For this piece, since it’s Chinese New Year and I have another shot at starting something new, I experimented with a Momiji No. 0 watercolor brush and Diamine Matador on Tomoe River Paper to get the feels of how painting with ink would be like.
I googled for Chinese New Year 2018 dog images and found a simple stencil that I thought would work best for a negative red fountain pen ink exercise and started on, pouring the sampler I got from Everything Calligraphy on a porcelain watercolor mixing plate.
Diamine Matador reminded me of many things Chinese: ang paos, wedding invitations, tikoy boxes, lanterns.
These came to mind occasionally while playing with the brush on paper. And I thought about how it would be nice if I can also render my New Year’s wish in Chinese calligraphy.
I hope you try Diamine Matador. It is bright red when diluted with a little water, but deep and bloody when layered. It’s suitable for editing, correcting papers, and yes, most especially for red-themed pieces.
]]>This piece is so me. I know many can relate. I ask my hubby to give me art supplies instead of flowers for Valentine’s Day. He does and usually with flowers.
Everything Calligraphy asked me to come up with a drawing featuring the most romantic inks I can think of and after deliberation, I opted for Noodler’s Black Swan Family Trio.
On 52gsm Tomoe River Paper, I rendered this ink bouquet initially in pencil then inked it with Staedtler Mars Matic 0.3.
Then came the fun part: colouring! For the bouquet wrap, Blue Nose Bear and for the ribbon and wrap trimmings, Black Swan in Australian Roses. For ink vials in lieu of roses, it had to be Black Swan in English Roses.
These inks are lovely to draw and write with. Blue Nose Bear has a turquoise halo—beware it tends to feather; I use it only with Pilot EFs—and is unmatched in uniqueness in the teal colour group. Black Swan in Australian Roses remains my favourite ink and becomes a lovely pink when washed. Its English counterpart may be flat with very little to no shading—under-appreciated, sob—but its ease of cleaning, non-feathering, and non-staining properties make it an ink with a cult following.
Is there a completist in you? If there is, gift yourself or ask your significant other to gift you with a complete set of Noodler’s Black Swan Family. I’m sure you’ll treasure the set as I do. These inks may not be for daily writing, but they surely will not be ignored when there is a need to be romantic.
]]>by Eruanne Calie
I’ve considered myself as an ink person, that I’m into fountain pens because of inks.
I draw and paint for a hobby and dabble into a bit of calligraphy and hand-lettering when time allows. My default medium was watercolors until I found fountain pens (or should I say, they found me?) and oooh-la-la inks.
Setting up a watercolor palette, bringing brushes, and washer pots can be quite a production number. With fountain pens, one has only to bring a couple filled with water-soluble inks and a reliable water brush. Its on-the-go convenience will get the likes of us (read: intrinsically lazy) definitely hooked. From a couple of fountain pens and a few bottles of inks, one would be surprised at how ‘a little happy selection’ quickly becomes ‘the arsenal.’
After a full year of using fountain pens and inks as an alternative medium, it is my privilege to share with you twelve of my favorite inks. Most of these are water-soluble, albeit not mixable. I mix them on paper, sometimes, but I’ve always been drawn to the elegance of monochromatic pieces.
Everything Calligraphy gave me a sample each for these twelve inks. This doesn’t affect my opinion about them as I already have a bottle (or two, heehee) prior.
For our shared enjoyment.
Noodler's Nightshade
One under the radar, this is probably one of the least popular Noodler’s inks out there that I find most appealing.
It neither shades—despite its name—nor sheens and the drying time will drive you nuts but if you’re looking for a workplace ink that isn’t as mainstream as black or blue-black, this is an ink that deserves a place in your shelf.
If you still remember your Crayolas, the shade is a mix of Brick Red and Mahogany with Brick Red being dominant. On Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolors palette, Noodler’s Nightshade is akin to Indian Red.
Perhaps I’m being biased, but if a choice isn’t personal, then it becomes less interesting. I’m a fan of deep reds and Noodler’s Nightshade is on top of my list, closely followed by the phenomenal Diamine Oxblood in the deep red family.
There are no alternatives for this ink, though Franklin-Christoph Black Cherry comes reaaaallly close but still not quite the same. I hope you try it. Meanwhile, here’s John Keats.
Diamine Lapis Blue
This ink derives its name and borrows its color from Lapis Lazuli, an intense blue rock that reminds me of Yul Brynner’s Ramses in Cecil DeMille’s Ten Commandments. I read somewhere that King Tut (well, okay, I read it on Wikipedia, harhar!) used Lapis Lazuli in his death mask, which makes this kind of blue fit for royalty.
The more fascinating back story about this ink is that it was created in collaboration with Diamine Philippines’ Mr. Peter Bangayan (hi, Mr. Peter!) and is exclusively available in our country.
In my book, Diamine Lapis Blue represents a true primary blue, as in Cayola Blue or Winsor Blue with a welcome bonus: RED SHEEEEEEN! What’s good about this ink’s sheening property is that the red sheen doesn’t alter its colour as it can only be seen in some angles where Diamine Lapis Blue pooled upon writing or drawing.
