Confused About Ink Colors, And Defective Ink

[Erasmus]

So, thanks to you fine enablers, I now have a bunch of inks. Yay! Now I have a few questions.

 

1. Is it weird to have a blue pen with brown ink, or something like that? Do you guys match your ink to the pen at all?

2. As a man, what ink colors are acceptable in a business context? Does it have to be blue or black, or can I get away with dark purple, brown, and red?

3. I have a bottle of Eclat de Saphir, and there's something floating around in it. I honestly don't even remember where I got it, probably in a trade. Anyway, I read the sticky post about J. Herbin. My question is, is it worth trying to send it to the distributor?

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

[tanalasta]

Hello, welcome to FPN!

 

No it's not wierd to ink a blue pen with brown ink. It's like a black pen is inked with whatever colour - the beauty of a fountain pen is you can do whatever you like. it's a matter of personal preference.

 

In a business context, it depends on the formality of the business and what people are writing in ballpoint. In general, darker shades are preferred. However, if your workplace often uses a blue ballpoint, then any of the blue inks may be appropriate. I have a personal preference towards blue-black. Red is generally a no-no in a formal business context and comes across a little aggressive. However, burgundy or bordeaux may be appropriate for post-it notes or handwritten notes to a colleague. You could also use dark purple, brown, green etc... or editing a draft hard copy. Anything that goes into permanent filing as a final copy or to a client is best signed in a permanent, formal colour.

 

It is hard to define what you can get away with. I'm sure if you were the CEO, you can write in whatever colour you want.

 

Eclat de saphir is not an expensive ink. I highly suggest tossing the bottle and buying a new one. However, you could contact J'Herbin and see if they want it.

[SamCapote]

So, thanks to you fine enablers, I now have a bunch of inks. Yay! Now I have a few questions.

 

1. Is it weird to have a blue pen with brown ink, or something like that? Do you guys match your ink to the pen at all?

2. As a man, what ink colors are acceptable in a business context? Does it have to be blue or black, or can I get away with dark purple, brown, and red?

3. I have a bottle of Eclat de Saphir, and there's something floating around in it. I honestly don't even remember where I got it, probably in a trade. Anyway, I read the sticky post about J. Herbin. My question is, is it worth trying to send it to the distributor?

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

1) I used to try to match a pen color with ink just so I could keep them straight...but gave up on that for the most part opting instead for using the pen(s) that give the best performance for a given ink & application. I now just keep a small notepad sheet with all current inks in use. I write the date filled, which pen and ink as a sample line, and cross it off when flushed.

 

2) That's a loaded question today, so you better say what kind of a man you are talking about. If you mean a red blooded, meat eating, "sheet kicking" (getting around the censor), forever hetero, and has no idea what women mean when they say they are looking for a sensitive man...then I would say in a business context--black, blue-black, dark blue, dark brown (think Noodler's #41), or living on the edge--Montblanc Racing Green. If you are talking a business job in San Francisco, then probably start with pink and baby blue, using red or purple for a really serious business context. That was my Larry David sense of humor.

 

3) It would not hurt to contact J.Herbin about it. They know about the issue, were completely up front with everyone in the pinned thread above, and have been great about taking care of people who run into any problems with replacements. They may or may not ask you to send it to them. I would think taking a quick photo would also work.

 

Good Luck

[macaddicted]

1. I have a tendency towards pairing ink colors and pen colors. It's more of an aesthetic thing.

 

2. I sell stuff to cops (manly men) and have used blues up to turquoise. What the heck, my BA is in graphic design. I LIKE color. I get the occasional second look. I don't care. The choice is usually going to depend for whom the writing is intended. There can be a lot of interesting variation in just blue-black. And there's always mixing ink. (scroll down to message #35.)

 

3. It's likely SiTB, a catch-all (stuff in the bottle) that sounds better than "goop." Don't use the ink, you don't want what's in the bottle gooping up your pen. Contact Exaclair and find out what they want to do.

[corniche]

So, thanks to you fine enablers, I now have a bunch of inks. Yay! Now I have a few questions.

