This ink was gifted to me by an Instagram friend. In the sample vial, it sloshes around easily and stays together. It doesn't cling to or try to stain the walls. There was no sign of settling as some other pigmented inks do. It does form quite a lot of bubbles when you shake it up. Some dried to a solid on the threads, but it did re-wet, so it may not be the end of the world if it dries in a pen, but you'd have a hard time cleaning it out, so I highly recommend against that - use a pen that seals well. When writing in my journal (generally in cursive and constant writing), I had no flow problems, but the longer the pen was inked, the less the pen liked to start writing - the first strokes were not as solid (you can see this in some images). Doing logic puzzles (about 48 hours after inking), the pen ran dry. The paper was thick copy paper. I was making dots, Xs, and lines, and writing constantly - it was a simpler puzzle, so no need for pauses and capping. Wiping the back of the nib on the paper and then scribbling some lines brought it back to life, only to happen a second time. After repeating the process, it flowed better. So, it seems like this ink won't take very long pauses without drying on the nib. A wetter nib might not have this problem. The problem did not recur on subsequent days, even when doing more logic puzzles. I did have flow problems near the end of the doodle and flossed the tines to get it flowing well again (that doodle was a demanding task for the ink). Cleaning was not bad. I put some distilled water in a stainless steel measuring cup and dropped the nib and feed in there with the disc and agitator ball from the cartridge. I rinsed the section and cartridge with a couple syringe-fulls of distilled water, then put everything into an ultrasonic cleaner with a little distilled water and ran it once. I don't think that was needed, it was just easiest. The cartridge seemed stained (sort of a warm brownish grey), but nothing else. The ink seems to come off non-porous surfaces quite easily, though with agitation (e.g. I had to wipe it off my stainless steel sink when I got some on it). It also comes quite easily off skin (more easily than many even non-permanent inks)! NOTE: Given the claim of blackest black, I went ahead and compared not only swatches, but also the review pages from all my former blacks to see if one can distinguish this from other blacks in writing from a Japanese EF. There were so many blacks that looked just as black to me that I didn't bother to try to capture comparison photos - any differences are likely too subtle to distinguish. There were also many that looked distinctly greyish. But IMO, if you're using a Japanese EF nib, this ink may not be different enough to justify the cost. Note on Shading and Sheen: Though I put "None", technically, it will shade in a dry-enough application, but I'm not sure a normal nib will get it that thin. The circular/disc dip nib I use for making swatches these days can do it. As to sheen, mostly, there's nothing, but in heavy application, when held at an angle to the light, you see what looks like sheen, or maybe like the ink is wet. I think it's just light reflecting off thick ink. I've seen this in some writing in my Hobonichi (52gsm Tomoe River paper) and on the swatch card. (See the video for an example from my doodle.)
Thanks! 🖤 Matte inks are very intriguing. 🤔I am glad that you included an extra sample to show the shine... cool doodle btw Also, I don't know about others, but I am more inclined to read the post-recording notes in full when they are posted in the comments. That's a really cool idea because I usually skim read them quickly. But I read the entire notes this time. (not that you asked for my input).
@@storge306 You're very welcome! 😊 Glad you like the doodle. Appreciate your thoughts on the comment vs the video description. Normally all my comments and links will fit in the video description, but there were too many this time. 🙂 I'll have to ponder whether to move the post-recording notes into a pinned comment all the time - it does take longer and would be easier to forget - the video description can be done weeks ahead, when I upload and schedule the video...
@@EFNIR It may very well just be me who found it easier... I wouldn't want to add more to your workload. You already do so much for us. Speaking of which, I liked that this ink has a much finer line width. I am so grateful that you include the line width because it helps me a lot.
@@storge306 🙂 We'll see. It's still very helpful feedback. Had you not said anything, I never would have thought of it, but there have been multiple times people asked in the comments questions that were answered in the video description, so you may well be right that it's better to pin a comment... 😁 Glad you like that line width. Me, too. Justifies buying that microscope all those years ago... 🤣
Great review! This is the holy grail of black pigmented inks and you did a thorough job reviewing it. I have three or four pigmented black inks and I can say with some confidence they are not all created equal. Even among that group, Chou Kuro stands out. I am not likely to spring for a bottle of this pricey ink any time soon, but for someone who has a need for a super-dark black ink that is mostly water resistant, this ink is hard to beat! Thanks for your vid!
Thanks, @sailcat9! 😊 I agree, pigmented inks can vary quite a bit, even if they're all supposedly the same color. Thanks for adding your experience to the comments! And you're most welcome!
I was previously using Platinum Carbon Black for inking artwork, but wasn't crazy about the charcoal-ish sheen. I decided to splurge on a bottle of Chou Kuro when it came out, and wasn't disappointed! I was surprised at how much darker it was, it's entirely matte in linework, and it behaves great. This is absolutely my favourite black ink!
😊 Thank you for sharing your extended experience with this ink! That really adds a lot of value to the review. I've heard some people complain that it's not completely waterproof (how some particles came up in my review, and others saying it will come up when brushed over), but it seems like once it's had enough time, it's solid as can be - and perhaps it depends on the paper (and how vigorously you brush! 😂 ).
