Blotting paper
Blotting paper is a highly absorbent type of paper or other material. It is used to absorb an excess of liquid substances (such as ink or oil) from the surface of writing paper or objects. It is also commonly used as a beauty tool to absorb excess oil from the skin.
Manufacture
Blotting paper is made from different materials of varying thickness, softness, etc. depending on the application. It is often made of cotton and manufactured on special paper machines.
Applications
Chemical analyses
Blotting paper is used in chemical analyses as stationary phase in thin layer chromatography. The paper is made of superclean cotton.
Drugs
Certain drugs, most notably LSD, are distributed on blotting paper. A liquid solution of the drug is applied to the blotting paper, which commonly is perforated into individual doses and artfully decorated also known as blotter art. LSD blotter art or Vanity blotter art are terms for the artwork that LSD is dropped onto. The artwork is printed onto blotter paper and then perforated into tiny squares or stamps which can be torn apart.
Writing
Blotting is frequently necessary when using dip pens and occasionally when using fountain pens. This was first done by sprinkling pounce over the wet ink. Blotting paper is reputed to be first referred to in the English language in the 15th century but there is a tradition in Norfolk, England that it was invented by accident at Lyng Mill on the river Wensum. This may be wrong as this was expressly a paper mill until about 1830, although it is clear that it did make paper before this time as it was referred to as Mr. Hamerton's mill and there are many texts describing it as a paper mill in the 18th century. However, the process of making blotting paper in bulk rather than by hand may be what was created at Lyng.
When used to remove ink from writings, the writing may appear in reverse on the surface of the blotting paper, a phenomenon which has been used as a plot device in a number of detective stories.
Blotter Art Galleries
References
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