Top 8 Shading Inks, and How to Get the Most Out of Them!

Drew is here to share his favorite shading inks with you, and give you tips on how to maximize your shade!
SHOP at our store! www.gouletpens.com/
LEARN more on our blog! www.gouletpens.com/blogs/foun...
LISTEN to The Goulet Pencast here: gouletpencast.fireside.fm/
SUBSCRIBE to our KZbin channel: bit.ly/GP-YTsubscribe
INKS USED:
Pilot Iroshizuku Chiku-Rin: www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
Diamine Silver fox: www.gouletpens.com/products/d...
Robert Oster Honey bee: www.gouletpens.com/products/r...
Diamine Autmn Oak: www.gouletpens.com/products/d...
Sailor Ink Studio 123: www.gouletpens.com/products/s...
Private Reserve Infinity Turquoise: www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
Robert Oster Cherry Blossom: www.gouletpens.com/products/r...
Diamine Celadon Cat: www.gouletpens.com/products/d...
PENS USED:
Visconti Mythos (Medium): www.gouletpens.com/products/v...
Pilot Falcon (Medium): www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
LAMY 1.5 nib: www.gouletpens.com/products/l...
Sailor HighAce Neo 1.0: www.gouletpens.com/products/s...
Pilot Custom 823 (Medium): www.gouletpens.com/products/p...
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 About Shading
01:04 Pilot Iroshizuku Chiku-Rin
03:27:10 Diamine Silver fox
05:00 Robert Oster Honeybee
06:47 Diamine Autmn Oak
07:53 Sailor Ink Studio 123
09:46 Private Reserve Infinity Turquoise
11:54 Robert Oster Cherry Blossom
13:28 Diamine Celadon Cat
ABOUT GOULET PENS:
Brian & Rachel Goulet started The Goulet Pen Company in 2009 and you can see the evolution of our mom and pop into a full-blown company through this channel. We run a dedicated online store with fountain pens, ink, paper, and other fine writing accessories. Our goal with this channel is to provide fountain pen fans at all levels of experience with comprehensive product reviews, round ups, and how-to videos to answer all the fountain pen questions you may have. Shop at www.gouletpens.com.
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Blog: www.gouletpens.com/blogs/foun...

[@dandelionpuff]

Not to double comment (as I double comment), but I can't be the only one who would eat up more of this content! I would LOVE to see this format with shimmers!

[@stopaskingmedumbquestions]

I double comment all the time. And I would also devour this kind of writing porn! Just show me the gorgeous inks super close up. And those nib flexes? Ugghhhh

[@LucyLu_meztli]

There's a Goulet video on this about a year old: The 8 Most FABULOUS Shimmer Inks! (I would love another one, but in the meantime 😉)

[@LucyLu_meztli]

I not only double, but triple, and quadruple comment 🤭😅😎 A comment for each idea, and maybe people prefer shorter comments to super long ones? FP community, don't we love to write? 🙌

[@dandelionpuff]

@@LucyLu_meztli I believe i3 did see that one. I should revisit it, though! I just love these up close shots of the ink. So delicious!

[@stopaskingmedumbquestions]

@@LucyLu_meztli ayyyy my people! I comment so many times, especially on the pencast. It's too long for a single comment!

[@Bootus123]

Immediately requesting more content in this style. It’s relaxing, feels intimate, and is a great demonstration and educational tool. This is my favorite video y’all have done in a long time.

[@Gouletpens]

Thank you! I'll see what I can do! - Drew

[@thadwind3499]

This is the Bob Ross of Fountain Pens. Thanks, Drew, turns out this is what I needed at the end of a hard year in education.

[@cls3282]

Omg I just commented this without having read the other comments 😂 it's so true!

[@HeadbangerTomcat]

Ohhh now I have to see Drew with a big 'fro!😂

[@NatalieStarn]

I love ink explorations (my wallet doesnt 😅) and I'm really really digging this low-key, relaxed format. I could watch this all day.

