I have some blue inks and I thought I would smear them on a page to see how they compared, sort of like the smears at the Writing Desk's website. Then for grins and giggles, I wrote with the inks, different pens. Well, I was shocked to see that the smears look only similar to the writing samples.

For example, I smeared Florida Blue, Private Reserve DC Super Show and Herbin Eclat D Saphir. Well the smear of the Herbin lloks Purple, the DC Super Show is a Nice Navy blue I can live with and the Florida Blue is lighter and more to the purple side of blue (Herbin seems to have more of the purple tinge).

When I write with them, the Florida Blue looks more like a regular ballpoint blue ink and the Super Show is darker.

One thing I have learned is do not be too quick to give up on an ink. Better that I write a week with it to see.

Sam

I agree. This is why I got a glass dip pen, since after using one I can rinse, wipe, and dip. Very quick.

Stephen

Agreed. On my personal ink sampler, I used q-tip smear and glass-dip pen scribbles. That way I can tell what it will look like in a dry writer (due to the q-tip) and a wet writer (the dip pen).