Ink Review: Diamine Poppy Red

[Chrissy]

It's starting to feel like Spring here so I have been writing with another bright Spring like colour. This one is Poppy Red.

This is a really bright scarlet red. It jumps off the page. It's a saturated red ink that looks even better when it's used in a pen with a broader nib. It almost looked subdued when I wrote with it in my fine nibbed AL Star. I loved it in my Lamy red Safari and it was such a good match for it.

I decided to try and draw a poppy, but I know I'm no good at drawing so I did it in steps.

This ink was a joy to write with, neither too wet nor too dry. It flowed well in the pens I filled with it, and I experienced no problems with it at all.

It gets a thumbs up from me.

 

• This isn't a waterproof ink, but it has reasonable water resistance. By mistake the pool of water was left on the test patch for 20 minutes while I made and drank a cup of tea, then was blotted off with kitchen roll.
• Bearing in mind the paper I use is thick with a shiny, smooth surface, and I used a Lamy 1.1mm nib, this ink only took 12-15 secs to dry. That's quick on this paper.
• It flows very well and lubricates the nib very well. I saw no skips or hard starts despite leaving the pen uncapped while I did all of the swab tests.
• It is currently available in 80ml glass bottles or 30ml plastic bottles
• Diamine Inks sells it directly to end-users on their web-site.
• It's a reasonable price.

[mirosc]

Thank you for this review of a lovely red.

I love this ink for reviewing or correcting. It just pops so very much. And it's a good match for a Big Red Parker Duofold

 

your scan gets the color quite nice.

[lapis]

Great review of a great ink, my friend. For long now, my favourite and practically only-used red. Possible exception = Wild Strawberry. Only disclaimer... I wouldn't say it jumps off the page, at least at me... that's a "No No" I reserve for things like Baystate Blue (which is not really a red, har, har)...

 

MIke

[visvamitra]

I like this ink. Crimson is my Diamine favbourite but this one is really nice as well.

[haruka337]

I've tried other red inks, but none has dethroned Diamine Poppy Red. It's my go-to red.

[conib]

Diamine's Poppy Red the best-behaved spectral red ink I've found. If only Diamine would put it into cartridges!

[geoduc]

This color reminds me of the sweet-and-sour sauce one gets at Chinese restaurants around here.

[conib]

This color reminds me of the sweet-and-sour sauce one gets at Chinese restaurants around here.

 

[proton007]

Argh!!!. me eyes!

Edited March 11, 2016 by proton007

[Diderot]

Nice review, nice colour; will get a bottle.

Thanks.

[Lamyliz]

Thanks for the review, I've just ordered a bottle to try

[Chrissy]

Thanks for the review, I've just ordered a bottle to try

 

You're welcome. I hope you like it. I spotted this ink yesterday when I was sorting out my ink review forms box, and I thought how lovely it was.

[Lamyliz]

I was thinking of the wild strawberry but opted for poppy (#firstworldproblems lol!)

[Bexinthecity247]

I think this looks nicer than MB's Corn Poppy. I bought a bottle of that, used it once and it hasn't seen the light of day since!

I shall add this one to my wish list

Edited August 21, 2018 by Bexinthecity247

[Chrissy]

I think this looks nicer than MB's Corn Poppy. I bought a bottle of that, used it once and it hasn't seen the light of day since!

I shall add this one to my wish list

 

I prefer Diamine Poppy Red to Montblanc Corn Poppy. The Diamine version is more saturated and I prefer saturated inks.

[Bexinthecity247]

 

I prefer Diamine Poppy Red to Montblanc Corn Poppy. The Diamine version is more saturated and I prefer saturated inks.

I agree - it does look better.

 

I haven't got the poppy red but I am going to get it at some point.

[aardvarkbark]

Color varies from one computer monitor to another, but on paper, I find that Red Dragon has that fairly true 'well oxygenated blood spurting from a freshly severed artery' look, and doesn't have the dark tone I see in it in your Comparison section. Frankly, it matches what you wrote with Poppy in the Further Notes / Observations section. Truly, line width impacts color.

[Chrissy]

Color varies from one computer monitor to another, but on paper, I find that Red Dragon has that fairly true 'well oxygenated blood spurting from a freshly severed artery' look, and doesn't have the dark tone I see in it in your Comparison section. Frankly, it matches what you wrote with Poppy in the Further Notes / Observations section. Truly, line width impacts color.

 

Red Dragon is a darker red than Poppy and isn't as bright a colour. If your Red Dragon is writing like my writing with Poppy in the further notes section of the review form, then you may have had some moisture left in your pen feed when you cleaned it out. They aren't particularly similar shades at all.

 

I only used Red Dragon as a comparison to show how dark it is compared with Poppy.

[Lamyliz]

My ink arrived in the post today so I inked up my pen and have to say I'm very pleased with it. Just the right shade of red and just what I was looking for so thank you very much Chrissy for your helpful review

[Chrissy]

My ink arrived in the post today so I inked up my pen and have to say I'm very pleased with it. Just the right shade of red and just what I was looking for so thank you very much Chrissy for your helpful review

 

You're welcome and I'm very pleased to hear that you like it.