Ink Review- Krishna Lavender Black Iron Gall

[Arijit]

So, firstly, I hate pink. It is too reminiscent of strawberry flavoured cough syrups, eye-searing clothes and unicorn farts😜. But when Dr. Sreekumar asked me if I would like to take his Lavender IG out for a test drive, I was overjoyed.

The ink arrived yesterday, and I am using it for 24 hours already. It is an interesting ink, to be honest. Firstly, it is IG, which holds its own delights (permanancy) and risks (of the eating-your-fountain-pen type). But apparently, this is a safer, newer formulation that has lesser IG constituency, while maintaining permanancy- ergo, the ink is safer. He says it can be kept safely in the pen unwashed for upto 14 days with no repercussions- double of the 7 days he promised for Permanent Blue Black.

The ink will be available in the usual 20 ml bottles, as well as big boi 30 ml bottles and others. I have a cute 5 ml-ish sample vial 😍

As for the pen, I am using an Artex, coz it is cheap, and more importantly, it is quite resistant to IG. It is amazing how an ED worth ₹20 can tolerate inks for rather long time periods.

First look- Smooth ink, slightly on the drier side. Colour is quite rich, if not exceptionally intense and bright. Quite formal, and is probably not red enough to be called 'lavender'. But, meh. I love the colour. Good for daily use, IMO, if the colour suits you.

The flow is good, if not exceptionally good and lubricated.

There is slight shading, but not exceptionally so. The colour slowly darkens with time.

Saturation of the base colour is adequate, the colour darkens to a more subdued tone.

Bleedthrough is all but absent with an Indian fine (Slightly thicker a European EF, not thick enough to be F), even on newsprint. Wow.

Ghosting depends on the paper, IMO. 70-80 GSM, and you are safe.

Doesn't really smear or shimmer at all.

As for waterproofing, it is just amazing. The IG component may be less, but is more than adequate.

It is quite dry too, with dry time around 5s in ordinary paper

 

24 Hr test:-

Firstly, colour change is not significant- consider the colour from the colour picker (left- recent, right- 24h)

Next, as for water resistance.....

Quite similar to the first test, IMO.

 

Conclusion:- This is probably not a daily use ink for everyone, but if you don't mind pages of this ink, it is really great! This colour is not my cup of tea as a daily writer, but is great to add a dash of (permanent) colouring to otherwise drab pages of Permanent Blue Black.

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks for the review. I didn't know Krishna was making IG inks. I have a few samples that were giveaways/swag from the Baltimore/Washington Pen Show, but haven't tried them all yet.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Arijit]

Thanks for the review. I didn't know Krishna was making IG inks. I have a few samples that were giveaways/swag from the Baltimore/Washington Pen Show, but haven't tried them all yet.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

No, they have a line of IG, and faux IG inks, called the Kot Massi collection.

There is a blue black IG- The Permanent Blue Black, an orange IG called Orange Honey and quite a few faux IGs like The Earth, Ochre etc.

[dragorsi]

Thanks for the review! IGs are always good for envelope addressing.

How is the faux IG compare to the real one?

[Arijit]

Thanks for the review! IGs are always good for envelope addressing.

How is the faux IG compare to the real one?

Hey! Sorry for the late response.

Unfortunately, I have not used faux IG inks yet.

[amberleadavis]

Very nice. Thank you for sharing.

[dragorsi]

Hey! Sorry for the late response.

Unfortunately, I have not used faux IG inks yet.

Ah ok, if you do and remember, please tell me about it Thanks!

[Arijit]

Ah ok, if you do and remember, please tell me about it Thanks!

Yes of course!

[nmp]

Hello All!

 

@Arijit,

 

Bondhu, thanks for a well written review.

 

Thanks for the review! IGs are always good for envelope addressing.

How is the faux IG compare to the real one?

 

@ dragorsi..

I have the Faux IG ink Orange Honey and the real deal from Krishna Inks - KM Blue Black.

In terms of water resistance, KM blue black trumps everything I have. On my scale

 

The water resistance for faux IG (Orange Honey)is there, just that it is not as pronounced as the water resistance (not water proof ness) of say Noodler's XF (which I also have).

Water resistant inks I have Pilot BB350, Namiki Black Cartridges, Krishna Orange Honey, Schneider Black (suprisingly good, wet, dark, cheap to boot) Noodler's XF (uyet to see its mythical feather proofness, seems as good or bad as the others).

 

Water proof ink: KM BlueBlack. Smells funny.

 

Best regards,

Edited April 18, 2018 by nmp

[dragorsi]

Hello All!

 

@Arijit,

 

Bondhu, thanks for a well written review.

 

 

@ dragorsi..

I have the Faux IG ink Orange Honey and the real deal from Krishna Inks - KM Blue Black.

In terms of water resistance, KM blue black trumps everything I have. On my scale

 

The water resistance for faux IG (Orange Honey)is there, just that it is not as pronounced as the water resistance (not water proof ness) of say Noodler's XF (which I also have).

Water resistant inks I have Pilot BB350, Namiki Black Cartridges, Krishna Orange Honey, Schneider Black (suprisingly good, wet, dark, cheap to boot) Noodler's XF (uyet to see its mythical feather proofness, seems as good or bad as the others).

 

Water proof ink: KM BlueBlack. Smells funny.

 

Best regards,

Thank you!

Looks like it could provide enough resistance for me to use it to address envelopes. I use iron gall inks, or calligraphy inks but I'm getting bored with my color options.

[nmp]

Thumbs up to Krishna Kot Massi Blue Black that is. Orange Honey may not be the best.

 

Do try out pilot blue black (350ml soda bottle ) too.

[Arijit]

Hello All!

 

@Arijit,

 

Bondhu, thanks for a well written review.

 

 

@ dragorsi..

I have the Faux IG ink Orange Honey and the real deal from Krishna Inks - KM Blue Black.

In terms of water resistance, KM blue black trumps everything I have. On my scale

 

The water resistance for faux IG (Orange Honey)is there, just that it is not as pronounced as the water resistance (not water proof ness) of say Noodler's XF (which I also have).

Water resistant inks I have Pilot BB350, Namiki Black Cartridges, Krishna Orange Honey, Schneider Black (suprisingly good, wet, dark, cheap to boot) Noodler's XF (uyet to see its mythical feather proofness, seems as good or bad as the others).

 

Water proof ink: KM BlueBlack. Smells funny.

 

Best regards,

Thanks dada. *-* I am pretty new to ink reviewing, just hope that it was useful

The Orange Honey IG has water resistance- The IG component has the water proof property. The orange kinda washes off.

[Arijit]

Thank you!

Looks like it could provide enough resistance for me to use it to address envelopes. I use iron gall inks, or calligraphy inks but I'm getting bored with my color options.

Yeah. That it will.