What is Blotter Paper?
Blotter paper is an indispensable tool that prevents ink from spreading on a desk, often taking the form of soft, absorbent paper in card form. While commonly used for ink or oil absorbtion, it also can help pick up other liquids like water.
Blotters need excellent observational and attention to detail skills in order to provide accurate record-keeping of trading activities and manage trading records accurately. They do so through documenting trading activities and keeping precise record-keeping systems.
It is a sheet of paper
Blotter paper is an absorbent sheet of paper designed to absorb excess ink or hand oils from pages, as well as used in microscopy to clear liquid from slides before viewing them. Furthermore, cosmetic use blotter papers exist that help remove makeup or oil build-up on skin and face surfaces.
Before the widespread availability of blotter paper, people would sprinkle sand over newly written text to absorb excess ink – an inefficient and time-consuming practice that proved successful nonetheless. When the blotter became widely available, it quickly became an essential tool for writers and office workers alike.
Understanding the difference between sheets and pages is vitally important. While sheets refer to an individual piece of paper, pages refer to how many sides a booklet or pamphlet contains when bound together – for instance two folded sheets of 8.5″ by 11″ paper considered two pages when bound into one booklet.
It is used to absorb ink
Blotting paper is a unique form of paper designed to absorb excess ink through physical capillarity and porous structure, combined with surface chemistry. Frequently used to protect drawings, photographs and other documents containing ink-based components from damage, it also finds use in microscopy to blot slides before viewing images on them. Ink blotters also prove useful for framing stamp collections or creating herbariums as they come in various sizes to fit most types of books.
At one time, blotting papers were an indispensable tool in homes and offices to prevent writers from making accidental smudges when writing with fountain pens or quills. By soaking up excess ink or hand oils that had collected while writing, blotters allowed writers to avoid smudges while writing. A typical rocking shape for holding was often folded over into an accordion shape for easy portability.
As fountain pens have made a comeback, many users are rediscovering the benefits of blotter paper. Not only can blotter paper help writers stay in their flow while saving time by eliminating ink drying time before turning pages or handling documents, blotter paper offers numerous other advantages as well.
It is a form of advertising
Prior to mass production and quick drying ink, blotter paper served as an effective form of advertising. These cards of soft, absorbent paper were commonly found in homes and offices across the country and advertisers of all kinds rushed to create desktop advertisements – from pharmacies and electric companies to schools and cough drops.
Before the early 19th century, correspondents and clerks used sprinkling sand or salt over their handwriting to quickly absorb any extra ink that leaked out of it and prevent smudging. Later, blotters were invented – handheld rocking devices designed to soak up excess ink that prevented smudging – until eventually this practice was replaced by thick sheets of paper specially made to absorb excess ink quickly.
Blotter paper remains an invaluable way of removing excess ink from writing material or protecting delicate surfaces, and can often be found framed alongside art or stamps in herbariums. Furthermore, it can protect drawings or photographs against smudges.
It is a tool
Blotting paper is an invaluable resource for sopping up excess ink and preventing accidental smudges when writing with fountain pens, quills or dipped pens that might spear or blotch onto paper surfaces. Blotting papers are constructed from unsized pulp or cotton rag fibers which have highly porous and absorbent structures; making blotting an invaluable way of cleaning up newly written documents or letters before sending.
Historically, handwriters utilized blotting paper to keep documents clean and dry during document writing with fountain pens prone to smudging. Before it was available for widespread use, writers sprinkled sand or pounced their work to remove excess ink without risk of smearing.
Blotting paper has become an essential tool in financial services and brokerage firms for maintaining accurate records of trading activities, as it allows them to monitor transactions in real time and generate end-of-day trade settlement reports. Medical practitioners also utilize it for medical purposes and cosmetic use; lifting oil and dead skin cells off their faces.
