EFNIR: De Atramentis Black Green

[LizEF]

Extra Fine Nib Ink Review: De Atramentis Black Green

This is review #308 in my series. Here's the YouTube video:

Post-recording notes: This ink was gifted to me by a generous FPGeek.  According to the De Atramentis website, it is "Black Edition - Black Green".  The color on the website is much darker than the color in my vial (the age of which, I don't know).  Some websites call it "Green Black" even though the bottle in their pictures is labeled "Black Green".  It looks rather like De Atramentis Document Grey Green, to me.  In the video, the swatch card looks too green (over saturated) and the text too dark.

Cleaning was really quick and easy.

NOTE: Reviews 309 to 322 (inclusive) will be of cartridge inks. (They are evaporating and I'm tired of trying to insert them on occasion, so I'm getting them over and done. I will go back to the poll starting with 323. Thank you for understanding.)

Zoomed in photo (Pretty close. In person, the line looks smooth, not textured / blotchy.)

Screenshot (Text is a little too dark, but still close.)

Scan of Completed Review (Text might be just a smidge paler and greyer than in person, but still very close.)

Absorbent Paper Close-up (top is puzzle paper like thick newsprint, bottom is old 20lb copy paper) (Both are fairly close. The copy paper doesn't show the blotchiness in real life.)

Line width (The "I" in "Ink:". Magnification is 100x. The grid is 100x100µm. The scale is 330µm, with eleven divisions of 30µm each. The line width for this ink is roughly 330µm. With 308 inks measured, the average line width is 297µm.)

Microscope image (100x. The color separation seemed interesting to me, despite the boring structure.)

Previous Review: Akkerman #05 Shocking Blue.

Images also available on Instagram: @zilxodarap.

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View a list of my inks, complete with review results in a google sheet.

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

Hope you enjoy. Comments appreciated!

[yazeh]

What a fabulous review @LizEF  I like the colour, despite the very long drytimes. I will hopefully e testing another murky green by Octopus

Ah forgiveness, what a theme to exploit for writers and what a lofty goal. I once heard a definition of it whci rang true: "Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be any different.”

I love how you weave the thematic of forgiveness into the family and healing Great job 👍

But let me return to the ink: 330µm. The line looks so uniform. And glad you're taking care of the cartridges. I've several lying around with ink samples and such. I have to take care of them at some point 😊

Thanks for bringing a whisper of peace on this Tuesday 🙏🙏🙏

[LizEF]

13 minutes ago, yazeh said:

What a fabulous review @LizEF  

Thanks!

 

14 minutes ago, yazeh said:

I like the colour, despite the very long drytimes.

And the fat line width...   But yeah, it's a nice murky green.

 

14 minutes ago, yazeh said:

I will hopefully e testing another murky green by Octopus

The world can't have enough murky greens.

 

15 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Ah forgiveness, what a theme to exploit for writers and what a lofty goal. I once heard a definition of it whci rang true: "Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be any different.”

Yes, I've heard that one, too.  And yes, lofty goal, but a worthy one.

 

16 minutes ago, yazeh said:

I love how you weave the thematic of forgiveness into the family and healing Great job 👍

Thanks.

 

16 minutes ago, yazeh said:

But let me return to the ink: 330µm. The line looks so uniform.

De Atramentis inks are often wet and well-lubricated, which explains the width, and perhaps the uniformity - but yeah, that uniformity is less common.

 

17 minutes ago, yazeh said:

And glad you're taking care of the cartridges. I've several lying around with ink samples and such. I have to take care of them at some point 😊

Thanks!  Once I realized they were adding extra work and frustration and that my "rules" were self-imposed, the solution became obvious.   (Though I'm going to have to write more letters, or something, or I'll soon be overflowing with inked pens holding the left over ink from cartridges larger than standard international short!)

 

18 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Thanks for bringing a whisper of peace on this Tuesday 🙏🙏🙏

You're most welcome!

[Sailor Kenshin]

Oh!  The micro reveals the family's 'thinks' about Father.  Interesting concept, letting it go...for a time.  I wonder if I could even do that for five minutes....

