Let’s talk about something near and dear to every pointed pen calligrapher’s heart—and occasionally the cause of their slow descent into madness: supplies. More specifically, that unholy trifecta we love to hate: paper, nib, and ink.
I’ve always had questions about how these three work together (or don’t), but my curiosity kicked into overdrive the day my second ream of HP 32 lb LaserJet paper betrayed me. The first ream was a dream—smooth, consistent, compliant. The second? A temperamental mess. My nibs were scratching, my ink was feathering, and my confidence was... dwindling.
Like any rational human under pressure, I defaulted to my “safety net” and switched back to Canson Marker Paper. Don’t get me wrong—it’s reliable and kind to pointed pens. But being limited to just one paper felt a little like being handed a paint set with only one color. Something in me said, there has to be more out there… right?
In the meantime, here’s a breakdown of some paper types I came across in my research (and samples!):
📌 Synthetic Polymer-Coated Papers
(Bleed-Resistant, Ultra Smooth – Great for vibrant, layered inks)
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Canson Marker Pad
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X-Press It Blending Card (250gsm)
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Copic Premium Bond Paper (157gsm)
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Neenah Classic Crest Solar White (80lb / 216gsm)
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Yupo Paper (100% Polypropylene)
📌 Clay-Coated Papers
(Semi-absorbent, ideal for sheening, shading, and ink detail)
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Rhodia Premium “R” (90gsm)
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Clairefontaine Triomphe (90gsm)
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Tomoe River (52gsm / 68gsm)
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Apica Premium C.D. (86.5gsm)