After obtaining your "beloved Fountain pen"... the next most thing important is"ink!" Fountain pen ink is the vital link between the expressed "thought" and the writing paper.

I would like to acquire more practical information about fountain "pen inks"; such as selecting, quality, colours and pen compatiblity factors. What are the fundamentals of INKMANSHIP?

If you're using pens like the one shown in your avatar, my Aqua Snorkel Statesman works well with Lamy Turquoise, and my Vermillion Touchdown works well with Levenger Fireball.

Unfortunately, the nib on one pen may differ from another just like it--even of the same width (such as F, M, B --etc.) Some nibs will be dry & some wet. You'll have to determine pen compatibility by trying various inks in a given pen.

I use a number of different ink brands, but probably have more Herbin and Diamine inks than anything else. Since I'm a lefty overwriter and need my ink to dry quickly, I avoid Private Reserve inks and "regular" Noodler's inks--but do use their waterproof inks.

To see many of the colors and brands that are available, check our Index of Ink Reviews page. At the top you'll find a link to a site where you can compare colors. And of course you'll want to read the reviews!

Best, Ann

Some basic issues:

the appearance of the color on paper (faint, light, medium, saturated, super-saturated; hue, shade, and the truth of the color name on the label; transparent or opaque)

line variation or toning of different strokes in letters and marks, if any (a "retro" effect that some people enjoy and others do not)

performance on various quality levels of paper (drying time, expansion of the line, feathering out from the line, show-through, print-through or bleed-through to the next sheet, any reactions with the paper that change the ink's color, degree of water resistance)

performance during writing (flow level coming out of pens known as "dry" or "wet" writers, lubrication of writing, vulnerability to being stuck behind large air bubbles in the reservoir)

staining of pen parts (especially an issue with celluloid plastic and casein plastic; also, some people do not like permanent stains in their converters, but I haven't yet come to share that aversion)

ease of filling pens from the bottle and getting the last few drops of ink from the bottle

(edit: added "drying time;" it's really important for left-handed writers)

Thank you for posting this question. I am looking at buy something a little more unusual then my standard black Parker Quink at the fountain pen show next weekend. I grateful for the thought people are posting so far. I am left handed so it is nice to know some inks can help.

I'm a lefty overwriter also, and sometimes smear pages with my PR inks (Arabian Rose, Tanzanite). I compensate by covering the page I've just written on with a paper towel or cotton rag so as not to smear the ink with my hand.

A couple of suggestions: Check out Richard Binder's Inks: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Spend some time browsing this forum, and Ink Reviews.