[@nailartguy3363]

This was super relaxing just watching the inks do what they do while listening to the calming voiceover! More videos like this where you try out great shading inks would be amazing!! My favorite shaders are Sailor Kin-mokusei, Iroshizuku Shin-kai, Lamy Blue Black, KWZ Honey, Akkerman Dutch Masters #2 Dou’s Emerald Green, Diamine Terracotta, and Sailor Kobe No. 31 Stone Grey.

[@storge306]

Agreed. We would absolutely appreciate more videos like this

[@DawnGilkison]

“go full mustard” somehow cracks me up-thanks for the laugh!

[@TheStockwell]

Today, Drew Brown taught me that shading inks aren't for me. That's what I respect about Goulet's videos; they show me things I should absolutely buy and try, along with others I feel good about walking past. Best wishes from Vermont 🍁

[@Gouletpens]

Yup! Clarity is always good! - Drew

[@TheStockwell]

@@Gouletpens A reply from THEE Drew Brown - himself? Golly! Cool! No need to reply to me, this time - I'm sure you have a lot of Drewing to do, as it is. Anyway . . . We are new to Pentopia. I'm researching a film set in the 1880s. A pen is needed for one scene. The rabbit hole I dove into turned into one of those Siberian sinkholes which have become so popular. I remembered how, as a junior high school student, I was the weirdo with a fountain pen. I remember that pen clearly. It was my friend. So, yep - time to go online and identify it. And maybe buy it. It turns out it was a 1930s Parkette - an Art Deco wonder. Yes, I tracked down the exact model I held in my grubby little fist back in Anchorage, Alaska. Having bought THAT bit of my childhood, there's no way I was ever going to put it in my coat pocket and lose it. But, I'd tasted blood - ink, I mean. I wanted a fountain pen I could take out on the town. I googled something like "best fountain pen website" and there was Goulet Pens - and you and Brian. I now own a super-suave Conklin All American Raven. My wife's gotten into the act with her Platinum Plaisir. If we can get our tuxedo cat into fine writing instruments, we'll go on tour. We live for your videos. Who doesn't? Your thumbnails are as useful as they are goofy and appropriate. Your "The Fear of Baystate Blue" thumbnail is why I'll soon be buying some - and an appropriate blue pen ( 🖊️ ) to go with it. That ink is SO Yves Klein (a mid-twentieth century French Artist whose short career was built around an ultramarine pigment he helped create). Am I done with my manifesto? I guess so. I'd write more, but it's gardening time in northern Vermont and those sunflowers don't plant themselves - but I wish they would. Have a safe and interesting weekend. Our best to you, Brian Goulet, your families, pets, and everyone at Goulet Pens. 🥃🐧

[@dandelionpuff]

Yessssssirrr! I love these close up clips of your writing! Watching the ink pool is so satisfying. This is why I love fountain pens 🥰

[@marimendoza3375]

Shading is my favorite ink property

[@Gouletpens]

Yay! Thanks for watching! - Drew

[@ChristopherMay]

Bob Ross discovers fountain pens. I could watch this all day. More please.

[@Gouletpens]

Haha thank you! I'll see what I can do! - Drew

[@scotts7630]

Absolutely love the feel of this video. High-energy Drew is fun, but Closeup Ink Time With Drew has a certain kind of "Bob Ross-ean" calming quality. And it's so fun to watch the nib and ink behavior, with nice easy background music and Drew talking about things he loves. Absolutely on board with more in this style, if y'all are up for it!

[@Gouletpens]

Thank you! I quite enjoyed it as well, considering I didn't write down any notes (other than the prices) for the writing portion. It was pretty easy! - Drew

[@BlinkiesNoGood]

And this is why I can't be an "only three pens inked up at a time" person like Drew. Every time I think I'm getting my pen lineup under control, a video like this comes out and I'm like "oh man I should get out my Taccia Spotlight music nib and put some Ink Studio 123 in it ..."

[@riesemma]

More shading inks videos please! I LOVE the shading in Wearingeul's Kyeong-Hee from the modern women writers series. It is gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous (definitely no worries about going full mustard but rich and warm) and feels so good in all my pens and nib sizes (the shading shows up in my platinum fine nib too! woohoo) Had to swatch this ink on a ginkgo leaf swatch card...

[@marilyngardner4269]

I also love this ink.

[@tyjinks]

More votes for this style. This video totally sold me on Honeybee. I'm looking forward to seeing what it looks like in person, because this video makes it shine, while the swatch on the website, I would have totally passed over.

[@mmayo2518]

Oh my goodness! Turquoise Infinity Ink❤

[@ChanceCooper125]

Loving this new video style from you guys. I could watch videos like this all day

[@RobRutherford]

Thanks for the video, not big on shading inks, (sheening & shimmering for me), but I do love watching the zoomed in video of the backflow on the lift from a wet nib. Especially that Pilot 823 at the beginning; and somehow I knew that's what it was even before the nib came into focus.

[@nerdartastic]

Such a calming video. And therapeutic while getting ideas for new potential inks to get. Love it. Also thanks for the tip about going more slow to get more shading. I did not realize that until you mentioned it

[@user-yu6uc8ku9c]

The Honey Bee ink from Robert Oster has a great effect & tone, definitely one for my list of inks for pen sketching. Thanks Drew 👍

[@karibean13]

RO African Gold would also be great for that. I put it in a fude nib and it makes me feel like I’m writing an antique manuscript that an archaeologist just discovered.

[@Orestes290]

Very fun and calming video. Got some real Bob Ross vibes!

[@lauraclements5959]

Great video! Going to join the people asking for more content like this! Really relaxing and informative, and given me many more inks to try. For shading, I personally love Robert Oster Crocodile Green. The shading is immaculate!

[@regency08]

This is one of my favorite recent videos! Love the ink demonstration and narration.

[@cls3282]

This was such a relaxing video. You are the Bob Ross of fountain pen inks. 😊

[@kristiw.1823]

You showed off Honey Bee! It's one of my absolute favorite inks. ☺ Love the tone of this video and found it so relaxing.

[@laurabush9812]

Such a lovely video-soothing but also I learned stuff!

[@craft-o-matic399]

Thanks Drew! I love ink videos like this! Great content! Lisa

[@nancyrhm2094]

Shading is my favorite property too. My best shading ink is kind of old school, but it performs beautifully: Noodlers Golden Brown. Thanks for the great tips and tricks for getting the most out of my shaders!

[@Gouletpens]

Golden Brown is a great shader! - Drew

[@SpringNotes]

Thank you for recommending these shading inks !

[@jolienkrispijn]

Ohhhhhhh loooove shaders!

[@polymorfik]

I used celadon cat in my Opus 88 that is the same color. The shading of the ink with the juiciness of the Opus nib is a heavenly combination. Especially when the pen matches the ink.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

This video was so timely. I’ve been crazy for shading lately and was wondering how to pick shading inks on purpose instead of by accident. Thank you for this great content! Honey bee and infinity turquoise are going to be new favorites!

[@Gouletpens]

Yay! - Drew

[@mushroom4713]

Love this concept!!

[@danielscheerer3032]

Shading is my jam, so good to see I already have several you suggest, and the others? In my cart - thanks!

[@LucyLu_meztli]

Shading is my fav FP ink property! A shading party sounds awesome! 💙🩵🩵💙

[@hollybasiuk2824]

This was so soothing! Thanks Drew for the lovely video!

[@artemisceleste]

Fabulous video, Drew. More please!

[@Gouletpens]

Thank you! - Drew

[@vermis8344]

Sheening's nice; shimmer never really grabbed me; but man, I love the watercolour effect of shading inks. That's a whole reason in itself to use fountain pens, in my view. This video's like visual ASMR to me.

[@AlongfortheThrill]

Thank you so much for using some budget pens instead of all the expensive ones! Loved this video, please do the same with sheen and shimmers!!!

[@wallacebarnes2391]

Finally showing some love to Diamine Autumn Oak!!! I have both Noodler's Southwest Sunset and Autumn Oak, and (IMO) Autumn Oak outperforms Southwest Sunset in every aspect. AO has more color variation and shades easier than SS, From using extra fine nibs on notebook paper to using an Italic on some Clairefontaine. Now you guys need to do an updated video on Sheening Inks, Shimmering Inks, and any other new ink sample package sets that yall sell lol

[@raggsj38]

Yes, I came here to say this!

[@BramVaschellie]

Beautiful video, Drew. Loved the soft music.

[@davidparrishproductions5082]

Drew, great video. Lovely all around.

[@Cati.Colours]

I love that last ink, Celadon Cat. It's such a mysterious color!

[@erro0257]

What a great video - one of my favorites you have ever done

[@SnowDragonka]

I was looking forward to this video, I already have 3 of the ones you mentioned (Cherry Blossom, Honey Bee and Celadon Cat) and they're all great shaders. Shading is the one property I love the most about inks. I recently took a dive into Sailor chromoshaders with Sailor Yurameku Amamoyoi and I'm just stunned. I think I'll explore more of Sailor.

[@alanpareis734]

Nicely Done, and I learned a few things. Not much into shading, but Chiku Rin a long time fav of mine. Use it exclusively in a 2-chick P Tortoise White M400 and late 1930’s green striated celluloid Demi Sheaffer Balance plunger vac. One or both are always inked and it is just about time to get a new bottle.

[@francoisrivest5501]

Quadruple thumbs up, Drew! Very well brought and illustrated! It shows great care and knowledge. Thank you!

[@krissalmon7875]

Thank you for this Drew! I l am new to all this but LOVE shading inks. I found this video very informative on how to get more shading from my inks and what nibs I will want to try next.

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks for passing along the kind words! Mission accomplished! Yay! - Drew

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Loved the music in this video and Drew’s voice was so soothing!

[@Gouletpens]

So glad you liked it! - Drew

[@harrylew]

Did you use Tomoe River 68 gsm, not 58? I wasn't aware that they made a 58,

[@mpileggi4399]

Very informative about shading qualities and techniques.

[@Gouletpens]

Very nice of you to say! Thanks for watching! - Drew

[@krys6461]

I like to use shading ink for art. Somewhere in learning about watercolors I had heard "work the bead" and it seems to fit shading inks, too.

[@pontoon_cat]

what is this background music while watching the inks shade?! I need it in my life to play while I peacefully write with my favorite shading inks

[@jggimi]

Feedback and a production question: I happened to scribble on cheap card stock - the back of a business card - with Noodler's Turquoise Eel in a fine point nib. It shaded like crazy, and unexpectedly. I think I squeed out loud in surprise. I'll be inking up the rest of my sample with a stub. That music was a delight and I'd love to know it's source!

[@willowlovegood4378]

Love this video! Would really love to see more similar ones in the future so you can really see the ink up close!

[@Gouletpens]

Can do! - Drew

[@Quinkerbell_3604]

That was great!

[@jacobling2119]

Today's video is just so... Soothing.. it's so nice..

[@patriciaclark7135]

Love this video. The Zen of Fountain Pen Ink. 🙂

[@JefferyHall-ct2tr]

Hi Drew! What a fascinating video! Yes! More like this, please! I would bet that Iroshizuku Kon-Peki would be a good one for shading! Will have to try that out!

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks, Jeffrey! - Drew

[@itsmeLori]

Shading inks are my favorite!

[@YR7A]

Pilot Blue-Black is for sure a contender for this list. Very well behaved on bad paper as well, neutral flow, VERY cheap.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Chiku fin is one of my most favorite inks!

[@ArletSoExtra]

I love this channel!

[@Gouletpens]

Glad you found us! - Drew

[@Emi-ry7yl]

Great video Drew! 🙏❤ Really enjoyed this relaxing format. Love shading inks and Celadon Cat is a favourite of mine. Appreciated the reminder of going slower and lifting nibs which can make a huge difference.

[@AmberUnfinished]

Robert Oster cherry blossom going into my cart now. I’m new to the hobby, but Robert Oster has been my favorite. African Gold is a great shader too.

[@ladyamalthea85]

Oh these are so pretty. My biggest nib is a broad, I'm yet to try a shading ink but the Lamy blue black that's in that pen almost shades.

[@PinkWytchBytch]

So glad to see a list of shaders, shading ink is my absolute favorite type and out of all of the ones I’ve got it’s no shock Manyo Haha is my best shader. Is there perhaps a dusty pink shader ink out there somewhere?

[@K_rye]

Now I need to get a broad nib pen. I'm fairly new to fountain pens. Every time I watch one of your videos, I find something else I never knew I needed. I see lots of fun ink colors in my future.

[@vjmtz]

wow...good timing.. just got here 30secs after the upload

[@SijalAhmad]

Great video - more such videos please.

[@annespaperspot2747]

I love the format of this video. Now, I want to try one of these shading inks. Can you make one about shimmer inks?

[@Gouletpens]

I did a video on my personal favorites, but it's not in the same format. If you'e interested, you can see it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJaUdJKlj5WKecU

[@jess53nz]

When i first got into fountain pens i managed to find an old 2019 inkvent. First ink i tried i thought was cheap and watery coz i was used to gel type inks with no shading. I'm glad i persevered coz i looove shading now! Drew, have you tried diamine fire embers? Probably my all time second fav ink (after polar glow)

[@ChrisWMan1]

Diamine Night Shade/One More Sleep is a nice shader as well.

[@erikw3105]

I've had surprisingly good shading with Noodler's Burma Road Brown in the Ahab non flex medium nib

[@FelixHuray]

Love from Indonesia 🇮🇩....

[@KendallW]

Love a good shading ink, especially if it isn't too pale to begin with - the light blues and the oranges and browns are great. The dusty, barely-can-read-it-unless-you-write-with-a-stub-nib, NOT so much for me :)

[@whimsycheer362]

I just got 123 and I’ve been loving it but thinking I need some broader nibs for it as a fine/EF user 😍

[@venkatramanraguraman]

Double broad and stubs shade for me with most inks. The only one that shades all the time for me is Gris Nuage, which is ridiculously under-saturated. Silver fox reminds me of that.

[@hoosierulangler6965]

Love shading inks! In my modest collection, my favorites are Pilot Iroshizuku shin-Kai and Ku-jaku. My next pen purchase will be a flex nib, 912 w/FA nib, 743 w/ larger FA nib or I might go so far as a Justus 95. I prefer an EF or F, so I am looking for what will show off shading, provide maximum line variation for headers and titles, but remain as close to EF without pressure. Decisions, decisions… Recommendations?

[@juicylouisey]

I find some fountain pen friendly papers kill shading by being so smooth and non-absorbent that the “pooling” evens out before the ink dries. You write and it looks lovely. Go back when it is dry and you have completely even colour with no shading. I found Apache Sunset on Clairefontaine in a Tripletail was really bad for this.

[@osirisgolad]

I absolutely cannot stand shading on light inks, but I love it when inks have really deep, dark, rich pooled areas with lighter areas that are only medium saturation, but still with a really vibrant colour. Sailor Manyo Akebi is a really extreme example of this, though I personally find that one too sheeny to be able to fully enjoy the colour of the pooled areas; it's like the colour is covered up by the sheen. I wish ink makers could come up with a way to make the lighter areas on light inks disappear entirely, so you would only be left with the level of saturation in the pooled areas across the entire stroke. Then you could use really light colours without them becoming difficult to read when dry.

[@MrsAlchemist]

Hello Drew! A wonderful relaxing video! What pen/nib did you use for the chiku-Rin? Is it the Custom 823 (from description box), couldn’t see the nib properly… Oh and you reminded me of finally trying chiku-rin. ☺️

[@Gouletpens]

Yes, it was indeed a Custom 823 - in medium! - Drew

[@MrsAlchemist]

@@Gouletpens Thanks, „medium“ and „Drew“ don’t go together in one sentence 😅 Do you use them in your EF and also can enjoy the shading?

[@BullheadedGiovanni]

I kinda liked that celadon cat or whatever it was called is it something I can buy a bottle in or is it some mixtures of ink?

[@Gouletpens]

We have it for sale at our store! www.gouletpens.com/products/diamine-celadon-cat-30ml-bottled-ink

[@a22lotti]

I know it’s a weird thing to latch on to, but is TR 58g a thing now? I thought it was 52 and 68? Regardless of the paper weight, a very nice and calm video. 😊

[@Gouletpens]

Oops! I accidentally combined the two! It was 52g. - Drew

[@harmonybat]

I struggled with Celadon Cat in my Falcon -- I need to put it in a TWSBI or something that requires less variable ink flow.

[@culinarykid92]

Is Cherry Blossom a legible ink for everyday writing?

[@arlenet.1520]

Hi Drew! This is my kind of video…would Goulet Pens consider carrying Tono and Lims, Lennon Tool Bar, Teranishi inks and Taccia inks? It would be great if you could. And Taccia pens the lower end Demo ones? Any more colors Pen Lux pens?Thanks for using these pens for swatching they have been on my wishlist for 2024! Take care!

[@ameliabuns4058]

soft nibs add shading in my experiance pecially for cursive

[@juicylouisey]

My fave effect is shading. Can tolerate some sheening but glitter annoys me.

[@Bobkanada]

Can any manufacturers make the old sheaffer peacock blue fountain pen ink? Please!

[@koluacik]

What's the music in the background?

[@billclockwell]

I'm honestly surprised that Drew doesn't prefer shimmer to shading, shimmer seems so much more of a drew thing

[@Gouletpens]

Shading never causes flow issues, and is never difficult to clean! - Drew

[@davegoodridge8352]

I've known a few shady people in my day, Oh ink!?

[@Nguyens]

58g paper?

[@MarcusCan]

Dumb noob question: every ink does shades? Or it has to be built for it like shimmering?

[@Gouletpens]

You can usually get shading from any ink that's in the lower percentile of saturation. The darker, more dense colors don't do it, but you can usually see it in the lighter shades. - Drew

[@justagerman140]

Oh no, I was about to go to bed. Gotta watch tomorrow

[@stopaskingmedumbquestions]

It's fabulous, you definitely should.

[@manuelsalazar3938]

Drew, the more videos we see of you the more boring Brian becomes, you totally stole the show, just don't let him know 😂 As a Redditor, I think we did a pretty good job in choosing Celadon Cat, but don't forget that the most important person in the project was Nick Stewart, so please give him the proper praise 👍

[@robertnyc4489]

No Apache Sunset?

[@juicylouisey]

With me apache Sunset evens out as it dries.

[@danielklopp7007]

AKA "Southwest Sunset" (it's new PC name)...😉

[@juicylouisey]

@@danielklopp7007 What is so un-PC? Isn’t there an Apache nation? Would they really be so annoyed with a great product with their name? Or are we supposed to talk about “moon rise” instead of sunset?

[@danielklopp7007]

@@juicylouisey - All good questions, but you should ask Nathan Tardif (founder & President of Noodler's Ink), since he is the one that re-named the ink.

[@robertnyc4489]

@@danielklopp7007 Or maybe as Brian Goulet why Nathan started renaming inks.

[@aaron62688]

Was Southwest Sunset just too obvious to bother mentioning?

[@Gouletpens]

Yeah I didn't mention that one OR Turqoise of the Mesas becuse I kinda feel everyone already knows about those. Plus, they were both including in Brian's old shading video. I was trying for a different variety! - Drew

[@canerbaykara2639]

As Rick Ross once said "Fell in love with the pen started f****ing the ink"

[@liselottefrejdig1112]

You missed some iinks..