Purple Black Ink

[stefanv]

If you're not averse to mixing, I've found that a 6:1 or 7:1 mix of Akkerman Parkpop Purper (which I believe is almost identical to Diamine Lavender) and Private Reserve Ebony Green (yes, green) produces an ink that (1) comes out of the pen purple, (2) dries to a very dark blue-black like colour, and (3) still looks purple on close examination.

 

Make sure to view the image full-size to really see the effect.

Edited October 25, 2012 by stefanv

[mAnuscript69]

Grape is a fabulous ink and would match your needs in a wet writing pen. But I would say PR Ebony Purple seems most likely to please you.

 

Do you have any other requirements such as flow, dry time, water resistance, etc? That might help narrow it down.

I'm not overly particular; having a smooth flowing ink that dries fast and is water resistant would simply be a very welcome bonus.

After searing my eyes out comparing several shades of purple, I'm quite certain that PR Ebony Purple would fit the bill best. I'll have to try out the inks to be sure though. I've learned that swab scans can be VERY misleading.

 

If you're not averse to mixing, I've found that a 6:1 or 7:1 mix of Akkerman Parkpop Purper (which I believe is almost identical to Diamine Lavender) and Private Reserve Ebony Green (yes, green) produces an ink that (1) comes out of the pen purple, (2) dries to a very dark blue-black like colour, and (3) still looks purple on close examination.

 

Make sure to view the image full-size to really see the effect.

I'm not averse to mixing. In fact I've never tried it and am curious to give it a go. I've heard but good things about Akkerman inks but don't think I can get hold of some.

Your Akkerman-Private Reserve concoction looks interesting but I'd tweak it a little darker if I were to use it.

[benborgmeyer]

eclipse's got to be it

 

all other suggestions are 'merely' purple, which have there place, but, are not business appropriate.

 

for example, when purple martin is used on a memo, becuase you've mistakenly taken the wrong pen to court, it's very clear, when the judge comments, some inks are appropriate and some are not

 

i would never feel that way with eclipse...the purple is subtle; sometimes i'll smear it with my finger just to see the dry purple edges and remind myself what it truly is, down deep

 

black swan in australian roses might be what you are looking for if you want to write a letter to your grandma

[stefanv]

Your Akkerman-Private Reserve concoction looks interesting but I'd tweak it a little darker if I were to use it.

 

The only issue with that is that the "dark" part is Ebony Green, so the darker you make it, the further it will move from purple, going through blue, and then becoming green. You'd probably have to add some sort of black instead.

[JimB]

Rohrer und Klingner Scabiosa, perhaps.

That was gonna be my suggestion. Unless you fear IG inks.

[hardyoyo]

This won't help you much, as it was a limited edition ink, but I really enjoyed the bottle of Sailor Jentle Shigure Purple ink I lucked into a while back, and it matches your description, a kind of purple/black. Here's a thread on the various Sailor Jentle colors: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/222687-sailor-jentle/ I still have the bottle and a teeny-tiny bit of ink left in it, I've been toying with the idea of mixing Waterman Black and Waterman Purple in it, just for fun. I'll take the ratios from the suggestion above, and try 9 parts purple to one part black.

[Wheatflower]

Call me crazy, but Lamy Blue-black looks dark-purplish to me.

[Muncle]

There was a home brew mix listed here, Black Swan in African Violets. It was a mix of good old Bp Black and North African Violet, but the exact mix is eluding me at the moment. If your up to 'home brewing' you may come up with what your after!

 

As an off the shelf ink, first thing that came to my mind was PR Ebony Purple, it is indeed black in many pens with only a touch of dark purple shading. Only in the dries writers will it be noticeably purple, without close examination.

 

I was scrolling down to find this one as well.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/208811-black-swan-in-north-african-violets/page__p__2166909__hl__%2Bblack+%2Bswan+%2Bnorth+%2Bafrican+%2Bviolet__fromsearch__1#entry2166909

 

I find its quite darker in non-shading pens.

[JonSzanto]

The only issue with that is that the "dark" part is Ebony Green, so the darker you make it, the further it will move from purple, going through blue, and then becoming green. You'd probably have to add some sort of black instead.

Heh. Which is why I suggested PR Ebony Purple to begin with.

[robynsnest]

Since I added my thoughts earlier, I feel compelled to add the following: the "Black Swan" inks, of which I have both, don't seem to fall easily into a 'purple' category. Both are much more of a magenta-based ink, darkened way down. The Aussie version goes into blackness, the English version into brown-ness. But in both cases, if you dilute them, or lay them on the paper thinly, the color hue definitely seems magenta-red, rather than purple as a base color.

I agree. Black Swan in Australian Roses is definitely more magenta. However, if you add 1-2 drops of black to it you'll find it a lovely dark shade of purpley black.

[Dioxazine]

Right now I'm using a mix of Noodler's Air Corp Blue-Black and Saguaro Wine.

 

Saguaro Wine's really dense, so I'd recommend diluting it. It actually mixes with blacks nicely, and makes Air Corp into quite a lovely ink.

[Jared]

On of my favorite dark purple inks is Sailor Drizzle Rain (Shigure), which I thought looks great in a flexible nib. Unfortunately, it's a 2009 LE ink.

 

My very favorite current production dark purple ink is Rohrer & Klingner Scabiosa. Not only a beautiful color with excellent performance, but it's got an iron-gall base, which makes it waterproof.

Edited October 29, 2012 by Jared

[mAnuscript69]

I've finally found some time on a Sunday afternoon to catalog my new ink samples.

Here are my favourite deep purple shades:

 

1. Private Reserve Ebony Purple

An intense shade of purple that appears black with fine nibs but reveals deep purple hues upon closer inspection. This ink is very wet and shades nicely in broader nibs. This is now my go-to ink for work as it is dark enough to be professional yet the subtle purple undertones gives it a refreshing change from black.

 

2. Diamine Eclipse

Another intense shade of purple with violet undertones. This ink will appear black even with medium nibs. I really like how dark this ink is; borderline black even upon closer inspection but keen eyes will notice hints of violet in the ink. Another good choice for professional use as it evokes a sense of seriousness with a hint of Goth.

 

Unfortunately I don't own a scanner nor a proper camera but if anybody is interested in the original swabs, I'd gladly snap some pictures with my phone's camera but it won't be an accurate depiction of the ink.

[Downcelot]

Diamine Eclipse for sure!

 

Mike

+1 I love it.

 

Leo

 

+2

[Sholom]

If Purple Heart is too bright, then take a look at Purple Wampum - very business-like and dark, at least from a moderately wet pen. Surprised no one mentioned it yet.

[saskia_madding]

Ebony Purple is a good choice, though in F nibs it looks almost entirely black unless you smudge it.

 

Sailor Shigure 100% fits the bill, but it is impossible to find nowadays. Which is sad ... it's my favourite dark purple.

 

I would advise mixing your own ink to get the colour and shading you'd like. You can add Diamine Exclipse to MB Lavender Purple or De Atramentis Aubergine, or even a few drops to Diamine Grape. I personally bought Noodler's Heart of Darkness to add to colours in order to make them darker. Mixing inks is a fun experiment and you can come up with some real gems.

[DanielCoffey]

A blend of Diamine Grape and Diamine Eclipse would allow you to shift the line between the black and the purple to sit wherever you wanted it in your own pen. Both should be very readily available to you too.

 

Just remember to write down (and label) any blends you are working on or else you will forget what you did to achieve that "perfect" colour.

[lapis]

A blend of Diamine Grape and Diamine Eclipse would allow you to shift the line between the black and the purple to sit wherever you wanted it in your own pen. Both should be very readily available to you too.

 

Just remember to write down (and label) any blends you are working on or else you will forget what you did to achieve that "perfect" colour.

Simply in order to reinforce what Daniel says, do only that... Our great Richard Binder has already proclaimed same. A. If possible, keep the volume (or weight) ratios simple, if possible, e.g. 1:1, or 1:2 etc.. B. Of course when mixing a black or otherwise very dark ink, don't start off with 1:1 but rather with 1:20 or so and then increase the darkness, otherwise everthing can immediately become unintentionally dark/black. C. By no means try out an experiment such as one bottle of X plus a shot of Y.

 

Save yourself some ink.

 

Wrack

[Ocean]

Try mixing Noodler's Legal Lapis & La Reine Mauve in a 1:1 ratio... beautiful dark purple that is suitable for professional use (IMHO) and "bulletproof/eternal".

[EKE]

I've been addicted to Noodler's La Couleur Royale lately. Not a purple black, but a highly saturated medium to dark purple for sure. Lovely color. It's just dark and serious enough for professional note taking, but it's fanciful at the same time. I love it.

 

An added benefit is that it pretty closely matches the color of the lines on the 90g. Clairefontaine in my Basic Clothbound journal.

 

EKE