 

I have Seaweed, so it's good to know DA is its 'dupe.' 😉 But I also have Diamine Green Black (or Black Green, or whatever it is called), which is said to duplicate Montblanc Racing Green.  Yay.  All set.

 

I also had a Whitman sample way back when.  Sorry, don't remember much.

 

I'm holding my breath along with Quin's family.  How many ink reviews also come with a STORY?  

 

@LizEF, I continue to look forward to Tuesday Magic.  Thanks so much.

 

 

[yazeh]

21 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Thanks!  Once I realized they were adding extra work and frustration and that my "rules" were self-imposed, the solution became obvious.   (Though I'm going to have to write more letters, or something, or I'll soon be overflowing with inked pens holding the left over ink from cartridges larger than standard international short!)

I know. Either long letters, (like someone  ) or a syringe and down the drain, which at times can be therapeutic. Unless you ask your boys to do some artwork 

[LizEF]

41 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Oh!  The micro reveals the family's 'thinks' about Father.  Interesting concept, letting it go...for a time.  I wonder if I could even do that for five minutes....

Well, at least they can focus on Dad and not on how much they dislike Quin...

 

42 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I have Seaweed, so it's good to know DA is its 'dupe.' 😉 But I also have Diamine Green Black (or Black Green, or whatever it is called), which is said to duplicate Montblanc Racing Green.  Yay.  All set.

  Seaweed is what sent me down the murky green rabbit hole!  (A sample of it was gifted to me by a generous soul here, way back in 2016, when I first started on FPs.)

 

43 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I also had a Whitman sample way back when.  Sorry, don't remember much.

Whitman is what got me started on microscopic photos of ink!

 

44 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I'm holding my breath along with Quin's family.  How many ink reviews also come with a STORY?  

I have not seen this in any other ink reviews.  It sort of forces you into a commitment.  (I remember reading a comment by Sue Grafton about how it was a mistake to start a series where the titles sort of force you into a 26-book series (A is for Alibi being the first).

 

46 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

@LizEF, I continue to look forward to Tuesday Magic.  Thanks so much.

Thank you!  And you're most welcome!

 

[LizEF]

36 minutes ago, yazeh said:

I know. Either long letters, (like someone  )...

 

36 minutes ago, yazeh said:

... or a syringe and down the drain, which at times can be therapeutic.

I still have a really hard time doing this.  I managed with a small quantity of black ink that remained after one, and if there's only a tiny bit left, I can do it.  But when there was enough ink to fill a Pilot cartridge and there's still half a cartridge left, I can't seem to manage.  (Good thing I have lots of Pilot pens. )

 

38 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Unless you ask your boys to do some artwork 

No.  Just no.  (Last night, Smoke broke a bar stool style swivel chair by knocking it over.  I found three ball bearings that had come out - hopefully that's all of the ones that came out.  I guess my next project will be disassembling and figuring out how to get them back where they belong so the chair swivels smoothly...   The chair is now covered in tin foil - Smoke is scared of tin foil.)

[Sailor Kenshin]

I wish our cats had been scared of ANYTHING.   😹

[LizEF]

16 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I wish our cats had been scared of ANYTHING.   😹

Tin foil and cats outside the window and strangers coming to the house - these are the only things Smoke seems to fear.  Klaw is more cautious, but also increasing in bravery.  (More on that later, in Klaw's thread. I still need to record the review of the ink in my pen!)

[langere]

I know it's not available anymore, but this looks very much like Montblanc Racing Green.  I'm using it right now in one of my pens, using the rest of the bottle I've had now for many years.

 

Erick

[LizEF]

28 minutes ago, langere said:

I know it's not available anymore, but this looks very much like Montblanc Racing Green.  I'm using it right now in one of my pens, using the rest of the bottle I've had now for many years.

Montblanc are experts at discontinuing the wrong ink!   Enjoy what remains, then enjoy drowning in the depths of so many other murky greens!

[langere]

7 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Montblanc are experts at discontinuing the wrong ink!  

Agree completely!

