Does Diamine Ink Smear Forever?

[inkpenguin]

I've noticed the problem. It seems that the ink does dry out on the paper surface, but it is as if its a very fine powder and can be rubbed and smeared over the paper.

 

This could be also a result of the paper surface (too smooth)? I get it with my Majestic Blue. I don't think this is unique to Diamine as my PR Tanzanite also does that.

[dcwaites]

Any sort of saturated ink (Diamine, Noodler's, Iroshizuku, etc, etc) on hard, dense, sized paper (Rhodia, Clairefontaine...) will smear if water is around (humidity, sweaty fingers and the like).

 

The cause is that the ink doesn't penetrate fully into the paper, and there is a thin layer of dried ink sitting proud above the paper surface. This is what you are smearing.

 

I have had the same problem with Iroshizuku asa-gao on Clairefontaine notebook paper.

 

The only real solution is a slightly more absorbent paper. I have absolutely no problems with the Australian Reflex notebooks and paper.

[Basset]

Of the inks you mentioned, I have only used Majestic Blue, and have not had any drying / smearing problems at all.

[robzap]

Any sort of saturated ink (Diamine, Noodler's, Iroshizuku, etc, etc) on hard, dense, sized paper (Rhodia, Clairefontaine...) will smear if water is around (humidity, sweaty fingers and the like).

 

The cause is that the ink doesn't penetrate fully into the paper, and there is a thin layer of dried ink sitting proud above the paper surface. This is what you are smearing.

 

I have had the same problem with Iroshizuku asa-gao on Clairefontaine notebook paper.

 

The only real solution is a slightly more absorbent paper. I have absolutely no problems with the Australian Reflex notebooks and paper.

 

Thanks again for all of the responses. I think the dried ink powder may be what I'm seeing. I bought a new Rhodia Meeting notebook and testing several of my pens and inks on September 29.

Today (October 19) I ran my finger across each of the writing samples. If you look closely, you can see that the Diamine Majestic Blue, Oxblood and Red Dragon are the only ones that still smeared when rubbed.

http://s780.photobucket.com/albums/yy89/robzap/Ink%20Test/

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Edited October 19, 2010 by robzap

[welch]

I have used Diamine Saphire Blue, Imperial Blue, and Majestic Blue without smearing. I've had some smearing with Clairefontane paper when using some slow-drying inks. PR American Blue comes to mind, and maybe DCSSB. I'm sure the slick paper-surface cause the smearing. With one especially slow-drying ink, my notes appeared dry after sitting overnight, but I put a hand-print on the paper when I pressed down. That's about 12 hours later!

[View from the Loft]

I'm another one that uses Diamine inks (Midnight Blue, Onyx, Blue Black and my daughter's violent on the eyes pink that I can never remember the name of) and hasn't had trouble with slow drying times with the exception of Oxford's Optik paper - and even then, the nib factor comes into play, with my P75 using any ink without problem, while my Lamy 1.5i lays down a line that will just not dry ...

 

On the very rare occasion that I have smeared ink, hand lotion has been the culprit.

[Ada]

I haven't had problems with Diamine inks smearing. But I haven't tried the ones that you are using, and I use significantly cheaper paper than you do.