Creating An Ink Sample Book

[fncll]

For those of you who keep your own ink sample books, what are your methods? What paper/notebook do you use?

 

I'm thinking about going with a 3-ring binder and writing/swabbing samples using HP Bright White printer paper with ring-reinforcements. I figure the bright white will be good for showing color and the paper doesn't feather or bleed. But the drying time can be long, so I'm not sure how useful for the drying time tests.

 

And then how to be consistent? Should I set aside some identical pens for the primary writing sample? Use dip pens? I assume a line of text or two, cross hatches, and such are enough...there would be plenty of room to add samples with other pens later.

[Spitzner]

I use the Circa system from Levenger in the junior size; a much cheaper version is available at Staples now, called "Arc". I have it divided by color, and then alphabetical by maker and color name within each color section. It's very easy to add new inks when the Drop arrives, and to remove any when I run out. I punch a hole indicating which colors I have in bottles rather than samples, just for my own info.

 

I do a swab only rather than ink up a pen (the exception being any colors I have only in cartridges). I find that the ink that sticks to the cap of an Ink Drop sample is sufficient for swabbing.

 

Pam

[K. Cakes]

I used to use a Leuchtturm notebook which was great for ink reviews because it has a table of contents and numbered pages, so everything was easy to keep track of. However, when I filled the notebook I wanted something that would be even easier to customize, so I now use a three ring binder. I print of a few dozen ink review sheets on HP 24# laser and three-hole punch them so when I get new inks I can simply take them out of the binder and get right to reviewing them. Then I just use tabs to separate ink brands.

[fncll]

What do your ink review sheets look like?

[K. Cakes]

What do your ink review sheets look like?

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/9204613706_bf9ebf2309.jpg

I'm pretty sure I found the template somewhere on FPN.

[The Good Captain]

I bought a Clairefontaine Vocabulary book. Tabbed alphabetically and with a line drawn down the centre of each page. I've not actually started it yet but I'd planned to sort the inks by name not maker's name. That way there wouldn't be a shed-load of Diamines under 'D'. Left-hand column for maker and right-hand for the ink name. For speed of 'operation' and continuity, I'll probably use a dip pen.

[mAnuscript69]

My ink journal is pretty simple. I use a pocket sized Clairefontaine notebook, dedicating one page per ink. I record the name of the ink, pen used as well as the nib size and do a couple of q tip swabs. Then I just do a little writing sample and make some comments on the ink.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

Your idea of using looseleaf seems a good idea, especially as it supports addition and re-organisation of material over time. The use of a standard sheet will also allow you to attach smaller samples to those sheets - overcoming the jumble that has accumulated in my ink sample folios.

The use of one of the templates pinned in the Ink Review Forum is a good place to start, realising that your own template will evolve over time.

Consistency in using a few pens with different wetness & nib width will support comparison, hence selection, as your inky array grows. I usually write a few lines in a 'block' so I can envisage what a page written in a given ink and nib width/wetness might look like.

Over time, as I use other pens & papers with an ink, I add wee samples to my folio.

 

Even though it takes a bit of time to maintain, I reckon using the folios to choose ink+pen+paper has saved me from many 'false starts' that would've resulted in wasted time & material. (The failed samples also go into the folios.) But that doesn't totally eliminate the occurrence of a pile of failed samples and a long queue of pens awaiting clean-up.

Bye,
S1

 

EDIT - to add: I also keep a separate set of small sheets with swab samples, sorted/grouped by hue, which serve as an ad hoc index to the ink folios.

Edited July 4, 2013 by Sandy1

[NobleDel]

We also keep our ink samples in a loose leaf. This way we can arrange the samples based on color, and be bound to the chronological order we made the samples. We make our samples on ink jet paper and added pieces of notebook paper to see how the ink looks on the various papers we usually use.

Edited July 4, 2013 by NobleDel