When you are talking about paper for pens - especially fountain pens - the word “cotton” isn’t exactly the descriptor I’m looking for. Midori has changed my thought process, though, as their Midori MD Cotton paper defies my preconceived notions of the name.
Midori MD Cotton uses 20% cotton pulp in its paper formulation, designed to give the page a softer feel with any writing instrument. While yes, the Cotton page may provide a slightly softer writing surface compared to standard MD paper, that’s not the reason you should consider buying it. You should consider buying it because it performs well with most inks, including fountain pen inks.
I’ve been a long-time user of Midori’s standard notebooks. In fact, they are some of my favorites, and I’d rank them as highly as any other paper product in my rotation. How does the classic MD compare to MD Cotton? They each have their pros and cons.
For starters, MD Cotton paper has a whiter page. It’s not stark white, like Clairefontaine Triomphe, but compared to Standard MD there is a clear difference. I think that is the Standard MD’s biggest drawback. I don’t mind it, but it is a non-starter for some. But be careful, this exact Midori MD A5 Square Cotton Paper Pad has a whiter page than the Thick version, which I am not reviewing today. (Midori’s entire Cotton lineup is confusingly sized and formatted, so pay close attention.)
Lines are finer on the Standard MD (left,) although it may be tough to see in the image above.
With fountain pen nibs and inks, my lines are wider on Cotton than Standard. This is a result of the softness of the Cotton page, which is by design. It’s not as soft or cushioned as something like Cosmo Air Light, and I didn’t notice it much when writing. But when I compared Cotton side by side to Standard, the difference was clear - especially for someone like myself who likes fine lines.
Ink is a bit more visible through the back of the Cotton (left.)
Both papers handle feathering and bleeding well, as in there is almost none. The Schmidt Rollerball ink did bleed through the back of Cotton where I filled in the square, but wasn’t bad otherwise. Cotton does have more ghosting, so Standard is a better choice for writing on both sides of the page.
Cotton does show ink color better given the whiter background, but it’s not the runaway I would have expected. I still see good color variation in the dual-shading Sailor Manyo Fuji ink I swabbed on both.
Color is a bit more saturated on Cotton (right,) but both pages have a good range of shades.
The only outlier in comparison was with pencil graphite. My Blackwing Extra Firm is completely fine on the Standard MD page, but on Cotton it is more like “oh heck yes.” The slight texture of the Cotton page doesn’t affect fountain pen nibs negatively, but is a huge bonus to pencils.
That Midori MD Cotton is as good with fountain pens and inks as it is with pencils says a lot. If I had to pick only one of these papers for personal use I’m sticking with the Standard MD, but for the more inky inclined, I think Cotton makes a great choice. I’m certainly going to keep using it for doodles and drawings, if not writing.
The A5 Square Cotton Paper Pad is $16.00 for 176 pages, which is priced well for a premium paper product like this. And if you need a larger - or weirder - format (what is F-size, anyway?) then Midori is sure to have you covered.
(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.
Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!
