Finally figured out why my field notes kept smudging after 2 years of digging

I always used a regular ballpoint pen for labeling artifacts at the site near Giza. Kept wondering why my notes were unreadable after a few hours in the sun. Last week a visiting archaeologist saw me writing and pointed out I was using the wrong side of the paper. Turns out the coated side repels ink and the rough side absorbs it. Has anyone else made a dumb basic mistake like that after years in the field?

3 comments

3 Comments

fisher.adam1mo ago

Whoa hold up. Are you sure it's coated paper and not just the ink type? Most field notebooks use Rite in the Rain or similar water-resistant paper that has a coating on both sides. The rough side is usually the one that's coated to help repel water, not the smooth one. Ballpoint ink actually works better on the glossy coated side because it pushes the ink into the paper instead of letting it sit on top of the fibers. You might have it backwards. If your notes are smudging in the sun, it's probably because the heat is melting the oil-based ink, not because of the paper side. Try switching to a Fisher Space Pen or a uni-ball Power Tank, those use pressurized ink that dries faster and doesn't smear in heat. Just a heads up before you flip your whole notebook and still have the same problem.

paigep201mo ago

@jesser79 I gotta push back, respectully - different paper brands behave totally opposite, so your mileage will vary a lot.

jesser791mo ago

DUDE exactly this. Tried the "rough side" thing for weeks and still had smudges.