[yazeh]

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

I still have a really hard time doing this.  I managed with a small quantity of black ink that remained after one, and if there's only a tiny bit left, I can do it.  But when there was enough ink to fill a Pilot cartridge and there's still half a cartridge left, I can't seem to manage.  (Good thing I have lots of Pilot pens. )

Because we are of the generation that  don't throw things out. I had some problem throwing some of my samples outs (the ink). I have to admit after the. 3rd or 4th vials, I felt lighter. My desk is crammed with vials/ bits of papers and half spent vials. There are days I want to dunk it all in the garbage. (or maybe it's my wife  )

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

 

No.  Just no.  (Last night, Smoke broke a bar stool style swivel chair by knocking it over.  I found three ball bearings that had come out - hopefully that's all of the ones that came out.  I guess my next project will be disassembling and figuring out how to get them back where they belong so the chair swivels smoothly...   The chair is now covered in tin foil - Smoke is scared of tin foil.)

Smoke the terror. Either he wanted to have a stirred Martini or he was looking for ball bearing to play a bit of bowling  

[LizEF]

4 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Because we are of the generation that  don't throw things out. I had some problem throwing some of my samples outs (the ink).

Yes.

 

4 minutes ago, yazeh said:

I have to admit after the. 3rd or 4th vials, I felt lighter. My desk is crammed with vials/ bits of papers and half spent vials. There are days I want to dunk it all in the garbage. (or maybe it's my wife  )

  So you're saying I shouldn't keep my samples all neatly arranged in racks?  Then I'd want to toss them?  Duly noted.

 

5 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Smoke the terror.

Exactly!

 

5 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Either he wanted to have a stirred Martini or he was looking for ball bearing to play a bit of bowling  

He wanted up.  Up is his eternal goal.  The bar stool is the tall kind (I used it sometimes when painting ala Bob Ross landscapes).  I've done a good job of blocking all the shelving down there so he can't climb that way, but he's always looking for a way to go up.  Problem is, my basement is unfinished, so up consists of fiberglass insulation between floor joists - not a place for kitty!

[Sailor Kenshin]

I sadly threw away two Inkdumps, bottles and all, because there was, not SITB, but THICK ink on the bottom.

 

And now that it's too late I am re-thinking this.

[LizEF]

34 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

And now that it's too late I am re-thinking this.

The eternal dilemma - throw it out and regret it, or keep it and be bothered by it.

[yazeh]

5 hours ago, LizEF said:

  So you're saying I shouldn't keep my samples all neatly arranged in racks?  Then I'd want to toss them?  Duly noted.

You're neat, I forgot  

5 hours ago, LizEF said:

He wanted up.  Up is his eternal goal.  The bar stool is the tall kind (I used it sometimes when painting ala Bob Ross landscapes).  I've done a good job of blocking all the shelving down there so he can't climb that way, but he's always looking for a way to go up.  Problem is, my basement is unfinished, so up consists of fiberglass insulation between floor joists - not a place for kitty!

I get that. I remember a story of Chicken soup for the soul, of a kitten, running amok on a newly varnished floor or something worse.... 

 

[LizEF]

15 minutes ago, yazeh said:

I remember a story of Chicken soup for the soul, of a kitten, running amok on a newly varnished floor or something worse.... 

Yeah, that one's on the owner - should have kept that kitten locked up!

 

Thank you for leaping kitty picture!    (Smoke would be balanced on that TV trying to figure out how to leap onto the ceiling fan. )

[inkstainedruth]

@LizEF Not sure how I missed this ink before now because I really like the color (okay, though -- the dry time is definitely problematic).  
I think it's reminding me of Platinum Classic Forest Green IG ink, which may be a similar color.

But thanks as usual for the comprehensive review.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[LizEF]

25 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

the dry time is definitely problematic

Well, it's the back of the page (dry times there are usually longer), and De Atramentis inks tend to be well lubricated, which seems to slow dry times.

 

26 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

I think it's reminding me of Platinum Classic Forest Green IG ink, which may be a similar color.

They're different enough that I didn't include the Platinum swatch in the comparisons, but yes, they are in the same general color family.

 

27 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

But thanks as usual for the comprehensive review.

You're most welcome!