Ten Blacks Compared By Paper Chomatography

[lapis]

Thanks! I really liked this.

 

Why does MB Mystery Black appear so different? How can the colors at the top of the strip really become black at all? Please help.

That's easy (sorry). First, MB's black apparently does consist of a very water-soluble or water-alcohol-soluble (non-permanent) dye in compariosson with practically all of the others. Secondly, the "colour" black in general is so overpowering that you usually can't see any non-black colours also present in that black. For "proof" of this, do the following experiment: compare any black ink with a 20:1 mix of black:non-black ink, then 10:1, 5:1 etc. Unless you have much more non-black than black in the mix, they'll all look as black as the real McCoy.

[cybaea]

That's easy (sorry). First, MB's black apparently does consist of a very water-soluble or water-alcohol-soluble (non-permanent) dye in compariosson with practically all of the others. Secondly, the "colour" black in general is so overpowering that you usually can't see any non-black colours also present in that black. For "proof" of this, do the following experiment: compare any black ink with a 20:1 mix of black:non-black ink, then 10:1, 5:1 etc. Unless you have much more non-black than black in the mix, they'll all look as black as the real McCoy.

 

Plus of course that the other colours add depth to the blackness; compare with 'registration black' in printing which is much blacker than just 100% key: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registration_black

[Fabienne]

OK, Lapis, now you have done it! I was consumed with curiosity about Nano Black vs. Noodler's. The answer lies here.

[terminal]

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this! Really interesting.

 

As you say it feels like some of what you're testing is the resistance of the inks to the alcohol and water. Your procedure was to let them dry thoroughly, right?

[lapis]

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this! Really interesting.

 

As you say it feels like some of what you're testing is the resistance of the inks to the alcohol and water. Your procedure was to let them dry thoroughly, right?

Absolutely. The spots were completely dry before immersion, and after ascension the whole strips were dried out immediately.

 

Mike

[Brooks MT]

Thanks, especially for the photo of how to set up multiple chromatography strips. One of my fondest memories as a kid was trying paper chromatograpy using newspaper strips. The Sheaffer black had yellow in it, very surprizing :-). btw, a drop of Noodler's Black Swan in Aussie Roses on a paper towel will separate very nicely into a dark-centered poppy (no solvent needed). Lots of fun, thanks again.

[estie1948]

I'm sticking with Noodler's Old Manhattan Black as the "blackest black" ink. It serves me very well and is as "bulletproof" as I need in an ink. Thank you for your effort and I admit it was a most interesting experiment. I am not contesting your results and have no wish to dispute any aspect of your post. I am just not moved to change my opinion. I am one of those who refuse to let the facts get in the way of my opinions.

 

-David.