EFNIR: Diamine Deep Dark Blue

[LizEF]

Extra Fine Nib Ink Review: Diamine Deep Dark Blue

This is review #135 in my series.  Here's the YouTube video:

Post-recording notes: This ink is a Cult Pens exclusive.  It has an unusual smell.  I can't identify it, but it's nothing like KWZ, just some inky chemical smell (no, it's not gone bad). Cleaning took some extra flushes, but only needed plain water.

I don't really have any other inks quite like this.  Mine are either lighter or more purple (and this one does lean a tiny bit purple).  The zoom is pretty close, but a little lighter than in real life.  The scan is about right, but the ink should be just a little more purple.  Same could be said for the screen capture.  I'm confident it would have been fully dry in less than 20 seconds.

A story about sentient mushrooms, "Of Mushrooms and Tsunamis", can be found in From The World Within by Norman Fahrer (author) and Nilcelio Rocha (artist, who can be found on YouTube).  Their book can be found on Amazon.

And here is a screen of the final result, for those not interested in the video:

Scan of Completed Review:

Zoomed in photo:

Absorbent Paper Closeup (top is puzzle paper like thick newsprint, bottom is old 20lb copy paper):

Images also available on Instagram: @zilxodarap

Previous Review: Diamine Registrars Ink.

Want to influence the inky sequence?  Take the "next ink" poll.

Need to catch up on The Adventures of Quin and Makhabesh?  Find the whole story here.

Hope you enjoy.  Comments appreciated!

[yazeh]

Great job Liz 

This reminds me of Kung Te-Cheng, both colour wise and smell wise

 

[LizEF]

26 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Great job Liz 

Thanks!

 

26 minutes ago, yazeh said:

This reminds me of Kung Te-Cheng, both colour wise and smell wise

There must be some dye or other ingredient (that has the scent in question and is used by many).  The ink for the review I'll post Tuesday has the same smell.

[yazeh]

7 minutes ago, LizEF said:

There must be some dye or other ingredient (that has the scent in question and is used by many).  The ink for the review I'll post Tuesday has the same smell.

Is it another cult pen ink?

[LizEF]

22 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Is it another cult pen ink?

No, but it's another Diamine.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I see shading on the zoom.   This is my kind of color, but I'm surprised at the long dry time.  

 

Thanks as always for your reviews.   Is this why toadstools have appeared in our front yard?

 

Accomplishing anything without rushing around like a headless chicken?  Sounds impossible.  🤪

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Thanks as always for your reviews.

You're welcome!

 

1 hour ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Is this why toadstools have appeared in our front yard?

Be careful, they might be planning a take-over!

 

1 hour ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Accomplishing anything without rushing around like a headless chicken?  Sounds impossible.  🤪

Nothing is impossible, if you try...

[Carguy]

This is a nice ink review. One of the few colors of Diamine I haven’t seen or don’t have. That being said, it sent me to Cult Pens which has great prices on Diamine Inks. I may see what their US shipping looks like to see if it makes sense to order 5 bottles of various inks from them. 🤓

[sansenri]

interesting, how far is it different from other Diamine dark blues?

it would be nice seeing it next to some of these

[LizEF]

18 minutes ago, Carguy said:

This is a nice ink review.

Thanks!

 

18 minutes ago, Carguy said:

That being said, it sent me to Cult Pens which has great prices on Diamine Inks. I may see what their US shipping looks like to see if it makes sense to order 5 bottles of various inks from them. 🤓

I've been tempted by their prices more than once, I just don't have enough on my wish list (the responsible one) to justify the order (yet).

[Carguy]

11 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Thanks!

 

I've been tempted by their prices more than once, I just don't have enough on my wish list (the responsible one) to justify the order (yet).

My “responsible” list is always on the missing list when it comes to Diamine inks and Parker 51’s

[LizEF]

6 minutes ago, sansenri said:

interesting, how far is it different from other Diamine dark blues?

it would be nice seeing it next to some of these

Of the ones you show, I only have small samples of Regency Blue and Shimmering Seas, and I haven't reviewed (or used) that one yet.  On Tuesday, I'll post a review of Diamine Midnight with a comparison at the start of the video.  I have my swatches of Diamine inks here in front of me, and I'll note how the other blues compare to Deep Dark Blue:

• 1864 Blue Black: the text itself just looks black.  It's much purpler than DDB
• Blue/Black: much brighter and more to the green side
• Denim: makes DDB look purple-ish; Denim is lighter by a little
• Midnight: M is bluer and brighter, DDB is more muted
• Regency Blue: is purpler and brighter (very blurple)

I have a few others, but they're a lot farther off.

