EFNIR: Private Reserve Velvet Black

[LizEF]

Extra Fine Nib Ink Review: Private Reserve Velvet Black

This is review #375 in my series. Here's the YouTube video:

Post-recording notes: This ink was gifted to me by a generous FPGeek. In the vial and on the microscope slide it's a very dark purple. I can see the purple undertone in the swatch, but it's cooler there than in the vial/slide. None of my blacks were purple enough, and none of my purples were black enough to compare, so I chose comparisons to show you what it's not: Ohto Black is a redder purple. De Atramentis Document Black shows what blackety black black looks like. The ink is black, the photos and scans look black, nothing more to say.

I rated sheen as "Medium" even though it's pretty much everywhere because you can only see it if you look for it by angling the page to the light. Otherwise, the black ink prevents the sheen from showing.

Dry time was faster in test. Clearly it varies by how saturated the feed is.

Cleaning was surprisingly quick and easy with plain water. An extra flush was needed just due to concentration, but you would have expected a purple-based black to cling or stain. Instead, it easily rinsed right out.

Zoomed in photo

Screenshot

Scan of Completed Review

Absorbent Paper Close-up (top is puzzle paper like thick newsprint, bottom is old 20lb copy paper) (The copy paper looks solid black to my eyes, not blotchiness, no shading.)

Line width (Roughly 264µm. The "I" in "Ink:". Magnification is 100x. The grid is 100x100µm. The scale is 330µm, with eleven divisions of 30µm each. With 375 inks measured, the average line width is 299µm.) (Holy narrow line width, Batman! (Is in the bottom 8%!))

Swatch card comparison (DAD Black isn't quite such a black hole. Velvet Black's pale areas should be a blue-leaning purple. Ohto Black is over saturated and should be a redder shade of purple.)

Microscope image (Montage of microscope images. See links for higher resolution versions. Not sure what's going on with this ink. At first, I thought paper fibers from either emptying the pen or refilling with fibers between the tines, but there are too many of these little fibrous clusters. Is strange.)

 

Links to large microscope images:

Link to Microscope image 1 (400x)

Link to Microscope image 2 (400x)

Link to Microscope image 3 (100x)

Link to Microscope image 3a (400x)

Link to Microscope image 4 (100x)

Link to Microscope image 4a (400x)

Sheen (Silver sheen (just like Klaw) and some other inks. Colors are mostly accurate.)

Void Comparison (The void laughs at how black this ink isn't. Shows off the slightly purple tone of the ink pretty well.)

Previous Review: Collection Traced Xing.

Images also available on Instagram: @zilxodarap.

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

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. Or read Part 8: The Ice Fields Adventure.

Hope you enjoy. Comments appreciated!

[Lithium466]

Very nice, a shiny black that produces thin lines 🤩 Thank you for your review.

But then... Could that be mold?

[LizEF]

1 minute ago, Lithium466 said:

Very nice, a shiny black that produces thin lines 🤩

 I did actually enjoy using this black. Looking at it later, at least on some paper, it didn't seem so shiny, so that could entirely be the sheen, or it could be very paper-dependent.

 

1 minute ago, Lithium466 said:

Thank you for your review.

You're most welcome!

 

1 minute ago, Lithium466 said:

But then... Could that be mold?

I wondered that, too, and a scientist (microbiologist, but not an expert in mold) friend was visiting while I had it on the slide. We both wondered, but couldn't come to a firm conclusion.  It didn't really seem like mold, but we couldn't come up with what else it might be.  For all I know, it's bits of paper fiber from the little Kimwipes I use to clean the slide (e.g. I didn't blow them off well enough - I've come to the conclusion that there's no such thing as lint-free towels). The ink didn't exhibit any of the other usual mold signs.  With it being a sample gifted to me (a sample someone else bought and then passed on to me) and its age unknown, and no idea how it may have been used before being passed on, it's really hard to say.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Wow.  I've had a couple of PR inks in the distant past and they always seemed like the ichor of demons:  thick, slow to dry, troublesome.
 

 I wanted a sample of Black for its silver sheen but never sent for one, as I already have ten black inks.  Whew.

 

The middle lower micro looks like a geode slice.

 

But!  What is happening to our heroes?  I don't want Etthhri 🐍 to freeze, nor the others.  Intrigue and mystery! 
 

Thanks, @LizEF.  You always make Tuesdays magical and fun... I look forward weekly to the review and story. 
 

(Void Kitteh = Bee Yoo Tee Full!)

[LizEF]

26 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Wow.  I've had a couple of PR inks in the distant past and they always seemed like the ichor of demons:  thick, slow to dry, troublesome.
 

 I wanted a sample of Black for its silver sheen but never sent for one, as I already have ten black inks.  Whew.

I don't know if they have multiple blacks or not. And they did go through that period of manufacturing problems that led to a lot of mold...  Anywho, I'm not sure it's worth it when you have a lot of black inks already, but it seemed like a good one for someone looking for a black that's more interesting than most.

 

27 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

The middle lower micro looks like a geode slice.

