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🌿 SHOW NOTES
Today I'm comparing alternatives to Tomoe River Paper for use with fountain pens and watercolors. We'll look at bleed through and ghosting and talk about how Tomoe River has changed.
In my opinion, you probably won't be able to notice a difference between "old" Tomoegawa Tomoe River made pre-2021 and "new" Tomoegawa Tomoe River made in 2021 with the same formula by the same company on a different machine.
However, the latest iteration — Tomoe River S by Sanzen — is more complicated. Some of the Tomoe River S may be from old stock, sold under the new name. Or, you might get the brand new version actually made by Sanzen. I have tested some Sanzen paper and felt there was more bleed through with dye-based inks and paints than I get on Tomoegawa Tomoe River, but I understand they may be tinkering with their production. Stick with Tomeogawa for now if you're able to get it.
At this time, Hobonichi, Galen Leather, GoodInkPressions, Odyssey Notebooks, PaperPenguinCo, Taroko Shop, and Yamamoto Paper are all offering Tomoegawa, either "old" or "new." {Find links below to each shop.}
PaperPenguinCo also offers Sanzen. Taroko Shop will likely be transitioning to Sanzen in August.
If you are particular about this, you might want to ask the shop what their current stock is at the time of your order.
🌿 PURCHASE PAPER SAMPLES
+ GoodInkPressions at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
+ PaperPenguinCo at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
🌿 WHERE TO FIND THESE PAPERS IN NOTEBOOKS
🌿 52 gsm TOMOE RIVER
This is referred to as “Bible paper thin” but magically resists bleeding with wet media like fountain pens and pigment-based watercolors. Mileage may vary because, as of 2022, it’s no longer made by the same company. Different iterations are available from these shops:
+ Galen Leather at Amazon (A5): [ Ссылка ]
+ Galen Leather at Amazon (B5): [ Ссылка ]
+ Galen Leather at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
+ GoodInkPressions at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
+ Paper Penguin Co at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
+ Taroko Design at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #013 at Amazon: [ Ссылка ]
+ Yamamoto at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
🌿 68 gsm TOMOE RIVER
This is very slightly thicker and less shiny than the incredibly popular 52gsm Tomoe River. It’s designed for artists and takes watercolor and fountain pens with less ghosting than the thinner version.
+ GoodInkPressions at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
+ Odyssey Notebooks at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
+ Taroko Design at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
🌿 52 gsm VIEW CORONA BRIGHT WHITE
While testing fountain pens, gel pens, markers, student grade watercolors, and artist quality watercolors, I can’t tell the difference between original 52gsm Tomoe River and 52gsm View Corona Bright White. Plain White seems a bit more prone to bleeding with dye-based watercolors, so I’d opt for Bright White.
+ Paper Penguin Co at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
🌿 MIDORI
Approximately 70 gsm. Very smooth but with less coating, so it performs more like traditional watercolor paper than the shininess of Tomoe River.
+ Midori MD notebooks at Amazon: [ Ссылка ]
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #001 (6.5mm rule) at Amazon: [ Ссылка ]
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #002 (square grid) at Amazon: [ Ссылка ]
+ Traveler's Company Insert #003 (blank) at Amazon: [ Ссылка ]
+ Traveler's Company Insert #017 (monthly) at Amazon: [ Ссылка ]
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #018 (weekly, vertical) at Amazon: [ Ссылка ]
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #019 (weekly, horizontal) at Amazon: [ Ссылка ]
+ Traveler’s Company Insert #026 (dot grid) (available at Tokyo Pen Shop)
🌿 STALOGY
Reported to be 52 gsm; feels a tiny bit heavier. Very similar to Tomoe River but has less coating, so it dries faster.
+ A5 Stalogy 365 (368 pages) at Amazon: [ Ссылка ]
+ A5 Stalogy Half Year (184 pages) at Amazon: [ Ссылка ]
+ Also available in B5, B6, A6, and a range of colors: [ Ссылка ]
🌿 COSMO AIR LIGHT
75 gsm. This is nice for fountain pens, but I don't like the way watercolors look like they were painted with markers.
+ Galen Leather at Amazon: [ Ссылка ]
+ Galen Leather at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
+ Yamamoto at Etsy: [ Ссылка ]
🌿 OTHERS I TRIED BUT DID NOT THINK WERE COMPARABLE
Apica
Bank Mitsubishi
Gallery Leather
Moleskine
Onion Skin
Peter Pauper Press
Rhodia
Shiraoi
🌿 DISCLOSURES
KeyLimeInk is an affiliate of Amazon, Blick, Etsy, Jackson's, Paper House, and Paper Sunday. Paper Penguin Co sent samples for review.