To be honest, as with my a few of my other favorite inks, Diamine Lapis Blue has a dedicated pen for it, an instance where the beauty of the ink prompted a pen purchase. I like it so much I wish it were available for everyone to enjoy. If you’re in the Philippines, you’re very lucky. If you have yet to try it, please do because some of our friends from abroad could only dream of getting hold of a sample or two.
I’m running out of adjectives and descriptive phrases so for now I leave you with a necklace for Khaleesi. I hope you enjoy.
Robert Oster Caffe Crema
This ink paired with Pelikan M200 Cafe Creme—my taking-matchy-matchy-to-a-different-level-combo—
compels me to go to the nearest coffee shop and enjoy some me time with a cup of White Mocha Americano.
It’s one of the best browns I’ve tried and I’m certain to get another bottle when I finish up mine. As with coffee, one “sip” of Robert Oster Caffe Crema will never be enough.
Organics Studio Walden Pond Blue
Ever found rainbow reflections on bubbles when the light of the Sun hits them magical? Yes?
Organics Studio captured that very same magic in Walden Pond Blue. This ink sheens on anything except skin. I’ll let the photos tell you all about it.
Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses
Be intrigued. Be very intrigued. The name itself is poetic and I think this ink is phenomenal.
Despite the controversies surrounding Nathan Tardif’s inconsistency in producing this ink—I think it has the most inconsistent shade among batches—and its black component’s tendency to stain clear demonstrators, it’s still a unique, exciting, and reliable ink that deserves all the fame it gets: workplace-friendly, water-resistant, and washes well. That is if you get the bottle with the shade similar to mine.
Sailor Jentle Rikyu-cha
An homage to Tea Master Rikiu, this ink, like tea leaves, shades from Oxide of Chromium to Raw Umber. Tea steeping—earthy and woody with a distinct tang. Only it is not meant for drinking.
This is my favorite ink for 2017. With Sailor repackaging the Jentle line into small bottles (with the same SRP, sob), I’m not saying you get a sample or a bottle. Hoard when you can! I’m grabbing you by the collar!
This ink is best enjoyed with Kakuzo Okakura’s The Book of Tea from Penguin Classics, coincidentally my best read for the year.
Cheers to a happy new year!
Diamine Macassar
Diamine was most likely inspired by Macassar Ebony with this brown-black but I’d like to think that it’s Rowland’s Macassar Oil-inspired. Diamine Macassar reminds me of my grandmother’s favourite hair colour.
Well-behaved and non-staining, one can safely eyedropper a favorite drawing pen with Diamine Macassar. Brown is a good outline for drawings, but as this water-soluble ink has a tendency to be muddy, it’s best used as a stand-alone brown-black.
Recommended by Mr. Peter Bangayan as an alternative for Diamine Chocolate Brown, I fell in love with this ink at first drawing. It is said to remain under the radar in the Philippine market as it is always in stock but long-time fountain pen users—hello Eli Weisz of Fountain Pen Network International!—champion this ink. We can’t say that we are thankful that there is no need for us to be hoarding bottles of this ink yet but we want you to try this ink.
Give it a go if you’re on the lookout for any non-black daily writing ink staples. And yes, vintage-inspired doodles and drawings.
Rohrer & Klingner Scabiosa (Iron-Gall)
I like this ink not only for its iron-gall properties but also for its colour.
It has a purple shade that dries with dark greyish tones similar to that of scabiosas where it borrowed its name. It makes me want to design floral stationery sets.
Iron-gall inks have a certain water-resistance and are lightfast to some degree. They also become darker as they dry, but buyer beware they can corrode nibs.
Yet still, if one has to satify curiosity with iron-gall inks, get R&K Scabiosa because others may not be as gentle or as pretty.
Diamine Classic Green
I had a green phase in my fountain pen journey where I acquired only green ink in search of my green—the kind that is suitable for both drawing and daily writing. I would have amassed a shameful collection had Mr. Peter Bangayan not suggested I try this ink.
Diamine Classic Green is Oxide of Chromium in a bottle. For drawings, this ink can be a stand-alone green and can still be mixed with brown to achieve a gradient look. Other green inks are either too bright, too dark bordering on green-black that they’re no longer suitable for drawing, or too leafy and light that they can’t be used for writing.
Get a bottle and holler for fountain pen drawing and ink wash tips. Now.
Rohrer & Klingner Alt-Bodeaux
The thing I like most about this ink is its colour—crushed wines, vino. It makes me crave for a glass of wine even in the middle of the day.
There are alternatives for it: J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune (drier version) and Franklin-Christoph Tenebris Purpuratum (dustier version) but at less than P500 for a 50ml bottle, this is the practical choice.
Beware of this wet ink, though. It creeps especially when left sitting in your pen for weeks.
Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri
I’m a bit hesitant to try any of the Pilot Iroshizukus because I find them luxurious for consumables but when I found the chance to get a 3-bottle 15ml sampler box at a good deal, it was a no-brainer: I had to have Yama-guri.
I’ve read several reviews about the Iroshizuku browns prior to purchase. Compared to Ina-ho, Yama-guri is darker being a brown-red, but leaning towards brown by a notch or two.
