8/8/2023 0 Comments Black sketchbook![]() Once you’ve decided if you want smooth or toothy, white or ivory, the hardest decision is what size and binding to choose. Don’t fear the page-to-price difference between S&B’s 150gsm paper and 270gsm knowing the heavier stock will easily allow use of both sides of the sheet with heavy coverage where the 150gsm might have some show through and require using only one side of the paper. I have always favored the Alpha for its slightly toothy paper and value but the Delta is with its extra thick paper makes it an equally good option. However, if you are a US resident, I recommend trying S&B for yourself. Whether S&B are as readily available outside the US, I am less certain. Their range of sizes, paper weights and colors and cover options make them probably the best sketchbook choice in the US. I have always preferred the S&B sketchbooks since they first appeared on the scene several years ago. Viviva Cotton A5 & Mossery Sketchbook (NO!).So, let’s cut to the “which is your favorite.” Here is my ranking: Spiral bound are the easiest to fold open but the rings can get in the way for some people. ![]() Hard or softbound sketch books, when bound well, can bee used “across the fold” for a larger format that is harder to do with a spiral bound. Though pads do make it easy to remove pages for hanging, scanning or burning, whichever the case may be. I find that pads do not have durable enough covers and thee pages may fall out when I least expect it. I prefer a hard- or softbound book over the spiral or pad. What this allowed me to do is establish that I don’t really care about the binding or the cover material as long as the paper is good and the overall sketchbook is durable. The sketchbooks I tested also had an array of binding and cover options. From left to right: S&B Alpha, Leuchtturm 1917 sketchbook, Maruman Soho Sketch, Shinola Sketchbook, Clairefontaine Goldline, S&B Delta and Viviva Colors (I did not include the Mossery) In terms of color, the paper color is also an array from a bright white to a deep ivory. The papers also had different textures as well, from very smooth to very rough. The paper weights vary from 96gsm all the way up to 300gsm but just because a paper is very heavy weight did not mean it was better. The chart lists most sketchbooks by their European sizes as I suspect most readers are fairly familiar with A5 size (roughly 5.5×8.5″ for those unfamiliar) and A6 is essentially half the size of an A5. The chart above is organized by size with the smallest A6 (3.5×5.5″) books first then A5, B5 and the largest at 8×9.25″. Two ribbon bookmarks, elastic closure, guested pocketĮlastic, gusseted pock front & back, ribbon bookmark, notebook canoe removed and replaced, included inktober infoįlat pocket in back cover (2021 Inktober Edition), included inktober infoĮlastic closure, gusseted pocket, ribbon bookmark So, with these specifications, I decided to go ahead and include all EIGHT sketchbooks I currently have and use the same criteria to tests and compare: A lay flat binding is highly advantageous but if the binding is good ( Smyth sewn or the like) then I can manhandle it until is does lay flat. I use sketchbooks like other people might use a regular notebook - except instead of random ideas written out, I will sketch out thumbnails for a potential new product, practice lettering and calligraphy, paint my lunch or a sleeping cat, write notes, test out new inks, glue down some random bits, etc. Will I abandon or trash a sketchbook with crappy paper? Yes. Am I less likely to buy a notebook again if it doesn’t lay flat? Maybe. ![]() Will I reject a sketchbook if it doesn’t an elastic closure or gusseted pocket in the back? No. Specifically, I look for paper durable enough to withstand a variety of pen, ink and water tools (watercolor markers, some light watercolor, etc). Why review them together? Because when I am picking out sketchbooks, I am usually looking for some key features regardless of other variables. There are EIGHT different sketchbooks from seven different companies and include different types of paper, binding methods, number of pages, price points and other variables. I was not sure the best way to present them so I decided to just review them altogether. I recently realized I had accumulated quite a stack of sketchbooks to review. ![]()
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