Comparison of Diamine's Garish Inks!

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

sunshine yellow looks almost like southwest sunset from Noodlers!

[@writerlywitterings]

Haven't tried that Noodlers. I may have to take a squint - mind you, I do have an awful lot of inks already! Good to see you again, Tracie! All best

[@markcotter2931]

I love Ancient Copper. The only ink I have in the brown range. Iroshizuku fugu yaku is my favoured orange. I suffered from nib crud with Diamine orange and sunset.

[@writerlywitterings]

Nib crud from those two? I'm really surprised to hear that. I don't mind Ancient Copper, but I really don't go for browns apart from Diamine Sepia, which I really do like - especially from the IM nib on my Winston.

[@alextaplin7354]

Diamine coral is one of my favourite inks, sometimes it's orangy red and sometimes it's pinky red but whatever colour it chooses to be it is bright! In the syringe after cleaning a pen the water will be orange on the first rinse and pink on the second. It also has a golden sheen when really heavily used. It is a very nice colour if you want a title to stand out. I've not seen peach haze before and in general I don't like pink but this is very nice on the eyes. And ancient copper is my daily ink used in my Lamy 2000, wonderful colour and shading, it even looks good if it gets wet too.

[@writerlywitterings]

Hmm - not really my kind of colour - although I can see that they would be really good as highlighting colours.

[@LifeinLancashire]

Personally, I love all these bright coloured inks. The Hope Pink was brought out in support of Breast Cancer Awareness - hence the really shocking pink ink and the name Hope. My favourite colours of ink though are blues and purples.

[@writerlywitterings]

I have to admit, when I first saw the Hope Pink, I named it in my mind as "Shocking Pink" so the colour did work. I didn't know it was for Breast Cancer Awareness. That makes me a little more fond of it ... but I still seriously doubt I'll ever use it, I'm afraid!

[@lisaleone2296]

I purchased many of the Diamine solid colors to try my hand at mixing inks for drawing. That's the only reason I would ever use anything in the yellow-to-red part of the spectrum. I came up with some objectively good colors, but it's really an expensive and tedious way to get there.

[@writerlywitterings]

Yes - and you do have to be careful, I understand. They don't always mix well in some pens and can do damage to feeds. If you want to try that again, I believe that L'Artisan Pastellier are safer inks which are designed to be mixed and safe in fountain pens.

[@JBFire97]

I have no real experience of dip pens, so it would be interesting to see! Thanks as always.

[@writerlywitterings]

Noted - I'll get some ideas down!

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

I recently ordered Diamine Inkvent Red Edition Raspberry Rose. I thought it would be a magenta color but it had too much brown in it. The only Diamine color I've ever been disappointed in.

[@writerlywitterings]

That's a shame. Just one question, bearing in mind how Noodlers inks need to be shaken, it might be an idea to test that with a shake before filling a pen. Odd, though, all the swatches I've seen imply a bright red and not brown at all.

[@teresaharris-travelbybooks5564]

@@writerlywitterings I did shake and stir. I thought it might be the paper: which was a cream color Clairefontaine, but I've since used it on two other papers ,with similar results. However, the ink quality itself is still excellent. It goes down easily and since Diamine is my favorite ink; along with Monteverde; I've decided against returning it. It almost seems like Diamine Inks are more saturated; thicker? Is that possible?

[@JoelTurrell]

I have only two orange inks, and Pumpkin is one of them (and the only one I really use), but I can't get enough blue inks, and found myself yesterday (coincidentally) browsing through your old Diamine reviews for ideas. I have the feeling that Diamine may do more blue variations than anyone else.

[@writerlywitterings]

I think Diamine make more of every colour than anyone else - and I'm pretty sure they make a lot of inks for other firms too. Personally, ASA Blue is one of my favourites still, but I do like Washable and China blues too.

[@ElinWinblad]

I love flamingo pink in my planner

[@writerlywitterings]

Ooh. Well, you see, I have diabetes, and diabetic maculopathy, so the Flamingo Pink is painful. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

[@ElinWinblad]

@@writerlywitterings in my planner it has a more red color

[@writerlywitterings]

@@ElinWinblad Yes, I forgot that different papers give a different colour!

