Ink on Cheap Paper #87, Jinhao Red

Jinhao Red is a standard ink available in cartridges and bottled ink. The cartridges are easier to find currently at the usual retailers. Reviews of this ink can be found at the Polish site The World of Inks, The Indian Marmalade Company, and Fountain Pen Network. These samples were written with a Jinhao 65 with an extra fine nib.

AMPAD Legal Pad with Post-It-Note - Front

AMPAD Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Front

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Steno Pad - Front

AMPAD Steno Pad - Reverse

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Front

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Reverse

AMPAD Scratchpad - Front

AMPAD Scratchpad - Reverse

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Front

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Reverse

 Best One-Sided Performer: Legal Pad

Best Two-Sided Performer: Copy Paper and Steno Pad tied.

The Post-It-Note Test: Great readability, excellent for quick notes.

TLDR [Drying Time, (B)leed, (G)host]: Legal Pad - 0, G; small Legal Pad - 0, G, B; Steno Pad - 5; Copy Paper 20lb - 5; Scratchpad - 0, G; p&G Notebook - 10. 

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and is not sponsored in any way. This ink came from my own collection. 

Ink on Cheap Paper #83, Diamine Raspberry Rose (Red Edition)

Diamine Raspberry Rose (Red Edition) is from the Diamine Inkvent Calendar from 2021. It is a dusky pink/burgundy standard ink. Reviews for this ink can be found at Mountain of Ink, Writing at Large, and The Pen Lovers Nook. These samples were written with a Jinhao x450 with a medium nib.

AMPAD Legal Pad with Post-It-Note - Front

AMPAD Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Front

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Steno Pad - Front

AMPAD Steno Pad - Reverse

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Front

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Reverse

AMPAD Scratchpad - Front

AMPAD Scratchpad - Reverse

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Front

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Reverse

 

Best One-Sided Performer: Small Legal Pad

Best Two-Sided Performer: Copy Paper

The Post-It-Note Test: Very readable, decent for notes.

TLDR [Drying Time, (B)leed, (G)host]: Legal Pad - 5, G, B; small Legal Pad - 0, G, B; Steno Pad - 20, G; Copy Paper 20lb - 5, G; Scratchpad - 5, G, B; p&G Notebook - 30, G. 

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and is not sponsored in any way. This ink came from my own collection. 

Ink on Cheap Paper #81, Kaweco Ruby Red

Kaweco Ruby Red is in the middle of red and pink. Reviews for this ink can be found at Mountain of Ink, Inkdependence, The Well Appointed Desk, and Wondernaut. These samples were written with a Hongdian H1 with a fine nib.

AMPAD Legal Pad with Post-It-Note - Front

AMPAD Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Front

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Steno Pad - Front

AMPAD Steno Pad - Reverse

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Front

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Reverse

AMPAD Scratchpad - Front

AMPAD Scratchpad - Reverse

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Front

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Reverse

 

 

Best One-Sided Performer: All tied

Best Two-Sided Performer: Steno Pad

The Post-It-Note Test: Good for quick notes and readability

TLDR [Drying Time, (B)leed, (G)host]: Legal Pad - 0, B, G; small Legal Pad - 0, B, G; Steno Pad - 5; Copy Paper 20lb - 0, G; Scratchpad - 0, G, B; p&G Notebook - 10, G. 

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and is not sponsored in any way. This ink came from my own collection. 

Ink on Cheap Paper #74, Diamine Wine Divine

Diamine Wine Divine is a Shimmertastic ink. It is the color of red wine with a gold shimmer. Reviews for this ink can be found at Mountain of Ink, Fountain Pen Pharmacist, and The Well-Appointed Desk. These samples were written with a Jinhao x450 with a medium nib.

AMPAD Legal Pad with Post-It-Note - Front

AMPAD Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Front

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Steno Pad - Front

AMPAD Steno Pad - Reverse

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Front

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Reverse

AMPAD Scratchpad - Front

AMPAD Scratchpad - Reverse

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Front

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Reverse

 

Best One-Sided Performer: All tied.

Best Two-Sided Performer: Steno Pad

The Post-It-Note Test: Readable, but would be difficult for quick notes.

TLDR [Drying Time, (B)leed, (G)host]: Legal Pad - 5, B, G; small Legal Pad - 5, B, G; Steno Pad - 15, G; Copy Paper 20lb - 20, G; Scratchpad - 5, B, G; p&G Notebook - 30, G. 

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and is not sponsored in any way. This ink came from my own collection. 

Ink on Cheap Paper #56, Diamine Matador

Diamine Matador is a dark red ink from the standard ink series. Reviews for this ink can be found at Mountain of Ink and Fountain Pen Network (review 1 & review 2). These samples were written with a Jinhao 82 with an extra fine nib.

As an additional note, the Small Legal Pad brand has changed to AMPAD EVIDENCE which seems to be even cheaper than the unbranded AMPAD. To account for this, a bleedthrough indicator will be identified for the small legal pad TLDR and on the page itself.

AMPAD Legal Pad with Post-It-Note - Front

AMPAD Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Front

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Steno Pad - Front

AMPAD Steno Pad - Reverse

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Front

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Reverse

AMPAD Scratchpad - Front

AMPAD Scratchpad - Reverse

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Front

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Reverse

Best One-Sided Performer: Legal Pad for writing area

Best Two-Sided Performer: Staples Copy Paper

The Post-It-Note Test: Longer drying time, but good readability

TLDR [Drying Time, (B)leed, (G)host]: Legal Pad - 5, B, G; small Legal Pad - 0, B, G; Steno Pad - 20, G; Copy Paper 20lb - 5, G; Scratchpad - 0, B, G; p&G Notebook - 20, G. 

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and is not sponsored in any way. This ink came from my own collection.