I just received a bottle of Noodler's Legal Lapis - is there variation on the color of this ink from bottle to bottle?
Based on the reviews below - the ink looked to have a bluish tint to them
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...t=ST&f=35&t=163
and
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...=ST&f=35&t=5005
However, mine has a greenish/teal color - I tried it in a couple of different pens with similar results....
I started searching on other posts here and mine looks closer to the pics in this post
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...t=ST&f=35&t=163
It's not a bad color - just different than I was expecting.....Am I imagining things? I've also just placed a pre-order for some of the Colfer's PRR Brunswick Green so I am hoping they are not similar colors.
Mike
P.S. I was playing around last month with mixing two inks that I am not fond of - Noodler's Blue and PR Gray Flannel.....I ended up with a color that looks amazingly like Legal Lapis.
Full Version: Noodler's Legal Lapis - Is it blue or green/teal?
Well, since you found my post, I guess you know I tend to call it an aquamarine-black. At least based on the color as it coats the bottle.
-Bruce
More: It's one of those colors that grows on you
-Bruce
More: It's one of those colors that grows on you
There are so many variables that determine what the ink samples on FPN look like:
- The pen that was used
- The width of the nib that was used
- Whether the poster actually cleaned the pen thoroughly before loading the ink
- The paper that the poster wrote the sample out on
- The scanner used/the light source used (if a camera)
- Whether the poster was able to color-correct the image, and how good a job the poster did
- Whether the poster's monitor is adjusted correctly
- Whether your monitor is adjusted correctly
- Whether the poster's monitor and your monitor are the same brand and model
- The pen you used, width of nib, how much of the previous ink was left in your pen, the paper you used, the light source in the room where you are looking at your own sample and the image on the screen, the color of objects near your sample, et cetera et cetera ad infinitum
... and there are probably more than that.
You also can't judge by what people say about the color of the ink. It's soooo subjective.
People sometimes describe Legal Lapis as being "greenish" or "teal," neither of which are terms I would use. I would call it "a unique blue-black" and leave it at that. For what it's worth, I doubt very much whether Legal Lapis varies detectably from one batch to the next.
- The pen that was used
- The width of the nib that was used
- Whether the poster actually cleaned the pen thoroughly before loading the ink
- The paper that the poster wrote the sample out on
- The scanner used/the light source used (if a camera)
- Whether the poster was able to color-correct the image, and how good a job the poster did
- Whether the poster's monitor is adjusted correctly
- Whether your monitor is adjusted correctly
- Whether the poster's monitor and your monitor are the same brand and model
- The pen you used, width of nib, how much of the previous ink was left in your pen, the paper you used, the light source in the room where you are looking at your own sample and the image on the screen, the color of objects near your sample, et cetera et cetera ad infinitum
... and there are probably more than that.
You also can't judge by what people say about the color of the ink. It's soooo subjective.
People sometimes describe Legal Lapis as being "greenish" or "teal," neither of which are terms I would use. I would call it "a unique blue-black" and leave it at that. For what it's worth, I doubt very much whether Legal Lapis varies detectably from one batch to the next.
I see the slight greenish tint to it, but only when I compare it with 'truer' blues. Love it regardless.
It is not exactly any of those, it's in between. That's why people don't agree. Nathan has discovered a colour that formerly had no name!
I realize my original posting had an error in the link where I was trying to show the "greener" version of Legal Lapis
QUOTE(blueshadow_33 @ Jan 9 2007, 02:28 PM)
I realize my original posting had an error in the link where I was trying to show the "greener" version of Legal Lapis
The color in that scan is waaaaaaay off. imo. ymmv, depending on monitor adjustments.
It's definitely greenish. You don't really notice it unless you write half a page with a true blue ink and the other half in Legal Lapis. My reaction is always, "Wow, that's GREEN." But I like the ink a lot, especially when used in a wet nib which makes for a dark line.
Here's a scan with Pasternak and Luxury Blue, which is what I would consider a "true" blue.
Doug
Here's a scan with Pasternak and Luxury Blue, which is what I would consider a "true" blue.
Doug
I have a bottle of Legal Lapis that I tried once but found the color to be "ho-hum". I much prefer the blue inks offered by Delta, Waterman, PR and Pelikan. But as another member mentioned it is all personal preference and thank goodness there are so many choices out there. I too have noticed that sometimes the noodler's colors differ slightly from batch to batch. What I do is add some of the old batch of noodlers to the new batch and have found it to provide greater color consistency. Similar to what you do when painting a room with multiple gallons of paint.
"Too many inks.....So little time"
"Too many inks.....So little time"
QUOTE(HDoug @ Jan 9 2007, 02:50 PM)
It's definitely greenish. You don't really notice it unless you write half a page with a true blue ink and the other half in Legal Lapis. My reaction is always, "Wow, that's GREEN." But I like the ink a lot, especially when used in a wet nib which makes for a dark line.
But in your scan, what I see in Legal Lapis is what I would call a species of blue. It's so subjective.
Of course, the poor guys who are blue-green color blind would just say, "Why all the excitement over a gray ink?"
When I got my bottle I was expecting a bluer color, too but the color really grew on me. I've heard this from other LL fans also.
I agree that the color grows on you. I bought a bottle and my first impression was that I didn't like the color. It was different from the "blue-black" I was expecting, and as already stated it had a sort of greenish tint to it. However, after a few months something told me to give it another try. Now I'm really liking it and using it a good bit. It is conservative enough for business correspondence, yet unique enough to make your writing stand out from the crowd a little. As a matter of fact, I have it loaded in a Parker Duofold Int'l that I'm using right now!
