Whitelines Paper - second day impressions

[MikeW]

I took a whitelines notebook (my only one) into the Michigan Pen Show to show Susan Wirth (after Susan spent some time with me on handwriting and trying different nibs). Susan had not seen the paper and just loved it. Since I have a large order coming from Russell, I tore 5-6 pages with my personal notes out of the notebook and then gave it to Susan for spending her time with me.

[Djehuty]

Thanks for the excellent review! This paper is definitely on my list of reasons I hope to have money again.

 

[KCat]

Thanks for the excellent review! This paper is definitely on my list of reasons I hope to have money again.

 

Maybe you can rationalize it as an "investment." That's what I intend to do. If it helps me accomplish my work better by putting less strain on my eyes...

 

A couple of weeks down the line and I still like this paper a lot.

[adair]

Thanks for the excellent review! This paper is definitely on my list of reasons I hope to have money again.

 

Maybe you can rationalize it as an "investment." That's what I intend to do. If it helps me accomplish my work better by putting less strain on my eyes...

 

A couple of weeks down the line and I still like this paper a lot.

 

 

Do you like it more than Rhodia or Clairefontaine?

[KCat]

A couple of weeks down the line and I still like this paper a lot.

 

Do you like it more than Rhodia or Clairefontaine?

 

That's almost, but not quite, an apples and oranges question. I like the white ruling better than the dark lines on those papers. As far as smoothness and taking ink, I like it as much as I like Rhodia. Clairefontaine is beautifully smooth, and nothing I have found compares to it with the possible exception of the FPN notepads. BUT - when I'm writing in a rush, I don't want paper that smooth. It feels like I don't have control over my pen. And some inks tend to pool on Clairefontaine while none of the inks I've tried on Whitelines or Rhodia do so.

 

I think if you exclude the unique quality of the white lines, then Rhodia is ever so slightly better. But for what I hope to use it for - writing long compositions that will then be transcribed to PC - it is preferable to Rhodia. I used it for that purpose the other day and admit that following my scrawl was easier than it is on the Rhodia grid paper. (I like grids for that kind of writing because I tend to write small and fill the page as much as possible.) With the cahier notebooks, I prefer the Rhodia to the Whitelines version because Rhodia's cover feels more durable. Can't speak to the spiral or sewn notebooks of either.

 

So - what it comes down to is what is your priority? Glassy smooth paper? Grids that are easier on the eyes or Grids that standout for other uses? I do think Whitelines is slightly lighter weight than Rhodia now that I've had more time with it. Makes me feel a little better about the way I use it (not "wasting" as many trees?) but that might be a problem for people who always use firehose nibs.

 

I can't say I like any of them better as a whole. I like all three. I don't use Clairefontaine much because it is more expensive around here than Rhodia or Whitelines. And I like notepads more than notebooks. But each have their place in my arsenal. Along with G. Lalo Verge de France, Wausau Royal Silk, Black n' Red A4 notebooks, these cool little recycled notebooks from Vickerey, old Levenger paper and 3x5 cards...

 

you get the idea.

 

Kinda like trying to decide which of my pens I like better. Can't do it.

[MikeW]

I prefer the Rhodia to the Whitelines version because Rhodia's cover feels more durable. Can't speak to the spiral or sewn notebooks of either.

 

The Clairefontaine notebook covers are nicer because of the glossy finish and are slightly heavier. The Whitelines notebook has a nice white/orange glossy front and a plain cardboard back while Rhodia's are orange cardboard. In other words, Whitelines is a bit of a hybrid of the two, the front covers on Clairefontaine and Whitelines are nice, glossy finishes although the covers on both the Clairefontaine and Rhodia are thicker. I hope that is clear, ie, Clairefontaine is the sexiest overall, followed by Whitelines and then Rhodia but for durability, Clairefontaine and Rhodia are likely the same and Whitelines is somewhat less durable because of its thinner cardboard back cover.

 

The other notebook available through whitelines is stapled, I believe, like a cahier - I don't have one any more as I gave it to Susan Wirth. The drawback with it is that the pages were not perforated for removal. I don't think I would buy one again for that reason - you just never know when you might want to rip a page out and you don't want to destroy your notebook.

 

Based on my extended usage, I prefer the Whitelines notepads because I do find them to be easier on my eyes. For notebooks, it depends on how sexy you want your notebook to be - Most = Clairefontaine, A bit of a tease = Whitelines, Plain Jane = Rhodia.

[KCat]

Based on my extended usage, I prefer the Whitelines notepads because I do find them to be easier on my eyes. For notebooks, it depends on how sexy you want your notebook to be - Most = Clairefontaine, A bit of a tease = Whitelines, Plain Jane = Rhodia.

 

That's a nice way to wrap it up.

 

Though bright orange can be considered a "bit of a tease" if you look at the orange VP thread.

 

[MikeW]

Though bright orange can be considered a "bit of a tease" if you look at the orange VP thread.

 

I wholeheartedly agree! :clap1:

[adair]

A couple of weeks down the line and I still like this paper a lot.

 

Do you like it more than Rhodia or Clairefontaine?

