Best Black Ink?

[Goodwhiskers]

Namiki Black (also known as Pilot Black) flows well and can double as a writable pen cleaner. It's not the blackest black, but it's definitely blacker than HB (#2) pencil. It aggressively feathers into and prints through the really porous types of paper. It works well on paper that makes most water-based inks bead up, but still watch out for porosity. It has a nifty smell if you like inky smells.

 

Noodler's Black (the one without the special name, sometimes called "bulletproof" or "standard" [standard within the brand]) is among the blackest blacks but not the blackest. It is the best fountain pen ink for bad paper ("X-Feather Black" behaves better but takes longer to dry). It creeps on nibs but less than many other all-cellulose-reactive Noodler's colors.

[sasdrtx]

I have limited experience in the quest for ink that can absorb all of the electromagnetic spectrum without reflecting any. But what I've tried so far is Aurora Black, J. Herbin India Ink*, and Noodler's Heart of Darkness. Best as I can tell, colorwise, they're all the same. Nero. Noir. Pretty darn black. I'd like to get one of the carbon black inks to see how that looks. But the ones I've seen online are pretty expensive.

 

*Only from a dip pen. And it almost paints the nib black. And you can feel the dried ink sitting on top of the paper.

[Kurtz]

Which could be the blackest black free from that creeping issue?

 

[Orval]

I tried several blacks (Pelikan, Quinck, Skrip old, Skrip new, Waterman and Aurora) and Pelikan was the clear winner until now. Actually I'm trying the much praised Aurora one by one in my pens and for now I didn't find a pen where Aurora compares as the better upon Pelikan. Pelikan brilliant black is better in my VP with F nib and in my Lamy 2000 XF as well. I'm actually testing Aurora black in my Aurora 88 vintage edition. It behaves well, but I have still to try Pelikan in that pen.

I'm not tempted by other blacks, except maybe Herbin Perle noire because of his neutral PH and his natural pigments.

[CharlieB]

My favorite blacks are: Aurora, Pelikan, Dupont, and Sailor.

 

I have not tried: Diamine, Herbin.

 

I have tried and don't care for: Montblanc, Waterman, Omas, Visconti, Pilot, Noodlers, Private Reserve, Parker.

[BillTheEditor]

Which could be the blackest black free from that creeping issue?

Noodler Borealis

[Jopen]

Aurora, Aurora, Aurora, Aurora, Aurora, Aurora (excellent behaviour and rich black)... ... ... and Pelikan (good behaviour and acceptable black) ...

I use to work with western F and EF nibs and Japanese F and EF also...

[Rob G]

I have been looking for a truly black ink, myself.

 

I have tried Aurora, Old Manhattan, Sailor (carbon), and Quink, using a dozen different pens and eight different grades of paper.

 

They are all varying shades of gray. The search goes on...

 

[lovemy51]

my vote goes to Swisher Midnight Black. fast dry, very black and if it's not waterproof, it sure takes a long time to get it off your fingers.

[winsonli]

Hi. This would be my first post.

 

I'm also interested in finding the best black ink for my Lamy 2000 EF. Which inks works well with it? Thanks.

[wnclee]

For me THE only black ink is the Italian-made Aurora...Not crazy 'bout their blue (only make the 2 colors), but their black is the "gold standard"...LWL

[PatientType]

I guess I'm easy to please. Most of the blacks I've used have been fine. For me it is less a question of, "What is the best black ink?" and more a matter of which are the inks that are labeled black but are grayish. The majority of blacks seem to be very dark and black. Ergo I buy whatever is convenient. Right now, my ink shelf has Private Reserve Velvet Black, Visconti Black (that came boxed with a pen), as well as some DUX and Peacock Black - both brands Chinese and purchased in China. They're all black enough for my purposes. I did have a bottle of Quink Black that was more of a dark gray and gave that away.

Now with blues, I see a world of difference brand to brand and among the different titles ... but that would be another topic.

[carlosviet]

I am absolutely satisfied by Waterman Black. No-nonsense. Cheap; available everywhere; great behaviour: no feathering, no bleeding, and smooth. A solid black.

 

Depending on the paper and the pen, I find it often blacker than Pelikan, but that impression changes from time to time.

[vectorbundle]

Noodler's Heart of Darkness is hard to beat for blackness and quick-drying.

[papabear16]

There are many factors to consider, I'm sure. I use black ink in only two ways, right now—I use it to keep track of my billing at work (just taking notes on a pad), and in my Moleskines for various things. I started with Aurora Black. I liked the color fine, and it felt great. But it did bleed through the Moleskine paper a bit too often. That was its only downfall for me.

 

I then purchased some Noodler's Black, and am very happy with it. It behaves great on the Moleskine, and the color is great. The only problem I've had has been some nib creep—comparable to what I've experienced with 54th Massachusetts—but that doesn't really bother me too much.

[Mafia Geek]

I had quite the quest to find a good black ink. I needed the ink to be a true black, ie very little shading to greys or blues, at least water resistant, dry reasonably fast, flow smoothly, be easy to clean from the pen, and most important of all, NOT SMEAR WHEN HIGHLIGHTED. It's amazing how hard that last one is to get in a black ink. Even Noodler's blacks (all of them) smear from a highlighter on all of the papers I tried.

 

One of the only inks that fit all of my requirements was J Herbin Perle Noire. It's a FANTASTIC black ink. Very true black, SUPER easy to clean from a pen, dries really fast, and doesn't budge from highlighter.

 

I very highly recommend giving Perle Noire a try, it's quite easy to find and won't disappoint I'm sure. It's also good because it doesn't stain pens at all.

[Edwaroth]

Hands down...J. Herbin Perle Noire...Period.

[wnclee]

Far and above ALL others is the Aurora. An Italian-made ink with many yrs. to get it right. It is considered the "gold standard" of black inks...A litmus test if you will. They make only one other color of ink in the form of blue. Do not like it too much. Years age I wanted the standard of a black and blue ink, ordered many samples of both and settled on the Aurora. BTW: my blue was DC Supershow Blue from Private Reserve. Good luck and enjoy the Aurora if ur choice...p.s. They do have a blue, but does not rate nearly as well as my 2 picks...LWL

[wnclee]

P.S. Forgot qualities. May be a nano-second longer to dry, but other than that, it is the ideal pupil and depending on the paper, learns easily and very pliable...LWL

[ethernautrix]

Levenger's Raven Black.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding. Noodler's Black.*

 

 

 

*If you are me or have similar preferences.