Noodler's Black Dilution Experiment

[Mafia Geek]

So I really want to like Noodler's Black, I want the bulletproof properties and a good black black ink, but I could never get past the fact that it always smeared for me, no mater how long I let it dry. Highlighters also don't work on them (still haven't found a black that can stand that test). So I though it would be that there was too much dye for the paper to absorb so there was always ink sitting on top of the paper that could get smeared by a finger or highlighter. To try and resolve this, I though that diluting the ink would allow the ink to more fully absorb into the paper because the concentration is lower. The long and short of it is that it didn't make a whole lot of difference. I didn't notice much, if any, change in colour until I got to 1:1 Water:Ink ratio, but no better with smearing or highlighter. Still bulletproof ink though, so could be done to make the ink last longer.

 

Without further ado, here's the scans:

 

 

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Hope this helps some people.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

Thanks for giving it a whirl.

 

I've tried dilution to shorten smear/dry times, but only rarely had success.

 

It seems to me that changing to a more absorbent paper is a far more reliable means to shorten S/DTs than dilution; and if one cannot change paper, use of blotter sheets seems to be a reasonable work around.

 

I've yet to try pounce, (gum sandarac or climber's chalk), to shorten S/DTs.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited November 12, 2012 by Sandy1

[Oranges and Apples]

Much thanks!

 

I believe I have made a request about this in the past and I am glad someone was able to give the test a whirl.

 

This kind of feel like an episode of Mythbusters (a television series which spends its air time testing out myths from all over the globe).

 

So the myth is that diluting Noodler's Black reduces the smear because with less ink to be absorbed by the paper, there would be less ink which does not bound with the paper.

 

Well this myth is busted because the results show that dilution, even to one part water one part ink, there is still smearing which could occur.

[mhosea]

Well this myth is busted because the results show that dilution, even to one part water one part ink, there is still smearing which could occur.

 

Or maybe it is only busted on Rhodia paper, and probably others of similar ilk. I love writing on my Rhodia and Clairefontaine pads, but considering only papers that otherwise work well with water-based ink, it seems more or less the worst case for both water resistance and dry smearing. Just the other day I did a water test of several inks on a page, and I saw Diamine Mediterranean Blue wash away almost entirely from a page from a Rhodia pad. But weeks earlier it had stood up pretty well to water on HP Premium laser paper.

[torstar]

Awesome, never enough threads devoted to diluting inks.

 

Reduction is not the same as elimination.

 

I can reduce my migraines in intensity and frequency, but they are still going to occur and I accept that they should occur on occasion.

[Mafia Geek]

You are very true, Rhodia paper is a little more ink resistant that normal inks (price you pay for little/no bleedthrough or feathering). I might re-do the test on Blueline paper and I'll post again what I find. Can you tell I REALLY want to like Noodler's Black lol.