Stillman & BirnZeta Series Softcover Sketchbook, 8.5" x 5.5", 270 gsm (Extra Heavyweight), White Paper, Smooth Surface

One thing I always do when I receive a brand new thread bound sketchbook or journal is to break it in by systematically going through all the pages to lay them flat ready for use (front cover; back cover; a few pages front; few pages back; slowly working my way to the center to avoid cracking the spine). Big fail right here before I even laid a pencil to a single page!The binding came unglued between a couple of the sections near the back. That said, the pages still remained intact and the book stayed together. I think that the blue cover should have been glued securely to the actual spine of the pages and not just to the front and back pages -- this may have averted the weakness.That aside, the paper itself is of excellent quality and great for my botanical drawings, urban sketching and inking. The surface is smooth compared to cold pressed paper and accepts layers and layers of Caran d'Ache Luminance and Polychromos colored pencil well without breaking down the subtle tooth.This Zeta series paper is also kind to my dip pen calligraphy nibs as the smooth surface doesn't catch the delicate tines or cause skipping; ink doesn't bleed either or show through to the other side of the heavyweight surface.The white is relatively bright giving me a crisp contrast.I love the soft cover as this is much lighter to pack in my handbag and isn't as bulky as hardcover books. It also has a soft leatherette-type feel. I also love that this is offered in a landscape format.Would I purchase this again? Probably, only because of the format and the paper and there are very few options like this on the market. The binding is really disappointing though and the book flops open easier at the broken spine but it doesn't change the functionality for my needs. I really expected a better quality build from this renown brand.

This sketchbook exceeded all my expectations. It is a thick 270 gsm smooth textured bright white cellulose paper that accepts ink and watercolors beautifully and warps only slightly with light washes. My tray and on-paper mixes are vibrant and the edges don't bleed out into the fibers. The leaves are stitched and gutter free, so drawing or painting across two pages is not a problem. The book, while not pocket sized, is completely portable and will easily fit into a satchel or backpack. My only cons are that this paper is not available in a hardcover version. I like hardcover because with it I can draw with the book flat on my knee or in my hand. I contacted Stillman & Birn to see if there was a hardcover available (overseas maybe?), but I was told that no, there was no hardcover version and that no one has asked for it and that sales of the softcover were good. That's odd, because the cover slip calls this the 'Softcover Edition', doesn't that imply there is a 'Hardcover Edition'? My other, minor, con is that the softcover is a dust and smudge magnet and wiping it clean can be annoying at times. So in closing, I'm very pleased with the paper but less pleased with the cover but I would still readily recommend this sketchbook to anyone.

Takes light coats of gouache very well, can paint on both sides of the page. Paper is VERY smooth, yet thick, perfect for mixed media. Binding is strong and the book lays flat as much as a book can without being a spiral notebook. If you plan on traveling with this and sketching/painting on the go, I recommend a small size, or carry a piece of cardboard with you to lay the book on since its a softcover and will be hard to draw in your lap. Wonderful sketchbook, pretty affordable. Would buy again.

I am an architect and watercolor all the time, about 2-3 books every 4 months. I bought it for water coloring on my trip through Italy, it worked well but wasn't the best, it often left water marks even after I had taken the extra water off the page. I don't prefer to use this brand anymore, maybe if they did something new to their paper.

It's been a long hunt for an art journal that will cover all my needs at last.

I love the Zeta for detailed watercolour. I wish the cover were of a material that would allow me to personalize it and therefore tell one from another as I have several of these beautifully made sketchbooks.

This sketchbook was recommended to me by my art instructor. It is an excellent product!I like the act that it opens out flat so that I can sketch across both pages. I prefer the landscape orientation so that I can do wide angle landscape sketches if I want.Good paper with just the right feel for my sketches in pen an dink, fraphite, and watercolor.Good product!

I love this sketchbook. It was longer than I expected, but it was great and took watercolor well. I wish it had that hard cover look like the moleskine, it would’ve made it a master piece !! I spilled lots of stuff over the cover and it never did me wrong. It stayed perfect.

Leider entgegen der Behauptungen auf der Verpackung nicht für Aquarellmalerei geeignet. Das Papier ist zwar dick, aber wellt sich schon bei einer (dünnen) Schicht Farbe so sehr, dass sich die Farbe nicht mehr schön auf dem Papier verteilt. Bei der zweiten Schicht fing das Papier schon an sich aufzulösen.Mit Gouache lässt sich darin besser arbeiten, es wellt sich aber es löst sich nichts ab.Ich bin enttäuscht und würde es nicht für nasse Medien empfehlen.