What is Superchrome ink? Superchrome was a special ink created exclusively for the Parker 51. Parker made several claims about this ink: it dried three times faster than ordinary ink of the time (such as Waterman), it had a dye content three to ten times greater, and was said to have eleven times more resistance to fading than government standards.
Caran d’Ache discontinued this stunning Saffron ink, and replaced it with their Chromatics line. I have no idea why, because this is an amazing color, named after the spice. Saffron is rich in color and doesn’t come cheap, so it’s no surprise this is such a lovely ink!
Pelikan, as you know, makes more than just great pens. The Pelikan Edelstein range is named after gem stones, and in this case, Jade. This is just a representation of the gemstone, which can apparently vary in color. Being a natural material, that’s not surprising. I like this one a lot.
There’s such a range of turquoise inks, and I’m not sure if they’re all accurate in their naming system. I don’t really care, because they’re pretty. They also look very different when used with different nibs. What’s your favorite turquoise?
Turquoise. One of my favorite ink colors, and there’s so many to choose from! Of course, one of my favorites is no longer available: Caran d’Ache Caribbean Sea. I’m still looking for a close match.
What’s a little royal blue? What’s your favorite royal blue? I used to think this was a boring color to put in my pens, and then it started to grow on me. I kept using it because many of them were easy to wash out, as many were washable, and I thought, maybe these aren’t so boring after all. Now, I have at least two bottles on hand at all times. Go figure! Pictured: Montblanc …
What’s so great about those pigmented/carbon inks? Inks like Platinum Carbon Black and Sailor Kiwa Guro Pigmented Nano Black are nice inks because they are so dark and intense, especially for those who like a really solid color. They’re great for artists who use them in watercolor drawings, those who sketch, and if you need an ink that is water-resistant. The downside is these inks contain fine particles that can clog your pen’s feed, so …
Do water-resistant inks damage pens? It can happen. Iron-gall/permanent inks are acidic and can corrode the metal parts of your pen, especially if they are constantly exposed to the ink. This can take time, so you probably won’t have a crumbling nib after one use, but it’s wise to practice proper pen care and maintenance.
How do I know if an ink will fade? If an ink is not labelled as light-fast, fade-resistant, or iron-gall, it will likely fade over time – and faster when exposed to sunlight/light. If you need an archival ink, iron-gall inks were designed for this purpose. Permanent inks should not fade either.
What inks produce shading? Inks produce a gradient of their color that is more easily visible with wet writers, flex nibs, and broad/calligraphy-type nibs. Some inks that stand out are: Waterman Inspired Blue, Rohrer & Klingner Alt-Goldgrün, J. Herbin Vert Olive, Noodler’s Apache Sunset, Diamine Aqua Blue, Diamine Meadow, Diamine Havasu Turquoise, Diamine Ancient Copper, Diamine Burnt Sienna, Diamine Soft Mint, J. Herbin Lie de Thé, Montblanc Irish Green, and many more. As always, you …
