Ink Comparison: Greys and Blacks!

Here is the latest update comparing different inks. At last we’re making it into the professional ink colours, with greys and the first blacks from Diamine!
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Mike

[@dcvao]

You have great handwriting. Thanks for the video.

[@writerlywitterings]

So nice of you - It doesn't look so good either in the flesh, or especially when it's written using a ball point!

[@j.e.madrigal]

Just found your review, and I love your Diamine ink reviews! I’m about to do my first purchase from Cult Pens and couldn’t decide which ink colors to get....thank you! Then, I look on your channel and realize you’re an author of historical mystery/fiction...my favorite genre! Fantastic! Instant fan here from the states! Cheers!

[@writerlywitterings]

I really like messages like this, Jorge! Buy a couple of my books and you'll be helping keep this channel going!

[@luisagonzalez4593]

I like so much Fiamine inks, my favorite quartz black witha a little accent of grey , thanks

[@writerlywitterings]

My video tomorrow will have some more Onyx Black from Diamine. Lovely colour in a Conway Stewart Winston pen!

[@jillbartos8893]

I love Diamond Grey in my fine Lamy Safari for sketching. The lines will dissolve nicely to make shadows. Very useful video! I'm interested in getting a black for sketching, too.

[@writerlywitterings]

That is an excellent idea, Jill! I really like a grey fineliner that I have (Derwent from one of their range), which gives a really good line on paper. When I use pen and wash, I tend to use a dip pen with Indian ink, but I find that too intense and dark - it hadn't occurred to me to use grey. I'll try that - in a Platinum Preppy it would be ideal! Many thanks!

[@tsherbs1309]

Yes, I too preferred the Quartz and the Jet out of this set. They have some character and variation.

[@writerlywitterings]

Irritatingly, I replied to this last week, but clearly KZbin lost my response! Yes. It's the variation that I always like to see. Just a bland, flat colour is boring!

[@jamesaritchie1]

Great video. Grey/Gray has always been my least favorite ink. I love gray clothing, gray cars, gray paint, and even gray winter days. But not gray ink. There's just nothing about it that makes me want to use it. Funny about writing with black ink. I grew to hate it after having to use it so often. At the start of this year, I gave away almost half a gallon of black inks I had accumulated over the last few years, most as gifts. I kept just enough to get me through emergencies, and that was it. Later on, just before I retired, and still today, I started writing with a different color of ink every day of the week. I don't remember who first started doing this, but I read an article wherein some writer claimed to do this, so I tried it. It worked well. At the end of the week, I could flip through the pages and have a good idea how much i wrote each day based on the color of ink. After years of writing with black, I found this was a great relief, almost relaxing. I also found it to be oddly motivated. I also used a different pen each day, and this, too, added to the pleasure. Anyway, I have a bottle of gray ink that cost eighty-five dollars. My least favorite color by far, my most expensive bottle of ink. It's only 50ml. It's a Montblanc SE ink, and the only reason i bought it was because it was supposed to be wood and tobacco scented I fought against the urge to buy it, but wood and tobacco smoke have been a large part of my life, so I finally gave in, just to see if they got the scent right. The pretty much did, I think. I absolutely love this ink. I have to. It cost eighty-five dollars. I fully intend to use every drop. And love it to death, right to that last drop. I love it, I tell you. I love it.

[@writerlywitterings]

I know what you mean, and although I would have the same financially-inspired affection for an ink of that price (ye Gods! $85?) I have to admit my tastes still run to the happier colours, like the Blu Mare and Alt Gold-Grün. Which are just fabulous. I can see the appeal of some greys, such as the Diamine Grey or Montblanc Permanent Grey, because both do give very good shading, but it has to be said that blacks leave me cold, with only three exceptions. Iroshizuku Take-Sumi, because that has a really stunning (although quite subtle) sheen to it; Visconti Black, because it has glorious shading, with the upper part of letters coming out as pleasant greys, while the rest of the letters come out as deep black; Rohrer & Klingner Leipziger Schwarz, which has a delicious greenish teal tinge with a hint of red. It is an extraordinary black, and looks outstanding on the page. Really lovely. Then again, I'd be happy if I could use Diamine Midnight instead of blacks generally. Deep blue, with red sheen, and looks wonderful - sort of like a very dark Majestic Blue. Now - I think I need to clean some pens and get writing! Take care, James!

[@rivermoon9953]

My first grey is Diamine’s Silver Fox. It’s just subtle and beautiful, has very good shading! Even my 7 years old boy loves it too! Now it becomes his ink that I have ask his permission to use. 😛

[@writerlywitterings]

Hmm. Steal it when he's not looking! Many thanks, Milly! I hope you have a great 2020!

[@pamelaboxall7015]

I gave my 10 year old grandson the opportubity to choose which inks I would put in three of my pens yesterday and one he chose was J Herbin Gris Nuage. This is a light grey and has the almost watercolour quality which I find with a lot of Herbin inks. When I wrote out my list to show what’s in each pen his favourite was Diamine Majestic Purple in my broader, wetter Parker 51. I don’t go a bundle for black ink, but the one I like best of this set is Onyx - controversial as ever!

[@writerlywitterings]

Irritatingly, I replied to this last week, but clearly KZbin lost my response! Thanks for the comment, Pamela. Gris Nuage is not an ink I've tried. I do think your grandson has some good taste, though. I'd much prefer a purple to a black or grey, generally, and I admire his taste in expense too, since a Diamine will always be a lot cheaper than a J Herbin (although I am partial to a drop of Poussiere de Lune)!

