An Intesresting (Non Boring) Black Ink Is It A Challenge?

[Algester]

has anyone ever met an interesting IE non boring black ink... it doesnt mean it has to have your typical Noodler's properties but it has to be not boring to say the least... despite being a lefty let's not look at the handedness

to name a few I may have Boku-Kaoru in my sights but man... thats in Kobe Japan, the particle inks we know dries a matte finish so... are there anything else

Edited October 18, 2014 by Algester

[XiaoMG]

High-density iron gall ink like Urkundentinte when dry and oxidized has a very flat and pleasing look. From a nib that is middling in wetness or slightly dry, it puts down some gorgeous shading from light grey to deep black.

[Uncial]

The Edelstein Onyx is pretty good. I find black's a bit boring on the whole, but the Edelstein one has a tiny bit of shading and is quite wet.

[Nonsensical]

Sailor Nano Black also dries a matte black colour, and is probably my least boring black ink.

[bardiir]

Susemai Black Cat does dry to a somewhat shiny surface when written with a wet writer.

[elenita]

What about a black with unusual undertones, like Noodler's Zhivago or El Lawrence?

[Arkanabar]

I can't answer, because I don't know what makes ink "interesting" to you. Shading? Sheen? an undertone or halo of some other color? Saturation?

 

So for example, I have a really old bottle of MB Black; it clearly predates their acquisition by Richemont Brands, as the bottle is a plastic cone with a tipping facet on the bottom, and it is this awful gold-tone-paint color, almost like a bad attempt at antique brass. It's old enough to be formulated with "Supercleaner SC21", which is probably phenol. It is unsaturated/ transparent enough to shade in my Estie with a Manifold Medium nib, and it has definite greenish or tealish undertones.

 

Compare this to Noodler's Borealis Black, an absurdly deep, dark, and saturated black. It takes a 3.8mm Pilot Parallel pen for me to notice anything but a black as black as toner or india ink. The lines are so dark that they suck your eyes in, almost against your will.

[athenian]

Diamine Eclipse which is a very very dark purple, nearly black.

[theMEESH]

I've been wondering the same thing. I'm in search of the perfect black, but I find the color to be boring. I can only use black on documents I turn in at work, which means I usually end up using a non-FP to sign. I am hoping to find a black with a sheen but have yet to find one. The FP ink I have been using at work is ebony purple by Private Reserve. It looks black to most, but if I smudge it, I can clearly see it's not a true black. It's my way of sticking it to that stupid black only rule.

[RudyR]

Black IS boring. Why would you expect it to be anything else then what it is?

[lapis]

Diamine Eclipse which is a very very dark purple, nearly black.

[lapis]

Yes, absolutely... Maybe my very most favourite ink of al....

[Lou Erickson]

I've been thinking of finding some of the nano black, just to see if it's all that, but I think I have enough ink.

[TREBFPN]

Well, there is a lot to concern oneself with when it comes to the nature of black pigment/ink in general. Black comes in two shades - warm and cool. The cooler pigments are blue and the warmer pigments are brown. When looking at different pigments the brown and blue tones can easily be seen. I prefer the blue tones and in the blackest of blacks ink I can find. Interestingly, there are inks that vary in pigment density or have added chemicals that effect what you see when you place a line on paper. This sometimes creates various shades and make the line almost shimmer with the ink pigment concentration. The qulity and price of various inks can be noted by the amount of pigment that they put in that ink. The cheaper inks usually are not fade proof and lack the higher quality and concentration/density of pigment vs filler. An interesting ink to use is the Lamy Blue Black - - I cannot say if the quality is the best or not but the show of tone variation can be seen as an example here.

 

 

I know that there are other inks that can create this kind of "shimmer" and being kind of new to inks I can only give a nod to Pilot Iroshizuku Take-sumi - Bamboo Charcoal and Noodler's Ink - Heart Of Darkness. I do highly suggest using the ink comparison tools hosted by http://www.gouletpens.com . They have many inks to sample there both visually and via purchase.

Edited October 20, 2014 by TREBFPN

[amberleadavis]

..., but I think I have enough ink.

 

Say it isn't so! Can't have too much ink.

[wastelanded]

Pelikan Black I find has an almost brownish tone, with a red sheen in a wide enough nib. My go-to black.

 

Montegrappa Black goes down as a very dark grey with some shading.

[dragos.mocanu]

I can second the Noodler's Zhivago option...very well behaved and solid, my everyday go-to ink.

[Icywolfe]

Platinum Carbon Black when ever I see it, it is a very soul/light sucking color.

 

Pilot black has some weird shading.

[Lou Erickson]

 

Say it isn't so! Can't have too much ink.

I might have enough pens, too.

 

I know, I think something is wrong with me.

[TSherbs]

Black IS boring. Why would you expect it to be anything else then what it is?

Not in a dress of a woman, nor in a line of ink on a page