[@EastLancashireJohn]

Lovely video Michael. Good to see you in the pink!

[@writerlywitterings]

Thank you kindly - I think!

[@misswoodhouse5720]

I really like the Punpkin looks lovely, I have a bottle of Hope Pink and hardly ever use it. My mother keeps telling me to use pinks where I prefer purple and blues.

[@writerlywitterings]

I'm with you. Especially the Imperial Purple, which gives glorious sheening - and I am fond of Diamine's Grape and their Amazing Amethyst, which is a sort of pastel version. Quite lovely!

[@misswoodhouse5720]

@@writerlywitterings Oh yes, definitely, Grape is very pretty I have a bottle maybe I should ink up something today :) ps hows the weather, over in oz way too hot for me I miss England's grey and gloomy winter days.

[@TrishLee]

Thank you for this!

[@writerlywitterings]

My pleasure - sort of! They really are pretty bright, especially some of those pink ones!

[@TrishLee]

@@writerlywitterings Keep sharing and have a great week ahead! ❤

[@writerlywitterings]

@@TrishLee Thanks - and you too!

[@harisivakumar207]

Good afternoon/evening, Mike! I just watched the whole video of your garish inks video, and this has surprised me quite a bit! You mentioned that you don't like pink inks-well, I do too! I think pink to me is much, much, much feminine for what I'm going for. I can see why a couple of people (especially men) can go for pink so much, but I just feel like it's an odd colour. Diamine Sunset is ACTUALLY AN ORANGE, NOT a yellow ink. I can clearly see the tone of the colour. And Diamine Yellow, while it's far to garish and bright (for both of us), can be a good substitute for a good highlighter ink, so if you got a Kaweco Highlighter pen, and you wanted to fill that particular ink, by all means go for it! Do you have a favourite colour of your own? My top 3 rankings are: blue (1st), red (2nd) and green (3rd). I'll be looking forward to find and try new inks on the market or online! Have a good Thursday!

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for that, Harikash. I have to admit, I tend to agree with you. It's hard to pick favourite colours, but I tend to think I'd go for blues first, then reds, and lastly ... hmm not easy. Actually my favourite colours tend to be Akkerman's Israel's Zeeblauw, their Delft's Blauw, Diamine's Prussian Blue and Blu Mare from Rohrer & Klingner if I am writing something that's business related or just for fun - but then I grab Rohrer & Klingner's Alt Goldgrün and Alt Bordeaux and Diamine Sepia as strong contenders - greens are really quite a way down my list of favourites. I like them, especially Kelly Green and Emerald from Diamine. I agree about the Yellow for highlighters Kaweco pens, but I'd also like using it, but only on clear white paper. But pinks generally just aren't my kind of thing!

[@sensemaya1]

I've not been around much but wishing you all the best for 2021...I also like your sherry glass in the Eule video....Cheers!!!

[@writerlywitterings]

Thank you! You too!

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

LT1917 now has a 120 GSM paper which is even better for using fountain pens!

[@writerlywitterings]

Ooh, I've got to get some of that!

[@TheRebs7]

Deep Dark Orange was my all time favorite for ages but has been slightly over taken by Diamine's Red Dragon now. It's such a great colour, slightly more lively than Oxblood but not bright. Writer's blood' has just arrived but I'm waiting for a pen to be empty. Luckily, I'm a minute writer for a living so I get through some ink and and enjoy the pleasure of changing colour for each meeting.

[@writerlywitterings]

I'm not sure you should be writing the minutes in red, Rebs! Have to say, I totally agree about the Red Dragon compared with Oxblood. I like Oxblood, but ... no, I prefer RD. The Writer's Blood is going to have to be reviewed shortly. I do like it, but I need to play with it a bit more before I decide whether I really like it more than Oxblood or Red Dragon. I think it is up there with the favourites, but ... hmm.

