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Tintenlabor Tannenwald Ink Review # 227 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall inks. What differentiates these inks from other brands is that the iron content is clearly stated. The highest iron content in the range is 6 g/L, and the lowest is 1 g/L. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. Tannenwald is a 4 g/L ink. It is a wet, lubricated ink, grass/apple green (when wet) and oxidizes to dark green or black depending on wetness and the amount applied. It has excellent water resistance: the more the ink cures, the more waterproof it becomes. It dried up in the Ahab, which has the worst seal in the history of pens. The moral of the story use a pen with a good seal or use one regularly. Cleaning was surprisingly easy after a month in a Kaweco. As a safety measure I add a pure pinch of ascorbic acid to the pen jacuzzi. It was much easier to clean than some staining inks. Never use ammonia-based pen cleaning solutions with iron gall inks in the initial cleaning. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Quotes: Quotations are given in English translation; wording may vary between editions and translators. 1. “What has once been thought can never be unthought.” — Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Swiss writer 2. “Nature never deceives us; it is we who deceive ourselves. — Gottfried Keller 3. “Every landscape is a state of the soul.” — Henri-Frédéric Amiel, Swiss philosopher 4. “Nature does not belong to us; we belong to it.” — attribution uncertain 5. “The earth does not belong to us; it is we who belong to the earth, and we pass.” — Charles Ferdinand Ramuz, Swiss writer Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Note 1: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews. Note 2: The scan was taken immediately after writing. The oxidization is slower on these papers, but it’ll happen in 24 hours. Hammermill 20lb Wet ink (photos) 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Photos were taken a month later. Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 20 lb copy paper Closeup Photos were taken a month later. 🔍 Comparison Col-O-ring. Scans are approximative. I have no colour similar to this one. --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Eternal Sunset of the Spotless Mind Inktober52: Sunshine. I made a draft of the last Inktober52 prompt with my Cat & Mouse theme. As it is with iron gall inks, they oxidize from their base colour to different degrees of darkness, depending on the ink application. Hence, it forced me to go beyond conventional art and dig deeper into the psyche and explore. The process was liberating. Tintenlabor Rothorn (red base), Tannenwald (green base) and a mystery ink in development, Uniball Signo White Gel pen, Talens Mixed Media Notebook. Brumes de souvenir (Mists of Memory) Miniature Tintenlabor Tannenwald iron gall ink, Hosia Ink Studio An Nang, Talens Square Sketchbook. Someone to care for My cat was sitting on my lap; I did a quick sketch and voilà. Tintenlabor Tannenwald (dark green), Rothorn(red-burgundy) iron gall inks, Signo Uniball White gel pen, Talens Mixed Media. I Love you with your fir! Inspired by the name Tintenlabor Tannenwald (fir forest), I incorporated conifers into the tabby’s pattern. Tintenlabor Tannenwald, Jacques Herbin Diamant Bleu, Noodler’s Eel Rattler’s Red, Uni-ball Signo, Talens Mixed Media Notebook. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco(EF/F/M/B/BB/stub 1.1, 1.9), Noodler’s Ahab with FPR Ultra-flex. - What I Liked: Water resistance. Drawing, dark green colour. - What I Did Not Like: Nothing much. - Writing Experience: This is rock solid iron gall ink. - Pros: Dark classy colour. Waterproof. - Cons: Tariffs might apply as it’s only available from Tintenlabor website in Switzerland. Shipping is fast. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Excellent. - Ghosting: A bit on copy paper. - Bleed Through: Only with BB and wet flex nib on copy paper. - Flow Rate: Average. - Lubrication: Good. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: I used it in Kaweco for a month with no problem. - Saturation: Deliciously dark. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: It’s possible. - Staining (Pen): The green dye stained the Pilot Kakuno’s section. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Surprisingly easy. - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottles directly from the Tintenlabor website. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/tannenwald --- 💬 Closing A very solid ink from Tintenlabor. It evokes the melancholy of coniferous forest in fall and winter. If you love green-blacks, want something waterproof and have a well-sealed pen this ink is great candidate. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor Rothorn Ink Review # 224 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall inks. What differentiates these inks from other brands is that the iron content is clearly stated. The highest iron content in the range is 6 g/L, and the lowest is 1 g/L. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. Rothorn is a German term that translates to “Red Peak” and is commonly used as a name for various mountain summits in the Alps. Rothorn has an iron content of 4 g/L. It is a wet, well-lubricated ink: bright red when wet, oxidizing into a dark burgundy or red-black depending on nib size and paper. It has good water resistance; the more the ink cures, the more waterproof it becomes. Oxidation is immediate on Iroful paper, and slower on Midori and Tomoe River 68 gsm paper. The ink is very well-behaved on copy paper. As a writing ink, Rothorn shines with wider nibs. As a drawing ink, it requires more time to cure than Basalt when used for line work. For cleaning, it is best to add a small pinch of pure ascorbic acid to water. Never use ammonia-based cleaners with iron gall inks. I’ve been impressed by these newly formulated inks, which offer excellent lubrication and wetness. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews. Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 20 lb copy paper Wet ink Closeup – A month later. 🔍 Comparison Col-O-ring. Scans are approximative. --- 💧 Water Test Note how water resistance improves after 48 hours. --- 🎨 Artwork Rothorn Cat and mouse are present but in rock formations Mouse knows best! Jacques Herbin Gris Galet, Tintenlabor Rothorn, Monteverde Caribbean Blue, Pelikan Edelstein Apricot Achat, Talens Mixed Media Square Sketchbook. The Red Horn Incident! Inspired by my own linguistic mishap of Rothorn, which I first read as Red Horn. 😁 Kattr the Red Horn warrior attacked Rothorn, offended that his illustrious name was being misused. There could be only one strongman worthy of such a title. But when the Alpenhorns blared from the mountains that bore this name, Mús the Magus said dryly, “You should have studied linguistics before pillaging.” Tintenlabor Rothorn & Tannenwald (green), J. Herbin Bleu Calanque, Uni-ball Signo White Gel, Talens Mixed Media Notebook. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.9), Osmiroid Copperplate nib. - What I Liked: Lovely oxidized colour. Excellent drawing ink. - What I Did Not Like: Needs more time to become waterproof. - What Some Might Not Like: Fear of IG ink; Using it in expensive pens. - Writing Experience: Excellent. - Pros: Waterproof, retains colour, well-lubricated. - Cons: Tariffs for some countries. Not wildly distributed. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Excellent. - Ghosting: Very faint. - Bleed Through: Faint. - Flow Rate: Average. - Lubrication: Excellent. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Very good. But needs a well-sealed pen. - Saturation: Deliciously saturated. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Relatively easy. A pinch of ascorbic acid can help. - Water Resistance: Very good after 24 hours, won’t budge after 48. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottle from Tintenlabor website: https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/rothorn --- 💬 Closing I have been using and testing a lot of iron gall inks in 2025. What I’ve learned is that these inks are suited for those who use pens that are well-sealed, can be easily dismantled and use them regularly. I still don’t get tired of the colour transformation. These inks give a new meaning to the expression, watching ink dry. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor Basalt Ink Review # 220 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that the iron content is disclosed. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. Basalt is a grey-purple ink that oxidizes into a dark grey. It has a 4 g/L iron content. The highest iron content is 6 g/L and the lowest is 1 g/L. I’ve had the privilege of testing many versions of this ink and appreciate the work that goes into developing it, so I may be biased. Ink has excellent lubrication with a caveat. For example, it was cushiony with an EEF Osmiroid Copperplate nib, but slightly scratchy with a Kaweco EF nib. However, with a light touch, the Kaweco EF resistance went away. It is ironic, as the Copperplate nib is needle-nosed with minimal tipping. As it uses the same stabilizing base purple as other Tintenlabor inks, there’s the possibility that this ink will have a longer shelf-life than other iron gall inks. This is one of the best inks for copy paper. Ghosting is faint and there’s minimal bleed-through with only BB, 1.9 nibs. It’s best to use iron gall inks in well-sealed pens that are used regularly and can be taken apart. Cleaning was simple. A few flushes and the pens were clean. However, as I test and review many inks, I added a pinch of pure ascorbic acid powder in the water and then ran it through the pen jacuzzi (ultrasonic cleaner). Never use ammonia-based cleaners with iron gall inks. After having used many pigments, iron gall, shimmer, and dye inks, I can say that the most difficult pens to clean are those with a fixed feed, combined with heavy dyes (purple, pink, blurple) and not IG or pigment inks, so if you’re afraid of IG inks bear this in mind. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) 1. “The stones of the earth speak slowly.” — Willa Cather (1873–1947), American novelist. 2. “Geology gives us the story of time written in stone.” — Victor Goldschmidt (1888–1947), Swiss–Norwegian mineralogist; pioneer of modern geochemistry. 3. “Nothing is built on stone; all is built on sand—except our need for stone.” — Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986), Argentine writer and poet. 4. “What we call chaos is just patterns we haven’t recognized yet.” — Douglas Adams (1952–2001), British novelist. 5. “Stone is more eternal than any human work carved upon it.” — André Malraux (1901–1976), French novelist and art theorist. Rhodia / Iroful Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews. I made a mistake with the Borges quote and had to correct it digitally. Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb No scan of the back side of the page. No show-through and minimal bleed-through with very wet pen at parts only. 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Wet ink Closeup after oxidation While not visible in photos, the purple tinge is visible to the naked eyes. 🔍 Comparison Col-O-ring. Scans are approximative. --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Bliss Inspired by a photo of cat by a dear friend. 🙏 Talens Mixed Media Square Pocket Notebook. The Lady and the Hummingbird A nostalgic piece inspired by the myth of Huitzilopochtli, The Aztec god, who returns fallen warriors as hummingbirds to their lovers... Note the beauty of Jacques Herbin inks in contrast and the purple hue of Basalt in washes. Tintenlabor Basalt, Jacques Herbin Rouge Amarante & Vert Cactus. Uniball Signo White Gel pen, Talens Mixed Media Notebook. Gangham Style Party! I've been working on this for some time, playing with different shades of grey. Note how with the wash technique I exposed Diamine Earl Grey’s purple, whereas I kept Basalt’s purple undertones in check by letting it oxidize. Before Cat got to know Mouse, she was a K-pop backup dancer! Tintenlabor Basalt iron gall ink (black), Diamine Earl Grey (purple), Jacques Herbin Gris Galet (background), Lennon Tool Bar Cat General, Pelikan Edelstein Apricot Achat, Talens Mixed Media Notebook. --- - Pens Used: Osmiroid EEF Copperplate flex, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1). - What I Liked: Gorgeous color wet, elegant when oxidizes, waterproof, sketching. - What I Did Not Like: Writing with EF Kaweco nib. - What Some Might Not Like: Iron gall ink. Maintenance. - Writing Experience: Excellent. - Pros: Gorgeous dark purple-grey, well-lubricated, excellent on copy paper. - Cons: Tariffs. It might seem boring for writing on good paper. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Yes. - Ghosting: No. - Bleed Through: None, or very faint on copy paper. - Flow Rate: Wet. - Lubrication: Excellent. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Excellent. - Saturation: Oxidized to a lovely dark grey, black depending on paper. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): No. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Easy, unless forgotten in pen. - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - Available directly from the vendor in 30 or 50 ml bottles. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/basalt --- 💬 Closing This ink has been an eye-opener. Maybe because I went through many variations of it and used it both for writing & drawing. If you’re looking for a dark grey-black ink that can handle different types of paper, this could be the one. For those of you who love sketching and drawing, this ink can bring a different flair to your work. It oxidizes quickly on most papers and in washes, one can extract the lovely nostalgic purple from the grey. I was sorry to let this go and hop on to the next review. It is ironic that I who disliked dark greys, have been using and reusing this ink immoderately. Drawing and sketching give a different meaning to fountain pen inks. If, however, you tend to forget your inks in your pens, this ink is not for you. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor Encre Royal (Royal Ink) Ink Review # 217 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that you would know the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. Encre Royal has a 4 g/L per liter iron content. The highest iron content in Tintenlabor inks is 6 g/L and lowest is 1 g/L. This is the final iteration of Purple Black 2 that I reviewed before, and what an improvement. Ink has a higher dye load and because it uses a unique purple dye, that stabilizes the formula and possibly prolong shelf-life. The flow is wet and ink is lubricated. Color is bright purple(when wet) and oxidizes to a dusky purple. It has excellent water resistance. As with iron gall inks, the more the ink cures, the more waterproof it becomes. For artists, iron gall inks are not as light fast as pigment inks. For cleaning it’s best to add a bit of pure ascorbic acid to the water and agitate. It’s best to use well-sealed fountain pens that can be dismantled. Never use ammonia-based cleaners with iron gall inks. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo (artificial light) Photos were taken 3 weeks after scan. Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 20 lb copy paper Wet ink Closeup of ink oxidized 🔍 Comparison Col-O-ring. Scans are approximative. Color is difficult to capture. Color is close to Diamine Vivaldi. --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Purple Rose Mouse is hiding a special offering under his umbrella. 😊 Tintenlabor Basalt, Tinten Encre Royal, Iron gall inks, Talens Mixed Media. Who's the Greatest Now? INKTOBER52 PROMPT NO.50 IS "VILLAIN". Ego and villain are siblings. Tintenlabor Encre Royal, Basalt iron gall inks, Jacques Herbin Rouge Amarante, Van Dieman's Here Kitty Kitty, Talens Mixed Media Notebook. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1) , Flex. - What I Liked: Well lubricated, wet ink, gorgeous colour. - What I Did Not Like: I love IG inks, I’m biased. - What Some Might Not Like: Iron gall ink are high maintenance inks. - Writing Experience: Lovely. - Pros: Waterproof, well-lubricated, gorgeous inks. - Cons: Tariffs for some countries. IG inks cannot be abandoned in fountain pens and need special care if left in pen for long time. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Yes - Ghosting: Only with flex and white nibs. - Bleed Through: Same as above. - Flow Rate: Wet. - Lubrication: Excellent. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Excellent. - Saturation: Beautifully purple. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): Did not notice. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: I use a pinch of ascorbic acid in water, when I clean IG inks for my sanity and peace of mind. - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - Available 30/50 ml bottles directly from website. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/encre-royal --- 💬 Closing This is lovely, dark waterproof iron gall ink. I’ve enjoyed writing and drawing with it. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor – Blausee Ink Review # 211 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall inks. What differentiates this brand is that it discloses the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the ink-Meister, David. The inks have been streamlined, with the current lineup reflecting a more focused selection of colours and iron contents. Blausee has a 4 g/L iron content. The highest iron content is 6 g/L (Goldrausch) and lowest is 1 g/L (Alpstein). It is named after the lake Blausee (Blue Lake) in Switzerland with turquoise water. Blausee writes turquoise and oxidizes to a blue-black or black (Noodler’s Ahab with an ebonite feed, fitted with a FPR Ultra-flex nib) depending on the wetness of pen. The latter combo can bleed through copy paper and even other decent papers. However, for those of us who doodle, the same combo is fantastic for creating black lines. Ink is wet but has slightly-to-below-average lubrication, depending on the pen/ nib combo. You can see the oxidation process in the video below. Note, as the ink has been more than 2 weeks in the pen barrel, it has oxidized slightly compared to the photos below. Cleaning: For my peace of mind, I went with a pinch of pure ascorbic acid in the pen jacuzzi. The pens and their parts were happy. Never use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Photos were taken under artificial (LED) lights. Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 20lb Oxidation and closeup: Note the wetness of ink with the flex nib on the bottom right image. 🔍 Comparison It's difficult to capture the depth of the ink. I took photos and scan this time. Ink is almost identical to Noodler's Pasternak. You can see how the scan is misleading. --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Inktober - Day 22 - Button When told that his whiskers were crooked, Captain Chatssard buttoned up his jacket, grabbed his pistol, and ignoring Princess Myshchovaka’s dramatic fainting , defended the honour of his whiskers. Costume: Tintenlabor Blausee (Blue), Basalt) dark grey) iron gall ink, J Herbin Corail des Tropique, Pebeo Gold marker Background: Diamine Grey, Uniball Signo white gell pen, Staedtler Green pen Talens Mixed Media Notebook Inktober - Day 28 – Skeletal Inspired by The Dead Lovers by an anonymous German painter, 1470, mixed with members of the carrion fraternity who while despised by many, clean and purify nature. Uniball Signo white gel pen. I took photos to show off the oxidation and creative process. Inktober - Day 27 - Onion (Twist) A square took a free spirit to a diner, not knowing that she would launch the hula-hoop craze in the 50s and change his life forever. Diamine Grey, Tintenlabor Echinacea, Blausee (iron gall inks), Uniball Signo White Gel pen. Pebeo metalliic marker Red, Talens Mixed Media. Blausee is the little diamond patterns. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco Sport (EF/F/B/Stub 1.9), Lamy Safari M, Noodler’s Ahab, FPR Super-flex. - What I Liked: Colour, writing, drawing, ink washes, water resistance. Drawing with a flex nib. - What I Did Not Like: Writing with a very wet pen can be both a joy and pain. Choose your paper wisely. - Writing Experience: Lovely with most nibs, even flex, though dry times were long. (too much ink) which oxidizes to black. - Pros: Lovely colour when wet, works well with most paper pen combos. Water resistant. - Cons: Not suited for vegetal resin Ahab barrels. If you eyedrop a pen, ink can oxidize in the barrel. Ink becomes blue-black or blue. Needs strict cleaning regiment for peace of mind. There might be tariffs for some. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Lovely. - Ghosting: Yes, with very wet pens. - Bleed Through: Same as above. - Flow Rate: Wet. - Lubrication: below average to good, depending on nib size and pen, - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Very Good. - Saturation: Gorgeous. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Yes, with a flex nib on copy paper. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): Yes, on Ahab’s barrel, none on Kaweco’s. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: It’s an iron gall ink. - Water Resistance: Very good. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottles, directly from Tintenlabor. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/blausee --- 💬 Closing I have been wowed by the evolution of Tintenlabor inks. This new series have surprised me by their quality and performance. After using this ink for a month, I have enjoyed using it. However, my favorites remain Schokolade & Echinacea. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor – Echinacea Ink Review # 208 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this brand is that it discloses the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the ink-Meister, David. The inks have been streamlined and now comprise a few new colours. Echinacea has a 4 g/L iron content. The highest iron content is 6 g/L (goldrausch) and lowest is 1 g/L (alpstein). Ink writes as a hot pink and oxidizes to dark burgundy or black (ebonite feed/flex). In the latter combo it’ll bleed through copy paper. However, for those of us who doodle, the same combo is fantastic for creating black lines. You can see the oxidation process here with Kaweco Sport B nib and Noodler’s Ahab. Note as the ink has been more than 2 weeks, in the pen barrel it has oxidized slightly in barrel compared to the photos. Cleaning: This time for my peace of mind I went with a pinch of pure ascorbic acid in the pen jacuzzi. The pens and their parts were happy. Never use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. After using this ink for a month, I have fallen in love with this ink. The colour shift is dramatic and the oxidized colour lovely. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Photos were taken under artificial (LED) lights, to show off the colour after one month. Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 20lb Oxidation and closeup: 🔍 Comparison --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Inktober 2025 - Day 13 - Drink A toast between cat and mouse — what could possibly go wrong? Talens Mixed Media notbebook for all drawings. Kaweco Sport , Noodler's Ahab Note how black lines was achieved with Ahab. Inktober 2025 - Day 15 - Ragged Inspired by the silent movie, The Kid (1921), this is my take on ragged with my cat & mouse theme. Inktober - Day 17 - Ornate The maiden who waited for her valiant knight to return was awarded with the grail rose from his beloved. An ornate drawing of an award (prompt 31). Inspired by A Bridal Couple, 1470, by an anonymous German painter. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/14003448827763348/ Talens square pocket notebook. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco Sport (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.9) , Ahab with FPR Super-flex. - What I Liked: Colour, writing, drawing, ink washes, water resistance. Drawing with a flex nib. - What I Did Not Like: Writing with a very wet pen can be both a joy and pain. Choose your paper wisely. - Writing Experience: Lovely with most nibs, even flex, though dry times were long. (too much ink) which oxidizes to black. - Pros: Lovely colour, wet, well lubricated, maintains burgundy with most paper pen combos. Water resistant. - Cons: Not suited for vegetal resin Ahab barrels. If you eyedrop a pen, ink can oxidize in the barrel. There might be tariffs for some. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Lovely. - Ghosting: Faint. See below. - Bleed Through: Yes, with very wet pens. - Flow Rate: Wet. - Lubrication: below average to good, depending on nib size and pen, - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Very Good. - Saturation: Gorgeous. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): Yes, on Ahab’s barrel, none on Kaweco’s. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Moderately easy with Kaweco, I still went with ascorbic and pen jacuzzi to be on the safe side. - Water Resistance: Very good. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottles, directly from Tintenlabor. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/echinacea --- 💬 Closing I have been wowed by the evolution of Tintenlabor inks. This new series have surprised me by their quality and performance. Echinacea is not different. The shift from hot pink to a deep gorgeous burgundy is mesmerizing. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor – Schokolade (Chocolate) Ink Review # 205 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that you would know the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. The inks have been streamlined and now comprises a few new colours. Chocolate has a 4 g/L per liter iron content. The highest iron content is 6 g/L (goldrausch) and lowest is 1 g/L (alpstein). Ink writes like a reddish hot chocolate and oxidizes to dark brown or black. You can see the oxidation process here with a Jinhao fude nib. (Quote is by Oscar Wilde). Ink is wet and was excellent with most nibs. I won’t recommend ebonite feed, flex nib combo for writing, especially on cheap papers. Too much ink on bad paper spells disaster. However, the same combo is fantastic on watercolor/ mixed media papers for drawing. Cleaning: I used three pens for this month-long experiment: a Kaweco Sport, an Ahab (both eyedroppered), and a Pilot Kakuno. I cleaned with a touch of pure ascorbic powder dissolved in water, using the pen jacuzzi. The Ahab’s barrel was full of iron oxide. Surprisingly, when I rinsed the Kaweco barrel under tap water, it came out clean. After half a day of soaking, the feed was spotless too. Since I was about to fill the barrel with another IG ink, I didn’t bother repeating the ascorbic acid / pen jacuzzi routine for the Kaweco. I assume the resin barrel of the Ahab reacted with the ink, while the Kaweco’s plastic barrel did not. It seems Ahab’s vegetal resin barrel is more reactive and prone to iron oxide deposits, while the ABS plastic of the Kaweco s chemically more resistant, rinsing clean with little effort. Never use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. After using this ink for a month, I can say this ink has become one of my favorite, especially for artwork, when one can play with different dynamics by diluting the ink. --- 🧪 Chroma Just wow! --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 20lb Oxidation and closeup: 🔍 Comparison --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Tower of Silence Inktober yearlong challenge 2025: Tomb, Other inks used: Tintenlabor Alpstein, Mood Tape Grand African – Paper is Talens Mixed Media for all drawings. I ate your mouse! My cat brought a live mouse indoors to play with. Rest assured, I caught the mouse and saved it. So, I had to draw my cat, Wednesday Addams style. Inktober challenge 2025: Day 2: Weave Once upon a time a princess’ kitty is banished for refusing to eat a mouse. The princess orders a carpet be woven from her luxurious hair, as she mourns. Thus, punishing her cruel father, the King, who wishes to marry her off. When the carpet is finished, she cuts her hair and flees the confines of the palace to join her kitty in exile. J Herbin Corail des Tropiques / J Herbin Gris Nuage, De Atramentis Document Cyan/ Turquoise mix, Van Dieman's Here Kitty Kitty. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco Sport (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.9) , Ahab with FPR Super-flex. - What I Liked: Colour, writing, drawing, ink washes, water resistance. Drawing with a flex nib. - What I Did Not Like: Writing with a flex nib. - Writing Experience: Lovely with most nibs, not so with flex, because of wetness, long dry times (too much ink). - Pros: Lovely colour, wet, well lubricated, maintains brown after a month. - Cons: Not suited for vegetal resin Ahab barrels. There might be tariffs for some. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Lovely. - Ghosting: Faint. See below. - Bleed Through: Yes, with very wet pens. - Flow Rate: Wet - Lubrication: below average to good, depending on nib size and pen, - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Very Good. - Saturation: Gorgeous. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Only with a very wet flex pen. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): Yes, on Ahab’s barrel, none on Kaweco’s. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Moderately easy with Kaweco, needed ascorbic acid for Ahab barrel. - Water Resistance: Very good. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottles, directly from Tintenlabor. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/schokolade --- 💬 Closing I have been wowed by the evolution of Tintenlabor inks. The new series have surprised me by their quality, performance and behaviour. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor - Alpstein Ink Review # 200 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that you would know the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister David. Alpstein is an ink for the iron gall weary. It has only 1 g/L of iron content, compared to the 3/4/5/6 g/L for other inks. It mimics the limestone peaks of Alpstein mountain range in northeastern Switzerland. It has a dry flow, below average lubrication and it would benefit either from a wet pen or soft nib. Ink is pencil grey. It had difficulty to keep up with the wet ebonite feed from the Karas Customs with a very wet feed from FPnibs. But over time the flow adjusted. I used two barrel fulls of inks. If there’s oxidation, it’s faint. Ink is water resistant but not waterproof. It needs a right pen, paper to shine. Cleaning was easy, a few flushes and voilà. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 🔍 Comparison --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Punk Inktober yearlong challenge 2025, I interpreted punk in the sense of late 1940s and 50s. More specifically from The Wild One with Marlon Brando, and then added a modern twist to it with my cat & mouse theme (graffiti]. Ink is Tintenlabor Alpstein 4 Artist Silver marker and Red Sharpie Bus stop Inspired by inverted ink bottle as a bench with my cat & mouse theme. There’s a nod to Montblanc 146 (bus line number) and Alpstein mountain range. Tintenlabor Alpstein, Schokolade (Brown Black), Moodtape Grand African (Green) and FaberCastel blue Water colour crayon, Talens Mixed Media paper. Me & My Guy! A playful ink drawing inspired by the 1930s song “For Me and My Gal.” The title came after the drawing, flipping “gal” to “guy” for a lighter twist. Note the gorgeous colour variations when applied liberally. Tintenlabor Alpstein, Talens Mixed Media notebook. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.9) , Karas Vertex FPnibs full flex ebonite extra wet feed. - What I Liked: Doing ink washes. Chroma and sketching. - What I Did Not Like: dry flow and paleness. - What Some Might Not Like: It’s a pale grey, not wet, not lubricated. - Writing Experience: Meh! I would say, it’s best on a Peter Pauper style paper. - Pros: Great ink for artist. And sketching. - Cons: dry flow. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Yes - Ghosting: A bit o.n copy paper. - Bleed Through: As above. - Flow Rate: Dry - Lubrication: Below average but not scratchy. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Ok - Saturation: Pale - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): No. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Easy - Water Resistance: Good. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottles. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/alpstein Note: Postal restrictions may affect shipping to certain countries, including the US. --- 💬 Closing I can’t say I was wowed by this colour for writing, however, the artist in me was wowed with the gorgeous grey washes. This is great ink for monochromatic drawing. It’s also a great ink, for those who want to use Iron gall inks but are weary of the cleaning process. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor goldrausch – “Gold Rush” (formerly Gold Black) Ink Review # 198 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall inks. What separates this brand from similar ones is that the iron content is disclosed. In this case, 6 g/L, which is the highest. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. This is my favorite Tintenlabor ink; it’s unique and fun to use. It starts as gold, then oxidizes to a gorgeous dark brown with lovely shading, or to a glossy black, depending on the wetness of the pen. With a very wet Ahab, it could bleed through some papers, yet in a Lamy Safari it was fantastic, the same with the Kakuno. After a month, I was sorry to say adieu. Cleaning is much easier than with other IG inks. After rinsing overnight, there was a black residue inside all sections, which I removed with a Q-tip. I still gave it a diluted ascorbic acid “special treatment” in the pen jacuzzi (tip of a teaspoon in a cup of water) and a bit of rinsing. Everything was clean in less than 18 hours. Ink is water-resistant / waterproof. The more oxidized it is, the more waterproof. Note: With IG inks, never use traditional ammonia-based cleaning solutions. Note 2: Tintenlabor has renamed some of the old inks and discontinued the rest. However, it is my understanding that David will make them for you, if you ask kindly. In conclusion: if you want the brown colour, opt for a dry pen; if you want the glossy black opt for a wet pen. Ideally, use pens that can be dismantled completely. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Note: I did the review before the name change happened. Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill Oxidization 🔍 Comparison --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Home Tintenlabor Gold Black Diamine Registrar's J Herbin Diabolo Menthe Yellow highlighter Bleach Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Tintenlabor Goldrausch and Alpenstein ( grey) Paper is Talens Mixed Media --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1) Ahab with FPR superflex and ebonite feed. - What I Liked: Writing, color, sketching, oxidization to brown or glossy black. - What I Did Not Like: If I were to nitpick, sometimes it looked transparent with fine nibs. - What Some Might Not Like: IG ink phobia. - Writing Experience: Excellent - Pros: Marvellous oxidization, - Cons: It’s an IG ink. So you can’t forget it in a pen. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Lovely with dry pens. - Ghosting: With wet pens. - Bleed Through: Yes, with very wet pens. - Flow Rate: Wet - Lubrication: ok - Nib Dry-out: If you let the ink too long in a pen, it might evaporate. - Start-up: Good in general. - Saturation: Saturated baby! - Sheen: Glossy black with Ahab but no sheen, - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): It could leave a black residue in section. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Relatively easily compared to other IG inks. - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - [ ] Available in 30/50 ml bottle. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/goldrausch --- 💬 Closing In all my years of testing and reviewing inks, this ink exceeded my expectations. It’s a unique product for the discerning ink lover. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor Azur Noir Ink Review # 190 Full name: azur noir, dunkelblau / schwarz (dark blue-black) --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that you would know the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Mesiter, David. Azur Noir is the last of the blue inks. According to the website, it has the highest iron content, 6 gr/l, and is best suited for wet pens. Unlike the other reviewed inks, the wet ink is blue-black; however, with time, it will oxidize to black with a tinge of blue. This was most challenging to control with Ahab. Ink leaves a blackish iron residue in the converter and section, and is best used with pens that can be dismantled. Ink ghosted on cheap, thin paper with some nibs, but of the four blues, this and Violet Blue seem best for cheap, thin copy paper (your mileage might vary). Essri and Diamine Registrars are still the best for cheap paper. As with iron gall inks, it's best to clean them directly with a diluted ascorbic acid solution. Pens need long soaking (think spa, jacuzzi ), ideally an ultrasonic cleaner, Q-tip and the rest. Never use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68 gsm Hammermill 20lb --- 📸 Photo Photos were taken 14 days after the scan. Rhodia, Irofu, Hammermill Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Oxidation 🔍 Comparison A full page of 4 tintenlabor blue inks. Comparison of ghosting and bleedthrough of 6 iron gall inks Note Essri seems to be the winner, still. --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork She Who Wears the Storm TIntenlabor Azur Noir/Violet Blue, Talens Mixed Media Paper. Boxer pup Inks and paper Oxidation Kitty and pup Tintenlabor Azur Noir and Gold --- - Pens Used: Pilot Elite EF gold nib, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1), Ahab with a FPR ultraflex nib. - What I Liked: Color. Wetness - What I Did Not Like: It could be temperamental with Ahab. With other pens, it was great. - What Some Might Not Like: IG high-maintenance ink. - Writing Experience: Excellent. - Pros: Wet, well-lubricated, lovely dark colour. - Cons: Pain to clean. You’ll have ghosting on cheap paper. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Lovely. - Ghosting: Unfortunately, yes, on cheap, thin copy paper. - Bleed Through: If you insist on writing with a wet pen on the above paper. - Flow Rate: Wet. - Lubrication: Lovely. - Nib Dry-out: If left long enough uncapped, it might need some coaxing to write with. - Start-up: It was excellent on all pens, except Ahab. - Saturation: Dark and profound. - Sheen: Did not notice. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Yes on Ahab. - Staining (Pen): There’ll be a black iron content. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: You’ll need some ascorbic acid, Q-tips, etc to clean. - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - [ ] Available in 30/50 ml bottle. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/azur-noir-dunkelblau-schwarz --- 💬 Closing At one point, iron gall fatigue set in, and I found myself wondering—what’s the point of so many variations of blue iron gall inks? It wasn’t until I laid out a full page of the four inks that I understood: each ink oxidizes differently. Some deepen to charcoal, others reveal strands of navy or hints of midnight blue in the black. That’s also why I’ve decided to review Essri and Diamine Registrar’s next—to continue this journey. I hope you won’t mind a few more blue-blacks along the way, as not all blue-blacks are created equal. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor (Ink lab) is a new Swiss ink company specializing in iron gall-based inks. The website is in German, so you must use the translation app in your browser. https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products Note how the iron content is marked in each bottle: Inks come in 30 or 50-ml bottles, and some specialty inks are only in 10-ml bottles. Disclaimer: The owner and wizard, Inkmeister David, kindly sent me bottles (with my participation in shipping) to test. He patiently responded to my numerous questions and gripes, and insisted that I be as transparent as possible about my experience. This ink experience has been one of the most fun, challenging, and ultimately rewarding ink journeys. What is special about these inks is that the iron and dye content is known to the user, so that you can choose your ink depending on your risk tolerance, use, and preference. As of this posting, several colours are available in various iron and dye content: Green, Purple, Blue, and blue-black, and two specialty grey and gold inks. I’ll be reviewing these inks in detail for each colour family. I’ve come to realize that each colour family is distinctly different. For example, Dark Green 2 and Dark Purple 2, while having the same iron and dye content, are distinctly different in behaviour. So today, I will give an overview of the green inks and post separate reviews of each ink on the Reviews forum. Over time, I will post my notes on the other inks here. A note about cleaning: Do not use ammonia-based cleaning solutions with these inks. The best way is to use a pinch of ascorbic acid or common lime/ lemon juice (filtered, obviously ) or a ratio of 1/10 vinegar. The lower the iron content, the more user-friendly the ink is for the average user. High-iron content inks are more challenging and require patience and perseverance. Dark Green inks come in three declinations, and in 30/50 ml bottles. 1. Dark Green 1 (High dye, low iron content (3 gr/l). Low maintenance, Excellent flow, good behavior, lovely color, and low oxidation. 2. Dark Green 2 (Low dye, medium iron content (4 gr/l), medium maintenance, Low lubrication, immediate oxidation, from bright green to charcoal. 3. Aprilis Argente (high dye, highest iron content 6 gr/l), high maintenance, low lubrication, sluggish flow. Ink oxidation from medium green to charcoal from 20 seconds to 24 hours, depending on the paper (slowest on Midroi/ and TR 68 gsm) I love all three inks for different reasons. Note: I misnamed the swatches by marking the iron content. You can see the actual dye and how it oxidizes over time. These swatches have oxidized over one month: Col-O-ring paper is very water repellent, so oxidation takes time. (The more water resistant the paper is (think watercolor paper), the longer the oxidation. ) After a month: Dark Green 1 is a gorgeous shade of green. It is easy to use and has lovely shading. Cleaning is easy with modern pens that can be dismantled, but vintage pens are more time-consuming. Everyone can use this ink. Dark Green 2 is a pure Iron gall ink with a low dye content that oxidizes magically into charcoal immediately. Cleaning was easy in most cases. The ink only left some iron deposit on one nib, but it disappeared. This could be remedied by dipping a Q-tip in any solid cleaning paste, (Putzstein, Pink Stuff, Pierre d’Argent etc) and rubbing it on the nib. Aprlis Argentes is a specialty ink made for cheap paper, hence its sluggish flow. It took a lot of pens and testing to find the right combination. I needed to prime some pens regularly. The only analogy I can see is taming and training a wild horse. It was an ink rodeo, rewarding but not for everyone. Paradoxically, it’s the ink I used most (half a bottle). Which ink did I love most? It’s a difficult question to answer. I think I loved them all equally. Which one do I recommend? It all depends on your personality, pens, and risk tolerance. Dark Green 1 is for most people and pens. Dark Green 2 is for those who want immediate oxidation and don’t mind low-lubricated inks. Aprilis Argente is for those who like a challenge and use copy paper. What pens? This is a tricky one to answer. It depends on the ink. The higher the iron content, the wetter the pen should be. Inks range from water-resistant to waterproof. The dye content can be washed away with the lower the iron content. I'm now in the process of testing the purple inks, which are pretty different. In a week or two, I'll post my general comparisons here. And here are several test drawings: Dark Green 1 (Talens Mixed Media paper) S Strathmore Paper Dark Green 2 (Talens Mixed Media paper) and Aprilis Argente Talens Mixed Media Paper and here is a combination of the three. It's challenging to distinguish Dark Green 2 from Aprilis Argente, but whatever, from light grey to near black, can be either of the two. Paper is Strathmore. Final notes: It is my understanding that some of the flow issues might be fixed in the future...

Tintenlabor Dark Blue 3 (New Formula) (Eisengallustinte 3, dunkelblau / schwarz) Ink Review # 189 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that you would know the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Meister, David. This is the new formula of Dark Blue 3, a Blue Black iron gall with 5 g/l iron and high dye content. I haven't tested the old formula, so I cannot compare them. But this is a wet ink. On most papers I tested, the ink oxidized immediately from sky blue/petrol blue (depending on the nib width) to blue-black/ grey. Midori was the only exception, which took 12 hours. Ink is almost waterproof from the moment it dries. With a very wet, primed flex nib, I saw feathering on Midori and Hammermill. While there was some ghosting and bleed through on the latter, there was none on my cheap shopping list paper. As with iron gall inks, it's best to clean them directly with a diluted ascorbic acid solution (to make your life easier). Never use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. For more information, check this thread, especially our resident scientist @InesF explanations on page 2. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm While it's written Blue 2 on the Tomoe River paper, it's actually Blue 3. Hammermill 20lb --- 📸 Photo Rhodia, Hammermill, Iroful Midori, Tomoe River 68 gsm Oxidation 🔍 Comparison Tintenlabor Dark Blue 2 vs Dark Blue 3 - Artificial vs natural light Swatches: --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Dragonfly Tintenlabor Azur Noir/ Dark Blue 3 ( it's the background blue black) Paper is Talents Mixed Media. Part of Inktober yearlong challenge 2025. Dragonflies were very important in Samurai culture. Fado Tintenlabor Azur Noir (fado singer), the Portuguese guitar, and the landscape were done with Tintenlabor Dark Blue 3 – Paper is Strathmore. I'm a fan of fado music — a traditional Portuguese genre often played with the Portuguese guitar. It evokes saudade, an untranslatable feeling that blends nostalgia, longing, loss, and yearning. I Don’t want to be Human Tintenlabor Dark Blue 3/Noodler’s Red Rattler Eel A salute to all the cats who’ve had enough of human nonsense — and let their tongues, and their mouse companions, say it all. --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1), Kanwrite with FPR ultraflex - What I Liked: Nice wet, decent lubrication. - What I Did Not Like: Nitpicking: With some nibs, the base color was petrol blue, not my favorite colour. - What Some Might Not Like: Cleaning and IG inks. - Writing Experience: Delightful. - Pros: Waterproof. Lovely colours. Small bottle. - Cons: You can buy it only from the website. It's not as good as Essri for copy paper. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Good. - Ghosting: Yes on Hammermill, not on shopping list. - Bleed Through: Flex nib can't handle copy paper. - Flow Rate: Wet, to very wet. - Lubrication: Very good. - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Great with most pens. Kakuno was a bit fussy. - Saturation: Lovely - Sheen: Did not notice. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Only with a wet flex primed nib. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): You'll need a Q-Tip. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Like all IG inks, water, a pinch of ascorbic acid, Q-tip and patience is necessary. - Water Resistance: Excellent after oxidation. --- 🛒 Availability - [ ] Available in 30/50 ml bottle directly: https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/eisengallustinte-3-dunkelblau-schwarz --- 💬 Closing This is lovely ink by Tintenlabor. The final question remains: What is the difference between Dark Blue 2 and Dark Blue 3? Both oxidize to a charcoal grey colour. Blue 2 has low dye content, and Blue 3 has high dye content, but both look similar in the end. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. ;) Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.

Tintenlabor Violet Blue/Black (Eisengallustinte 1, violettblau / schwarz) Ink Review # 187 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss company that specializes in iron gall ink. The unique feature of these inks is that you can choose them knowing the iron content of the ink. Disclaimer: Bottles of ink were sent generously by the Ink-Master David himself. I'll review the four blues, which have an increasing degree of iron from 3 to 6. Violet Blue is gorgeous, royal blue iron gall ink that oxidizes to shades of blue/ black or navy, immediately or over time. The ink has slightly below-average lubrication. Oxidation is longest on Midori and immediate on most other papers. It's slowest on mixed media and watercolour paper. For cleaning, I flush the pen with clear water, then let it soak in a diluted vinegar solution, flush several times, rinse, and repeat. Do not use ammonia-based cleaning solutions with iron gall inks. I enjoyed using this ink. It has a soft, mellow look to it. This ink suits those who need water resistance, use their pens regularly, and like iron gall inks. If you are risk-averse and don't want to be bothered cleaning your pens with vinegar, it won't be a good fit for you. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Check the Midori photo for the correct color. Hammermill 20lb copy paper --- ## 📸 Photo 20 days later, photography Hammermill, Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Oxidation in real time (Tomoe River 68 gsm paper) --- 🔍 Comparison I didn't add the old formula swatches for simplicity --- 💧 Water Test After 24 hours. --- 🎨 Artwork Wolf pup Tintenlabor Violet blue 1 (background), Gold Black, and Noodler's Red Rattler's Red. Pup Tintenlabor Violet Blue, Gold Adora-mouse-te Tinten labor, Violet Blue, Gold, and another IG ink --- - Pens Used: Pilot F3A, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1) , Waterman W2 vintage flex - What I Liked: · Colour, oxidation from royal blue to blue black - What I Did Not Like: If I want to nitpick, it's the cleaning. - What Some Might Not Like: Iron gall ink, lower than average lubrication. - Writing Experience: Excellent with most pens. - Pros: Lovely oxidation, well-behaved, water-resistant. - Cons: Not 100% waterproof. Medium maintenance ink, cleaning, etc. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Yes. - Ghosting: Yes, on cheap paper. - Bleed Through: Yes, on thin, cheap paper. - Flow Rate: Wet - Lubrication: Decent - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Excellent. - Saturation: Gorgeous. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: No - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining: Did not notice. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: I flushed the pen a few times and soaked it in diluted vinegar. - Water Resistance: Very Good. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottle directly from: https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/eisengallustinte-1-violettblau-schwarz --- 💬 Closing This is another excellent colour from Tintenlabor; it is elegant, mysterious, and a pleasure to use. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments. The more the merrier.

Tintenlabor – Dark Blue 2 – (New formula) (Eisengallustinte 2, dunkelblau / schwarz) Ink Review # 188 --- 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this ink from other brands is that you would know the iron content. The samples were sent to me by the Ink-Mesiter, David. This is the new formula of Dark Blue 2, a Blue Black iron gall with 4 gr/l iron content and low dye. I haven't tested the old formula, so I cannot compare them. But this is a wet ink with below-average lubrication. With Kakuno, it was lovely to write with Safari, depending on the nib sizes. On most papers I tested, the ink oxidized immediately from light blue to blue-black/ grey and finally charcoal. Midori was the only exception, and it took 12 hours. As with iron gall inks, it's best to clean them directly with a diluted vinegar solution (to make your life easier). Never use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples (scan) Rhodia / Iroful Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm Midori scan is off. Check photo below. Hammermill 20lb --- 📸 Photo 8 days later Hammermill, Rhodia/ Iroful Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm Oxidation in real time: Note how the color slowly oxidizes on Midori. Closeup, Rhodia (top) - iroful - 8 days later ) 🔍 Comparison --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Complicity Tintenlabor, Violet Blue / Dark Blue 2, Talens Mixed Media Paper Nap Where do we go now? Lamy Safari Stub 1.1 - Talens Mixed Media Paper --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1), Noodler's Nib Creaper with a Waterman W2 vintage flex nib - What I Liked: · Colour, oxidation from royal blue to blue black - What I Did Not Like: If I want to nitpick, it's the cleaning. - What Some Might Not Like: Iron gall ink, lower than average lubrication. - Writing Experience: Excellent with most pens. - Pros: Lovely oxidation, well-behaved, water-resistant. - Cons: IG ink 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Yes. - Ghosting: Yes, on cheap paper. - Bleed Through: Yes, on thin, cheap paper. - Flow Rate: Wet - Lubrication: Below average, but decent with most pens, - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Excellent. - Saturation: Gorgeous. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): Iron residue was in the converter and section. Q-tip and vinegar are a must. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: Flush dye away, then soak in diluted white vinegar and rinse. - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - [ ] Available in 30/50 ml bottle directly from https://tintenlabor.mycommerce.shop/products/eisengallustinte-2-dunkelblau-schwarz --- 💬 Closing This is another excellent colour from Tintenlabor, a darker, low dye, medium iron content. Excellent choice for those needing nice waterproof ink, like IG inks, who use their pen regularly, and don't mind high-maintenance inks. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. ;) Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier. :)

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

