I’ve used several black inks over the years. Today, I only have three blacks, of which I now mostly and frequently use only two. One of them is Aurora Black which is a thing of beauty. A very true black, very wet flowing (which makes even very fine and very dry nibs come to life)! Aurora Black may be a bit dodgy on ordinary or crappy paper. It’s also not water-proof. But the authentic blackness and gorgeous flow make it a top favorite of mine. It also looks terrific on the page. For solid water-proofness I swear by Sailor’s Kiwa-Guro (others seem to like Platinum’s Carbon Black best). The Sailor ink is, again, a very genuine black, pigmented and water proof. Despite the usual fears and expectations, the pigmented Kiwa-Guro black ink is pretty low-maintenance. It cleans out of pens very easily, doesn’t stain converters. And gosh, the black has a very velvety, satiny appearance on the page. I love it greatly. Noodler’s Black is just a let-down to me. Just very ordinary and not a true black, in my book. Noodler’s HoD, though, is a better, truer black. But in my experience, it tends to smear much, and is just quite inconsistent like too many Noodler’s inks usually are. Kaweco’s Pearl Black is a quite under-rated one. For archival properties, the only one I own and really like is the time-tested, fantastic Diamine Registrar’s blue-black. It’s a keeper. Many thanks for a cool video topic. Back to the basics themes like these are refreshingly relevant and interesting to watch.
You are so kind!!! 💗 Of course you love the Aurora Black - surprise, surprise! :) The Aurora Black is a superb black and I usually don't care about the water resistance unless I am using it for art. For writing letters, I seal my envelopes with a little bit of candle wax to waterproof them. It's an old technique and it works (plus my letters smell like vanilla - really!). HoD is quite wonderful but it will budge a little on my drawings, so I was wondering about the other inks for comparison. I might just break down and purchase the Platinum Carbon Black - I have read several reviews now and it seems to win on water resistance. I am a huge fan of Diamine. I have not looked into the Registrar's Blue-Black. I own the regular Blue-Black and I love it due to my fear of commitment to either Blue or Black! Haha! Have not tried any Kaweco inks -- did not realize there was a Pearl Black. So many inks... such little time! What's your favorite all-time ink to use (like a default ink)?
@@KitchenCounterCrafts ..As a lifelong avid reader with a sizeable home library, I say that about books. So many books to read, so little time. I’ve actually reduced my ink collection significantly from what it was a year ago. Never bought samples, only full bottles. And the collection swelled to 70 bottles (of 60 different inks). I’ve now cut it down to 45 bottles, which is still too much. Like anybody else with this many or more bottles of ink, none of us can hope to actually finish our supplies of ink in our individual lifetimes. Aurora now has at least seven other colors (beside the conventional trio of blue, black and blue-black). As expected, the colors are very appealing, and all the inks are well-behaved and suited for all pens. I also only need and have just a handful of solidly waterproof inks. Otherwise non-waterproof inks are perfectly fine to me. Although I’ve used it only sparingly, going by universal opinion, you’d do well to get a bottle of Platinum Carbon Black. Diamine is just an all-purpose winner. Great variety of colors and the reasonable pricing are an added appeal of buying Diamine. Mine are all the 80ml bottles. I never bothered with the (annual?) Inkvent releases, though. BIrmingham Pen Co. and Sailor inks are some of my favorites, overall. Picking one favorite default ink is such a tough call to make. Pressed to choose, I’d say Sailor’s Souboku (pigmented, water-proof, low-maintenance, gorgeous blue-black) is one I’ll forever fall back on if I had to just have one ink and no more. Montegrappa’s Bordeaux (sadly, now discontinued) is another firm favorite.
I just got Birmingham Pen Chimney Soot in their Everlasting Formula and it holds well with watercolors. I also use Platinum Carbon Black, which is totally waterproof
Awesome! Thank you so much for those 2 recommendations. I have been wanting Platinum Carbon Black, but I'm just trying to save a little bit of cash and use what I have. Do you have other Birmingham inks? I like that they are a "boutique" company. Thanks so much for watching and for sharing your experience!
I’m impressed with the water test performance of the Noodler’s inks. I have the Black Bulletproof and Heart of Darkness. I’ve been having issues with my Noodler’s Navajo Turquoise drying on Tomoe River paper. I was even able to get ink on my finger by touching it the next day on my new Colo-Dex swatch cards. I’ve resolved to using it on cheap notebook or copy paper. Thanks so much for taking the time to compare the performance of theses inks and papers.
Thanks Marcy! When those inks don't dry right away, it kind of freaks me out (= I get ink on my clothes!)! Yes, some of those Noodlers do extremely well on cheap paper. I have absolutely loved using X-Feather on notebook paper! Still my favorite is Heart of Darkness! :) Which one do you like for Black?
I’ve used several black inks over the years. Today, I only have three blacks, of which I now mostly and frequently use only two.
