Darkening Iroshizuku Yama Budo

[snowcandy]

Hi guys! I've just purchased a new bottle of Pilot Iroshizuku Yama Budo yesterday after reading how the ink has great reviews.

 

I got home, flushed and dried my Lamy Safari, immediately inked it up with the brand new ink and began writing. However, when I had a look at my words, the ink turned out to be a shade darker than what I've seen in reviews.

 

The ink that flowed out of my Lamy was exactly as seen in reviews, but after a few seconds it darkened and it seems to be that way with all the papers I've tried (copy paper, exam pads and Rhodia 80g).

 

I'm wondering if this is normal for the ink to darken after a while and lose it's vibrant colour? Don't get me wrong, it's still a very vibrant ink even when it's darker, but it's just not as vibrant as compared to when the ink was wet.

 

Sorry if the question is a bit silly, it's just that the reviews I've read didn't mentioned about how the ink dries to a darker shade (or I may have missed those), so I'm not sure if I got a right batch here.

[weltyj]

It can be very difficult to get a true color representation from a web page, unless fairly sophisticated methods are used from the original image capture and ultimately the monitor you use to view the image. That is a long winded way of saying you can usually expect a bit of difference between the actual ink color, and the way it looks on your screen. Hope that helps explain the difference.

[MisterBoll]

I've had no issues with Yama Budo like you mention. It's a beautiful color.

 

Perhaps you should clean the pen out again and see what happens.

[PhilProf]

I have something similar happen, though it occurs over a longer time period in my pens, not on the paper. For two or three days after a fill, Yama-budo is a vibrant color. After that it darkens to look more like a purple wine. I've had this bottle for two years and the phenomenon has been consistent.

[apkayle]

Hi guys! I've just purchased a new bottle of Pilot Iroshizuku Yama Budo yesterday after reading how the ink has great reviews.

 

I got home, flushed and dried my Lamy Safari, immediately inked it up with the brand new ink and began writing. However, when I had a look at my words, the ink turned out to be a shade darker than what I've seen in reviews.

 

The ink that flowed out of my Lamy was exactly as seen in reviews, but after a few seconds it darkened and it seems to be that way with all the papers I've tried (copy paper, exam pads and Rhodia 80g).

 

I'm wondering if this is normal for the ink to darken after a while and lose it's vibrant colour? Don't get me wrong, it's still a very vibrant ink even when it's darker, but it's just not as vibrant as compared to when the ink was wet.

 

Sorry if the question is a bit silly, it's just that the reviews I've read didn't mentioned about how the ink dries to a darker shade (or I may have missed those), so I'm not sure if I got a right batch here.

 

Different pens can give different shades of ink, if that helps explain for some varying shades of color.

[Pentulant]

I've noticed color changes from wet to dry. Pilot Iroshizuku Shin Kai is a a recent notable. Certainly an interesting characteristic.

[ac12]

I have that same effect with Sheaffer Skrip red.

I think there are a few things going on.

• When the ink is wet, you are seeing light reflected off the liquid of the ink, which you don't when the ink dries...because there is no liquid when dry.
• As the ink dries, the dyes are drawn into the paper, thus reflecting less light
• Photographs are highly dependent on proper color calibration. And there are several places that this must be done.
  • On the capture device; camera or scanner.
  • On the viewing device; your monitor. As has been said, 99+% of the monitors are NOT color calibrated for correct color.
  • On the hard output device; the printer.
• Light source for you
  • Looking at a monitor, you are looking at transmitted light. The light is coming from the image.
  • Looking at the ink on paper, you are looking at reflected light. What you see is affected by the color temperature and amount of light that is illuminating the paper.
  • This is similar to the old film days, where the color of slides was much brighter than the color of prints.

[tinta]

Yama Budo is one of the three brown/sepias that I use regularly in rotation (OMAS Sepia & Akkerman #10).

In my experience Yama Budo changes colour from wet to dry,... first laying down a light reddish brown (but not red/orange like Pelikan Brilliant Brown).

When Yama Budo dries it seems to change to a pleasant brown/olive.

I prefer this ink to Yama Guri, which turns very dark when it dries.

[TSherbs]

Yama Budo is one of the three brown/sepias that I use regularly in rotation (OMAS Sepia & Akkerman #10).

In my experience Yama Budo changes colour from wet to dry,... first laying down a light reddish brown (but not red/orange like Pelikan Brilliant Brown).

When Yama Budo dries it seems to change to a pleasant brown/olive.

I prefer this ink to Yama Guri, which turns very dark when it dries.

What? Yama-budo? This is not a brown or sepia or olive ink. Are you thinking of the right ink?

[TSherbs]

My experience with Yama-budo is that it has this darker violet tone only when I first use it (for three or so sentences) after a period of rest (horizontal, inked, for 3+ days). The shade is both when the ink is wet and dry, on all types of paper. Then, after I have written for a bit, the ink coming out turns to that vibrant deep pink/magenta. Not sure at all why this is; I figure that it is something about the way the dyes settle out during lack of use. Maybe because it is about exposure to air in the nib while out of use.

[tinta]

Tsherbs, ........you are right!

What was I thinking?

 

I guess it's my command of Japanese that's lacking.

I was actually referring to Tsukushi, being the brown/sepia with an olive cast (when dry).

But then this means that I'm on the wrong thread.

A senior moment perhaps.

 

The first Iroshi ink I got was sent to me by mistake: Yama Budo.

Struggled with it for a year. A reddish purple/pink ink I believe.

I have since gifted it to someone,...as I just could not get used to this colour.

Edited February 8, 2014 by tinta

[snowcandy]

Thanks for the comments guys! Seems like it's nothing to worry about. It is still a gorgeous shade, just not what I was expecting.

 

 

 

I have that same effect with Sheaffer Skrip red.

I think there are a few things going on.

• When the ink is wet, you are seeing light reflected off the liquid of the ink, which you don't when the ink dries...because there is no liquid when dry.
• As the ink dries, the dyes are drawn into the paper, thus reflecting less light
• Photographs are highly dependent on proper color calibration. And there are several places that this must be done.
  • On the capture device; camera or scanner.
  • On the viewing device; your monitor. As has been said, 99+% of the monitors are NOT color calibrated for correct color.
  • On the hard output device; the printer.
• Light source for you
  • Looking at a monitor, you are looking at transmitted light. The light is coming from the image.
  • Looking at the ink on paper, you are looking at reflected light. What you see is affected by the color temperature and amount of light that is illuminating the paper.
  • This is similar to the old film days, where the color of slides was much brighter than the color of prints.

 

 

Thanks ac12 for that amazingly detailed response! It does make sense of why the ink changes so drastically over the span of a few seconds. I'm just glad that I didn't end up with a bad batch since I adore the Iroshizuku inks. (:

Edited February 8, 2014 by snowcandy

[MisterBoll]

I'll take a closer look next time I use it.