Im looking for a blue that really pops off the page. I'm currently using Private Reserve DCSS Blue. Its a good dark blue but lacks that pop. Any suggestions?

Baystate Blue...

Hmmm.... most people who use PR's DC Supershow Blue would describe it as a rich, vibrant blue that really stands out. Could you be more precise about what you're looking for? Baystate Blue practically jumps off the page. PR's Lake Placid Blue is a lighter, brighter blue than DCSS. Visconti and Omas both have blues that might interest you.

I guess I'm saying that I really want a vibrant blue that jumps off the page and PR DCSS blue doesn't do it for me

Another recommendation for Baystate Blue. It really does jump off the page.

Diamine Sapphire Blue is very vibrant.

Agreed. I really like the way it jumps off of the page. But it seems the OP is looking for BSB without actually using BSB (in fact, I think he recently started a similar thread looking for blues that approximate BSB).
David

Let me rephrase my questions. What specific characteristics of a blue, in your view, make it "jump off the page"? Obviously it isn't the degree of saturation, because the ink you're rejecting, DC Supershow Blue, is one of the most saturated blues on the market. Are you looking for more of a purple hue? If so, try Diamine Sapphire. Are you looking for a more tuquoise hue? If so, try PR Naples Blue or Noodlers Ottoman Azure. Are you looking for a blue that is still blue but lighter than DCSS? Then try PR Lake Placid Blue. Are you looking for a blue that is almost florescent? Then try Noodlers Baystate Blue. Unless we know your definition of "jump off the page", then we can only serve up a series of blues that appeal to each of us individually.

yes i actually did, although i may just break down and buy some BSB....it just looks so pretty =]



good point, well i guess id like a florescent blue that is lighter than DCSS. BSB looks great but im just concerned because of all of the problems with it.

I'd be reluctant to try BSB as well, though I suspect its problems might have been a little overstated. But it's going to be tough to find an ink that looks the same, as the color seems pretty unique (though not that attractive to my eye). I would try either Visconti or Diamine Sapphire Blue. They won't jump off of the page in the same way that BSB does, but they're fairly saturated, very intense blues. Good luck in your quest (I'm still searching for the perfect blue-black myself),
David

The only think i don't know about is the Diamine. Im dont like purple hues in my blue ink....thats my only concern. I may just try the BSB... worst case i can just use a dip pen with it.

In regards to your blue-black, i just mixed some Diamine Presidential Blue, Pelikan Brilliant Black, and Omas Blue to make an interesting blue-black. I could probably post a scan if youd like.

Please do, if you get the chance. I'm always interested in seeing new BB mixes. Thanks,
David

PS As far as Diamine Sapphire Blue is concerned, to my eyes, at least, the purple goes away once the ink dries on the paper. I can send you a written sample, if you like.

sure that would be excellent, ill try to get a writing sample scanned today

PM me your address and I'll get a sample out to you.

I might suggest PR American blue or Diamine Royal Blue.

For a blue-black, there's the new Noodlers FPN Van Gogh Starry Night which is a dark blue-black and there's also Diamine Prussian Blue (my personal favorite). For another blue that pops in additional to BSB (which almost glows) and Visconti Blue (bright, true, rich blue), I'll second the recommendation to try Diamine Royal Blue (similar to Visconti Blue, but a bit brighter). Diamine inks are great, reliable, trouble-free inks.

Time for an entirely unexpected entry:

Just this week I put some MB Blue in my Dani Takumi. It's of a completely different style to DCSS Blue, but it has way more pop than I expected.

/shrugs.

I've never seen another blue (just blue) ink that pops off the page the way BSB does. But even with its gorgeous day-glow color, it's not an ink that I'll be using except in the case of a client's pen whose owner insists that I test it with BSB. I simply don't have the bandwidth (where Bw is defined as time * patience) to deal with the staining issues.

Diamine Sapphire is lovely, but it's definitely on the violet side, more so than Aurora Blue but less than Binder Blurple or PR Tanzanite.

Away from the several issues of BSB (a love/hate relationship for me) my money goes with PR American Blue which was my favourite True Blue before BSB.

For a blue with a lot if character I think PR Naples Blue is wonderful...

