Color Coding Ink Palettes
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I have few talents in life, one of them being the ability to make something super simple into the most complicated. What can I say, it’s a gift. I use a color-code system when I study to keep different concepts straight in my brain. I usually use 10-11 different colors and use basic black and blue black as neutrals. I decided a while ago that I should use different inks each month for my colors, but to make simple things complicated, I wanted the colors to “go” together instead of just random inks that color. So due to my craziness, you get this-a color palette of 12 inks for each month of the year.
Black Inks
To start off, I’ve only found a few basic black inks I like. I always have one of these inked up.
Sailor Kiwa-guro
Kyo-no-oto #1 Nurebairo
Rohrer and Klingner Sketch Lotte (I like using this one if I’m using any watercolors since it’s water resistant, but it requires higher maintenance since it’s a pigment-based ink).
Waterman Intense Black
Pilot Iroshizuku Take-sumi
Pelikan Edelstein Onyx
Sailor Jentle Black
January
Robert Oster Thunderstorm
Diamine Chopin
Robert Oster Motor Oil
Diamine Syrah
Robert Oster Dusky Pink
Papier Plume 011
Bungubox Ebisu Gold
Sailor Jentle Tokiwa-matsu
Robert Oster Velvet Storm
Sailor Jentle Blue
Robert Oster Evening Sapphire
Robert Oster Summer Storm
February
Sailor Jentle Blue Black
Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-syogun
Robert Oster Caffe Crema
Diamine Oxblood
Robert Oster Pinky
Diamine Autumn Oak
Kobe #21 Taisanji Yellow
Robert Oster Peppermint
Diamine Cool Green
Robert Oster Carbon Fire
Robert Oster Fire and Ice
Pilot Iroshizuku Ajisai
March
Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-kai
Diamine Silver Fox
Monteverde Moonstone
Robert Oster Whisper Red
Papier Plume Garden District Azalea
Robert Oster Peach
Robert Oster Honey Bee
Pilot Iroshizuku Chiku-rin
Robert Oster Pacific Ocean Teal
Diamine Kensington Blue
Robert Oster Grey Seas
Robert Oster Viola
April
Lamy Blue Black
Diamine Silver Fox
Pilot Iroshizuku Ina-ho
Diamine Maroon
Pilot Iroshizuku Kosumosu
Monteverde Topaz
Private Reserve Buttercup
Robert Oster Sublime
Diamine Soft Mint
Robert Oster School Blue
Robert Oster Torquay
Diamine Amazing Amethyst
May
Aurora Blue Black
Diamine Silver Fox
Robert Oster Marrone Mustard
Sailor Irori
Dobe #30 Oji Cherry
Papier Plume Sazerac
Robert Oster Yellow Sunset
Robert Oster Opal Green
Papier Plume Lake Michigan Summer
Monteverde Sapphire
Robert Oster Australian Sky Blue
Sailor Jentle Fuju-musume
June
Rohrer and Klingner Verdigris
Pilot Iroshizuku Kiri-same
Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri
Monteverde Ruby
Diamine Coral
Sailor Jentle Apricot
Bungubox Sweet Potato Yellow
Robert Oster Ryde Green
Kaweco Paradise Blue
Robert Oster Blue Sea
Diamine Aqua Blue
Pilot Iroshizuku Murasaki-shikibu
July
Sailor Sei-boku
Diamine Grey
Robert Oster Toffee
Diamine Wild Strawberry
Diamine Flamingo Pink
Diamine Gerbera
Diamine Sunshine Yellow
Diamine Apple Glory
Diamine Marine
Diamine Florida Blue
Lamy Pacific Blue
Waterman Tender Purple
August
Bungubox 4B
Diamine Grey
Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri
Robert Oster Clay Red
Lamy Vibrant Pink
Pilot Iroshizuku Yu-yake
Diamine Amber
Monteverde Hope
Robert Oster Tranquility
Papier Plume Calle Real
Robert Oster Blue Water Ice
Akkerman Parkpop Purple
September
Diamine Blue/Black
Diamine Graphite
Diamine Ancient Copper
Sailor Jentle Oku-yama
Pilot Iroshizuku Tsutsuji
Montblanc Lucky Orange
Robert Oster African Gold
Robert Oster Jade
Robert Oster Marine
Monteverde Ocean Noir
Diamine Havasu Turquoise
Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-budo
October
Monteverde Blue Black
Robert Oster Graphite
Robert Oster Golden Brown
Robert Oster Astorquiza Rot
Kaweco Ruby Red
Robert Oster Ng Special ‘16
Robert Oster Gold Antiqua
Robert Oster Eucalyptus Leaf
Robert Oster Deep Sea
Diamine Sargasso Sea
Robert Oster Bass Straight
Diamine Grape
November
Robert Oster Blue Black
Montblanc Oyster Grey
Robert Oster Bronze
Robert Oster Maroon 1789
Monteverde Garnet
Robert Oster Terracotta
Robert Oster Gold Antiqua
Robert Oster River of Fire
De Atramentis Mint Turquoise
Diamine Oxford Blue
Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-peki
Robert Oster Barossa Grape
December
Diamine 1864 Blue Black
Monteverde Smoke Noir
Robert Oster Melon Tea
Robert Oster Australian Shiraz
Robert Oster Cherry Blossom
Monteverde Fireopal
KWZ Old Gold
Diamine Sherwood Green
Sailor Jentle Yama-dori
Diamine Majestic Blue
Sailor Jentle Souten
Monteverde Charoite
From creating these palettes I learned that I really need to find more good yellow and grey inks. It’s hard to find yellow and grey inks that are dark enough to be read easily. Do you use any type of color-coding in your writing? Let me know in the comments below!