[LizEF]

1 minute ago, Carguy said:

My “responsible” list is always on the missing list when it comes to Diamine inks and Parker 51’s

  At the moment, my responsible list only contains Rhodia dot pads - but I don't think I need enough of them to get free shipping...

[sansenri]

17 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Of the ones you show, I only have small samples of Regency Blue and Shimmering Seas, and I haven't reviewed (or used) that one yet.  On Tuesday, I'll post a review of Diamine Midnight with a comparison at the start of the video.  I have my swatches of Diamine inks here in front of me, and I'll note how the other blues compare to Deep Dark Blue:

• 1864 Blue Black: the text itself just looks black.  It's much purpler than DDB
• Blue/Black: much brighter and more to the green side
• Denim: makes DDB look purple-ish; Denim is lighter by a little
• Midnight: M is bluer and brighter, DDB is more muted
• Regency Blue: is purpler and brighter (very blurple)

I have a few others, but they're a lot farther off.

Thank you, that is useful

I own blue black and agree it has a definite green hue

I own Midnight and agree it's quite blue and not so dark

I also own Regency and your comments surprises me slightly, I find it is very dark.

 

Just curiosity, it's unlikely I would get this ink being Cult pens on the other side of the ocean... but thanks!

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, sansenri said:

I also own Regency and your comments surprises me slightly, I find it is very dark.

Yes, it's dark, but it's still brighter than Deep Dark Blue (which is, erm, deep, and dark...).

 

1 hour ago, sansenri said:

Just curiosity, it's unlikely I would get this ink being Cult pens on the other side of the ocean... but thanks!

You're very welcome!

[Barfyman362]

6 hours ago, yazeh said:

Great job Liz 

This reminds me of Kung Te-Cheng, both colour wise and smell wise

 

It's very far from Kung Te-Cheng in my experience.  It really does often register as black to my brain in low 2700K light unless I have an actual black ink next to it for comparison.

[mizgeorge]

Another excellent review - thank you @LizEF as always

 

I had to check, but I have this ink - it was given to me as a thank you for something. I've swatched it and it lives in a drawer. I'd made a note that when I get round to it, I'm should try lightening it a bit with some dilutant because I like the base colour quite a lot - it's just too dark for me for everyday use. 

 

I have to admit, I don't like the whole 'store exclusive' thing with inks. Now the world has become so complicated in terms of shipping with taxes and duties, I wish the manufacturers would just provide all their inks to all their retailers, rather than having to jump through hoops to try to get hold of elusive editions. 

[LizEF]

29 minutes ago, mizgeorge said:

Another excellent review - thank you @LizEF as always

Thank you!  And you're welcome.

 

30 minutes ago, mizgeorge said:

just too dark for me for everyday use

That sums it up nicely.  It could be a stealth black in an EF nib.  If you do lighten it up, I'd be interested in what that does to it.  I have a tiny bit of De Atramentis Document Ink Dilution Liquid, perhaps I should consider dividing it up between a few "too dark" inks.

 

31 minutes ago, mizgeorge said:

I have to admit, I don't like the whole 'store exclusive' thing with inks.

Yeah, seems like the only people this appeals to are the store managers.

[A Smug Dill]

58 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Yeah, seems like the only people this appeals to are the store managers.

 

I don't mind it. There are so, sooo many inks out there now in the market. If a (fellow) consumer and/or hobbyist is so specific in his/her wants and/or requirements that the answer just has to be a specific ink (seen, reviewed, whatever), instead of any number of close-enough candidates from which one could choose the most readily available, accessible or economical, then I think the ‘pain’ and cost to oneself of being so picky is part and parcel of the pursuit and not incumbent on others — especially for-profit enterprise — to help alleviate or avoid.

 

Making more things more readily available to everyone is not my idea of “the common goal” for the hobby, if it is not accompanied by undisciplined or even uncontrolled spending that betrays the best interests of individual consumers outside of this hobby. Nothing wrong with people having to choose, eyes wide open, between more satisfaction from playing in this arena and getting more satisfaction (or more needs met) is other areas with a finite total budget.

[yazeh]

13 hours ago, Barfyman362 said:

It's very far from Kung Te-Cheng in my experience.  It really does often register as black to my brain in low 2700K light unless I have an actual black ink next to it for comparison.

Thanks!