Rohrer & Klingner Morinda

[Margana]

Color is always #1 but some inks don't make it easy to write about their best attribute especially when different lighting conditions give them a dual nature. Morinda has some of that quality. In artificial light it is red with a hint of pinkish-orange. However, in natural light it resembles the color of clay bricks. It is similar to J. Herbin 1670 but less saturated. In fact on the pale gray paper in my daily journal, they look nearly identical. A wide nib can bring out more depth of color if your favorite fine nib makes Morinda too understated.

 

Regardless of the pen or paper employed, there is nothing bright about Morinda. A page in my Apica 6A10 journal was comfortably legible when I looked back at it, something I wouldn't say about bright red inks. Most often true reds fairly shout at me on later inspection. Morinda is far more polite.

 

As for other characteristics, Morinda has good flow and coverage. It also dries fairly quickly. Though not a particularly lubricating ink, the Lamy Vista 1.1 mm used in the test moved smoothly across Office Depot 24# inkjet paper. I did not observe any shading but found that quite suitable to the color. There was no bleed-through or show-through on the papers tested. An occasional uneven letter edge appeared on cheap paper though not pronounced enough to be deemed offensive. Frankly, the paper was likely the greater culprit. On better paper performance was excellent. All in all there is a great deal to like here.

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4533707231_0c7526cda3.jpg

 

As always when it comes to color representation, monitors lie with impunity. I wouldn't trust any of them.

 

Full review at An Inkophile's Blog.

 

Ryan from Pear Tree Pens sent the sample used for the review. Thanks for making the introduction, Ryan!

[rroossinck]

So frickin' envious of your handwriting! Just gorgeous!

[Margana]

So frickin' envious of your handwriting! Just gorgeous!

 

I really like your handwriting. So much character to it and it's so consistent and neat. My uppercase letters in the Morinda sample are around 7 mm tall. Gigantic compared to your writing.

[Ondina]

Very beautiful hand indeed and sound review of a color that has interested me for a long while. I'm glad you remark it is a muted yet intensely red, as I lean towards brighter -think Waterman Red- versions or muted with a slight rose hue -such as Herbin's Rouge Opera- or darker reds with shades of black -Monaco Red, home made mixes-. Geez, there's a world of reds out there, isn't it? This is one of its own, and it will satisfy many users thought.

 

Your reviews are always interesting, many thanks for this one.

[Margana]

Very beautiful hand indeed and sound review of a color that has interested me for a long while. I'm glad you remark it is a muted yet intensely red, as I lean towards brighter -think Waterman Red- versions or muted with a slight rose hue -such as Herbin's Rouge Opera- or darker reds with shades of black -Monaco Red, home made mixes-. Geez, there's a world of reds out there, isn't it? This is one of its own, and it will satisfy many users thought.

 

Your reviews are always interesting, many thanks for this one.

Thanks for the kind words. There certainly are lots of reds out there and my experience with them is limited but I do have two that you mentioned. Rouge Opera is definitely more pink and Monaco Red is certainly more dark and earthy. Morinda has a little orange to it that tones down the color and keeps it from looking like a typical bright red ink. I am still exploring its uses but can say it's the first red I've liked with the Lamy 1.1 nib. Now that's really saying something.