And true enough. It lays a true brown on paper but when washed, it becomes Mahogany or even Burgundy and I find that property appealing. Yama-guri can be a stand alone brown, and since it doesn’t get muddy or murky even when washed or layered—see there, one gets what one pays for—one can create beautiful pieces with this either as a main piece, a highlight or accent, or as a background wash.
I have only a 15ml bottle of Yama-guri as of writing, add to that the sample I got for this project, but I won’t wait till it’s all gone to get a 50ml bottle.
Iroshizukus are pricey but they’re worth it. After all, as written on Everything Calligraphy’s website, it’s the Rolls Royce of fountain pen inks.
Do get some, too.
Noodler’s X-Feather
I’ve searched, and still am looking for, the perfect black ink. It has to be black and not gray even when used in Japanese EFs. It has to be well-behaved: no bleeding, no feathering, water-resistant to some degree, highlighter-safe, eraser-proof, and easy to clean. And lastly, it shouldn’t have to break the bank for me to use it on cheap copy paper and forms that have less than 5 years retention period.
I haven’t found it yet, but if Nathan Tardif could make X-Feather eraser-proof and a teeny tiny bit highlighter-friendly, the search is over.
Even so, I think the only inks that beat X-Feather are Sailor Kiwa-guro and R&K Dokumentus which are a pain to flush out and quite impractical to be used for signing piles of documents. The cheaper option, much cheaper, would be to use tech pens instead. I have Rotring black on Staedtler Mars Matic and it’s perfect for signing and filling out forms but tech pen ink dries out easily killing the pen when left uncapped. I’ve killed two tech pens already and I’m not about to add another to the dead barrel count.
Coming to a conclusion—thanks for reading as far as this paragraph—when one thinks about it in fountain pen terms, X-Feather is the best black among the options we currently have. It’s blacker than Noodler’s Heart of Darkness, dries faster than Noodler’s Black, and less difficult to maintain and way more affordable than Platinum Carbon Black.
We can have all the ink colors we want but we have to accept it: black is indispensable. We have to have it in our pen cases and bring it with us everyday, everywhere and if left with room for only one pen, it’s practical to choose the one inked with black. And of course I’ll choose a reliable workhorse full-tanked with X-Feather.
Perfect for dad's business meetings or work notes, we've chosen a Nemosine Singularity, Elias hardcover journal, a 30ml bottle of Diamine ink and an Elias double slot leather pen case. You can inform us what your dad's favorite color is, and we can curate the package for you based on your specifications.
Our Christmas bundle for mom comes with a Jinhao 8802 (you may choose between Maple Wood, Red Wood, Chinese Porcelain, Cherry Blossom), a set of Field Notes Sweet Tooth Notebooks, and a sample vial of Diamine ink. This set is ideal for mom's shopping lists and quick to-do lists.
You can't go wrong with Jinhao 599A-1, a Diamine sample vial, and an Elias single pen case for your brothers and sisters.
This set is perfect for that coworker who keeps borrowing your pens and paper. The Pilot Petit comes in fountain pen and brush pen, and both will work well with an Elias pad.
Whether it's for a boyfriend or a male best friend, this set is dark and edgy enough to make a statement. This set includes a set of Field Notes Pitch Black notebooks, a 30ml bottle of Diamine Jet Black ink, and a Pilot Metropolitan in Classic Black.
This set for women can be customized and curated based on the recipient's favorite color. It includes a Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop, a small Rhodiarama softcover journal, and a 10ml bottle of J. Herbin fountain pen ink.
Christmas Calligraphy Bundle (P849)
Our calligraphy set is composed of a few basic items for anyone who wants to try out calligraphy. This set includes a basic oblique holder, a Zebra G nib, a Pilot Petit brush pen, a bottle of Diamine Calligraphy ink, and a small Elias Calligraphy pad.
]]>Selecting a gift for the fountain pen-loving individual (or someone you want to encourage to get into fountain pen use) in your life can be an intimidating task. There are so many choices - but the good thing is, with the wide array of choices there is bound to be something for almost everyone. Here are some gift suggestions to make the selection process a bit easier for you.
The Fountain Pen Newbie
Giving a gift to someone who has never used fountain pens before? The Jinhao x450 is a good pen for beginners since it’s a sturdy pen, it comes in a lot of designs, and it has a converter. Throw in some ink samples and fountain pen friendly paper, like a small Elias pad, and you’re good to go.
Jinhao X450 - P499
Diamine ink samples - P50 each
Small Elias Pad - P230
The Law Student
For the law student in your life, you cannot go wrong with a Pilot 78G. The nib is fine enough for exam booklets. Pair it up with a bottle of blue ink and, if you’re feeling extra generous, an Elias journal.
Pilot 78G - P390
Diamine 80ml - P550
Elias Journal: Large: P700 / Small: P500
The Outdoorsman/woman
Everyone has that outdoorsy friend who loves to climb mountains, go camping… anything to do with nature, really. The Field Notes Expedition, paired with a Pilot Metropolitan, is the perfect companion for his or her hikes. Complete the set with a green Pentones pen and notebook wrap!
