Diamine Graphite

[yazeh]

Diamine Graphite

 

Ink Review # 206

 

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🧾 Description

 

Diamine Graphite is wet, dark grey color with green undertones. Shading is minimal, only with M/B) nibs. 

Color is most intriguing with a Stub nib as the green comes through. 

 

But with other nibs it was good, i.e. even with the Japanese EF Pilot Elite.     

 

Ink behaves well in general, but there might be some ghosting. Bleed-through will happen if you use a very wet pen. 

 

I kept the inks for a month in my pens, so in the end I resorted to cleaning solution and pen jacuzzi to clean the pen. 🛀  

 

I most enjoyed this ink for drawing. As a writing ink I enjoyed it most with a very wet flex pen. 

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 🧪 Chroma

 

 

 

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 ✍️ Writing Samples (scan)

Rhodia  / Iroful

 

 

 

Midori  /Tomoe River 68gsm

 

 

 

Hammermill 20lb  

 

 

 

 📸 Photo

Rhodia/ Iroful

 

 

Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm

 

 

 

Hamnmermill 20 lb

 

 

 

 🔍 Comparison

 

 

 

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 💧 Water Test

 

 

 

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 🎨 Artwork

One can appreciate Diamine Graphite's  impressive tonal range, shifting from deep black to pale greenish blue in art. 

Inktober 2025 - Day 4 - Murky

Inspired by film noir's  murky, moody aesthetics. It was inspired by a scene from the Third Man (1949). 

It also shows off the dynamic range of Diamine Graphite. 

Karas Customs Vertex with FPnibs ultra-flex, Pilot Kakuno, Water brush, 

Talens Mixed Media notebook.

 

 

Inktober 2025 - Day3 - Crown

Now who is the king? 

Diamine Graphite, Tintenlabor Schokolade, Pebeo gold marker

 

 

 

Inktober challenge 2025: Day 5 : Deer

Diamine Graphite, Hosia Ink Studio Gardenia, Talens Mixed Media Square pocket.

 

 

 

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- Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF,  Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1) , Karas Vertex with a Ultralfex bock nib from FPNibs.

- What I Liked: Color for artwork, wetness, 

- What I Did Not Like: I was surprised by the low lubrication with EF/F European nibs. 

- What Some Might Not Like: Not much shading, lack of water resistance.

- Writing Experience: Good with most nibs. The dark grey makes it’s legible, 

- Pros: Price, colour, artwork. 

- Cons: Low lubrication with EF/F nibs. 

 

 🧷 Ink Characteristics

 

- Shading: minimal. 

- Ghosting: With some nibs. 

- Bleed Through: Same as above. 

- Flow Rate: Wet

- Lubrication: Low with EF/F Safari

- Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. 

- Start-up: Great. 

- Saturation:  Dark Grey

- Sheen: No

- Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line:  Did not notice.

- Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.

- Staining (Pen): No. 

- Clogging: No.

- Cleaning: It’s best using an ammonia based cleaning solution. 

- Water Resistance: Meh! 

 

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 🛒 Availability

 

- Available in 30/80 ml bottles from most vendors. 

 

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 💬 Closing

 

I really enjoy working with this dark grey, complex with green undertones for the 2025 Inktober challenge.  As a writing inks, it’s fun for those who must use black inks, but need to rebel.   

 

No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review.   

 

Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier. :)  

 

 

 

[LizEF]

Great review, @yazeh!

 

Chroma really highlights the green underneath.

 

Good quotes.  The swatches make me smile.  The water-test sketch makes me laugh.

 

I could totally imagine "Murky" on the black & white TV we grew up with.

 

Absolutely love the competing crowns!

 

And that's one serious rack on Mr. Deer!

 

Thanks for all the work.

[yazeh]

27 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Great review, @yazeh!

🙏

27 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Chroma really highlights the green underneath.

It does,. doesn't it?

27 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Good quotes.  The swatches make me smile.  The water-test sketch makes me laugh.

We all need laughter.

27 minutes ago, LizEF said:

I could totally imagine "Murky" on the black & white TV we grew up with.

Same here. The worse was my grandfather's semi-portable post. Bad images, bad sound, bad programming. Best way to sour off kids from their phones.

27 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Absolutely love the competing crowns!

👑

27 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

And that's one serious rack on Mr. Deer!

Yes. He's quite impressive.

27 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Thanks for all the work.

Thank you for taking the time, to respond. 🙏🙏🙏

[Sailor Kenshin]

Gris Nuage, has. No green in that.

I see a lot of green in the Graphite chroma, but less in the writing and artwork. Love the artwork, the spooky noir depiction, the kitteh/mousie sketch.
 

Thanks, @yazeh, these comparisons are fun.

[yazeh]

33 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Gris Nuage, has. No green in that.

I might post Gris Nuage next week. I find it  has a bluish tinge. I prefer Graphite. Dark greys are more practical for art as we can play with the values. 

33 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I see a lot of green in the Graphite chroma, but less in the writing and artwork.

Graphite's green pops up only with a stub nib. As for art, all you need is a water brush and the green-ish comes out. 

33 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Love the artwork, the spooky noir depiction, the kitteh/mousie sketch.
 

 🙏🙏🙏

33 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Thanks, @yazeh, these comparisons are fun.

Most welcome.

[InesF]

Murky, Crown and - awww 😱 - Deer!

Thank you, @yazeh, for showing your great drawings so full of emotions!  

And, thank you for the ink review and for the collection of superb quotes!  Picasso was no surprise, but the one from G. Flaubert requires some thinking ...

 

While this ink is not for me and not for writing, I can fully understand that it may be perfect for drawing.

 

Finally, thank you for saving me from the need to kick-out one of my inks from my ink drawer!   

[yazeh]

13 minutes ago, InesF said:

Murky, Crown and - awww 😱 - Deer!

 

13 minutes ago, InesF said:

 

Thank you, @yazeh, for showing your great drawings so full of emotions!  

You'e most welcome.  

13 minutes ago, InesF said:

And, thank you for the ink review and for the collection of superb quotes!  Picasso was no surprise, but the one from G. Flaubert requires some thinking ...

I double checked the quote. It was "creatively" translated: The original is : 

« J’écris à la plume comme on creuse avec une pioche. »
— Gustave Flaubert

I write with a pen as one digs with a pickaxe.

I'm assuming he's diving deep in his character's psyche.

13 minutes ago, InesF said:

 

While this ink is not for me and not for writing, I can fully understand that it may be perfect for drawing.

I find darker greys more versatile for drawing. For writing, I'm not a fan of greys.

13 minutes ago, InesF said:

 

Finally, thank you for saving me from the need to kick-out one of my inks from my ink drawer!   

Most welcome.  

[USG]

20 hours ago, InesF said:

While this ink is not for me and not for writing, I can fully understand that it may be perfect for drawing.

 

Finally, thank you for saving me from the need to kick-out one of my inks from my ink drawer!

 

A masterful effort 👍😀 You know I like your work, but what InesF said......

[yazeh]

8 hours ago, USG said:

 

A masterful effort 👍😀 You know I like your work, but what InesF said......

Thanks a lot! Yes, if I didn't draw, I would never have even thought of using it.