[@JBFire97]

Interesting that you need the blacks to judge the greys. Looking forward to seeing the rest!

[@writerlywitterings]

Irritatingly, I replied to this last week, but clearly KZbin lost my response! Thanks, Paul - and yes, it's interesting how the various shades are hard to view without being able to compare them, isn't it?

[@EmiliaDambreuse]

I bought Diamine Grey (my first grey ink) one week ago after watching your review. It doesn’t look boring to me, though I totally understand your point of view. I was actually looking for a neutral grey ink (which one could probably describe as boring or dull) and this seemed to be the most fitting one. Neutral grey is kind of "soothing" in a way. I must say I’m really happy with my purchase, it looks lovely in my Lamy Studio with F nib, though I was hoping for more shading.

[@writerlywitterings]

Shading is such a tough topic. It depends often on the paper, and you can see it so much more easily when you have a fatter nib than F. Even though I tested it with a 1.1 mm stub, looking at it again now, there is very little shading. I quite understand your comments about "boring", and I'd say these greys are easier on the eye than a black. However, I'd probably think about trying Montblanc Permanent Grey too - it certainly has a little more shading on my test sheet here. Mind you, I'd prefer either Eisen Gallus Tinte "Salix" or "Verdigris" from Rohrer & Klingner - not least because they're much better priced than Montblanc!

[@robertocolanzi]

The Diamine grey is a perfect 2B pencil imitation.

[@writerlywitterings]

Irritatingly, I replied to this last week, but clearly KZbin lost my response! It is, isn't it? The more I glance at it, the more I could get to like it - but the more I look at blacks, the more I realise they aren't for me any more. Too harsh on the page!

[@idipbananasintocoffee]

Nice video! Personally I love Monteverde Smoke Noir (it's grey), and I didn't mind Diamine Earl Grey. As for blacks, I've tried Pelikan Brilliant Black (don't bother if you don't have a wet pen), Noodler's Black (won't ever dry on the page, but lovely colour), Blackstone Barrister Black (feathers like MAD) - but my personal best, the black I instantly fell in love with, was Platinum Carbon Black. It looks amazing on the page!

[@writerlywitterings]

Irritatingly, I replied to this last week, but clearly KZbin lost my response! Thanks for that, Nya. I haven't tried the Monteverde Smoke or Diamine Earl Grey (yet), but I do have some Platinum that a viewer sent me, and I'm looking forward to trying it out!

[@simonmichaeltanner]

You said you prefer greens (and I should probably post this comment on one of your green ink reviews rather than here, but anyway), and I wondered if you had tried Montblanc's new Homage to Rudyard Kipling jungle green ink. I don't usually like greens, but this is gorgeous - deep green reminiscent of jungle foliage and bamboo, with marked, very attactive shading. Highly recommended

[@writerlywitterings]

Thanks for that, Simon. It's not a colour I've tried, but I have to admit that sounds really interesting. I'll see if I can get a small phial. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@loris2986]

What is the darkest and coolest black ink?

[@writerlywitterings]

Good question. I've tested loads, and just looking at my own records, it's very difficult to see what makes one look more or less black. I know that sounds silly, but Diamine Onyx Black looks very black, whereas their Graphite, Quartz and Jet Blacks all look a little greyer in comparison. Then there's Montblanc's Black, which is very ... dark - but not quite as dark as Iroshizuku Take-Sumi, which is a slightly blacker colour ... which sounds daft, but it's true in this light. Personally, my personal favourite, I think, is Leipziger Schwartz from Rohrer & Klingner, which is a good, deep dark black and very reasonably priced. Sorry, that's the best I can do!

[@evybrowning]

Well - I'm obviously utterly BORING since I just thought the Diamnine Grey lovely. Blacks do not do it for me at all, 'twill be interesting to see more of the greys in other brands....... absolutely loving these ink. comparison videos.

[@writerlywitterings]

Irritatingly, I replied to this last week, but clearly KZbin lost my response! Anyway, you're never boring, Evelyn - the great thing about inks is not only how certain colours appeal, but also how one person's tastes will alter over time as well!

[@lucm6476]

Interesting ... Myself i like black ink that are very deep and saturated . At the moment the Kaweco Pearl Black is the black i use the most

[@writerlywitterings]

Ah, that's where your taste an mine diverge. I prefer paler, less saturated and strong shading!

[@Marshallmallowlol]

I can’t keep my hands off the Jet Black.

[@writerlywitterings]

I like it - but so difficult. It does depend on what style of nib I'm using. A deeper black I find better with an EF nib, but a broad needs a milder black for me!

[@mbark4959]

Hi what pen (and the nib size) were you using in the video? Thank you :)

[@writerlywitterings]

Hi, there - all my reviews were conducted using a TWSBI Go with a 1.1 mm stub nib. That way I could see shading, as well as being able to compare all inks equally. Of course I should have tested all inks with a medium and fine nib as well, to show how they vary - but I'd also have to test them with different manufacturer's pens to see how each ink functioned in different feeds and ... well, life is too short!

[@marka.200]

Well, I'm not sure what I expected, now that I've watched this I realize why I only have one type of black ink. Grey is pretty much black ink with water added, or a touch of a dark earth tone. Black is... well, black. Maybe shading to grey. Woohoo.

[@writerlywitterings]

Irritatingly, I replied to this last week, but clearly KZbin lost my response! Yes ... You mean I could have not bothered recording this video, and just put up a comment saying "Black is black, and grey is paler"? And I thought I was providing a useful service here!

[@marka.200]

@@writerlywitterings You could put up a video reviewing invisible ink and I'd still enjoy it and upvote it.