Tintenlabor Purple Black 2 - (New Formula) Ink Review # 186 --- 🧾 Description Purple Black 2 is a gorgeous, mysterious, dark purple, waterproof iron gall ink by Tintenlabor. David the Ink-Mesiter graciously sent me the new formula, and it was worth the wait. German name: Eisengallustinte 2, purpur / schwarz It has a delicious flow and looks lovely on all papers. However, it's not suitable for thin, absorbent papers like Hammermill. It can feather, ghost, and bleed through to some extent. It uses the same unique stabilizing dye as Purple Black 1, but in a lesser quantity. The iron content is 4 gr/l as opposed to 3 gr/l of Purple Black 1. The oxidation process is slower; it hasn't darkened compared to Green Black 2 and retained the smoky purple colour. Finally, the price is a fraction of Purple Black 1's. I have only cleaned the Pilot Kakuno. After soaking overnight, the pen was clean. However, I had to scrub the section and the Con-40 converter with a Q-tip, and the feed was covered with purple dye, even though when I wrapped the pen filled with water around tissue paper, the paper was clear. I have noticed that many inks, IG or not, like to cling to the plastic component of the Kakuno. Update: Cleaning Lamy Safari and Kanwrite was straightforward. After overnight soaking in water and a little soaking in diluted vinegar, the pens were as clean as a whistle. And as a reminder, don't use ammonia-based fountain pen cleaners with Iron gall inks; white vinegar in diluted form should be ok. It would be prudent to soak the pen in a white vinegar solution as a safe measure. Regardless of this, I enjoyed writing and drawing with this ink. It was as delicious with a Japanese Ef nib as any other nib. --- 🧪 Chroma --- ✍️ Writing Samples Rhodia / Iroful Midori/ Tomoe River 68gsm Hammermill 20lb --- 📸 Photos The colour is more accurate here: Midori/ Hammermill Oxidation in real time (iroful paper) --- 🔍 Comparison I've kept the old formula swatch so that you can observe their respective oxidation process. --- 💧 Water Test --- 🎨 Artwork Rock n'Roll Tinten labor, Dark Purple 2 (New formula), Gold, and Violet Blue Unconditional Tintenlabor Dark Purple 2 (New formula, Dark Green 1 Flamenco (Old formula) Purple Rain (old formula) Paper is Talens Mixed Media. Ink has not oxidized over time. A Delicate Balance Pilot Kakuno Ef/ Talens Mixed Media Paper --- - Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF / F / M / B / Stub 1.1), Kanwrite with FPR ultraflex nib. - What I Liked: Very well-behaved ink, lovely colour, a joy to write or sketch with, nice lubrication. Price - What I Did Not Like: If I want to nitpick, it's the cleaning. - What Some Might Not Like: Iron gall inks. - Writing Experience: Excellent. Lovely interior colour. - Pros: Stable ink, stable color. Waterproof. - Cons: Cleaning might be a bit more labour-intensive, but not as bad as other inks I've had. 🧷 Ink Characteristics - Shading: Yes. - Ghosting: Yes, on cheap paper. - Bleed Through: Yes, on thin, cheap paper. - Flow Rate: Wet - Lubrication: Good - Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. - Start-up: Excellent. - Saturation: Gorgeous. - Sheen: No. - Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Yes on this Hammermill paper. - Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice. - Staining (Pen): Pilot Kakuno needed a Q-tip. - Clogging: No. - Cleaning: It could be - Water Resistance: Excellent. --- 🛒 Availability - Available in 30/50 ml bottles directly from Tintenlabor --- 💬 Closing This is another excellent colour from Tintenlabor; it is elegant, mysterious, and royal—a pleasure to use. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments. The more the merrier

Tintenlabor Dark Green 2 (Dunkelgrün / schwarz 2) Ink review # 185 🧾 Description Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company that specializes in iron gall-based inks. These inks are unique in that the iron content is known to the user beforehand. You can find more about this ink here. There are three Green inks: Dark Green 1 (3 gr/l) Dark Green 2 (4 gr/l) and Aprilis Argente (6 gr/l). The new formulation of Dark Green 2, a low-dye, medium-iron-content ink that instantly oxidizes from bright green to dark grey or black, even on watercolour paper. The flow is wet, and the lubrication is below average but still pleasant. I will post a comparison review of the two formulas later on here. Other inks with high oxidation rate are Gold Black and Aprilis Argente. This ink can leave black iron residue on some pens and stain nibs. A diluted solution of white vinegar, water, and lots of soaking was necessary to clean. I removed the nib stain with a stain remover (Pink solution) and Q-tip from the nib. Do not use ammonia-based cleaning solutions to clean iron gall inks. 🧪 Chroma ✍️ Writing Samples Rhodia & Iroful Midori & TR68gsm Hammermill 20lb 📸 Photo Oxidation in real time on Iroful paper (artificial LED light). I wasn't fast enough. Oxidation in real time on TR 68 gsm. The bright green line is the colour going down. 🔍 Comparison Observe how the oxidation process changed the colour of the inks over time. Dark Green 2 (New Formula) oxidized overnight. After application After oxidation 💧 Water Test 🎨 Art Work Black Panther A fun drawing using the Dark Green 2/ Purple Black2 (new formula) on Fabriano watercolor paper. I ain't your taurus Part of the year-long Inktober challenge: Taurus Tintenlabor Dark Green 2 (old formula) Montblanc Origins Coral Funky Fungi Tintenlabor Dark Green2 /Violet Blue, Noodler's Red Rattler's Eel Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF / F / M / B / Stub 1.1), Vintage Unic wet noodle flex What I Liked: Oxidation, iron gall ink What I Did Not Like: Not easy to clean What Some Might Not Like: Cleaning, iron gall Writing Experience: Pros: Immediate oxidation. Waterproof, Cons: Cleaning could be difficult. You need to soak in white vinegar (not balsamic, obviously ) 🧷 Ink Characteristics Shading: Some shading, especially with M nib and above. Ghosting: Yes on Hammermill Bleed Through: Yes, with wet/ flex pens. Flow Rate: Wet Lubrication: Good Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. Start-up: With most pens ok. Saturation: Delicious and complex Shading Potential: With some pens yes. Sheen: Did not notice. Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice Staining (Pen): Yes. Black iron residue can stick on the converter. Clogging: Did not notice Cleaning: A pain. Lots of soaking in vinegar. Though surprisingly only water with Jinhao X159. Water Resistance: Excellent. 🛒 Availability Available in 30, 50 ml bottles 💬 Closing I enjoyed using this ink, despite its drawbacks. If you want this extreme oxidation, this is the one for you. If you want one with less hassle, TIntenlabor Gold Black could be another option. No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments. The more the merrier!