One of them is Aurora Black which is a thing of beauty. A very true black, very wet flowing (which makes even very fine and very dry nibs come to life)! Aurora Black may be a bit dodgy on ordinary or crappy paper. It’s also not water-proof. But the authentic blackness and gorgeous flow make it a top favorite of mine. It also looks terrific on the page.
For solid water-proofness I swear by Sailor’s Kiwa-Guro (others seem to like Platinum’s Carbon Black best). The Sailor ink is, again, a very genuine black, pigmented and water proof. Despite the usual fears and expectations, the pigmented Kiwa-Guro black ink is pretty low-maintenance. It cleans out of pens very easily, doesn’t stain converters. And gosh, the black has a very velvety, satiny appearance on the page. I love it greatly.
Noodler’s Black is just a let-down to me. Just very ordinary and not a true black, in my book. Noodler’s HoD, though, is a better, truer black. But in my experience, it tends to smear much, and is just quite inconsistent like too many Noodler’s inks usually are.
Kaweco’s Pearl Black is a quite under-rated one.
For archival properties, the only one I own and really like is the time-tested, fantastic Diamine Registrar’s blue-black. It’s a keeper.
Many thanks for a cool video topic. Back to the basics themes like these are refreshingly relevant and interesting to watch.
You are so kind!!! 💗 Of course you love the Aurora Black - surprise, surprise! :)
The Aurora Black is a superb black and I usually don't care about the water resistance unless I am using it for art. For writing letters, I seal my envelopes with a little bit of candle wax to waterproof them. It's an old technique and it works (plus my letters smell like vanilla - really!). HoD is quite wonderful but it will budge a little on my drawings, so I was wondering about the other inks for comparison. I might just break down and purchase the Platinum Carbon Black - I have read several reviews now and it seems to win on water resistance.
I am a huge fan of Diamine. I have not looked into the Registrar's Blue-Black. I own the regular Blue-Black and I love it due to my fear of commitment to either Blue or Black! Haha!
Have not tried any Kaweco inks -- did not realize there was a Pearl Black.
So many inks... such little time! What's your favorite all-time ink to use (like a default ink)?
@@KitchenCounterCrafts ..As a lifelong avid reader with a sizeable home library, I say that about books. So many books to read, so little time.
I’ve actually reduced my ink collection significantly from what it was a year ago. Never bought samples, only full bottles. And the collection swelled to 70 bottles (of 60 different inks). I’ve now cut it down to 45 bottles, which is still too much. Like anybody else with this many or more bottles of ink, none of us can hope to actually finish our supplies of ink in our individual lifetimes.
Aurora now has at least seven other colors (beside the conventional trio of blue, black and blue-black). As expected, the colors are very appealing, and all the inks are well-behaved and suited for all pens.
I also only need and have just a handful of solidly waterproof inks. Otherwise non-waterproof inks are perfectly fine to me.
Although I’ve used it only sparingly, going by universal opinion, you’d do well to get a bottle of Platinum Carbon Black. Diamine is just an all-purpose winner. Great variety of colors and the reasonable pricing are an added appeal of buying Diamine. Mine are all the 80ml bottles. I never bothered with the (annual?) Inkvent releases, though.
BIrmingham Pen Co. and Sailor inks are some of my favorites, overall.
Picking one favorite default ink is such a tough call to make. Pressed to choose, I’d say Sailor’s Souboku (pigmented, water-proof, low-maintenance, gorgeous blue-black)
is one I’ll forever fall back on if I had to just have one ink and no more.
Montegrappa’s Bordeaux (sadly, now discontinued) is another firm favorite.
I just got Birmingham Pen Chimney Soot in their Everlasting Formula and it holds well with watercolors. I also use Platinum Carbon Black, which is totally waterproof
Awesome! Thank you so much for those 2 recommendations. I have been wanting Platinum Carbon Black, but I'm just trying to save a little bit of cash and use what I have. Do you have other Birmingham inks? I like that they are a "boutique" company.
Thanks so much for watching and for sharing your experience!
I’m impressed with the water test performance of the Noodler’s inks. I have the Black Bulletproof and Heart of Darkness. I’ve been having issues with my Noodler’s Navajo Turquoise drying on Tomoe River paper. I was even able to get ink on my finger by touching it the next day on my new Colo-Dex swatch cards. I’ve resolved to using it on cheap notebook or copy paper. Thanks so much for taking the time to compare the performance of theses inks and papers.
Thanks Marcy! When those inks don't dry right away, it kind of freaks me out (= I get ink on my clothes!)! Yes, some of those Noodlers do extremely well on cheap paper. I have absolutely loved using X-Feather on notebook paper! Still my favorite is Heart of Darkness! :) Which one do you like for Black?
Very relevant subject. Thank you
RS. Canada
@@richardsimms251 thank you for watching! So… what do you think? Which one stands out to you?
One of my favourites is AURORA BLACK, among others
@@richardsimms251 I love the Aurora! Have you tried waterman’s or the Noodler’s???