Hello all,
Being new to FPing and not having much ready cash, I decided to have a go at mixing my own colours. I'd bought (my first ink purchase) Diamine Prussian Blue (hate it, more like grey than any other colour), Umber and Quartz Black, as well as Pelikan Brown and Red.
I found the umber a little too blue for my liking so I added some of the Peli brown and a couple of droppers' full of quartz to deepen it. Hey presto! A lovely deep olive colour Im very happy with.
Then I took the Peli brown, which I felt was too red and just added the quartz, half a dropper at a time, till I got a deep nutty brown, a little like the Noodler's Walnut. I am very happy with the results. Still don't know what to do with the Prussian though.
I mixed them into two old Windsor and Newton Calligraphy ink bottles (30ml) with dropper tops, which I had washed out, so now I have additional colours at no extra cost. I'm rather proud of myself.
When I have more pennies I'm ordering the Diamine Presidential Blue, Blue/Black, and Damson.
Just one question: Is it ok to mix different brands as long as they are all FP inks?
Happy penning!
Tawanda
Full Version: Im Mixing It Up!
Most fountain pen inks can be mixed. The only exceptions I've heard of is that Sailor inks should not be mixed with other inks and there are a couple of old, discontinued Private Reserve inks that should not be mixed. It sounds like you're having fun over there! 
QUOTE (jbb @ Aug 2 2008, 05:28 AM) 
Most fountain pen inks can be mixed. The only exceptions I've heard of is that Sailor inks should not be mixed with other inks and there are a couple of old, discontinued Private Reserve inks that should not be mixed.
Also, Noodler's Baystate inks should not be mixed with any other ink (besides one another).
mixing can be a lot of fun, surprised more folks don't try it.
Dan
Dan
i've also mixed up my own batches of pelikan brown + pelikan black (wanting a darker, deeper brown), and pilot blue-black with parker quink black (both inks are pretty "runny", so i think they mix well--i wanted a darker blue-black as well).
what's just as important as mixing inks is knowing how differently they come out of different pens and nibs--the same medium nib on my faber-castell is definitely wetter and darker than my rotring and montblanc M nibs, using the same ink. so sometimes it's the choice of pen itself that affects ink color on the paper (not to mention the paper, a whole other element). another good excuse to get more pens
what's just as important as mixing inks is knowing how differently they come out of different pens and nibs--the same medium nib on my faber-castell is definitely wetter and darker than my rotring and montblanc M nibs, using the same ink. so sometimes it's the choice of pen itself that affects ink color on the paper (not to mention the paper, a whole other element). another good excuse to get more pens
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