Lamy Dark Lilac. What's Special About It?

[thx1138]

I am curious as to the appeal for people of lamy dark.lilac.

I inked a pen with it recently and it is a dark purple but nothing really exciting.

Maybe I need to ink my broad hosepipe parker 100 and see if it really stands out then.

If you really like it, I would love to know what it is that makes it a special ink for you.

[inkstainedruth]

I like the warmth of the color and the flow. I like the dry time, that it's somewhat water resistant, and that it has very little feathering or bleed through even on very absorbent paper. I like that even on that cr*ppy paper I still see a little shading, even with the saturation.

Mostly I just like the color -- but then I have a lot of red-purple inks (and blue-purple inks and smack in the middle of the spectrum purples, and very dark black-purples...).

OTOH, I still have yet to find an orange ink that appeals to me in the slightest; the closest would be KWZI IG Mandarin, which oxidizes to brown....

Everyone has different tastes and different requirements for what behaviors are most important to them.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[minddance]

For me, it is the saturation and colour. I think to myself, finally some real ink here and not some pale washed out watercolour. Lamy should make this a regular. Lamy Green, Blue, Black should be limited editions but Dark Lilac should stay for good.

[migo984]

An easy (if you have the components), and very close, replication of DL can be achieved by mixing Iroshizuku Yama-Budo + Shin-kai in ratio of 3:1. It is very nearly as rich and saturated and has the shading and gold sheen of DL. I posted a photo of them side-by-side somewhere on here.............

[dapprman]

An easy (if you have the components), and very close, replication of DL can be achieved by mixing Iroshizuku Yama-Budo + Shin-kai in ratio of 3:1. It is very nearly as rich and saturated and has the shading and gold sheen of DL. I posted a photo of them side-by-side somewhere on here.............

I've got a possible copy from else where (if you're also on Pen Addicts) - I made it a few weeks back based on a photo and it does work. Will PM you a link to it in private and if it is the same I can post it here.

[migo984]

I've got a possible copy from else where (if you're also on Pen Addicts) - I made it a few weeks back based on a photo and it does work. Will PM you a link to it in private and if it is the same I can post it here.

I’ve been making the Iroshizuku Faux DL for about a year & actually prefer it to the ‘real’ stuff. I also add in a dash of denim coloured ink somertimes. Better shading.

Not on Pen Addicts (what is that?) so it’ll be interesting to see another version. I’ll try to remember to check back - I very rarely visit this forum anymore......

[Rossler]

I concur with migo984, the mixture of Yama-Budo and Shin-Kai is even better than Lamy DL.

Sometimes I even add a drop of Take-Sumi to darken it a little more, personal preferences....

[dapprman]

Migo84 has refreshed his post in this forum, but here's her picture anyhow.

 

http://i.imgur.com/LtYmbzI.jpg

[inkstainedruth]

The mixes are interesting. But given the price of Iroshizuku inks vs. Lamy inks (at least here in the US), not really all that cost effective a solution.

Think I'm glad I bought two bottles of Dark Lilac when I had the chance.... Although it might give me a way to use up the sample of Shin-kai I bought awhile back....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[monquito]

To answer the OP, everything Ruth said about flow, feathering, and shading. Plus it is my perfect sweet spot along the spectrum of reddish to blue-ish purples and I adore the sheen. I have tried every purple I could get my hands on and none of them quite live up to DL. I am so pleased to have found a possible substitute with this "Faux DL." That said, if you have some you are wanting to pass along I would be happy to take it off your hands!

[migo984]

The mixes are interesting. But given the price of Iroshizuku inks vs. Lamy inks (at least here in the US), not really all that cost effective a solution.

Think I'm glad I bought two bottles of Dark Lilac when I had the chance.... Although it might give me a way to use up the sample of Shin-kai I bought awhile back....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Cost effectiveness is a moot point given that the genuine DL is no longer made.

[inkstainedruth]

Cost effectiveness is a moot point given that the genuine DL is no longer made.

 

True, but we can always hope that Lamy will reissue it at some point.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Runnin_Ute]

I have samples of it (just lucky and have generous inky friends) and was somewhat underwhelmed. I almost prefer in my range of purples Levenger Amethyst. Which is currently in my Parker 51 Special.

[ErrantSmudge]

“Faux” Dark Lilac is noticeably redder than Lamy Dark Lilac.

 

Cost effectiveness is still an issue, given there is likely a mix with cheaper inks that will mimic DL as well or beteer.

[migo984]

Faux Dark Lilac is noticeably redder than Lamy Dark Lilac.

 

Cost effectiveness is still an issue, given there is likely a mix with cheaper inks that will mimic DL as well or beteer.

If you dont think its a good proximate then I agree, save your cents/pence/yen or whatever & try alternatives. It was just a suggestion in case DL seekers fancied having a go.

 

Ive been using the Faux DL for sometime & it is difficult to distinguish from the genuine ink. If it appears redder to you in use then just adjust the ratio of the mix, or maybe add a tiny bit of a denim blue ink. Ive tried numerous other mixes (probably around 7 or 8) from various ink ranges, including Oster, Diamine, Waterman, Cross, & others. Whilst some are reasonably successful they dont match the characteristics of DL as closely as the Iroshizuku mix. Some also take more than 2 basic colours. What is particularky effective about the Iroshi mix is the shading & sheen. Its also a simple mixture.

 

Anyway, this is just one solution (pun intended). Id really like to see alternative (cheaper) mixes if youd care to post your results.

Edited July 17, 2018 by migo984

[Patrick L]

I would be surprised if Lamy didn't reissue this ink at some stage.

[migo984]

I would be surprised if Lamy didn't reissue this ink at some stage.

There have been (unsubstantiated) rumours that this is in the pipeline for a while now, and with 10 new Lamy inks supposedly due for release sometime this year, who knows? It would certainly be a popular move & make a lot of people happy.

[thx1138]

Hi,

I am terribly sorry for not replying earlier but I just discovered I didn't follow my own topic. Whoops.

Thanks for all the replies.

I will definitely ink one of my super broads with it next time.

[Mew]

Faux Dark Lilac is noticeably redder than Lamy Dark Lilac.

 

Cost effectiveness is still an issue, given there is likely a mix with cheaper inks that will mimic DL as well or beteer.

Iroshizuku inks are reasonably priced, i think. I saw one on Amazon (US) for around $20.

Dark lilac is a decent enough ink. Lamy doesn't make particularly great inks as such, but this one was really good. Excellent colour and other properties.

[dapprman]

Pilot Iroshizuku ink has come down a lot in price due to the change in bottles. Before they were hand made (and each slightly different), not they are mass produced. Of course it means the smaller bottles now seem more expensive.

 

Lamy do produce some very good regular inks - black and turquoise. Problem is their blue and green are boring and the red poor.