Stillman & Birn Zeta Wirebound Sketchbook: 6x8, 270gsm Extra Heavyweight, Smooth Surface Review

The paper is thick enough for watercolor and will not warp when dry. Once the painting is dry, I just close the book and put something heavy on top and any curled edges smooth out. The paper is non-porous and while it holds watercolors well, it doesn't absorb very well and doesn't have the same texture as watercolor paper. Ideal for similar media, pen and ink, pencils, markers etc. Very happy with the size. When trying out a technique or just want a smaller image. The spiral binding is…

The paper is nice and thick and holds up to several watercolor strokes and even drains paint well. Zeta is naturally very smooth as a hot press and Beta is rougher. This 7x10 format is very good, it's still not too big but leaves enough room for a nice big spread. I wanted the flexibility of a wire binding and it's nice and strong, but the rings stick out a little making it a bit awkward to draw on the left side. Also, this sketchbook is heavy. It fits in a medium sized bag but makes it a bit…

I haven't had a chance to use this sketchbook yet, so I'll have to update this review later. For now, this review will be aesthetic and cosmetic. I bought a 9 x 12 inch notebook. Plenty of room on the page to work with, and if I choose to do a spread there's a lot more room! :-D When I'm scanning or photographing a two-page spread I have to couple it with imaging software, but it's worth it to fit so much detail into a very large space. The covers are very beautiful, nice to look at and touch…

This album was wrapped in plastic like new but one page was damaged. One of the corners was lifted and peeled off on the last sheet. There are also black spots on the back. There was a small black spot in the top corner of the first page. I will leave him because I have waited so long for his arrival. I think I just got a bad sketchbook that slipped through quality control. The album is generally made of very dense and thick paper. The paper is smooth as stated for the Zeta series. I don't…

Paper is really very good for all kinds of materials. I use brush pens quite a bit to work with line art and it's not much friction at all. It's a wonderful feeling. My only complaint is that the general build quality is a little rough. I compared it to a notebook from a well-known Japanese stationery manufacturer and it really falls short in terms of looks and finish. For example, the front and back are very thick, but not wide enough to protect the edges of the paper. It was really weird for…