Spotting High-Quality Paper: Tips & Advice

Are you in charge of sourcing for papers for your company? When you go from a generic store brand notebook to higher quality paper, the difference is always clear. You’ll be able to tell even without using laser checks. This article provides some advice on spotting high-quality paper. 

The Finish

You should be able to tell quite quickly about the finish of paper. A smooth finish will look nicer, and it will feel nicer. If a paper has too much pulp, it will become evident really quick. Your pen point will pick up the short fibers that make up the paper. This happens more often if you are using a fountain pen. These fibers will create a fuzzball that need to be removed from your pen. 

More importantly, you don’t want the paper to be too slick. If the paper you are using feels like the paper you get in a magazine, then you may find it difficult to write on. You need the paper to be smooth but not super smooth. 

Feathering

Feathering is when the ink on the page smears. It usually happens at the edge of your writing when the paper you are using is low grade or too thin. These types of paper absorb the ink excessively. Higher grade paper will prevent the ink from being absorbed and allow the ink to stay on the surface. 

Opacity

This has to do with the ink bleeding through the paper to the other side. Opacity is the property of the paper that stops light from getting through the paper. If the paper has a low opacity, then the ink is more likely to bleed through. In the lowest grade of paper, it can even bleed through to the sheets beneath. 

Drying time

The quality of paper also dictates how quickly the ink dries on the page. If you have an ink that does not dry quickly enough, then you are likely to smudge it as you write. A higher-quality paper will allow the ink to dry much quicker. This can also be affected by the type of ink you use, so make sure you check the paper with the ink you’ll be using. No one wants to have their lovely written work smudged because the ink doesn’t dry quickly. 

Paper quality

When you are buying paper, it is important for you to know what you are looking for. The paper you use for calligraphy will be different from the paper for painting watercolor on.