-Mike
-Mike
HDoug's scan looks definitely blue to me, not greenish. And it looks accurate to the LL color as far as I can remember. As Bill said, very subjective + monitors do differ so much.
QUOTE(sonia_simone @ Jan 10 2007, 09:18 AM)
HDoug's scan looks definitely blue to me, not greenish. And it looks accurate to the LL color as far as I can remember. As Bill said, very subjective + monitors do differ so much.
I also think that individual perception of color varies, not just esthetic taste. But in this case the variability is NOT a quality control issue.
Doug
Hmm... I really would like to know how the bluer scans were achieved, as that is a color that I would really like. However, my sample of LL goes on turqouise and dries a slate blue-ish (you know, hard color to describe! Maybe a bit like PR Sonic Blue). I wouldn't exactly call it green per say, but it's unique among blues...
The great variability in scans and colors is why I have made it my policy, no matter how badly I want an ink, to sample the ink before buying.
The great variability in scans and colors is why I have made it my policy, no matter how badly I want an ink, to sample the ink before buying.
I am not color blind, but I fear I can be a stereotypical male when it comes to discerning color variations, and my wife will back me up on that statement. I find the Legal Lapis to be a light blue that dries with nice subtle color variations.
My big thing with the bullet proof inks is how the same color can look radically different when used in different pens. For example, the Legal Lapis looks pale blue from some of my pens (maybe with that hint of green some of you have referred to), but darker from others. The biggest color variation I have seen is with the Eternal Brown which can be dark rich brown from some pens, but nearly orange from others. I don't mind those color variations at all. It just seems strange.
My big thing with the bullet proof inks is how the same color can look radically different when used in different pens. For example, the Legal Lapis looks pale blue from some of my pens (maybe with that hint of green some of you have referred to), but darker from others. The biggest color variation I have seen is with the Eternal Brown which can be dark rich brown from some pens, but nearly orange from others. I don't mind those color variations at all. It just seems strange.
| QUOTE (blueshadow_33 @ Jan 9 2007, 11:03 AM) |
| However, mine has a greenish/teal color - I tried it in a couple of different pens with similar results.... |
That's exactly how mine (LL) looks too. Just got a bottle of Aircorp BB too,
and it looks the same, just much darker.
I have been trying to find a new everyday color and Legal Lapis is very much in consideration. From those of you that are using it , I would like to know if the 'dreaded nib-creep' is a problem with this Noodler's? Also, what about it's drying time? I love Aircorps but the nib-creep drives me nuts,(yes I realize that this is probobly anal on my part), and I find it slow to dry. I use a fountain pen for almost 100% of my daily use and I'm trying to find an antique looking, blue with a touch of green/black/grey etc. tones ink, that is rather quick to dry with shading qualities. Thanks FPNers!!
I got a bottle of Legal Lapis last year and to me the color was GREEN..... no blue at all. Did not like the color and gave the bottle to a friend of mine. To top it off, the Parker 45 I used to try out the ink, still has the greenish tint on its nib. Does not wash off. Not my favorite ink or color......
| QUOTE (221bbakerst @ Apr 12 2007, 09:47 PM) |
| I would like to know if the 'dreaded nib-creep' is a problem with this Noodler's? Also, what about it's drying time? |
yes it creeps in some pens, but not all.
it is one of my fastest-drying inks, surprisingly. Except when it's in a wet-nib on a coated paper, but few inks will dry fast in that regard.
This might be your ink. The shading qualities are great, especially for a Noodler's eternal, which often are flat. It's sometimes powdery blue, though; not always as dark as HDoug's scan. Read FrankB's post: I agree, it's weird how this Eternal, and others, vary so much
As BilltheEditor mentioned, you REALLY have to take into account the nib, the pen, the paper, in addition to the hand moving the pen around.
I just have a safari F, and nib creep with LL is substantial. It's really
creepy! lol But that nib is shiny black colored, so I can hardly see it.
Maybe with a gold nib it would be annoying.
However, with aircorp BB, I get zero creep.
Drying time seems very fast with both these though.
Really wanted a bluish cast, like in Doug's images, but instead got a
(possibly) bad batch of greenish LL. I tried it on at least four
different types of paper.
creepy! lol But that nib is shiny black colored, so I can hardly see it.
Maybe with a gold nib it would be annoying.
However, with aircorp BB, I get zero creep.
Drying time seems very fast with both these though.
Really wanted a bluish cast, like in Doug's images, but instead got a
(possibly) bad batch of greenish LL. I tried it on at least four
different types of paper.
I agree, in some pens Legal Lapis creeps a lot, but not so much to barely at all in others. It's always loaded in at least one of my pens.
Just curious. Am I the only one here who actually thinks nib creep looks cute? 
Seriously.
Seriously.
| QUOTE (maryannemoll @ Apr 12 2007, 08:39 PM) |
| Just curious. Am I the only one here who actually thinks nib creep looks cute? Seriously. |
It makes two-tone Pelikan nibs look like Christmas tree ornaments!
Doug
And all this time I had thought that Lapis, as in Lapis lazuli, was the color of a blue semi-precious stone with a marbled pattern of other, subtle colors weaving through it. Go figure!
David B
David B
| QUOTE (DavidB @ Apr 13 2007, 03:52 AM) |
| And all this time I had thought that Lapis, as in Lapis lazuli, was the color of a blue semi-precious stone with a marbled pattern of other, subtle colors weaving through it. Go figure! David B |
Legal Lapis is in there, somewhere!
What I love about Legal Lapis is that it looks old just as soon as you put it on paper. I think with some parchment looking paper you could make some really nice looking documents.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.