The Well-Appointed Desk

On Keeping a Notebook

AnaMarch 15, 20133 Comments

jacklondon-notebook-quote

There is a fabulous article on Lifehacker this morning on keeping a notebook in the digital age which, I’m sure we can all agree, is a fabulous idea.

(via Lifehacker, quote via Pencil Revolution)

In feature

The Death of Google Reader

AnaMarch 15, 2013Leave a comment

google reader

The big news yesterday in the tech world was Google’s announcement to close the Reader service. The service will shut down on July 1. I keep wondering if the decision to close Reader is an effort to move more people over to Google+ to act as a newsfeeder?

I’m following Gizmodo’s “Google Reader” tag thread in hopes of finding a suitable replacement. Does anyone have a recommendation for a newsreader service or an opinion on why Google would abandon Reader?

Specialty Printable Papers

AnaMarch 14, 2013Leave a comment

Are you working on a digital project that you might need to sketch out on paper? Geekchix collected an assortment of iPhone templates, wireframing templates, “paper browsers” and grid templates that can be downloaded and printed out as needed. There are also links to pre-printed sketchbooks specifically useful for planning your next digital project. See? Even when its digital, you need paper!

Update: One of the links lead to a stencil kit for iPhone UX elements which I just love! This stainless steel laser template sells for $26.95. Lots of other tech models are available in sketchpad and stencil form. Think on paper with these super cool tools!

In feature

Ask the Desk: “Razor Fine” Fountain Pens

AnaMarch 14, 201310 Comments

Reader Phil asks:

Can you recommend five or so “razor fine” nibs/pens? I am always looking for a good razor fine nib. Is the TWSBI one of them?

The first thing to know is that European and American pen manufacturers use a different criteria for nib widths than the Japanese manufacturers. A Lamy pen labelled as a fine nib is going to create a wider stroke than a Pilot pen that is also labelled as a fine nib.

That said, my best recommendation for razor fine fountain pens are all Japanese made. Pilot makes an XF nib that is very fine. My Pilot Prera is a fine nib as is my Pilot FP 78g and they both create the finest line widths of all the pens in my collection. I’d compare it to a sub-0.5mm (0.38, etc) stroke if you want to compare it to a gel or rollerball measurement.

The TWSBI 540/580 and the Mini both use a European nib. When I initially purchased my TWSBI Mini, I ordered it with a fine nib instead of an XF nib and it was too wide for my taste. Luckily, TWSBI nibs can be swapped out. The XF nib on a TWSBI is comparable to a 0.5mm gel pen to my eyes.

Sailor may be another brand worth checking for a fine width nib on their fountain pens. I have the Sailor Clear Candy in the medium nib which is comparable to a Lamy fine nib in terms of width so the Sailor fine is going to give a fine line for sure.

In the European pens, Lamy, Kaweco and TWSBI all offer XF nib widths which give a fairly fine line but I wouldn’t describe them as “razor fine” as I would the Uni-Ball Signo Bit gel pen.

Other factors can contribute to how bold or fine your lines look with a fountain pen. Paper quality can affect how thick your lines look. Good paper will keep the ink from seeping into the paper and bleeding the line widths. Also, the viscosity of the ink you are using can contribute to your line widths and overall ink flow. Some fountain pen inks are more liquid-y than others. I find that De Atramentis inks do very well in my finer nib pens as the inks feel more liquid-y. Diamine inks seem a bit stiffer which is great for stub nibs and wider widths but sometimes clog up my razor fine pens.

Did that help or just confuse the issue?

In feature

Office Chic, Orla-Style

AnaMarch 13, 2013Leave a comment

Office chic through the lens of Kris Atomic for the Autumn/Winter collection for Orla Kiely. A little bit Mad Men, a little bit Moonrise Kingdom. I love all the old typewriters and rotary phones in the photos.