Posts Tagged ‘diamine’
2009/10/11
The Sound of Music’s My Favorite Things floated my way when I thought about comparing the green inks in my current rotation. J. Herbin Vert Empire, Private Reserve Avacado (sp.), and Montblanc Racing Green are delightfully well-matched to their pens but might not be as wonderful in other models. It took a long time to discover two of these pairings and the third was entirely by luck. Oh, if you like flex, Vert Empire shades beautifully in an Esterbrook ‘J’ with a 9128 extra-fine flex nib. So there is that, too.
Dark Green Fountain Pen Ink
My complete list would also include Sailor Uranari Green, J. Herbin Vert Olive, Diamine Emerald, and Iroshizuku shin-ryoku. These inks work well for me in lots of pens so they are worth mentioning as well.
Probably the most versatile of the bunch are Diamine Emerald and MB Racing Green. PR Avacado dries a little slower than the other two but can be easier to find in the U.S.
There is one caveat when it comes to green ink. I’ve found nearly all of them change, whether lighter or darker, softer or bolder, depending on the pen and especially in a scan. If ever there was a color to which YMMV applies, green is it.
Any one of these inks could be a good addition to your collection but if you like green as much as I do, one just won’t be enough.
Posted in Ink, Reviews | Tagged diamine, diamine ink, esterbrook, fountain pen ink, herbin, Ink, iroshizuku, Private Reserve | 2 Comments »
2009/08/28
Links to all Inkophile ink reviews through August, 2009:
Posted in Ink, Reviews | Tagged diamine, fountain pen ink, herbin, iroshizuku, Private Reserve, sailor | 5 Comments »
2009/07/31
Do you have days when color rules your choices? Even if it’s black ink in a black pen, a harmonious duo can be just the thing to set the right tone for your day. Not that a vibrant contrast doesn’t have its place. Think vivid orange in a black pen or true green in a yellow pen. These combinations are lively and make writing fun. However, there are days when I just want my tools to be an extension of thought rather than a statement of fashion. This week I needed purple.
Why purple? It combines the stability of blue with the vigor of red and is associated with creativity and magic, all good stuff for a writer. Since I only own two purple pens, one of which could pass for silver and has never been inked, the choice was easy.
Levenger True Writer in Periwinkle
Levenger discontinued the periwinkle version of its True Writer some time ago so I was fortunate to acquire one from a private seller. Because it has so many shades of purple in its marbled barrel, including at its darkest what passes for a blue-black, this TW works with a variety of inks. The smooth medium nib may not add anything to my penmanship but it is very easy on my hand so I can write longer at a session.
Pen in hand I browsed though my swatches for an ink with just the right color and characteristics. The two most likely candidates were J. Herbin Violette Pensée and Diamine Violet. For a change of pace, I opted for the Diamine though the colors are nearly identical.
Diamine Violet
So for days I’ve been enjoying my purple fix especially on Rhodia grid paper and in an Apica 6A10 journal. How about you? What inky duo made you happy this past week?
Posted in Fountain Pens, Ink, Paper, Reviews | Tagged levenger true writer, fountain pen ink, diamine, rhodia, apica, Fountain Pens | 15 Comments »
2009/05/15
Every year as summer approaches, my rotation needs an overhaul. It isn’t easy but the unwieldy “winter at my desk” lot needs taming to an easy “on the go” crew. Minimal upkeep is key but a satisfying splash of summer color for my correspondence and journal is essential, too.
My criteria for summer pens are simple: light in weight and easily replaced. No worries if one gets left behind or slips out of my bag. Three to five of them should be plenty. My pens that fit the bill best are
- Lamy Vista with the transparent barrel so I can see the ink
- Lamy Al-Star because the aluminum barrel and icy colors are cooling on a hot summer day
- Esterbrook (J, SJ, or LJ) for nib variety
Inks that suit sultry summer nights and blistering summer days are those colors you’d find at the beach or in a garden. Some of my favorites along with the images they conjure are
- Caran d’Ache Caribbean Sea – seaside holiday
- Diamine China Blue – soft cotton linens
- Diamine Kelly Green – freshly watered grass
- Diamine Light Green – new plant growth
- Diamine Maroon – deep pink roses
- Diamine Royal Blue – clear skies
- Diamine Sepia – flowers, pebbles and beaches
- Iroshizuku Syo-Ro – ocean surface
- Iroshizuku Yu-Yake – sunrise
- J. Herbin Bleu Azur - sun bleached pool
- J. Herbin Bleu Pervenche – cotton cloth and seaside jewelry
- J. Herbin Bouquet D’Antan – pale pink hydrangeas
- J. Herbin Gris Nuage – rain clouds
- J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune – lavender flowers
- J. Herbin Rouille D’Ancre – daylily and Gerbera daisies
- J. Herbin Vert Olive – pale green ornamental grass
- Private Reserve Purple Haze – gauze clothing, lavender and shadows
- Private Reserve Shell Pink – lipstick and flowers
- Private Reserve Shoreline Gold – nasturtiums and marigolds
- Rohrer and Klingner Morinda – Hawaiian shirts
- Sailor Gray – sea squall, stormy ocean at the horizon
Same list of inks but by color
Blue
- Caran d’Ache Caribbean Sea
- Diamine China Blue
- Diamine Royal Blue
- Iroshizuku Syo-Ro
- J. Herbin Bleu Azur
- J. Herbin Bleu Pervenche
Red/Pink
- Diamine Maroon
- J. Herbin Bouquet D’Antan
- Private Reserve Shell Pink
- Rohrer and Klingner Morinda
Gray
- J. Herbin Gris Nuage
- Sailor Gray
Orange
- Diamine Sepia
- Iroshizuku Yu-Yake
- J. Herbin Rouille D’Ancre
- Private Reserve Shoreline Gold
Green
- Diamine Kelly Green
- Diamine Light Green
- J. Herbin Vert Olive
Purple
- J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune
- Private Reserve Purple Haze
No, I don’t own all of those inks! But I have seen written samples or scored a small vial of each except Caribbean Sea. One of these days…
Do you pare things down for summer? If so, what’s on your list?
Update: Summer Ink Palette No 1, Summer Ink Palette No 2, Summer Ink Palette No 3, Summer Ink Palette No 4
Posted in Fountain Pens, Ink | Tagged diamine, esterbrook, fountain pen ink, herbin, iroshizuku, lamy | 1 Comment »
