R&k Sepia: Grey?

[Sagar_C]

Is it just with me that R&K sepia looks to be a rather grey ink after drying with no appreciable hint of sepia?

[Waldenser]

I guess that depends on your definition of "Sepia".

In my opinion R&K Sepia is pretty close in color to the definition of Sepia (Wikipedia): a brownish gray color.

BTW Sepia is used to color black pasta.

[Sagar_C]

I guess that depends on your definition of "Sepia".

In my opinion R&K Sepia is pretty close in color to the definition of Sepia (Wikipedia): a brownish gray color.

BTW Sepia is used to color black pasta.

 

I completely agree but I do not find any appreciable hint of "brown". May be I should write in the ink and post a photo here so that one can pin-point where my confusion lies.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

R&K Sepia swabs: 3, 2, 1 & diluted:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN%20Stuff%20-%202011/Ink%20Review%20-%20R%20and%20K%20Sepia/9a25a54a.jpg

 

Wiki Grey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/44c8facd.jpg

[Sagar_C]

Thanks for the pictures...Do you find anything brownish in it? I find it all grey...I wonder why is it sepia...???...May be I am searching for too much in it...

[WendyNC]

Maybe it's a batch variation or maybe it's my eyes (or pens or paper or whatever), but mine is more brown than grey.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

I find that R&K Sepia is perhaps the most Grey amongst the Brown inks. When used on paper with a warm base-tint, the Brown becomes more apparent, and never becomes too warm.

 

 

Here's the link to the R&K site page that has the pdf of their FP ink colour chart: http://www.rohrer-klingner.de/index.php?id=10&L=1

 

 

Perhaps if someone would post samples of Herbin Cacao du Brèsil the subtle differences may become more apparent. (?)

 

Also, Member dcpritch posted an amazing set of samples & comparisons of Sepia inks in the Ink Samples, Comparisons & Tests subforum - well worth more than a casual glance.

Part 1:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/209494-sepia-toned-ink-comparison-32-inks/

Part 2:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/209498-sepia-toned-ink-comparison-32-inks/

Bye,

S1

[inkstainedruth]

Interesting. On my screen, the R&K color chart makes the Sepia look brown. But I agree -- in the scan that Sandy 1 provided of the swabs, it really does look grey, not brown.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[geoduc]

Here's a scan with R&K Sepia on the left, Cacao du Brèsil on the right. The 16% gray card at the top helps to bring out the brown tint to the inks. I see brown in both of them, although it's more apparent in natural light than in incandescent light.

 

 

 

[Ted A]

I recall there was a thread a few months back (here I think) with some taking the position that true sepia ink was much more grey. And that our looking for a brown color stems from sepia photographs which have a much more brown color than the ink.

 

I totally agree the R&K looks much more grey than I expected

[Sandy1]

Here's a scan with R&K Sepia on the left, Cacao du Brèsil on the right. The 16% gray card at the top helps to bring out the brown tint to the inks. I see brown in both of them, although it's more apparent in natural light than in incandescent light.

 

✄

:clap1:

 

It seems to me that there is also a difference when run from a pen - the swab is not a great tool to depict such subtle colour & tone.

 

Bye,

S1

[Bo Bo Olson]

Nib and paper will make a difference.

but I'm glad for this thread.

I'm not ready for either ink Cacao du Brèsil or R&K Sepia right now.

[Torculus Resupinus]

I had a really hard time finding the right pen to use R&K Sepia in. Again and again I too found it looked like an ugly muddy grey rather than any kind of brown. Now I love the color it produces in a wet Italian nib (actually Bock, I believe, as most current Italian nibs are, but Italian nib tuning is pretty characteristic). Geoduc's specimen looks a lot like what I'm now getting, and Sandy1's comments are (as usual) spot on.

 

Check out this thread for a pretty comprehensive comparison of "sepia" inks. The Hakase ink is the only one actually made from cuttlefish ink (where the name "sepia" comes from), and R&K Sepia is IMO by far the closest to this in color, though it isn't exact.

 

I think R&K Sepia is a very special ink in the right pen.

[dcpritch]

I don't have time today to do a written comparison between R&K Sepia and JH LdT or CdB, but I did have my Parker Vac inked with R&K Sepia so I wrote a quick sample. I think the brown tone in the photo is clear, at least it is to my eye. This picture is shot next to a window with only light from a gray, cloudy, snowy day - no inside lighting or flash, which in combination with my morning coffee intake explains the lack of clear focus.

 

 

PS, thanks Sandy for the nice remarks, that means a lot coming from you.

[kazuo]

I got the same tone as dcpritch (what is good, as I used dcpritch "Tome of Sepia Inks" for choosing a poor man sepia ink, Hakase is too expensive).

[reprieve]

I see R&K Sepia exactly as it is shown in dcpritch's photo. Although it is a greyish brown, I definitely see the brown tones. I love it--but then again, I almost always love subtle, murky colors.

[Sagar_C]

I see R&K Sepia exactly as it is shown in dcpritch's photo. Although it is a greyish brown, I definitely see the brown tones. I love it--but then again, I almost always love subtle, murky colors.

 

I see it more like in Sandy1's pics. Sometimes I feel a hint of brown but just a little.

[dcpritch]

Sometimes I feel a hint of brown but just a little.

 

That's it - you've got to FEEL the brown before you can see it! You are definitely on the right track. If that doesn't keep you on track, try to taste the sepia, as recommended in Waldenser's post above.

Edited March 5, 2012 by dcpritch