🤣 You can use that 20 years to save up for a bottle of Chou Kuro! A penny a day should do it (unless inflation gets worse - maybe save two pennies per day). 😉
This ink was gifted to me by an Instagram friend. In the sample vial, it sloshes around easily and stays together. It doesn't cling to or try to stain the walls. There was no sign of settling as some other pigmented inks do. It does form quite a lot of bubbles when you shake it up. Some dried to a solid on the threads, but it did re-wet, so it may not be the end of the world if it dries in a pen, but you'd have a hard time cleaning it out, so I highly recommend against that - use a pen that seals well.
When writing in my journal (generally in cursive and constant writing), I had no flow problems, but the longer the pen was inked, the less the pen liked to start writing - the first strokes were not as solid (you can see this in some images). Doing logic puzzles (about 48 hours after inking), the pen ran dry. The paper was thick copy paper. I was making dots, Xs, and lines, and writing constantly - it was a simpler puzzle, so no need for pauses and capping. Wiping the back of the nib on the paper and then scribbling some lines brought it back to life, only to happen a second time. After repeating the process, it flowed better. So, it seems like this ink won't take very long pauses without drying on the nib. A wetter nib might not have this problem. The problem did not recur on subsequent days, even when doing more logic puzzles. I did have flow problems near the end of the doodle and flossed the tines to get it flowing well again (that doodle was a demanding task for the ink).
Cleaning was not bad. I put some distilled water in a stainless steel measuring cup and dropped the nib and feed in there with the disc and agitator ball from the cartridge. I rinsed the section and cartridge with a couple syringe-fulls of distilled water, then put everything into an ultrasonic cleaner with a little distilled water and ran it once. I don't think that was needed, it was just easiest. The cartridge seemed stained (sort of a warm brownish grey), but nothing else. The ink seems to come off non-porous surfaces quite easily, though with agitation (e.g. I had to wipe it off my stainless steel sink when I got some on it). It also comes quite easily off skin (more easily than many even non-permanent inks)!
NOTE: Given the claim of blackest black, I went ahead and compared not only swatches, but also the review pages from all my former blacks to see if one can distinguish this from other blacks in writing from a Japanese EF. There were so many blacks that looked just as black to me that I didn't bother to try to capture comparison photos - any differences are likely too subtle to distinguish. There were also many that looked distinctly greyish. But IMO, if you're using a Japanese EF nib, this ink may not be different enough to justify the cost.
Note on Shading and Sheen: Though I put "None", technically, it will shade in a dry-enough application, but I'm not sure a normal nib will get it that thin. The circular/disc dip nib I use for making swatches these days can do it. As to sheen, mostly, there's nothing, but in heavy application, when held at an angle to the light, you see what looks like sheen, or maybe like the ink is wet. I think it's just light reflecting off thick ink. I've seen this in some writing in my Hobonichi (52gsm Tomoe River paper) and on the swatch card. (See the video for an example from my doodle.)
Thanks! 🖤 Matte inks are very intriguing. 🤔I am glad that you included an extra sample to show the shine... cool doodle btw
Also, I don't know about others, but I am more inclined to read the post-recording notes in full when they are posted in the comments. That's a really cool idea because I usually skim read them quickly. But I read the entire notes this time. (not that you asked for my input).
@@storge306 You're very welcome! 😊 Glad you like the doodle. Appreciate your thoughts on the comment vs the video description. Normally all my comments and links will fit in the video description, but there were too many this time. 🙂 I'll have to ponder whether to move the post-recording notes into a pinned comment all the time - it does take longer and would be easier to forget - the video description can be done weeks ahead, when I upload and schedule the video...
@@EFNIR It may very well just be me who found it easier... I wouldn't want to add more to your workload. You already do so much for us. Speaking of which, I liked that this ink has a much finer line width. I am so grateful that you include the line width because it helps me a lot.
@@storge306 🙂 We'll see. It's still very helpful feedback. Had you not said anything, I never would have thought of it, but there have been multiple times people asked in the comments questions that were answered in the video description, so you may well be right that it's better to pin a comment... 😁 Glad you like that line width. Me, too. Justifies buying that microscope all those years ago... 🤣
Great review! This is the holy grail of black pigmented inks and you did a thorough job reviewing it. I have three or four pigmented black inks and I can say with some confidence they are not all created equal. Even among that group, Chou Kuro stands out. I am not likely to spring for a bottle of this pricey ink any time soon, but for someone who has a need for a super-dark black ink that is mostly water resistant, this ink is hard to beat! Thanks for your vid!
Thanks, @sailcat9! 😊 I agree, pigmented inks can vary quite a bit, even if they're all supposedly the same color. Thanks for adding your experience to the comments! And you're most welcome!
I was previously using Platinum Carbon Black for inking artwork, but wasn't crazy about the charcoal-ish sheen. I decided to splurge on a bottle of Chou Kuro when it came out, and wasn't disappointed! I was surprised at how much darker it was, it's entirely matte in linework, and it behaves great. This is absolutely my favourite black ink!
😊 Thank you for sharing your extended experience with this ink! That really adds a lot of value to the review. I've heard some people complain that it's not completely waterproof (how some particles came up in my review, and others saying it will come up when brushed over), but it seems like once it's had enough time, it's solid as can be - and perhaps it depends on the paper (and how vigorously you brush! 😂 ).
I didn't know that Chou Kuro is also water proof omg. When I finish my carbon black bottle in 20 years I might give this one a try lmao
🤣 You can use that 20 years to save up for a bottle of Chou Kuro! A penny a day should do it (unless inflation gets worse - maybe save two pennies per day). 😉