Gottfried Pott – A Look into the World of Calligraphy

Naturally, a thin piece of paper should always protect the paper surface from secretions of the skin of the hand. (It should be thin so that its edge won’t impede the flow of writing.) A good color absorbtion and the necessary restistance to writing with the pen can be obtained by rubbing the paper with a pulverized resing (sandarac). This refers, of course, only to papers with a smooth surface without a “tooth”. It also allows for a sharper edge of the stroke. One speaks about a stroke which “sits” well on the paper. It is interesting that musicians of string instruments also use this kind of resin for the same purpose. The resin is subbed onto the hairs of the bow so that the strings are slightly roughed up during play and therefore begin to vibrate more easily.