Field Notes Expedition - P499
Pilot Metropolitan - P600
Pentones Pen & Notebook wrap - P400
The Hand Lettering Enthusiast
Get this friend or family member a Lamy Joy. Each Lamy Joy is fitted with a 1.1mm or 1.5mm calligraphy nib that will help your loved one write beautifully in no time. They will also love the smooth, fountain-pen friendly paper of the Elias pad.
Elias Pads: Large - P380 / Small - P280
Lamy Joy - P1,474.75
The Artist
Assist your loved ones in their creative pursuits! The Derwent panoramic sketchbook is perfect for watercolor, pencil, and even ink sketches. Throw in a bottle of drawing ink to help them get started.
Derwent Panoramic Sketchbook: Large - P699.75 / Small - P499.75
Rohrer & Klingner Drawing Ink - P475
The DIY-er
For the friend who’s always immersed in their DIY projects or wants to get into DIY, help them get their DIY ideas and projects organized with the Field Notes Workshop Companion.
Field Notes Workshop Companion - P999
Pilot Metropolitan - P600
The Journal Enthusiast
The journal enthusiast can never have enough journals and will certainly never say no to more notebooks! They’ve most likely already hoarded a bunch of notebooks, but they’ll certainly appreciate a new Elias journal, even more so with a new pen and ink.
Elias Journal: Large - P700 / Small - P500
Lamy Safari - P1,499.75
De Atramentis Document Ink - P710
The Traveler
Keep things compact and easy to carry for the travel enthusiast with a pocket notebook, like the small Elias journal, and a pocket-sized pen. Keep it all safe inside a notebook and pen wrap, and they’ll be jotting down memories of their travels in no time.
Elias Journal - P500 (small)
Franklin-Christoph Model 40 - P6,699+
Pentones Notebook and Pen Wrap - P400
The Ink Enthusiast
This person most likely has a handful of pens inked at a time, each with a different color. Expand their collection by giving them a Pilot Iroshizuku gift set, or a new bottle of Diamine Shimmertastic ink or even a J. Herbin anniversary ink.
Pilot Iroshizuku 15ml set - P1,560
Diamine Shimmertastic Ink - P800
J. Herbin 1670 Anniversary Ink - P1,150
The Fountain Pen Aficionado
You may have a friend who already has so many pens, so instead of giving them a new pen (and risk giving them something they already have), they would most likely appreciate a new way to store or display their collection, like the Malolos pen display racks or an Elias pen case.
Malolos pen rack - P2,000
Elias Triple Slot Pen Case - P450
The Academic
For the friend or family member working in the academe, the Franklin-Christoph Model 66, with its classic design, is a perfect match. Pair it with Rohrer & Klingner fountain pen ink (perhaps Iron Gall Salix) and you have a great gift.
Franklin-Christoph Model 66 Stabilis - P8,599
Rohrer & Klingner Iron Gall Salix - P430
The Epicurious
The epicurious loved one will be delighted with the De Atramentis scented ink. These inks smell like actual food or wine. Throw in a fountain pen like the Franklin-Christoph Model 27, if the recipient isn’t a fountain pen user yet.
De Atramentis scented ink - P500
Franklin Christoph Model 27 - P4199+
The Yuppie
For the young professional, a pen with an innovative design would make a perfect Christmas gift. The Franklin-Christoph Model 02 paired with Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-Kai would make the perfect workplace pen and ink for a yuppie.
Franklin-Christoph Model 02 Intrinsic - P7,999
Pilot Iroshizuku 50ml - P990
If you're a calligraphy or handlettering enthusiast or hobbyist, then this is for you. We'd like to see what you can do with a flex nib, brush pen, or any writing implement you have lying around.
What we'd like you to do is create a handlettering piece with our name, EVERYTHING CALLIGRAPHY. Use anything you want: a fountain pen, brush pen, pencil, calligraphy nib, watercolor... Just be creative as you possibly can.
To join, you must have a shipping address located in the Philippines, and like or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Just take a nice photo of your piece, post the photo on either Facebook or Instagram. Make sure to tag us, or else your entry won't be counted.
We'll accept submissions until September 26 27 (we're extending the deadline!) and announce the winner on September 28. The winner will receive 1 bottle of Rohrer & Klingner Calligraphy Ink.
We're looking forward to seeing your entries!
Diamine Asa Blue
Asa Blue is named after the Liverpool singer Asa Murphy. Apparently, he has such a unique eye color that it had to be replicated into fountain pen ink. It’s a good, rich blue that leans a bit towards turquoise. This a good color if you’re tired of the standard blue ink that comes in your Bic pen. No one can dispute the blueness of this ink. Asa Blue flows generously, so if you’re using low-quality paper (like those pesky exam booklets and sheets), make sure to pair it with a fine nibbed pen (like the Pilot 78G) to avoid feathering and to make sure that the ink dries fast. As usual, with fine nibbed pens, you won’t get much shading, but you’ll be able to take advantage of the nice color.
Diamine Denim
Blue is a very common school ink, but it’s way more fun to use a shade of blue that stands out without being too flamboyant. Diamine Denim is a dark blue ink that really does remind you of the color of denim. It’s a subdued blue ink with moderate shading, slight gray undertones, and a moderate flow. It dries up relatively fast too. It’s nicely saturated which makes it easy to read and very suitable to use for exams and notes (if your professor/teacher is the type to want to stick to the standard blue or black ink). This is one of my favorite inks because you can use it for note-taking, for official forms, and other similar uses, but the ink has a laid back, distinctly unique character to it.
Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Guri
Yama-Guri. Wild Chestnut. This ink is a nice brown-black with some purple undertones. It’s good for people who don’t want to use a stark black ink and want to get away with a shade dark enough that people won’t notice. It’s like being rebellious without being too rebellious. This ink works well on cheap copy paper. There is some slight feathering, but not too much that it’s distracting. This is recommended for forms or papers that require black ink. Use a fine nib with it and you’ll get minimal shading and a color that’s pretty close to black.
Diamine Salamander
Salamander is a complex color. Is it green? Is it brown? Is it black? The color is indescribable and very interesting, but conservative enough for note taking. This ink has a lot of shading, so if you’re uncomfortable with that, steer clear. The flow is moderate, but to be safe try to use it with a dry writer to avoid feathering on cheap paper.
Rohrer & Klingner Iron-Gall Salix
Iron-Gall Salix is a good choice for almost every student. This ink is proven to be water resistant and performs well on low quality paper. The ink starts off as bright blue, but soon dries to a pretty nice blue-black. The bluish and grayish tones shade beautifully and will give your notes a bit of character. If you're the kind of person who wants their school notes to be virtually indestructible, Salix is for you. Your notes will last years (maybe even decades) with this resilient ink. We've soaked writing samples in a glass of water and the ink does not fade or smear. That is how waterproof it is. Make sure to maintain your pen frequently and never allow it to dry up in your chosen pen. Iron-gall can be difficult to clean out when it dries up in a pen, so it would be wise to do thorough (and frequent) flushes.
Rohrer & Klingner Verdigris
This is another ink which is dark enough, but leaves you wondering what color it really is. Is it blue, dark gray, black? The shading is excellent, the color is very saturated and the flow is a bit generous, so it's recommended to pair Verdigris with a moderate or dry writer, just in case. You might get some bleed through or feathering with wet pens.
De Atramentis Document Ink Green
This kind of green pairs so well with different primary colors. It’s a very vibrant, dark green that works surprisingly well even with fine and extra fine nibs. Since it’s such a beautiful shade of dark green, it compliments well when used with brown, red, and even blue inks. It’s great for note taking because it sets off other colors nicely. It’s an interesting green, the kind that makes you look twice to admire the color and the shading. It’s one of those inks that make your words look like they were painted on paper. Of course, you also get the benefit of document inks, which is that it’s waterproof and lightfast. Accidental spills won’t make this ink budge at all. It’s saturated enough to use for exams, and for long notes too.
Rohrer & Klingner Alt Bordeaux
One cannot do without red ink, but let’s face it, standard red ballpoint pen ink can be a little boring. Red ink isn’t just used for correcting papers, though. It can also be used to provide a contrasting color in note taking, so that you can easily see how different parts of your notes are divided up by headers. It makes your notes look more organized and it helps you find important details a lot faster. My choice of ink for this purpose is Rohrer and Klingner Alt Bordeaux. Depending on the kind of paper you use, it doesn’t look bloody red. It looks more like old rose or dark magenta. On some paper it also looks like a dark purple. It’s so nicely saturated that the color just pops out of the page. It’s not a flamboyant pink but it’s no less eyecatching. It’s the kind of magenta that you wouldn’t mind writing journal entries with, it’s so easy on the eyes. Perhaps just don’t answer exam questions with it. If you want a more reproachful hue of red, Diamine Oxblood is at the top of that list for me.
How about you? What inks do you have loaded in your school EDCs?
Diamine, De Atramentis, and Rohrer & Klingner fountain pen inks are available at Everything Calligraphy.
By Pao Alfonso & Keshia Tolentino
]]>One oft-overlooked property of fountain pen inks is permanence. When choosing inks, people usually ignore whether an ink is waterproof, lightfast, or heat resistant… until they spill a glass of water or their drink of choice on something they’re working on and it turns into a mess that’s smudgy at best and completely illegible at worst.
The problem with fountain pen inks is that to lend them the properties that make them such a joy to write with—flow, color variety, shading, and lubrication, among others—some compromises and sacrifices have to be made. In most cases, this means the (admittedly very nice) ink you’re using won’t hold up to a slightly moist finger, let alone a spilled glass of water (or heaven forbid, a typhoon-induced flood). Yes, I’m looking at you, Diamine Onyx Black.
This brings us to the items we’re looking at today: De Atramentis Document Inks in Black and Dark Blue. I purchased these two a few months ago while looking for replacements for Diamine Onyx Black and Diamine Registrar’s Ink (Black because Onyx Black has no water resistance at all, and Dark Blue because Registrar’s Ink takes forever to dry and has a slight tendency to bleed blue when wet), and they’ve performed pretty well.
For these tests, I’ll be using cheap 80gsm copy paper, 160gsm Bevania Splendorgel, a page from an Elias Dot Grid journal (90gsm), and a pad from a local bookstore that simply calls itself “Jotter Pad.”
