Platinum Mix Free, The Perfect Custom Ink
07/12/2011Finding the perfect ink just got a whole lot easier with the release of Platinum’s Mix Free set. Make a simple blend of two colors or go all mad scientist and whip up a complex brew with this chemistry set for inkophiles.
Knowing my penchant for ink, samples arrived two days ago, a gift from The Pear Tree Pen Company. Nine colors, reducer fluid, empty vials, syringe, plus an empty ink bottle to house my signature ink is a lot to review so this product’s tale will get told in stages.
One major caveat before you view my images. The color reproduction is not as accurate as it should be. The ink’s real colors are clear and lively if not vivid. Gentian’s images show that well. Even the image from Platinum in which the bottles are pictured is more true for the base colors than mine. On my monitor the Platinum color chart is less accurate but you would be mixing those colors to your specifications anyway.
Bowing to Gentian for color representation, what remains is how well these inks stand up to use. While each ink is slightly different in performance, none should disappoint unless you have a pen with special needs. Flow and lubrication are average so a very dry writer may not be a great match. In this respect I found Mix Free to be similar to other Platinum inks.
There was no bleed-through or show-through on either Rhodia or Clairefontaine paper. However, there was feathering on Moleskine and to a lesser degree on cheap paper and envelopes. Coverage is good with some degree of shading but no outlining. The images tell the tale.
Except for the samples written with a True Writer, all other writing was done with a dip pen. The Brause has become a particular favorite and will most likely find its way into future reviews.
Can’t wait to create new colors? Check out the Platinum Mix Free Ink Recipes at FPN. AltecGreen jumped right in with a huge selection. There are even some images of what the reducer/dilution fluid can do. Just the right stuff for an inkophile.
Platinum Mix Free Ink Samples
Platinum Mix Free Ink Written Sample
Platinum Mix Free Ink Aurora Blue Sample
Platinum Mix Free Ink Aqua Blue Sample
Platinum Mix Free Ink Aurora Blue Water Test
Platinum Mix Free Ink Aqua Blue/Silky Purple Fusion
Platinum Mix Free Ink Color Circle
An Inkophile's Blog 
I like the paper towel circle 😀 I think the Sunny Yellow is really nice too. I also like the Earth Brown and Silky Purple.
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The circle was unplanned. Whichever bottle of ink I grabbed went down next while the adjacent color was still damp. Being playful with the colors was fun. Now for my next experiment… 😀
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I love all the variety exhibited in the pics. The paper towel demo just proves that you never know where/how ink will be applied. One of my favorite places to play with new ink is the restaurant where I had lunch today. They put the white butcher paper on top of the table cloths. The waitstaff has become rather fond of my little group when we come in and decorate the table tops. It is a fabulous icebreaker with new staff and other diners.
And yeah, I am one of those geeky types who gives writing instruments along with gratuities. Waitstaff can always use them 🙂
Keep up the good word!
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Aqua blue…come to me mama!
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