Ultimate Guide to Pen Bleedthrough and Ghosting in Planners 📝

In the world of planners, the choice of paper is crucial, especially for those who love using liquid ink pens. This guide delves into the performance of various planner pages, focusing on two critical factors: bleedthrough and ghosting. Understanding these aspects can help you choose the best planner for your needs. Let's explore what these terms mean and how different planners fare in these tests.

What is Bleedthrough? 🖊️

Bleedthrough occurs when ink seeps through the paper, making it visible on the opposite side. This phenomenon is particularly common with liquid ink pens, which are favored for their smooth writing experience. When bleedthrough happens, it can render the other side of the page unusable for writing or drawing.

What is Ghosting? 👻

Ghosting refers to the faint outline of writing that can be seen on the opposite side of the page without any ink actually bleeding through. While ghosting is less severe than bleedthrough, it can still be distracting and affect the overall usability of a planner. Understanding how different papers handle ghosting is essential for anyone who frequently writes or sketches in their planners.

Why Choose Liquid Ink Pens? 🎨

Liquid ink pens offer a vibrant and smooth writing experience, making them a favorite for many planner enthusiasts. Unlike ballpoint pens, which can feel dull and uninspired, liquid ink pens glide effortlessly across the page. However, the challenge they present is their tendency to cause bleedthrough and ghosting, particularly on lower-quality paper. This is why selecting the right planner paper is critical.

My Favorite Pens! 💖

My go-to writing instruments are Pilot V Razor liquid ink pens. These pens are known for their beautiful ink flow and vibrant colors. Unfortunately, they only come in a predefined pack, which can be limiting for those who prefer to choose individual colors. The pack includes:

• Black

• Brown

• Green

• Royal Blue

• Red

• Light Blue

• Purple

• Pink

Despite the limitations, the vibrant colors make these pens a favorite for planning and journaling.

Testing Planner Pages: From Worst to Best 📊

To determine how different planner pages handle bleedthrough and ghosting, I conducted tests with 14 different planner brands. Below is a breakdown of the results, starting from the worst performers.

1. Day Designer - $39 ❌

The Day Designer was the worst performer in both bleedthrough and ghosting tests. The ink bled through significantly, making the opposite page unusable. This planner should be avoided if you plan to use liquid ink pens.

2. Daily Greatness - $49.99 ❌

Next, the Daily Greatness planner also failed on both tests. While the bleedthrough was less severe, it still rendered the opposite page impractical for use.

3. Sacred Ordinary Days - $52 ❌

This planner only failed on ghosting. While it didn’t bleed through, the outlines of the writing were visible on the other side, which can be distracting.

4. Start Planner - $60 ❌

The Start Planner scored poorly as well, with significant ghosting evident in all areas of the page.

5. Erin Condren - $55 ❌

This planner also exhibited strong ghosting, making it less suitable for those who want to use both sides of the page.

6. May Designs - $12-25 ❌

Despite the affordable price, May Designs failed on ghosting, leading to visible outlines on the reverse side.

7. Moo Notebooks - $29 ❌

Moo Notebooks also experienced ghosting issues, which detracted from their usability.

8. Japanese Silky Paper - $18.49 ❌

While this paper is known for its smooth texture, it still failed the ghosting test, making it less ideal for extensive writing.

9. DaySpring - $29.99 ❌

This religious planner suffered from ghosting as well, with outlines visible on the opposite page.

10. Plum Paper - $29 ❌

Plum Paper planners exhibited slight ghosting, which may not be overly bothersome for some users.

11. Chalene Johnson’s PUSH Journal - $37.99 ❌

Similar to Plum Paper, this fitness planner displayed slight ghosting, but it wasn’t too disruptive.

12. Lara Casey's Cultivate What Matters - $40 ❌

This planner showed only slight ghosting, making it a more acceptable option for some users.

13. Bloom Daily Planners - $5-16 ✅

Bloom Daily Planners were a pleasant surprise, passing both tests with flying colors. The paper quality is excellent, making it a great choice for liquid ink pen users.

14. Passion Planner - $40 ✅

The Passion Planner emerged as the top performer. With high GSM paper, it showed minimal ghosting and no bleedthrough, making it ideal for heavy use.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Planner 📅

When selecting a planner, it’s essential to consider how the paper will perform with your favorite writing instruments. Liquid ink pens can elevate your planning experience, but only if the paper can handle their unique properties. Based on the tests conducted, both the Bloom Daily Planners and Passion Planner stand out as excellent choices.

Ultimately, the price of a planner does not guarantee its performance. Some more expensive planners failed significantly in both bleedthrough and ghosting tests. It’s crucial to test your pens with the planner pages before committing to a purchase. Happy planning!