Document Black
80 gsm copy paper
160gsm
Jotter pad
Elias Dot Grid
First up is Document Black. Now, appearance-wise, black inks aren’t really anything to write home about; there’s not really much to talk about aside from how dark a black ink is, and Document Black is no different. As can be seen from the images below, it’s about as black as Diamine Onyx Black, and, depending on the paper, dries in anywhere between 10 and 30 seconds. The resemblance stops there, though. Whereas anything written with Onyx Black turns into a nigh-unrecognizable purplish smear after exposure to water (I wish I were exaggerating here), Document Black holds up pretty well to water, though it did exhibit some minor smudging on the 160gsm paper. There’s no bleeding or feathering, and Document Black seems to behave very well on all but the cheapest paper I can find. Results may be different on broader nibs, but as far as I’m concerned the Japanese F nib is the perfect match for this ink.
Document Dark Blue
80gsm copy paper
160gsm Bevania Splendorgel
Jotter pad
Elias Dot Grid
Document Dark Blue is a surprisingly different animal. Where Black took 10-30 seconds to dry, Dark Blue dried almost instantly on most papers I tested, even though it went down much wetter. It does seem to take longer to dry on the Elias paper, though. Feathering is markedly worse than Document Black, and it flows quite well... too well, in fact.
Jotter pad
80gsm copy paper
Turning over the thinner paper explained exactly why it was so difficult to get the ink to smudge; on thinner and more absorbent papers, it seeps right in and bleeds out the back. I use nibs on the finer side of the spectrum, so it’s tolerable, but broader, wetter nibs will probably leave the other side of the page unusable. This ink is something I’d personally use for signing documents, but for daily writing? Mmm, probably not.
80gsm copy paper
160gsm Bevania Splendorgel
Jotter pad
Elias Dot Grid
Noodler’s Air Corp, Elias Dot Grid
To serve as a benchmark of sorts for the Document inks, above is a set of images showing dry time and drip/smudge tests for Registrar’s Ink. On average, the Document inks dry quicker than Registrar’s Ink, while exhibiting similar water resistance. Also shown above is Noodler’s Air Corp, which has similar waterproof characteristics, but has a nasty way of bleeding turquoise when splashed.
Now for the meat of this article: permanence tests. I used leaves from an Elias 90gsm dot grid journal and a fairly cheap notepad from a local bookstore for these tests, and pitted the two De Atramentis inks against several inks with varying water resistance.
Water Test
Water test
Water test
Water test
These slips were immersed in tap water for several minutes and washed off under a running tap. The Uni Pin fineliner and Uni Signo 207 rollerball, both of which use pigmented ink, were included as a control sample, along with Noodler’s Air Corp, which if I’m not mistaken uses Noodler’s Bulletproof Black as a base. Non-permanent inks were also included in the form of Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri and Pilot Blue Black.
The De Atramentis Document inks fared very well, going through water with no noticeable effects. Registrar’s Ink lost its blue dye component, leaving only the grey-black oxidized iron gall element. Noodler’s Air Corp lost its blue-green component, and Yama-guri went from brown to grey with a purplish halo.
Alcohol Test
Alcohol test
Alcohol test
Alcohol test
This was a slightly more extreme test conducted simultaneously with the above test. The slips were immersed in 70% isopropyl alcohol, dried, immersed in 70% ethyl alcohol, dried again, and finally immersed in tap water and dried. Same results for the permanent inks, while Yama-guri goes full monochrome and Pilot Blue Black fades to a faint blue-grey.
Bleach Test
Bleach test
Bleach test
This wasn’t originally part of the plan, but I had a bottle of bleach next to the tap, so I figured “why not?” The bleach utterly obliterates Pilot Yama-guri and Blue Black, and all that remains of Registrar’s Ink is a yellow/gold mark. The Document inks continue to hold together nicely, though Dark Blue turned slightly teal after exposure to bleach (note the color difference of “Dark Blue” and the latter half of “Document” from the rest of the line) but otherwise endured the caustic assault admirably. Document Black and Air Corp fared the best in this test, with Black staying starkly black and Air Corp’s “Bulletproof” heritage showing through.
So far, the Document Inks have weathered everything thrown at them, apart from sunlight which will take a while to actually test, but I do have a photo I took of a previous test I did back in May 2015, wherein I exposed a sheet of paper to the elements by taping it to the outside of a window for two weeks and pouring water over it afterwards. The Document inks passed that test brilliantly.
So, there you have it. If you’re looking for an ink that can survive spilled water, alcohol, bleach, and being left outside in the sun for extended periods of time for whatever reason, look no further than De Atramentis Document Black and Dark Blue. They may have their quirks, and they may not be as pretty as most other inks, but they’ll probably survive anything short of a nuclear strike, special chemicals or lasers, or someone taking a lighter to your papers.
]]>Hi everybody! We want to thank you for your support and for joining our giveaway this month. We had more than 200 entries!
This afternoon at 4:00PM, we did a random draw through Rafflecopter. The winners are...
Congratulations to Camille Jusi, 1 bottle of Rohrer & Klingner fountain pen ink is yours for the taking. And congratulations to Michael Revilla, you get to take home a small Elias pad! We will contact you through e-mail to coordinate. We hope you enjoy your prizes.