Yes!  It's bizarre. I really don't know what to make of the microscope images.

 

28 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

But!  What is happening to our heroes?  I don't want Etthhri 🐍 to freeze, nor the others.  Intrigue and mystery! 

 

28 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Thanks, @LizEF.

You're most welcome!

 

28 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

You always make Tuesdays magical and fun... I look forward weekly to the review and story.

Thank you!

 

29 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

(Void Kitteh = Bee Yoo Tee Full!)

 He's such a handsome boy!

[yazeh]

Wow what a handsome Klaw, birdwatching (sorry, ehm review 😼) 

 

Sorry, I got sidetracked, but it's not my fault that your boy is so be-witching. 😸 

 

Loved the storyline, it reminded me of vertigo or one these nightmares when we're falling but we never reach the land, until we wakeup. I'm sure Ethri will be fine and will jump into Professor Eenness' lap or back into his Quin-room!

 

Thanks for bringing the void to warm our hearts in this interminable winter.  🙏

 

 

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

Wow what a handsome Klaw, birdwatching (sorry, ehm review 😼) 

 

Sorry, I got sidetracked, but it's not my fault that your boy is so be-witching. 😸 

  Isn't he gorgeous?  (And poor. And picked on. And has never been fed, not once in his entire life - just ask him, he'll tell you. )

 

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

Loved the storyline, it reminded me of vertigo or one these nightmares when we're falling but we never reach the land, until we wakeup. I'm sure Ethri will be fine and will jump into Professor Eenness' lap or back into his Quin-room!

 Thanks!

 

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

Thanks for bringing the void to warm our hearts in this interminable winter.  🙏

You're most welcome!  Come for a visit - I think we had winter for like 4 days.  (We'll be in a severe drought this year, barring miraculous snow and rain.)

[yazeh]

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

  Isn't he gorgeous?  (And poor. And picked on. And has never been fed, not once in his entire life - just ask him, he'll tell you. )

They are Kings and Queens of supposed victimhood.

When she's bird watching (in winter) I ask her do you want to go out, she gives me her owl expression. Do your boys do that too? 

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

 

 Thanks!

 

You're most welcome!  Come for a visit - I think we had winter for like 4 days.  (We'll be in a severe drought this year, barring miraculous snow and rain.)

Thank I still  prefer the cold and snow.  That means enough water even though we're rarely affected by drought, though last year it was close.

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

They are Kings and Queens of supposed victimhood.

 

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

When she's bird watching (in winter) I ask her do you want to go out, she gives me her owl expression. Do your boys do that too? 

Mine don't get to go out, but they do sometimes stare at me with blank expressions.

 

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

Thank I still  prefer the cold and snow.  That means enough water even though we're rarely affected by drought, though last year it was close.

I would much rather have the cold and snow than the drought.  In this area, we've got just over 50% of the needed snowpack with only a 20% chance of reaching normal by April (if not by then, it's a 0% chance).

[yazeh]

8 hours ago, LizEF said:

Mine don't get to go out, but they do sometimes stare at me with blank expressions. 

To give you context:  the backyard is like Quin's world. Is several  feet of snow, hardened ice on pathway and now sun for now. It's white and brown (shrub stems and trees). Hence my cat's owlish look: "You know it's cold and no bird is going to make go out in snow & ice. Now if you want me to give me a brushing or treats, because I exist, then be my guest."   

8 hours ago, LizEF said:

 

I would much rather have the cold and snow than the drought.  In this area, we've got just over 50% of the needed snowpack with only a 20% chance of reaching normal by April (if not by then, it's a 0% chance).

Then I pray for measured precipitation. 🙏

[Sailor Kenshin]

Dittos and amen.

[LizEF]

3 hours ago, yazeh said:

To give you context:  the backyard is like Quin's world. Is several  feet of snow, hardened ice on pathway and now sun for now. It's white and brown (shrub stems and trees). Hence my cat's owlish look: "You know it's cold and no bird is going to make go out in snow & ice. Now if you want me to give me a brushing or treats, because I exist, then be my guest."   

 I sometimes let them out in the garage (I keep mine clean and free of dangerous stuff, for this very purpose).  On the coldest days, Klaw will whine to go out there, until I open the door. Then he sniffs the air and runs away.   Smoke doesn't even try when it's cold - he seems to care much more for warmth and comfort (even though Klaw's more likely to lie in the sun - weirdos).

 

3 hours ago, yazeh said:

Then I pray for measured precipitation. 🙏

 Thank you!  Me, too.

[LizEF]

1 minute ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Dittos and amen.

 Thanks!

[drakolord]

Nice review but seems cat is not amused. Probably wants a blank ink that swallows the souls of mice

[LizEF]

15 minutes ago, drakolord said:

Nice review but seems cat is not amused. Probably wants a blank ink that swallows the souls of mice

Thanks!   Klaw is never amused when I'm taking his picture. He knows what I'm doing and hates it!  But yes, he probably would prefer an ink swallows the souls of mice - though his brother would like that even more!  (Smoke is more a hunter than Klaw.)