De Atramentis Archive Vs. De Atramentis Document

[Tomasbjornsson]

This is not a review, just thoughts.

For years I have wondered about the difference between De Atramentis Document black and Archive Black. I have been using the Archive black for years with great pleasure, in fact I strongly believed that this was the one and only ink for me, well we’re all getting wiser – especially me.

I only use fountain pens for drawing. Slow strokes, fast strokes, with pressure or light strokes for faint shading etc. The most important thing for me is that the ink is waterproof and flows well. I’m not the type of guy, who chase after the blackest of the blackest ink. For me, the Archive black is all that, but the flow in some of my pens is a bit dry.

So finally, after years, I bought the Document Black and made this test drawing. Two scruffy looking cowboys, two inks. I used my Platinum 3776 (EF nib) because it’s one of my favorite pens, but mainly because it’s the most dry pen using the Archive ink (the ink flows very well in this pen, but it’s a bit dry). The paper is Stillman and Birn Gamma sketchbook, which is an ivory colored vellum paper, 150gsm. I have scanned and photographed the drawing and left them both unedited for the most true to life look.

I used De Atramentis Archive Black on the left cowboy and De Atramentis Document Black on the right cowboy.



Obviously the inks are waterproof, I would say extremely waterproof. I have never had a problem using heavy amount of watercolors on the Archive ink. I don’t have as much experience with the Document ink, but from what I read and some quick tests, I believe it’s just as good.

The Document ink is not as black as Platinum Carbon ink, but blacker than the Rohrer und Klinger Documentus Black. I haven’t used the Noodlers Bulletproof black for ages, I’m not a big fan of this ink, so I can’t really say. But I would say that it’s just as black as the De Atramentis Archive black, to me they look equally black. Any way, the De Atramentis Document black as a black ink, it’s not grey or brownish, but what you would call 100% black, which doesn’t look as black as a mixed black. But as you can see from the scan and the photo, it’s pretty black.

The viscosity seems to be the only difference, as far as I can tell (if you forget about the chemical as specs of the two inks). The Document ink flows just a tiny bit thinner than the Archive ink. The reason for me getting the Document black was to see, if I could get a wetter, but not too wet stroke from my Platinum pens and I can. The Document inks flows so smooth in the Platinum pens it’s like getting a new and better pen.

I use 5 pens: two Platinum 3776 (EF and SF nib), a Pilot Falcon (SEF nib) and two TWSBIs 580AL (EF nib). Of these the Platinums are my favorite pens, they just fit the way I use a pen. The others (especially the Pilot pen) are very nice pens too. In the future I will load the Platinum pens with the Document ink for a smoother stroke and the rest with the Archive ink (and document brown), because they are a bit wetter than the Platinum pens and I don’t like a pen to be too wet.

As far as I can tell, the only difference between these two inks, chemical aspects set a side, are the viscosity. I can highly recommend both inks.

Sorry for my rambling, I hope you can use it.
Take care
Tomas

 

[lapis]

Wow! Your sketching (or drawing) is fantastic. I have both of these inks and use both, too. Personally, I've always asked myself what the difference is between both inks. The Document ink is one of about a dozen and a half different colours but the Archive is only available in black. The price is the same (I think) and the waterproofness, as you say, is too. AFAIK the Archive is more light-proof. Getting back to your big talent, both have about the same degree of blackness and/or non-blackness. Here and there -- in both of those two guys -- there is as I see it about the same degree of brownness, which is also fantastic.

[inkstainedruth]

I have not tried Document Black but I've tried some of the other Document colors and found them to have a lot of issues with spread (and also some bleedthrough, but that was on really bad absorbent paper). I did try Archive Black and found it to be very dry. Kinda disappointing, because I've really liked a lot of the De Atramentis inks I've tried. Although I chose it over the Document Black when ordering samples because it seemed to be darker than the Document Black in the reviews I saw early on.

Thanks for the comparison. And LOVE the artwork, BTW.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Tomasbjornsson]

Thanks,

I didn't know about the lightfastness, that's good to know.

Thnaks

Wow! Your sketching (or drawing) is fantastic. I have both of these inks and use both, too. Personally, I've always asked myself what the difference is between both inks. The Document ink is one of about a dozen and a half different colours but the Archive is only available in black. The price is the same (I think) and the waterproofness, as you say, is too. AFAIK the Archive is more light-proof. Getting back to your big talent, both have about the same degree of blackness and/or non-blackness. Here and there -- in both of those two guys -- there is as I see it about the same degree of brownness, which is also fantastic.

[Tomasbjornsson]

Thanks,

 

I have never experienced spreadings or bleedthrough with this ink, well expect when using poor paper (then it's the same with most inks as far as i know)

Take care

I have not tried Document Black but I've tried some of the other Document colors and found them to have a lot of issues with spread (and also some bleedthrough, but that was on really bad absorbent paper). I did try Archive Black and found it to be very dry. Kinda disappointing, because I've really liked a lot of the De Atramentis inks I've tried. Although I chose it over the Document Black when ordering samples because it seemed to be darker than the Document Black in the reviews I saw early on.

Thanks for the comparison. And LOVE the artwork, BTW.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[LizEF]

I haven't tested DA Document Black for lightfastness, but my understanding is that all the DA document inks are supposed to be lightfast. I've had DA Document Blue (and some other permanent blues) in a south-facing window for about a year, and it's the same as day 1. FWIW.

[amberleadavis]

I am totally impressed with your artwork.

 

Yes, Dr. Jansen has told us that the Archive and Dockument inks are supposed to be light fast in additional to the archival standards.

[Newjelan]

What stunning artwork. Although I have De Atramentis Document Black and Document Blue, I rarely use them. Will be pulling them out for another look now. (I just wish using them would produce results like yours!)

[Intensity]

Archive Black is pigment-pased, whereas Document Black is dye-based?

 

This detailed review places Document Black as being completely smear-free

https://www.ateliernovotny.com/2016/02/08/ink-review-de-atramentis-archive-ink-black-fountain-pen/