'm thinking of putting the red ink into a Lamy 2000, unless that's a bad idea? If anyone has any thoughts to share on Aurora Red, please do. I love Aurora Black, which is why I'm considering their formulation of red.

 

Anyway, your paper/ink recommendations are highly appreciated and I look forward to them.

 

[OCArt]

The answer used to be HP Premium paper in either the 32lb or 28lb. It looked like this

 

BUT, it is no longer available and the new stuff, below,  is not nearly as good. I can't recommend it.

[hbdk]

Clairefontaine DCP 100 gr. - on par with (and sometimes even better than) HP Premium.

[Eoghan2009]

Xerox Colotech+ 100gsm is very good but my real favourite is 160gsm Colotech.  I find the ink does not go through paper and the heavier paper facilitates at least one Diamine sheen ink.  I used to use writing paper but it is so difficult to obtain!  I use so much for writing that I have been using A4 reams for the last decade or more. 

 

I find the weight of paper a fair indication.  Standard 80gsm paper is not good, supermarkets are even going downmarket to 70gsm paper now.  Sadly they no longer stock the heavier paper and I have to use Amazon, postage is costly but bulk buying does keep the price down.

 

Finish is really the decider and the Colotech+ is the best I have used. 

[airstairesc]

10 hours ago, OCArt said:

The answer used to be HP Premium paper in either the 32lb or 28lb. It looked like this

 

BUT, it is no longer available and the new stuff, below,  is not nearly as good. I can't recommend it.

 

I came across some online reviews and this one was mentioned a lot. Very sad that the old stuff was replaced with poor quality new stuff.

[airstairesc]

9 hours ago, hbdk said:

Clairefontaine DCP 100 gr. - on par with (and sometimes even better than) HP Premium.

 

I didn't even know Clairefontaine made printer paper until now!

 

I'll have to dig around to see if this is available in Canada. Thank you for the suggestion.

[airstairesc]

1 hour ago, Eoghan2009 said:

Xerox Colotech+ 100gsm is very good but my real favourite is 160gsm Colotech.  I find the ink does not go through paper and the heavier paper facilitates at least one Diamine sheen ink.  I used to use writing paper but it is so difficult to obtain!  I use so much for writing that I have been using A4 reams for the last decade or more. 

 

I find the weight of paper a fair indication.  Standard 80gsm paper is not good, supermarkets are even going downmarket to 70gsm paper now.  Sadly they no longer stock the heavier paper and I have to use Amazon, postage is costly but bulk buying does keep the price down.

 

Finish is really the decider and the Colotech+ is the best I have used. 

 

This must go by a different name in Canada because my searches aren't bringing anything up. I do see that it's available through Amazon US. Thanks for your suggestion; I'm going to look into it.

[XYZZY]

You can find some threads here on FPN about Domtar paper.  For many years Xerox branded papers were made by Domtar, although I'm not sure if they are the ones behind the Colotech+ papers mentioned above.

 

Also, I would not assume that companies like HP, Xerox, etc, who don't manufacture paper, actually source the paper from the same mills in different regions.  In other words, Xerox branded paper in Europe may not be the same thing as the same paper in North America.

[airstairesc]

On 1/10/2021 at 7:25 PM, XYZZY said:

You can find some threads here on FPN about Domtar paper.  For many years Xerox branded papers were made by Domtar, although I'm not sure if they are the ones behind the Colotech+ papers mentioned above.

 

Also, I would not assume that companies like HP, Xerox, etc, who don't manufacture paper, actually source the paper from the same mills in different regions.  In other words, Xerox branded paper in Europe may not be the same thing as the same paper in North America.

 

Sorry, only seeing your post now. I didn't know about the companies not actually manufacturing paper. Thank you for this info. One of the most frustrating things is when the paper quality is inconsistent, but this makes more sense if they're coming from different mills.