Most people who commission a journal spend a lot of time thinking about the cover and almost no time thinking about the paper. That is understandable. The cover is what you see first. But the paper is what you use every day, and a beautiful cover on a journal with paper that feathers under a fountain pen or buckles under a wash is a disappointment every time you open it.

Weight: what the numbers mean

Paper weight is measured in grams per square metre, written as gsm. For a writing journal, 80-100gsm is the standard range. Tomoe River 52gsm is the famous exception: it is very thin but has an unusual density that resists bleed-through from most inks. For a sketchbook, 160-300gsm is more appropriate depending on how wet your media is. The heavier the paper, the thicker the text block, which affects the binding structure.

Texture and surface finish

Paper comes in three broad finishes: smooth (hot-press), medium (cold-press or NOT), and rough. Smooth paper is good for fine-line drawing and writing. Medium suits most watercolour work and pencil. Rough is for expressive watercolour and charcoal. For a journal you will write in daily, a smooth or lightly textured surface is usually more comfortable over time. Fabriano Medioevalis has a laid texture that some writers love and others find slightly resistant.

How paper behaves at the fold

This is the thing most people do not think about until it goes wrong. Paper has a grain direction, and if you fold against the grain, the fold will crack or resist. In bookbinding, the grain must run parallel to the spine. We always test a new paper by folding a sheet both ways before we commit to using it in a commission. Some beautiful papers fold badly and are not suitable for sewn bindings.

Papers we use and why

Tomoe River 52gsm is our first recommendation for fountain pen writers: it is thin, shows no bleed-through, and has a slightly waxy surface that makes ink look vivid. Munken Cream 90gsm is our everyday workhorse: it folds cleanly, takes pencil and ballpoint well, and has a warm cream tone that is easier on the eyes than bright white. Fabriano Medioevalis 120gsm is our choice for mixed-media work. St Cuthberts Mill 300gsm hot-press is what we use in dedicated watercolour sketchbooks.

Bringing your own paper

If you have a paper you already use and love, bring a sheet when you come to discuss your commission. We will fold it, score it, and check the grain direction. If it works structurally, we will use it. If it does not, we will tell you why and suggest the closest alternative we stock. We would rather have that conversation early than discover a problem halfway through sewing.

The right paper makes a journal something you reach for rather than avoid. It is worth spending ten minutes on the question before you decide on anything else. If you are not sure, get in touch and we will talk it through.