I want a graph-paper-style notebook, ideally something lightweight—I’m looking to make notes, not art drawings—and not too large. I’m currently using a 17 x 22 cm notebook, which is a fine size. It also has pretty small squares, which I like.
My problem with the notebook I have now is that the ink is too heavy—that is, the lines are too dark. I want very faint lines, just visible enough to be used as guides but not so heavy that to be overwhelming.
The notebooks I see in the stores all have pretty dark lines. Any suggestions?
Edward Tufte’s website has graph paper. Scroll down here:
http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/posters
Tufte sells stuff like this:
http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/posters
Funny you should mention that, as it’s a topic near and dear to my own heart, and one that Mitzi’s probably tired of hearing about.
I find a tremendous amount of printing variability. So look around at a stack of them. You can compare to the one I bring to the Stan meeting next week.
You have a Claire Fontaine staple-bound, A5-ish size, 5cm x 5cm graph-paper notebook. I use the Rhodia steno-format spiral-bound graph-paper notebook which is ruled the same way and roughly the same size pages. They’re made by the same company. For some reason, the format I use has two versions, one with a heavier cardboard backing. They’re $5.99 and $7.99 at my local stationery store. I go into the store and look at them and buy whichever one has fainter lines. I also switched from HB leads to 2B leads for my mechanical pencil, which helps, but I noticed you and Matt use pens. I tried using some 8.5 x 11 inch bound, 5cm x 5cm graph paper lab notebooks, and while the large size is great, I find the format awkward to write in compared to the steno-sized spiral bound one.
I recently discovered these: http://doanepaper.com/
They’re only available through their website as far as I can tell. They’re a happy medium between graph paper and normal lined paper. The paper itself is also very high quality. See the review here: http://officesupplygeek.com/notebook-review/spiral-binding/doane-paper-idea-journal-review/
Hope that helps!
I have and really like this notebook: http://www.amazon.com/Whitelines-Perfect-Notebook-WL47-PBBA4S/dp/B0052XQE64/ref=pd_sbs_op_1 . The whole series of Whitelines notebooks have light-gray pages with a white grid, it’s really nice.
(by the way, I don’t know why amazon puts a referral code in there? I certainly didn’t intend to put one. Here’s a simpler link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052XQE64/ )
http://whitelines.se/function/
white lines on light gray background.
How about a dot grid? Try the Rhodia Webnotebook. You also might like a Japanese product, the Maruman Mnemosyne. Jetpens.com has them.
Would a notebook with dots, instead of lines, work? The dots are placed where the lines usually intersect but there are no other lines besides that. Here is one example: http://daviswebtech.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/leuchtturm1917-white-pocket-notebook-dot-ruled-guest-blogger/
My wife went to one of those design institutes in Manhattan. She says: college bookstore – FIT or Parsons, Cooper Union or NYU – those all have design programs where people use those books for designing and drawing on so the lines would be lighter so as not to obscure the design.
Muji carries nice notebooks with faint dots marking out a grid instead of lines.
I own one of these in the squared version. It’s held up really well and the lines are faint.
Here’s what they look like: http://i.imgur.com/5RGlA.jpg
If it is lined on one side only you could use the one you have from the back through to the front and write on the ‘wrong’ side of the page.
If I remember rightly, that was the Tufte suggestion.
I like the quadrille computation pads by ampad. Nice grid lines, thicker pages, and larger sizes I can only find them in the store at Office Max. But they look similar to these:
http://www.officemax.com/office-supplies/paper/graph-paper/product-prod2840342?history=e14c1aw9|prodPage~15^freeText~computation^paramValue~true^refine~1^region~1^param~return_skus^return_skus~Y
http://www.amazon.com/Ampad-Engineers-Computation-Wirebound-22-157/dp/B000DZEA2G/ref=sr_1_14?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1333037377&sr=1-14
I’ve been testing out a Rhodia dotPad. It has a grid of dots instead of full lines/squares.
http://rhodiapads.com/collections_boutique_dotPad.shtml
I second Whitelines (http://www.whitelines.se/) and at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/918617715X/)
Another advantage of whitelines is you can photocopy it and the lines disappear.
Suggestions? Hmmm… Maybe “Be less picky?” :)
He’s a New Yorker. It’s not being picky; it’s having standards.
First world problems …
I’m really pleased you’ve posted this. I’ve had the same issues finding faint enough lines. Until now, I’ve gotten by using the Tops/Roaring Springs Engineering Computation Pad: http://www.amazon.com/Engineering-Computation-Punched-Squares-35510/dp/B0006VPZ4Y
The grid is dark on the backside so it shows light on the front. I tend to use it as needed and then move the sheets into appropriate binders, so the fact that it’s got holes pre-punched and is not a bound notebook works for me. I also hate writing on both sides of the paper anyway. And I like how they have a slightly green tint, because it makes them easier to find among white printed things. Still, I’m excited about trying out these recommendations others have posted, because there are times that I use a notebook and only a notebook. Please post a follow-up with which one you like the best!
I’m really glad that so much interest has been generated as regards shopping and aesthetic choices, even if it does concern an academic object. I’m serious, I’ve been reluctant to post on such topics, even from a philosophical perspective.
I strongly recommend the Moleskine square notebooks. The paper is of very high quality, the lines are crisp but faint, and the squares are a pleasant “European” size, 5 mm by 5 mm. Conveniently, you can get them from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8883705025/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Whitelines is as light as it gets! http://www.crumplegnome.com/collections/graph-paper-squared-pages/products/whitelines-saddle-stitch-a5-squared-notebook
I have found eastern european stationary to be the best on this. The downside – can’t get it in North America.
I would say check art supply stores that carry architectural-type notebooks. I like Utrecht but there are others.