 

That's almost, but not quite, an apples and oranges question. I like the white ruling better than the dark lines on those papers. As far as smoothness and taking ink, I like it as much as I like Rhodia. Clairefontaine is beautifully smooth, and nothing I have found compares to it with the possible exception of the FPN notepads. BUT - when I'm writing in a rush, I don't want paper that smooth. It feels like I don't have control over my pen. And some inks tend to pool on Clairefontaine while none of the inks I've tried on Whitelines or Rhodia do so.

 

I think if you exclude the unique quality of the white lines, then Rhodia is ever so slightly better. But for what I hope to use it for - writing long compositions that will then be transcribed to PC - it is preferable to Rhodia. I used it for that purpose the other day and admit that following my scrawl was easier than it is on the Rhodia grid paper. (I like grids for that kind of writing because I tend to write small and fill the page as much as possible.) With the cahier notebooks, I prefer the Rhodia to the Whitelines version because Rhodia's cover feels more durable. Can't speak to the spiral or sewn notebooks of either.

 

So - what it comes down to is what is your priority? Glassy smooth paper? Grids that are easier on the eyes or Grids that standout for other uses? I do think Whitelines is slightly lighter weight than Rhodia now that I've had more time with it. Makes me feel a little better about the way I use it (not "wasting" as many trees?) but that might be a problem for people who always use firehose nibs.

 

I can't say I like any of them better as a whole. I like all three. I don't use Clairefontaine much because it is more expensive around here than Rhodia or Whitelines. And I like notepads more than notebooks. But each have their place in my arsenal. Along with G. Lalo Verge de France, Wausau Royal Silk, Black n' Red A4 notebooks, these cool little recycled notebooks from Vickerey, old Levenger paper and 3x5 cards...

 

you get the idea.

 

Kinda like trying to decide which of my pens I like better. Can't do it.

 

 

 

Fortunately, we live in an age in which such choices are unecessary. With online business, we can literally sample the best that the world has to offer. Still, for obscure philosophical reasons, I wish that I could stick to just one brand of paper and just one fountain pen. For paper, I think that Clairefontaine is my choice, at least until I give Whitelines a try. ( By the way, here in the Manhattan area, Clairefontaine is available in moderately-priced regular and legal-sized pads, in addition to the notebooks. I would never characterize the line as "sexy" but as a serious tool for a writer. ) As for the one fountain pen...now that has proved more difficult. Sometimes I am almost sure that it must be my Pelikan M-600...but other pens do beckon. I thought for a whole week once that the ONE pen, finally, was the Lamy 2000, until it started leaking. I hated my Sailor 1911 and Sailor Sapporo until they were fixed by the great John Mottishaw, and now, they, too, sometimes draw me away from my Pelikan. Anyway, you have made the Whitelines paper much too tempting. I'll give it a try. Thanks again for such an intelligent review.

[KCat]

Been two weeks now.

 

I've had a chance to use the paper fairly regularly and further evaluate it, I'm afraid I have to lower my score slightly.

 

Very slightly.

 

I'm finding the back of the pages to be slightly rougher than the front. This isn't unusual in notepads and may not be true of the notebooks since most people anticipate using both sides of a page in a notebook. I thought maybe I was imagining it since it is only slight. I don't *think* I am imagining it though. It's most noticeable with my broader nibs (Mediums by most standards.) That makes sense from a surface area POV. But, does it go against the grain compared to what others might experience? IOW, some of us might notice an XF or finer nib "catching" the page more than a medium or broad nib. In my case, the XFs and XXXFs still feel the same, but I notice a sort of "texture" to the back of the page with my medium nibs. No noticeable difference with edged nibs. Interesting. To me anyway.

 

So, we're down from 8.5 to an 8.

 

Which could all be a result of my imagination or of the fact that I am "hyper-sensate" to a degree.*

 

Still haven't ventured into the notebook though. Saving that for something special.

 

 

*Gonna post something on this matter in Chatter.

[a11en]

Fantastic review! Now I'm gonna have to get some. Thanks KCat!!!

[Pengrump]

Been two weeks now.

 

I've had a chance to use the paper fairly regularly and further evaluate it, I'm afraid I have to lower my score slightly.

 

Very slightly.

 

I'm finding the back of the pages to be slightly rougher than the front. This isn't unusual in notepads and may not be true of the notebooks since most people anticipate using both sides of a page in a notebook. I thought maybe I was imagining it since it is only slight. I don't *think* I am imagining it though. It's most noticeable with my broader nibs (Mediums by most standards.) That makes sense from a surface area POV. But, does it go against the grain compared to what others might experience? IOW, some of us might notice an XF or finer nib "catching" the page more than a medium or broad nib. In my case, the XFs and XXXFs still feel the same, but I notice a sort of "texture" to the back of the page with my medium nibs. No noticeable difference with edged nibs. Interesting. To me anyway.

 

So, we're down from 8.5 to an 8.

 

Which could all be a result of my imagination or of the fact that I am "hyper-sensate" to a degree.*

 

Still haven't ventured into the notebook though. Saving that for something special.

 

 

*Gonna post something on this matter in Chatter.

 

I wrote my first letter on paper from a Whitelines notepad, and I agree with you: the back of the page is roughter than the front. I noticed it when using my Sapporo Mini with a fine nib.