 

1. Is it weird to have a blue pen with brown ink, or something like that? Do you guys match your ink to the pen at all?

2. As a man, what ink colors are acceptable in a business context? Does it have to be blue or black, or can I get away with dark purple, brown, and red?

3. I have a bottle of Eclat de Saphir, and there's something floating around in it. I honestly don't even remember where I got it, probably in a trade. Anyway, I read the sticky post about J. Herbin. My question is, is it worth trying to send it to the distributor?

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Hello Erasmus,

 

1. That is like hiring an interior designer... i.e., why bother? I know what I want my couch to look and feel like and I know what color I want on my walls. I buy pens for performance (and classic looks) and inks for performance (and color). I say use the pen you like and load it with the ink you like- forget the rest. I'm a free thinker when it isn't a morals issue.

 

2. When it comes to ink in the workplace... ask the owner, (or the manager if you work at Megalopolis, Inc.); it is their company and they should set the pace for what they deem appropriate for their company. Branding and image are important factors in business; some companies won't buy Kleenex unless the box matches the corporate color image.

 

3. You can try contacting Exaclair and look into a refund; however, don't be crestfallen if they don't bite... that "epidemic" happened last year; they might figure the warranty has expired by now. (I would still give it a shot, though).

 

Hope this helps rather than hinders.

 

All the best,

 

Sean

Edited September 29, 2011 by S. P. Colfer

[Moondrop]

So, thanks to you fine enablers, I now have a bunch of inks. Yay! Now I have a few questions.

 

1. Is it weird to have a blue pen with brown ink, or something like that? Do you guys match your ink to the pen at all?

 

 

I can only respond to the first question. I know some people insist on matching ink and pen colors, but if I did that, I'd have mostly red ink here. Of the pens I've got inked at the moment, 6 are red and all are filled with black ink. If anyone thinks that's weird, then they don't have to write with my pens. LOL

[Bo Bo Olson]

Very soon after starting to collect pens and get a few inks, I found I did not have enough this and that color pens to match even a few inks.

 

When I get a new ink, I ink 4-8 pens to see what nibs of various widths and flexes gives with an ink on a couple of papers. ( Being cheap with the paper until I get a good assortment, so I can find out what papers I want to buy reams of.)

 

Now being disorganized, I got often to write with a pen to see what color ink is in it.....good, got to use up the ink some how.

 

Having mostly piston pens, I have learned not to fill the pen too much. One will want some of that ink left for a real test with 15 inks, and 15 papers, and 15 assorted nibs.

[Horseknitter]

For fall I love using PR's Orange Crush on personal correspondence. But I don't own a single orange pen (out of 48 pens) so I coordinate with a brown or tortoise pen, or black, or a clear demonstrator. In this way my sensitive sensibilities are not offended. :roflmho:

 

I keep only 2 pens inked at a time so that I can cycle through colors. However, that really doesn't work well so don't use my system. Just when I have my favorite blue and orange in pens I need black. But too many pens inked creates drying problems for me. There must be a balance in there somewhere.

[PenTieRun]

Exaclair is an excellent distributor and they WANT any defective ink. Herbin cares deeply about getting their product right. Send it to them and they will send you a new bottle.

[WOBentley]

I don't (usually) match ink to pen color, but many do.

At work I have three inks, Noodler's Blue, Aurora Black and a variety of (dark) Brown. I have used green at work, and honestly could use what I wanted, but due to the nature of the type of work I currently do I feel more comfortable with more "traditional" colors. At home...anything goes. Currently two greens (Akkerman Bezuidenwoudgroen and PR fast dry Sherwood Green). For Fall I am thinking of an Orange (Probably Diamine Pumpkin) and Red (maybe Iroshizuku Momiji or MB Ink of Love). This way I get the best of both worlds!

Eclat de Saphir is a personal favorite too, but as was said if you have SITB (Slime (or stuff) in the bottle), get rid of it...not worth the risk.

Edited October 2, 2011 by WOBentley