The nib's wetness is a factor. In my experience, DCSS tends to go darker with a wet nib. Visconti Blue, on the other hand, can be a little flat with a drier nib, but "pops" with a wet nib. Here are DCSS and Visconti with relatively wet nibs:



It may be time for a Pear Tree Pens sampler.

My pens are all mostly moderns, so I can't speak to putting BSB in vintage pens, but I currently have it in one of my Décimos and love it. It has behaved beautifully from the beginning, no skipping, no hard starts, just pop-off-the-page blue with every stroke. Note that I filled a cleaned cart, so it doesn't matter to me if it stains or not.

So if you want the BSB look, I'd suggest using BSB. I can't see where putting it in a charcoal Safari, or an equally inexpensive pen, would hurt anything and it's only $6 or so to replace the converter if it did stain to the point that it bothered you. It is an absolutely stunning color. I have a lot of the other blue inks mentioned (and I like them), but none of them comes close (imo) to the BSB for the wow factor

I really like PR Tropical Blue. I've found that it really "pops" and is a cheerful, true blue. I also like PR Naples Blue, and as other have said, it is more of a turquoise than DCSS Blue or American Blue, but it is very pretty, especially in a stub nib with lots of shading.

Why not use it in a Platinum Preppy if you are worried about what it does to the pen? I have one filled with BSB for the last three months with nary a problem--and not a stain. And if there should be one, so what? I can get another Preppy for $5.00 or less, or I can use it stained. Is that so bad?

I also have it in a couple of Chinese cheapies. No problems yet. Beautiful color and quite water resistant. No flow problems.

I guess it all depends on whether the pen or the ink is more important to you. I don't mind matching the pen to the ink if I like the ink.

PS: I love Richards Italifine on my Pelikan M200. I use it with PR Black Magic Blue--a great intense blue, but without the brilliance of BSB.

Diamine Royal Blue- it's like the color of the Fast Reply bar on this forum

What would happen if you mixed one of the Noodler's highlighting inks (are they really fluorescent though?) with a regular blue?

I agree that BSB is the best (though it's very tame on some particular papers!!) and I would bet DCSS is the best a step down. Cutting it with Swishmix Glacier Blue is a great alternative -- find DennisU's awesome scientific mixing tables.

I think much of the vigor of a bright ink depends on the pen and paper. In a wet pen you could use any of the blues people are recommending, on a good paper. On a xerox page, you will be much more limited in your choices, no matter the nib.

You could use BSB in one of the Platinum Preppy ED's -- super cheap, and you know the pen has been involved in Nathan's before-market testing with this ink.

Someone should try mixing some of the highlighting ink with a regular blue, maybe we can get a BSB without the problems!

Is the Preppy a C/C filler?

Now that I see the real intent of this thread, to find an ink that looks like Baystate Blue but without the problems, I want to inject a dose of reality. When Baystate Blue first came on the market, it was greeted with great enthusiasm here on FPN. After a few weeks, however, stories of problems began to appear on FPN. Nathan Tardiff, the creator of Baystate Blue, responded with a lengthy discussion of how difficult it is to create an ink with the vivid "jump of the page" brightness of Baystate Blue. In essence he said: if you want that much brightness, you have to accept the staining that comes with it. If Nathan, who knows far more about ink chemistry than most of us, is yet unable to produce a problem free ink that looks like Baystate Blue, then that ink does not exist (yet). I recommend that the original poster buy some blue inks that feature the various characteristics that have been listed in the above posts -- or, alternatively, stick to DCSS, or accept the problems of Baystate Blue.

good point, but we can at least try to create something similar right?

The newest version of the DC blues: the PR Electric DC Blues.

Julio

The ones I buy from Pendemonium are EDs, but apparently, they are originally C/Cs and are converted to EDs. Pendemonium's site has both filler types for sale, though they are currently out of stock.

i think i might just get one w/ BSB just be safe

I got mine from Swishers and used a bit of Tryphon silicone lubricant on the section threads to seal them. I've had three inked on my desk for roughly a month now, one for each Baystate color, with zero problems and great performance.

thats promising, i think i might have to just do that