Adding Pearl-Ex/perfect Pearls To Inks

[dad2jrn]

I did a search in the forum and came up empty. I have found videos on the web on how to make inks from Pearl-Ex with Gu Arabic but nothing on actually just adding the pearl-ex (or Perfect Pearls) to an existing fountain pen ink. I want to create my own shimmering inks similar to Diamine's shimmering inks and J. Herbin 1670 inks. I really want to add some pearl colored shimmer to Iroshizuku Asa-Gao or a goldish-red shimmer to Apache Sunset.

 

Just wondering if I can simply add the pigment to the ink and maybe add a bit of distilled water, etc. but do I need to add Gum Arabic? I'm thinking no on the gum arabic as I think the ink will cause the powder flakes to stick to the paper, etc.

 

​Any thoughts???

[oceanlover4evr]

There's a whole thread in Th-INKing Outside the Bottle for adding shimmer and sparkles to ink, if you wanna check it out for other people's experiences.

 

I don't know about Perfect Pearls or pearl-ex, but I heard some people say that you could use eyeshadow stuff? I personally just use luster dust with some really nice results, and the bonus with the luster dust is that you dont need gum arabic to get the powder to stick to the paper.

[Noihvo]

Do absolutely not (!) use any ink with gum arabic in your fountain pens! That is for dip pens only, and it will swiftly clog up the narrow channels in fountain pens.

[naimitsu]

I second Noihvo.

I have been using Ziller's dip ink and adding pearl powder with gum arabic already in the formulation.

I had added some to some R&K Verdura and since I was not willing to risk a fountain pen, it was an awful writer with the dip nib. It wrote too thick and lost all of its interest on the page, even when it dried.

 

I have used Ranger Perfect Pearls Pigment Powders with great success. However, I did not add it to straight dip ink.

I did a 2 part water, one part ink mixture before adding the powder. It sticks to paper wonderfully and creates an interesting texture.