Shading Ink(S)

[plumon]

This may be a basic question: what is "shading" ink (beyond the obvious) and who makes them?

How can I find out more about them?

Thanks in inkiness.

plumon

[OrganicsStudio]

Shading inks typically come from less saturated colors, which allows the color to 'change' depending on how much ink is put down. If an ink is too saturated, it just appears the same no matter how much ink is put down. Regarding who makes them - Diamine has a few very good shading inks, the Pilot Iroshizuku inks are known to shade, and out of our line, our Elements ink line is designed to be less saturated and more inclined to shade.

 

Hope that helps!

 

TT

[lapis]

IMO, shading has more to do with the rate of absorbance into the paper. Thus the wider the nib, the better the shading. When you write, let's say letter for letter in a word, you always have an upward-stroke and a downward-stroke. The upward-strokes are usually faster and/or less dowsn-pressed than the downward-strokes are. Thus, the downward-strokes bring more ink into the paper than the upward-strokes, and the downward strokes look stronger and more saturated, more colour-intense. Of course this has something to do with the chemical and physical properties of the ink itself, but a good "shading ink" makes that more possible. Take a look at a few ink reviews.

 

Mike

[plumon]

Thanks Mike and TT.

Plumon

[tjt7a]

If you like yellowish/orange, I would highly recommend you get a sample of Apache Sunset and give it a try. Now that is a great shading ink!

 

Tom

[dcwaites]

Wade through this topic on the FPN. There are many good points there.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Shading is fun....better paper gives more shading than poor paper.

A paper for the copier....a paper to scribble with.

Pelikan, Herbin, MB, R&K, some DA inks, some Noodler inks. Some Diamine inks. Some Japanese inks.

 

You don't say where you are from. Noodlers would be a good stateside bet...in Europe not so in the import fees drive up the price. Same goes in reverse.

 

I got basic 50-55 mostly Euro inks....mostly mainland Europe...in I want to get my essential 100 Euro inks ....out of 200-250-300 inks.

Then I can chase Diamine's 200+ inks or Noodlers' 400+ inks.

 

Green ...R&K Verdura....... MB Irish Green and Pelikan green....those are the middle of green-greens....a real odd green R&K Alt Gold green.....worth buying, you will get use to the odd color...the more nibs you have the better. A poster made a grand thread of 30 some odd murky greens.....odd what colors will grow on you after a while. Herbin Vert Empire...MB 'Seaweed'.

 

Brownish, Herbin; Lie de The and Caffe des Ills. MB toffee. Noodler Golden Brown....takes forever to dry...needs a blotter for the bottom 1/4 of the page.

Purple, C 'dA Storm.

Turquoise Waterman....don't remember the new name. don't remember the old name now either ....Herbin Blue Pervenchi

 

I get an ink overload just thinking about it.

What color do you like most....then we can give you 20 or so inks just in that color.

 

You have to spend some time over in Ink Reviews, look up Sandy1's reviews, she does 4-5 pens-4-5 different papers....and a different nib on a paper makes a big difference.

A different paper too.

[amberleadavis]

Plumon, I would agree with all the posters so far. Less saturated colors often shade better, but the ink is only part of the equation. The paper and pen make a great deal of difference. Sandy's reviews are some of the most detailed available.