Till the next giveaway!
]]>Happy Manic Monday, everyone! We want to kick off this week on a high note, so we're launching our first giveaway! We're giving away two prizes to two lucky winners. That's one prize for each winner!
]]>Happy Manic Monday, everyone! We want to kick off this week on a high note, so we're launching our first giveaway! We're giving away two prizes to two lucky winners. That's one prize for each winner!
Two winners will get one prize each. The prizes are:
Read on for the mechanics:
What do you have to do? Each option listed below earns you 1 raffle entry.
The first three options can only be done once, but you can share the link to this blog entry on Facebook once a day, until the giveaway ends. Each share will get you 1 raffle entry. Just make sure to enter all the information (such as social media handles, links to the Facebook posts) in the Rafflecopter widget so we can verify them.
Are you ready to join the giveaway? Scroll down to the Rafflecopter widget and enter your e-mail address. You'll see the entry options as soon as you log-in.
a Rafflecopter giveaway]]>© Jenny Rollo (freeimages.com)
Everyone has had the experience of being a newbie at one point in his/her life. Choosing your first fountain pen can be overwhelming especially with the wide range of brands, nibs and bodies available. It's easy to get confused and feel lost when you see the options available.
Today, we are going to talk about the four factors, which you should consider when choosing your very first fountain pen.
]]>© Jenny Rollo (freeimages.com)
Everyone has had the experience of being a newbie at one point in his/her life. Choosing your first fountain pen can be overwhelming especially with the wide range of brands, nibs and bodies available. It's easy to get confused and feel lost when you see the options available.
Today, we are going to talk about the four factors, which you should consider when choosing your very first fountain pen.
Nib Size
Keshia's thoughts:
When I first started writing with fountain pens, I thought nibs came in standard sizes across all brands. I soon found out that Japanese fountain pen brands make their nibs significantly finer than, say, European nibs. My handwriting leans a bit on the small side, so I tend to stick to extra fine or fine nibs when buying European or American pens. Choose according to the size of your handwriting. The smaller your handwriting, the more likely it is that you would prefer a finer nib. It's all a matter of what you'll be comfortable with so try as many of them as you can before committing.
Pao's thoughts:
Before I used fountain pens, I admit that my expectations was determined largely by what I had been using up to that point--ballpoint pens and rollerballs. The first time I used a medium Lamy nib, I could not imagine being ever used to such a wide nib size. As a result, my first fountain pens had fine nibs. Over time, I realized that your choice of nib size will depend on your writing style and what you consider to be aesthetically beautiful. I ended up picking medium and broad nibs as time passed by because I like how these nibs write wetter and show off ink characteristics better when paired with good fountain pen-friendly paper. The shading and sheen shows off better with medium and broad nibs. My handwriting is big and bold, so wider nib grades work well with it. People with tiny handwriting might find themselves veering more to fine and extra fine nibs. I guess it boils down to whatever fits your writing style. It helps to try different kinds of nibs before you buy, and be ready for your preferences to change as you discover more about fountain pens.
Filling System
Keshia's thoughts:
The most common filling mechanisms you will find are cartridge fillers, converters, and piston fillers, although the last can be expensive. I started with a cartridge-converter pen. To this day, I still prefer refilling cartridges and using converters to piston fillers. Partly because I find it easier to clean cartridges and converters, and I don’t really have a pressing need for a large ink capacity. If you take a lot of notes for class or work and would like to minimize the possibility of running out of ink, go for a piston filler. In short, there are a lot of other filling systems out there, and surely, there will be one that will fit your needs.
Pao's thoughts:
Common mechanisms, as Keshia already explained, are cartridges, converters, and (thanks to the proliferation of affordable options like TWSBI) piston-fillers. Many people prefer cartridges because it’s convenient. Just pop the cartridge in and throw it away when empty or you can refill cartridges using a syringe. My favorite filling mechanism is converter-filling because you don’t use up plastic cartridges, you don’t need to refill using a syringe either. While piston fillers typically have larger ink capacity, it also has some movable parts. This means that when the mechanism breaks down, you’ll need to send it in for repairs or make the repairs yourself. On the other hand, if your converter breaks, you can just buy another converter. Then there are other filling mechanisms more common to vintage pens like lever fillers, touchdown fillers, vacumatics, etcetera. I suggest that you research on your preferred pen’s filling mechanism first before you decide whether you want it for the long haul. Vintage pens’ filling mechanisms can be fun, but when it gets damaged or needs some servicing, shipping it out to a nibmeister to have it repaired will entail added cost.
Body
Keshia's thoughts:
For this part, I fully recommend finding a way to hold and try out a pen before buying it. I've experienced a lot of buyer's remorse because I didn't try a pen out before buying. I once bought a pen just because I liked how it looked, and it ended up being too heavy for my small hands. There will be barrels that won't feel great, grips that are too slippery, or don't work at all. It's a matter of finding out what's comfortable for you. If you have a friend who owns a fountain pen, ask them nicely if they can teach you or let you try out his/her pen. Don’t break it, though. It breaks our hearts when our pens get hurt.