[@TheRebs7]

@@writerlywitterings Haha! Boringly, I have to type up all my minutes and the handwritten versions get shredded, so there'll be no one in the future gasping at my racy audacity. I used Writers Blood all day today - bit purpley-maroon for me (none of the frisson of RD) but I do think it would be a nice alternative to black in a formal setting - when you don't want to look like you're using coloured ink but you know you are. If that makes any sense. I used it in my TWSBI Diamond Mini today - such a great pen.

[@writerlywitterings]

@@TheRebs7 I have been using it a bit, and I have to admit, I'm not as taken as I expected to be. Like you, I find it a little too maroon - but it may grow on me. Just now I'm loving some KWZ Honey - that is a lovely colour!

[@OrgulloKnario]

Thank you very much for the video. It has been a pleasant surprise for me.

[@writerlywitterings]

Glad you liked it - although I might get worried if you liked too many of the actual inks!

[@OrgulloKnario]

@@writerlywitterings haha. Now I doubt what shade of pink to buy? Of the oranges, I bought the pumpkin color. Thank you!!

[@thuntz29]

Hi Michael! Have you tried watercolour-ing with your fp inks?

[@writerlywitterings]

Not yet! I'm not sure they would work very well - a good watercolour paint has a distinct period to dry. It's how you get the blending of colours and shades. An ink doesn't do that, because it dries too quickly, so I think I'll stick to ink in pens and watercolour for painting!

[@thuntz29]

@@writerlywitterings have you check out Nick Stewart’s art? He has a channel as well. He uses primarily fp inks for his work, very interesting effects with the chromatography of the inks.

[@writerlywitterings]

@@thuntz29 No, I haven't. I'll have a look!

[@aleksandarpeshev2499]

Me: "I don't need any more stationary ... oh? a Twsbi go you say?"

[@writerlywitterings]

Those little TWSBIs are really addictive little monsters. Gave one to a guy who had not used a fountain pen for ages, and wasn't really interested. He had ball points. One short session with the Go and he has been hooked ever since! And they're very well priced, as well as being easy to maintain - unless the dog eats it, in which case it's a little less easy to maintain. I speak from experience, if you look at the TWSBI Go review here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/emXRZYRue5Wih6s

[@aleksandarpeshev2499]

Got mine yesterday after watching your channel and you're right, it is an absolute delight to use, and very practical; I just hope airport security doesn't confuse it for a detonator :D

[@writerlywitterings]

@@aleksandarpeshev2499 It really is, isn't it? Very pleased you like it too, Aleksandar. I hope you have many happy years with it - and that your dog doesn't eat yours!

[@JosephDickson]

I suspect they're best for thank you notes and greeting cards. Could you imagine reading long form content that way. Torture, Yikes. 🤣

[@writerlywitterings]

I hate to admit ... when I started out writing a novel longhand, I started with some of these, and it my have been partly that experience that put me off them. Imagine pages of A4 in those pinks ...

[@JosephDickson]

@@writerlywitterings yep, if I built a whole website with pink text I wouldn't expect anyone to be able to read it. Contrast with paper makes a big difference for legibility.

[@osirisgolad]

You hit the nail on the head. I write notes to others in Noodler's Rachmaninoff, which is an absolutely awful ink in every aspect, simply because it's a colour that's impossible to miss or ignore. A passing glance is enough to jog someone's memory and remind them they still have to deal with whatever is on the note(as well as burning their eyes out). It's like the Eye of Sauron is staring at you until you get rid of it.

[@writerlywitterings]

@@osirisgolad The thought of the Eye of Sauron staring at me until I get rid of it ... That is a thought to conjure with! Thanks, Rick!

[@garylangford6755]

Sunshine yellow is unreadable in anything thinner than a stub nib. Just warning other readers. I foolishly bought the sunshine yellow and cant use it.

[@writerlywitterings]

I would just suggest one thing: try it on different papers. I've found it's useless on certain types, but very effective on others. The cream of the Tomoe River paper I tested it on was not good, but I think if you use it on very clean white paper, you may find it works well - unless you use a fine nib, in which case it'll still be invisible!

[@garylangford6755]

@@writerlywitterings hahaha I tried with a medium nib. It seems to cause a lot of feathering on the paper I had. Thanks for the reply!

[@garylangford6755]

@@writerlywitterings love your videos by the way.