Does anyone have experience with green inks? I was looking at Noodler's Gruene Cactus, since I have most of my experience with Noodler. But since it isn't particularly waterproof, I'm not sure there is any reason to stick with Noodler for this color. Any suggestions? So far, most other greens I've seen are on the darker side.

Levenger's Always Greener is a very bright green ink. Their other green, Gemstone Green is deeper and darker.

They aren't particularly waterproof either but they are lovely colors.

Andy

Verdun Green, while permanent, is not a bright green. Gruene Cactus is a very nice and bright green. Here's a pic of the two for comparison (sorry, can't help you on any others as I'm not real big on green inks and these are the only two I have):

Can anyone describe the difference between Levenger Always Greener and Noodlers Gruene Cactus? I think I've limited my choice to one of these two. I've decided to keep a pen inked in green for purposes of correcting papers (after getting chastised for using red, too punitive!!) I guess this purpose doesn't really require being waterproof.

FWIW...In the version of Greg Clark's Ink Sampler that I have, Always Greener is a bright, saturated looking lime green. I don't have this ink. I do, however, have the Gruene Cactus which looks exactly like the sample that Southpaw posted. I'd call it a bright kelly green. It's a wonderful color.

HTH,
Ann

I've been pleased with a mixture I've made up of two green inks. It's a 3:1 mixture of Noodler's Standard Green and Noodler's Verdun, from Swisher's Pens.

When I'm writing with it and the light catches it this ink looks like green foil while it's wet. And the Verdun is a permanent, waterproof color. There's no doubt that it's green and it's a pretty bright green at that.

You might like to check out Herbin's Vert Reseda. It's a bright green, but fairly unsaturated. I like its delicacy and shading, but if you want rich colour it may not be for you.

(1) Ink Stained Wretch: I thought you weren't supposed to mix the cellulose-reactive inks with standard inks; the reactivity with cellulose is supposed to go away. Can you confirm if this occurs? (Edit: this doesn't happen, it was an original warning from Noodler's that no longer stands. the eternal ink remains, the standard ink washes away)

(2) Verdun -- yuck! It's so soft and pastel! Why are most of the Noodler's for Swisher so powdery? Actually, my Pendemonium cellulose-reactive inks are also very powdery.. They're very dark right when they go on the paper but get powdery upon drying. Maybe it's because of the reaction with cellulose?

(3) That gruene cactus had frightened me because other samples had made it look like a green lollipop.

(4) I only have one green, Green Marine, and you should check out Chupie's Review of the ink, as I am quite pleased with it. It's a colorful green, but not overly candy-like nor too dark. Actually, I have Sequoia but I think that ink is really a green-black, and I disapprove of it. Neither of these inks are waterproof... (edit: Green Marine is semi-waterproof -- has Noodler's Black component in it that stays behind after a soak)

Noodler's ("standard") Green, non-waterproof (non-cellulose-reactive), is good, too!

I also vote for Gruene Cactus!

Medium greens are like Medium blues are like Medium reds and all look too dark to me.

I am finding myself looking for brighter colors just to be able to see the differences...

J. Herbin's Lierre Sauvage is a nice bright green, I think. A bit similar to Private Reserve's Sherwood Green, perhaps.

I've not tried any of the greens mentioned so far yet. I'm currently happy with my Sequoia, but I'm sure I'll get around to trying more greens soon.


G.

Hmmmm.... perhaps a trade in the future?

When you say bright, do you mean bright as in "intense", or bright as in "not dark"?

That will make a big difference in which of the above posts you should pay attention to.

PR Sherwood, for example, is very dark, very intense, but not my idea of bright green.

What about Quink green? If that's available, it might be worth a try.

I like Waterman green as well, but some people find it a bit on the blue side of green. (But not excessively.)

Yes, *david*, I should have added that Sherwood is quite dark, and is one of the brighter ones in the dark green range - maybe not what you are looking for, pvdiamon...

In the "Electric Color" series of inks there is a very bright green called "St. Patty's Eire"...it is so reflective that it looks as if a bright shamrock was magically trapped in the bottle. It is a highly fluorescent ink - a highlighter ink...though most people report using it for writing. Greg Clark mixes it with Firefly for a highlighter ink with "more contrast".

It is currently carried by a handful of retailers in Europe/Japan and two in the states....but it will be in full distribution after the distributor's reorganization. It is not an eternal ink...nor is it a conventional ink (one can see that after just a quick glance of the bottle). It is an ink unto itself.

A bright blue-green eternal will soon be available as a UK eternal called "Victoria's Royal Mint". As for Hunter green...it is a dark green with a fluorescent halo effect about the line - much darker than Verdun. Verdun is a conventional 1950s green that varies in depth based upon how generous the pen's flow is...it has also been rated as one of the most durable eternal inks vrs. detergents and bleaches (including the forger's favorite: white wall tire cleaners).

Regarding conventional inks:
Greune Cactus is the brightest green of the standard Noodler's line (the color approximates the flesh of the prickly pear cactus plant)...followed by standard Green and Forest Green. Sequoia is a very dark/deep green sometimes mentioned as a "moss" or "evergreen". Army Green is a camouflage green - similar to the green of a standard issue Pacific Theater uniform of WW II (that is what it seeks to replicate to the greatest extent possible). Green Marine replicates the camouflage green used by Marines during the tropical island campaign in the South Pacific during WW II and is partially waterproof - a darker/deeper color - though not quite as dark as Sequoia.

Oh, there's no problem mixing them. The Verdun still reacts with the cellulose and sticks. All that happens is that you put less of the cellulose-reactive ink in the line. So in this case the Verdun is only 25% of the line of ink that you lay down. After a long water soak you end up with only the Verdun remaining. It's not as intense as if it had been a line of 100% Verdun, but what you put down stays there.

I mix various Noodler's cellulose-reactive inks with the non-waterproof Noodler's inks and the waterproof ink remains all the time.


Well, the mixture of 3:1 Noodler's Standard Green to Noodler's Verdun is a bit brighter, IMO, on the page. Another good aspect of this mixture.


I've got this ink too. I plan on using it in the one piston filler I have. I have to figure out which waterproof ink I'll be mixing it with.

Hi,

Omas Green and Sailor green are also nice bright greens.

Dillon

If you just want a reasonably priced, decent, and more or less standard green, the Pelikan brilliant green is worth looking at. At $5-6 per 62.5ml bottle, it's a good deal.

If anyone thinks Noodler's is costly...keep in mind pH neutrality (trim rings on sections get corroded because of extremes in acidity and alkalinity...not due to "natural aging of the pen" as some claim!), dye content levels (you don't buy water when you buy ink...you are buying the dye content per volume...because even distilled water by the gallon costs a lot less than a hard to obtain dye!)...and dye properties. Factor in the price per oz. of weight and compare (Noodler's is filled by weight, everything we do is by weight) based upon dye content and the properties of the ink.

Otherwise - go to the grocery store and buy some concentrated food coloring...mix the bottle with a quart of water....and you'll have an ink that is more affordable than any other based on volume. All I ask is that you compare the line it makes with Noodler's before declaring victory! ;-)

Hi Nathan,
I don't worry about a couple of bucks here or there. I personally think that Noodlers gives the biggest bang for the buck.
It's great to have so much choice, so many colours, so many pens......
The way I see it, if I've just spent hundreds of dollars on pens, why would I quibble about the cost of ink.


No affiliation, just a happy customer. :bunny1: