What Is It About Take-Sumi

[BradGad]

Black inks... When I first got back into fountain pens, Perle Noire was my go-to ink. I still like it quite a lot. I have a big bottle of Heart of Darkness, but to be honest I don't care for it much. I've tried samples of Noodler's Bulletproof, De Atramentis Document, Aurora. I have a bottle of Pilot Black, which I better than I expected.

 

But then I tried Iroshizuku take-sumi. I just love this ink, the way it handles and flows, the look in both writing and sketching...

 

I have a very hard time, though, articulating just what it is -- what quality or qualities -- that makes this ink so special.

 

I was wondering if there are others out there who have fallen under this ink's spell and could help me spell out just what it is that sets take-sumi apart from other blacks?

[Inkantadora]

I have a friend who calls it "her" black. She spent a few minutes last week telling me how it has grey in it. It has depth and elegance and how much in love she is with it. "My" black is Rohrer and Klingner Leipziger Schwartz. Though I have not tried Take-Sumi yet and since this conversation on Thursday, I am dying to to so....

[jmccarty3]

I have a very hard time, though, articulating just what it is -- what quality or qualities -- that makes this ink so special.

 

It just has that je ne sais quoi.

[mhm802]

It is a wonderful ink. Absolutely my favorite black!

[Thornton]

I tried about a dozen black inks over eight years before I found Take-Sumi. A rich black ink that dries fast, and doesn't smear. Also easy to clean out of pens. The only other black ink I use now is J. Herbin Perle Noire, but I don't even use it that much now.

[DrDebG]

O.K., O.K., you have almost convinced me. . . . But I would really like to see a sample of your writing . . . . Please?!?!?

[ethernautrix]

How's the water resistance? I like to draw and sometimes add colors, so I prefer a waterproof black ink. But I remember trying this ink (dip test) and was tempted. Then I remembered that I had "my" black ink. But maybe this one's smoother than Noodler's Black.

[Algester]

Take-Sumi so I assume this is Pilot huh... what I think it's a Black with a tinge of green, not necessarily sheeny ink but will have some "green spots" when made into samples on some good paper, water resistance none but it's good for gradient work if you are into that, ink for writing and brush pen? totally for me

 

expensive? well somewhat depends on your sources for non fussy inks this one is on my books a good ink assuming your competition comes with Pelikan, MB, Visconti?, Sailor, Platinum, Sheaffer, Lamy, Cross, J.Herbin, I mean there's Noodler's but never liked much of the ink line

if you think its still expensive I would suggest Pilot Black in 350ml

Edited March 20, 2017 by Algester

[BradGad]

How's the water resistance? I like to draw and sometimes add colors, so I prefer a waterproof black ink. But I remember trying this ink (dip test) and was tempted. Then I remembered that I had "my" black ink. But maybe this one's smoother than Noodler's Black.

Water resistance is minimal. But that can be a plus for drawing. Take a look at this:

 

http://tina-koyama.blogspot.com/2014/03/product-review-pilot-iroshizuku-take.html

[mulrich]

I don't often use black ink but when I do it's usually for signing official-type documents so water permanence is important to me. I remember trying and liking Take-Sumi but eventually settled on Noodler's Black.

[ethernautrix]

Water resistance is minimal. But that can be a plus for drawing. Take a look at this:

 

http://tina-koyama.blogspot.com/2014/03/product-review-pilot-iroshizuku-take.html

Very nice. Thanks for showing me.

[Warnerbaw]

I've always loved Take-Sumi. It was my first black ink (from a bottle) and I've had no reason to change. I am branching out, however, and I recently ordered several different black inks.

Edited March 20, 2017 by Warnerbaw

[BradGad]

O.K., O.K., you have almost convinced me. . . . But I would really like to see a sample of your writing . . . . Please?!?!?

 

 

I don't think you want to see my writing... it's pretty pitiful. But in case you meant me, well, what the heck. This is some take-sumi and Staples loose leaf.

Edited March 21, 2017 by BradGad

[Thornton]

How's the water resistance? I like to draw and sometimes add colors, so I prefer a waterproof black ink. But I remember trying this ink (dip test) and was tempted. Then I remembered that I had "my" black ink. But maybe this one's smoother than Noodler's Black.

 

Water resistance is good, but doesn't quite match up to Noodler's Black. That said, as a longtime Noodler's Black devotee, I think Take-Sumi is overall a better behaved ink.

[ethernautrix]

Water resistance is good, but doesn't quite match up to Noodler's Black. That said, as a longtime Noodler's Black devotee, I think Take-Sumi is overall a better behaved ink.

 

Good to know. Tempted now. I loves me my Noodler's Black, but it is on the dry side, a quality I'm noticing since using Pilot very extra-fine nibs (PO and SEF).

[inkstainedruth]

Take-sumi is just... different.

I've never run across an ink quite like it. Of any color.

If I need super black with water resistance, I've got Noodler's Heart of Darkness. If I need a drier black ink, I've got Pelikan 2001 Brilliant Black. If I want to be coddling a vintage pen a bit, I've got a couple of bottles of vintage Quink Microfilm Black.

But Take-sumi? It looks almost tactile on the page -- almost three dimensional. Like a ribbon of velvet or velveteen.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth