Ink Review #1075: Troublemaker Seaglass

Shigure Inks has quickly become one of my favorite retailers-they are a great place to buy Troublemaker inks in the US. They recently sent me a few Troublemaker inks to try out, starting with Sea Glass.

The color:

Sea Glass is a medium but very unsaturated green.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink shades from green to brown pink and blue.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: high shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering but no bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Sea Glass is less brown than Troublemaker Kelp Tea. It’s similar to Tono & Lims Fukushima, but Fukushima doesn’t have the multi-color shading. Click here to see the Troublemaker inks together, and click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a TWSBI Eco Transparent Green with a medium nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a dry flow. Some of the shading was way too light to read comfortably.

Overall, I love the shading it has in large swabs, but it shades so light in writing that it’s hard to read. It also has a dry flow which caused some inconsistent writing. This one is a solid “meh” for me-I could take it or leave it.

Disclaimer: This ink was provided by Shigure Ink for the purpose of this review. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1074: Kyo-iro 04 Moonlight of Higashiyama

Lately I’ve been trying to make it through more of the Kyoto inks so today’s is Kyo-iro 04 Moonlight of Higashiyama. Thanks to the reader that sent this sample in for review! You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Pen Chalet.

The color:

Moonlight is an unsaturated burnt orange.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks less saturated and has just a little bit of brown sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, tiny sheen, and no shimmer. You can only see the brown sheen in large swabs on Tomoe River paper.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and just a few dots of bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Moonlight is just a little bit lighter than Papier Plume 011. Click here to see the Kyoto inks together, and click here to see the orange inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pelikan M600 Vibrant Orange with a medium nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a dry flow. The ink/pen combo was fine at first, but after the first paragraph it got really dry.

Overall, I love the color and the shading but the flow is a way too dry for me.

Disclaimer: This ink was provided by a reader for the purpose of this review. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links but this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1073: Robert Oster Australian Opal Pink

Today’s ink is Robert Oster Australian Opal Pink. I purchased my bottle of ink from Pen Chalet.

The color:

Australian Opal Pink is a pale spring pink.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has a little bit of blue shading.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and just a few dots of bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Australian Opal Pink seems to be a lighter version of Robert Oster Dusky Pink. It’s a bit cooler toned than Robert Oster Cherry Blossom. Click here to see the Robert Oster inks together, and click here to see the pink inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Lamy Safari Pastel Pink with a broad nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a dry flow.

Overall, I usually get so excited about Robert Oster inks, but this ink is pretty much unusable for me. It’s rather dry, and it shades so light that sometimes you can only read half the letter. It looked the best in the flex nib, but it didn’t flow well enough to keep up with the flex’s wet flow. In the longer writing tests I couldn’t read anything that I had written. It’s a no for me.

Disclaimer: I purchased this ink myself, and all photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links but this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1072: Troublemaker Adarna

A friend recently offered up some samples of Troublemaker inks up for sale, and I quickly purchased three of the ones I didn’t have yet including Troublemaker Adarna. I haven’t been able to find any real information about this ink-it’s not on Troublemaker’s website at the moment. I’m unsure whether or not they will offer it on their website again.

The color:

Adarna is a vibrant magenta with quite a bit of sheen.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has plenty of greenish-gold sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 40 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: low shading, monster sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and just a few dots of bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Adarna is similar to Lamy Beryl and Colorverse Andromeda, but neither has as much sheen as Adarna. Click here to see the Troublemaker inks together, and click here to see the pink inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a TWSBI Eco Blossom Red with a medium nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a wet yet sticky flow.

Overall, this ink does have some issues. There seems to be some sort of sediment in the ink that settles to the sides and bottom of the sample-I can’t tell if it’s some sort of contaminant or part of the ink that separates out. It is prone to the occasional smearing due to the high sheen, and it has a rather sticky feeling flow. If you like this color I would suggest giving Colorverse Andromeda a try.

Disclaimer: I purchased this sample myself, and all photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1071: Kyo-no-oto 02 Imayouiro

Let’s take a look at Kyo-no-oto #02 Imayouiro. This ink is very bright for a Kyoto ink-it surprised me. Thanks to the reader that sent this ink in for review! You can find this ink for sale at most retailers, including Pen Chalet.

The color:

Imayouiro is a vibrant summery pink.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has just a little bit of brown sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: low shading, tiny sheen, and no shimmer. The sheen is only visible in large swabs on Tomoe River paper.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and just a few dots of bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Imayouiro is similar to Diamine Scarlet. Click here to see the Kyoto inks together, and click here to see the pink inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Kaweco Al-sport Red with a medium nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a dry flow.

Overall, I love the vibrant color, but it does have a very dry flow. I would add a drop of ink additive to make it flow a bit better.

Disclaimer: This ink was provided by a reader for the purpose of this review. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links but this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1070: Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses

Today’s ink is Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses. This ink is partially bulletproof. Thanks to the reader that sent this ink in for review! You can find this ink for sale at most retailers, including Pen Chalet.

The color:

Australian Roses is a dark magenta red.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink never fully dries. After 3 days I gave up and used a blotter to soak up a lot of the wet ink.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 40 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and just a few dots of bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Australian Roses is similar to Diamine Amaranth. Click here to see the Noodler’s inks together, and click here to see the red inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Lamy Al-star Purple with a medium nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a dry flow and some skipping.

Overall, I like how much shading this ink has, but I struggled with the dry flow in some of the pens. It never fully dries on Tomoe River paper, and some of the ink rubbed off onto the other pages. I’m just not sold on this one.

Disclaimer: This ink was provided by a reader for the purpose of this review. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links but this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1069: Rohrer and Klingner Maroon

Recently a reader sent me a sample of Rohrer and Klingner Maroon, a 2019 limited edition ink also known as Kastanienbraun. This ink was limited to 2,000 bottles and came with special packaging. Thanks to the reader that sent a sample in for review! Vanness Pens carried this ink, but it’s currently out of stock.

The color:

Maroon is a dark brown with some shading. It’s more of a classic brown-it doesn’t lean more toward red or yellow.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks more purple than it does in writing. It turns darker where it pooled, but doesn't show actual sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering and just a few dots of bleeding in the larger nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Maroon is similar to, but lighter than Franklin-Christoph Dark Chocolate. Click here to see the Rohrer and Klingner inks together, and click here to see the brown inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Sailor Pro Gear Slim Red Supernova with a broad nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, I enjoyed this ink. It behaved really well and I like the color. I loved the shading it had in the Sailor broad nib.

Disclaimer: This ink was provided by a reader for the purpose of this review. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1068: Robert Oster Australian Opal Grey

I can’t resist Robert Oster inks normally, but when I saw that Robert Oster released a new grey ink it was an insta-buy. I purchased my bottle of Robert Oster Australian Opal Grey from Pen Chalet.

The color:

AO Grey is a light grey with a purple undertone.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink looks more purple than it does in writing.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, tiny sheen, and no shimmer. There’s just a touch of copper sheen in large swabs on Tomoe River paper.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering but no bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

AO Grey is less saturated than, but similar to Colorverse Anti-matter. Click here to see the Robert Oster inks together, and click here to see the grey inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pilot Vanishing Point Galaxy with a broad nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a dry flow, which made the broad nib feel more like a medium.

Overall, I love the color and shading but the flow is a bit dry for my taste. I’m planning to add a drop of ink additive like White Lightning so it flows better the next time I use it.

Disclaimer: I purchased this ink myself, and all photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links but this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1067: Kyo-iro Soft Snow of Ohara

Today’s ink is Kyo-iro 02 Soft Snow of Ohara. This ink has been on my radar for a while, I’ve just never tried it before. Thanks to the reader that sent this ink in! You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Pen Chalet.

The color:

Soft Snow is a dark, moody purple.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper there’s a small bit of black sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, tiny sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was some feathering but no bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Soft Snow is less saturated than Sailor Jentle Shigure, and a bit more blue than Diamine Lilac Night. Click here to see the Kyoto inks together, and click here to see the purple inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pelikan M805 Stresemann with a medium nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a super dry flow, but with the Pelikan medium nib it did fine.

Overall, I like the color and shading but it is really dry. If I used this ink again I would add a drop of ink additive like White Lightning so it flows a bit better.

Disclaimer: A sample of this ink was provided by a reader. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links but this post is not sponsored in any way.

Ink Review #1066: Platinum Carbon Black

A reader recently sent me a sample of Platinum Carbon Black to try, and after trying it a few times I fell in love and ordered a full bottle. I have no idea how I’ve never tried this ink before. This pigmented ink comes in 60ml glass bottles. Thanks to the reader that sent this ink in!

The color:

Carbon Black is a great classic, neutral black.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink is shiny, but I wouldn’t call it sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

Dry time: 60 seconds

Water resistance: High

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low-just a touch of bleeding on Leuchtturm paper.

Other properties: no shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On Staples 24 lb copy paper there was feathering in all nib sizes as well as some bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Carbon Black is a similar color to a lot of other black inks, including Sailor Kiwa-guro and Colorverse Sunspot. Click here to see the Platinum inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Pilot Vanishing Point Crossed Lines with a medium nib on a Yoseka A5 notebook. The ink had a wetter than average flow.

Overall, this ink does take a long time to dry, but it doesn't budge when exposed to water. The downside to the pigment-base is that it can be hard to clean out 100%. Once I used it in each of the nib sizes for the writing samples, I cleaned them all out and filled them with another ink, but it still felt a bit wrong-like it was a bit gritty and dry. I re-washed them all and then it was fine again. I would probably devote a pen to this ink, and use it whenever I need a water-resistant ink. As long as I used the pen at least once a week I didn’t have any clogging issues. It has a nice wet flow and provides a great writing experience.

Disclaimer: A sample of this ink was provided by a reader. All photos and opinions are my own. This page does contain affiliate links but this post is not sponsored in any way.