Does Anyone Use Red Ink Anymore?

[RJS]

I enjoy using Deep Dark Red a lot. Diamine make lots of well behaved and good looking dark reds. I don't use any bright reds.

[gyasko]

Asia is a big place.

 

I have spent years on a archipelago in the NE corner, including some as a teacher. I marked papers with a fountain pen and used red ink because that was the expectation. I was very busy and constantly marking papers, on the train during my commute, in coffee shops, even over meals. There were times when my pen ran dry and due to time constraints, i had to use whatever pen was handy, usually something with blue ink. Several days later, i would receive a number of red rollerballs in the mail. They really wanted papers marked in red.

 

These days, i can use a greater variety of colors. Nevertheless, ive been considering abandoning anything reddish, mostly because it gunks up my pens.

[inkstainedruth]

Been idly wondering if I'm in a tiny minority of people who prefer Black Swan In English Roses over Australian Roses. Outnumbered to the point that, ironically, it's not available in the UK anymore.

I could email to confirm, but in the meantime I guess I could look at other dark reds. Maybe finally check Oxblood out.

Personally, I did not prefer (or even like) BSiER because it wasn't anywhere remotely related to roses or the color red. My sample of it was a sort of nasty brownish red. I'll admit that I had meant to try the reformulated BSiAR from a few years ago (there was some issue that Noodler's had getting the dye components at the time) only I apparently gave that replacement sample away by accident. The original version of BSiAR I really thought was a beautiful color, and one of the first inks I ordered.

So, yeah, you might be in the minority. But then, I might be in the minority....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[WarrenB]

My sample of it was a sort of nasty brownish red.

That was kind of why I liked it. (well, maybe not so much the 'nasty' bit) It was dark and muted, almost a formal or everyday ink, but with a hint of deeper colour burning at the edges. Not having to correct anyone's work, and scar them for life into the bargain, it was the kind of red I could work with.

 

Hey ho. Nathan's red-black looks interesting too.

Edited October 18, 2020 by WarrenB

[dms525]

That was kind of why I liked it. (well, maybe not so much the 'nasty' bit) It was dark and muted, almost a formal or everyday ink, but with a hint of deeper colour burning at the edges. Not having to correct anyone's work, and scar them for life into the bargain, it was the kind of red I could work with.

 

Hey ho. Nathan's red-black looks interesting too.

 

I have always liked BSiER a lot. I have one favorite pen, a Conway Stewart Belliver in Shingle, that I only ink with it.

 

I don't get the "nasty" at all. Maybe it's dye inconsistency. If so, that's fine with me. I do agree with Ruth that there is no sign of black, English or Roses in it. To me, it's a pleasing reddish brown, a color category I generally like.

 

David

[inkstainedruth]

@ WarrenB and dms525 -- It's a case of YMMV. I don't tend to like reddish browns and brownish reds -- I much prefer sepia-leaning brown. The only exception is that I like Diamine Anniversary Terra Cotta.

For reds, I want smack in the middle of the spectrum, fire engine red-red -- and for me the only ones I've found that fit that definition are Diamine Classic Red and Nemosine Aolus Palus Red (and I gather you can't get Nemosine inks any more). Next would be slightly pink-leaning reds: Noodler's Parks Red (which has the added benefit of being pretty waterproof), De Atramentis Dante Alighieri/Ruby Red, and (a little pinker than those two last, Edelstein Star Ruby). I don't tend to like Burgundy reds (Campo Marzio Bordeaux being a notable exception), and I don't like blood reds, orangey-reds, or brown-reds.

Yes, I'm exceedingly particular about reds.... So yes, I thought BSiER was a "nasty" color (and yeah, like you said, David, there's nothing particularly "black", "roses" or "English" about it -- unless it was Nathan Tardif just being Nathan: I didn't like Noodler's Empire Red either my sample of that was a washed out salmon pink/orange to me...). I've seen lots of gardening catalogs and books on roses over the years, and don't recall any "English" roses that color either (at least not for any of the David Austin rose varieties; although admittedly I much prefer pre-'Hybrid Tea' heirloom roses and species roses).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[WarrenB]

Oh, don't worry about the 'nasty' bit. I was just having a joke that 'being nasty' isn't one of the reasons I like it.

 

Absolutely agreed about it being subjective. There's at least one other Noodler's ink that I consider nasty, that seems to get fair-to-middling opinions on here. Also agreed that the colour has pretty much nothing to do with roses (those black swans swamp it pretty well) but like someone once said, 'what's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.'

[Karmachanic]

Conid Minimalistica is having a pleasant time with J Herbin Rouge Grenat.