Search the Community

Tintenlabor Purpur-Schwarz 1 (Purple Black 1 Iron gall ink) Ink review # 184. Background: Tintenlabor is a Swiss-based ink company focused on Iron gall inks. What differentiates these inks from other IG inks is that you know the iron content and can choose your ink accordingly. Disclaimer: I was sent the inks free of charge, and I only participated in the shipping You can find more about this ink here: https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/sondertinte-eisengallustinte-1-purpur-schwarz-probe-a-10-ml https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/sondertinte-eisengallustinte-1-purpur-schwarz You can check @LizEF excellent review here: Overview: Tintenlabor has two purple black inks: 1) Purple Black 1: high-dye, low-iron ink 3 gr/l. 2) Purple Black 2 is medium iron, low dye ink. Both inks use the same dye. Purple Black 1, which I’m reviewing today, is a specialty ink using a unique purple dye that stabilizes the iron content, slowing the oxidation process and logically lengthening the shelf life of the ink. Because the dye is expensive, each bottle is three times the price of, for example, Green Black 1. If you're unsure, you can order it in 10 ml bottles. In my experience, the wetter the pen and narrower the nib, the darker the colour. With M nibs above, the colour is a shade of lavender that slowly oxidizes over time and darkens. The more water-repellent the paper (water-colour paper), the slower the oxidation process and the waterproofness. Ink has below-average lubrication. Writing with all pens was pleasant, pure joy. Cleaning was surprisingly very easy with the Kanwrite. A few flushes, and the pen was clean. The Pilot Elite needed a few more flushes with white vinegar. In conclusion, this is one of the most compelling, elegant purple writing inks I’ve used. It was more challenging to use in artwork. Chroma: Writing Samples: Photo: Iroful wet ink last line: The same on Tomoe River 68 gsm: Photo taken a week later: Comparison: The swatch scans were done on March 30th, 2025 Note: When I did the swatches, instead of the name, I wrote the iron content. Tintenlabor Purple Black 1 has 3 gr/l iron content, and Purple Black 2 has 4 gr/l. These scans were done on May 8th, 2025. Note that both inks have oxidized. Water test: Left side (10 seconds under running water, after 24 hours). Note that ink becomes waterproof with time. Art Work: Taurus, part of Inktober yearlong challenge 2025 -- Paper in most cases is Talens Mixed Media. Tintenlabor Dark Green1/2 /Purple 1 Noodler's Polar Brown Faber Castell Turquoise The following two works showcase concentrated ink when I mistakenly opened my eyedropper fountain pen. It goes well, I think with Miss Rebel without a cause The blue ink is Tintenlabor Violet Blue. Of course, the ink dripped on the other page, and I managed to carve a mouse from the Rorschach Inkblot impression on the paper. and finally Adoration with Purple Black 1 and Green Black 1 by Tintenlabor There are many more creations, which encompass purple 1 & 2 below, in case you are interested: https://www.deviantart.com/yazeh1/gallery?q=purple+1 · Pens used: Pilot Elite EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1), Kanwrite with FPR ultraflex nib. · What I liked: Writing, drawing, and washes. · What I did not like: I’m trying to look for something. · What some might not like: Fear of IG inks. Price · Writing experience: Excellent. · Pros: Beautiful colour, lovely writing experience. · Cons: Not suited for cheap, thin paper. Price · Shading: Some. · Ghosting: Yes on cheap paper. · Bleed through: Yes on Hammermill. · Flow Rate: Wet · Lubrication: Below average with some finer nibs. · Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. · Start-up: Ok · Saturation: Royal purple. · Shading Potential: Excellent · Sheen: No · Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Yes, with flex. · Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice. · Staining (pen): No · Clogging: Did not notice. · Cleaning: Very easy in general with most pens. · Water resistance: Good · Availability: 10, 30, 50ml bottles. Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments. The more the merrier