(I C U) Ink Review - Susemai - Too Blue Cashmere

[amberleadavis]

The mix on this ink just didn't work. I think if it were brighter and wetter, it might be pretty.

[mhguda]

I tested this ink at I think around 6.5, maybe 6.8% concentration.

Here is a scan.

At this concentration it behaves nicely and even shows some shading.

Alas, this ink is too watery in color for my tastes, while it also takes a long time to dry.

I will pass on this one, even though the color has promise. If only it were stronger!

[amberleadavis]

This is why we test.

[mhguda]

Yes, and I am happy and thankful to be part of the testers group.

[vossad01]

So when I loaded my pen with this, I found it behaving too watery like earlier posters described. Which surprised me because my Inky Gradient looked just fine. So I flipped the sample vial and saw there was a layer left on the bottom, which I assumed was settlement. I shook the vial, recharged and found it behaved as expected. This is why I mention separating in the review.

When I went to clean it out to do the next ink I had a surprise in the sink. I rubbed a piece between my fingers and it did not break up the way I would expect a a clump of dye. I believe this classifies as SITB.



Other remarks, copied from the Inky Gradient:

Remarks:

• I think the over concentrated (>8%) forms of this ink do it a disservice, as it appears flatter and more grey in those concentrations.
• Especially at the higher concentrations, this ink should be considered a blue-grey.
• I the lower concentrations (even down to 1.45%) the best because it comes across as most blue with the grey-flatness less pronounced.
• Overall, there is surprisingly little color variation when diluting this ink.
• This ink has a crazy amount of shading which I think might be its downfall. At recommended concentrations the color might not be that bad for a business-y color, but all the much color variation makes it unsuitable for such situations.
• I wish it started out like twice as dark as it is at 16% and diluted to the same point, then it might be a nice dark denim color.
• These papers are not particularly prone to sheen, but no sheen is seen with this one.

[amberleadavis]

It's not traditional SITB because it isn't slime or mold...that's the unmixed dye not unknown stuff. Nevertheless, this ink didn't make the cut for the next powders.

[vossad01]

Huh, good to know. I did not realize dyes would become rubbery/fibrous like that. Rolled between my fingers it would stick in a roll. In the tumult of running water it would unroll again.

 

I had something similar with some PR Black Cherry which I also thought was SITB. With the Black Cherry I left a chunk of the stuff in water and it never dissolved.

[amberleadavis]

Huh, good to know. I did not realize dyes would become rubbery/fibrous like that. Rolled between my fingers it would stick in a roll. In the tumult of running water it would unroll again.

 

I had something similar with some PR Black Cherry which I also thought was SITB. With the Black Cherry I left a chunk of the stuff in water and it never dissolved.

 

They can become little ink stones that look suspicously like kidney stones.