Pao's thoughts:
There is such a thing as love at first write. You look at a pen and fall in love with it because it’s pretty and shiny, but the only way to know whether you’re really gonna like the pen is when you use it. Personally, I prefer pens that are light but not too light. I have a soft spot between too light and too heavy pens. Any heavier than my preferred weight will strain my hands and make the pen a lot less fun to use. Join a local pen club and try out other members’ pens before you buy one of your own. Or go to a pen store and ask to touch a pen and try it before you make a purchase. My preference for pens’ form factor is light, medium-sized, with a comfortable section. These things make pens comfortable to write with for extended periods of time.
Price
Keshia's thoughts:
Every investment needs to be worth it. For a first pen, I would recommend shelling out no more than P1500. You might realize that fountain pens aren't for you, or may absolutely love the experience. P1500 is enough to buy a good enough pen that you will still like even when you decide to upgrade. Alternatively, it is also not so expensive that you will experience extreme buyer's remorse if you don't end up liking it, or if you decide to give up on fountain pens once and for all. Once you’ve developed a clearer idea of what you’re looking for in a fountain pen, then you can go on and splurge on a more expensive pen. With that said, when getting your first fountain pen, I always recommend trying before buying. I remember being a tiny bit too excited when I started to show an interest in fountain pens. I have a lot of impulse pen purchases and most of which I’ve discarded and given away.
Pao's thoughts:
As much as I love fountain pens, some people really just don’t get along with it. Some have a peculiar grip that work well with ballpoint pens and terribly with fountain pens. Many are unwilling to unlearn a grip in order to learn a new one. Our experiences can’t all be the same. That being said, it’s preferable to try out a pen first before you consider buying one. An initial investment for a good starter pen is P1500. That way, if you decide that you like it, then you it’s a great price for a good pen. If you decide that you don’t like it after all, at least you didn’t pay too much for it. I believe that you get what you pay for. If you want a really nice pen with a really nice nib, shelling out more money is essential. However, keep in mind that not all expensive pens are excellent pens. If you have a price range in mind, doing a little research will help you find a general consensus among fountain pen users of what they consider to be a great value for money at that price range. Don’t be in a hurry to purchase pens. Do a little research and you’ll find a good starting point. Then you’ll know which pens you can try before you buy.
Still don’t know where to start? Here are our recommendations:
Pilot Metropolitan - P600
The Pilot Metropolitan looks classy, comes in many designs, and one of the most budget friendly pens in the market at the moment. The pen and nib do not feel cheap, so it’s a very good starter pen for someone testing the fountain pen waters. The Metropolitan comes in fine and medium nibs. The fine nib is equivalent to a Western extra-fine and the medium is a Western fine. The pen also comes with a squeeze converter (if you want to use bottled ink) and a free cartridge.
Lamy Safari - P1500
The Safari is probably the most recommended starter fountain pen. It’s virtually indestructible, it comes in a lot of colors, and it’s versatile enough for a starter fountain pen. You can switch out nibs (from EF-B, 1.1mm and 1.5mm stub) according to your preference. The pen also takes a converter or a cartridge. The downside to this pen is the grip. Some people find the triangular grip nice and helpful, some find it really bothersome.
TWSBI Eco - P1695
The TWSBI brand has been around for a while, but the TWSBI Eco is a newcomer in the market. We love how TWSBI has made piston fillers more affordable and available to beginner fountain pen users. TWSBI is a good introduction to piston fillers because the pen comes with the tools needed for maintenance and care. This is also a good choice for people who want to be able to do a bit of tinkering, since TWSBI provides an instruction sheet that guides you through taking the pen apart and putting it back together.
Faber Castell Loom - P1850
The Loom is Faber Castell's entry level offering, and it comes in many colors. This is a bit more versatile since is takes standard international converters and cartridges instead of a proprietary cartridge and converter. The Loom comes with a free cartridge. You will need to purchase the converter separately.
]]>For our very first blog, I wanted to focus a bit on our store's tagline: "Write to Live. Live to Write." As an English major, I've read countless novels, poems, and plays. One of the most recurrent themes in literature across geographical and temporal borders is the idea of writing to survive or telling a story to survive. There is this story from the Middle East that I am sure all of you are familiar with. It's called "One Thousand and One Nights." It's where the story of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp came from. One Thousand and One Nights begins with Scheherazade, a woman who's been sentenced to be executed by her ruthless husband, the king. On the eve of her execution, as she lay in bed with him, she started to tell him a story. As dawn finally appeared, she ended her story with a cliffhanger. The king, eager to hear the rest of her tale, decided to postpone her execution for one more night. Every night, Sheherazade told one story after another thus prolonging her execution. This goes on for one thousand and one nights. She quite literally "weaved" stories to survive. In a way, her entire existence also became dependent on her writing. For as long as she could tell a story, she was alive. Her telling a story was proof of life; was a marker of her existence. No matter which version of the tale you read, the ending is the same: the king pardons Scheherazade.
This store is a homage to the idea of writing as a form of survival and to everyone who has ever struggled to put something down on paper. Our humanity is defined by our capacity to tell stories and writing becomes the medium by which we can do that. everythingcalligraphy.com aims to provide the best writing equipment so that you can tell your own story. So that you too may live the way Scheherazade lived.
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