43 Folders

Back to Work

Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.

Join us via RSS, iTunes, or at 5by5.tv.

”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Dot Grid Notebooks

I am an architect. I recently began using the extra large (7.5" x 9.75") gridded Moleskine cahiers for my note-taking. They are nice, but, what would be even nicer would be a notebook of a similar size featuring a dot grid. Instead of defining the grid with lines, just dots at 5mm vertical and horizontal centers.

Behance offers one but it is too pricey at $14.00 and I really dislike perforated pages; they all too often come loose of their own accord.

Have you any suggestions as to where these could be procured online?

mwr's picture

Yep, DIY.

Given that you're either already using an illustration package or have access to someone who does, I'd take the DIY route. In OpenOffice Draw, the basic steps would be:

  • Use Tools / Options / OpenOffice Draw / General to set units to mm, then set up a page of the proper size with Format / Page

  • Create a circle of whatever visible size you want (e.g., 2mm), set its color and fill properties to light grey or something else subtle

  • Right-click the circle and select Position and Size to size that circle down to something much smaller (fraction of 1mm), and place it at 5mm from the top and left edges

  • Duplicate that circle 36 times (should take a total of 37 dots to span the roughly 180mm, and you've already got the first one done), with a horizontal spacing of 5mm and a vertical spacing of 0mm (Edit / Duplicate menu)

  • Select that row of circles, and duplicate them 48 times with a horizontal spacing of 0mm and a vertical spacing of 5mm

  • File / Export as PDF

  • Carry the PDF to your print shop, or print it yourself. 67lb paper runs under $9 for 250 sheets, and you may find better options.

And you can check the official DIY Planner Widget Kit if you really want them to look nice.

 
EXPLORE 43Folders THE GOOD STUFF

Popular
Today

Popular
Classics

An Oblique Strategy:
Honor thy error as a hidden intention


STAY IN THE LOOP:

Subscribe with Google Reader

Subscribe on Netvibes

Add to Technorati Favorites

Subscribe on Pageflakes

Add RSS feed

The Podcast Feed

Cranking

Merlin used to crank. He’s not cranking any more.

This is an essay about family, priorities, and Shakey’s Pizza, and it’s probably the best thing he’s written. »

Scared Shitless

Merlin’s scared. You’re scared. Everybody is scared.

This is the video of Merlin’s keynote at Webstock 2011. The one where he cried. You should watch it. »