Sketch books and erasers

[mtw]

I have a couple of questions. First off, some of my sketch book pages rub together and leave smudges on each other. This isn't too bad of a problem, but I have noticed it a little bit. What are some ways of preventing this?

Second question. When I erase a particularly dark part of a drawing, the eraser gets all of the graphite onto itself and leaves gray smudges when I use it. Are there types of erasers that don't have this problem?

[pibb991]

try spraying workable fixatif on your sketchbook pages to prevent smearing and smudging. just make sure you buy the right kind. have you tried a kneaded eraser?

[jester]

I just work on the right page, leaving the left free - so it doesn't matter if it smudges a bit. Also, pages don't shine through that much. When working in pencils or contés I use fixative as well.

Use a kneaded eraser, form it into the shape you want to erase and "lift" just that area (instead of rubbing as with a classic eraser). The kneaded eraser keeps all the graphite. You can clean it easily by kneading it (eg when watching TV - quite therapeutic... ;) ).

Hope this helps

Jester

[mtw]

I'll try a kneaded eraser. I don't think I'll bother trying out the fixative, though, since it's not bothering me that much.