InkBlots: In Which Dr. Inkenstein Visits The Princess and the Peas

In keeping with the recent Ink-Testing theme, Dr. Inkenstein has lined up all available bottles of green ink, ignoring the many test tubes, uhm, sample vials in the Ink Storehouse.

Fifteen green inks? Really? That's too many. Isn't it? 

Some of these green inks look gray (Noodler's BGG, JH Vert Empire, MB Jonathan Swift). Some look brown (Stipula Musk, I'm talking to you!) and at least one looks like a highlighter ink. There are pea greens, spinach leaves, and evergreens.

Noodler's BGG is the only true waterproof ink I know. It also forms little indelible particles of varnish in the ink sac, and, if you're supremely lucky, also the feed. It is kept in a Hero 329. For ever. Even then, it gets cleaned out a lot. Another feature of BGG is that you can dilute it as much as 90 percent with water, and it will still be legible.

Apart from the Hero/BGG combo, the MB Irish Green is in a green Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop, M nib.
All other inks were dip-tested with a glass pen. The test paper is Rhodia ice.





It's tough to pick a favorite, even among the similar blue-ish-y-toned greens like Skrip, Waterman, JH Verte Reseda, and Levenger Gemstone. Oooo...I know...I need another green. From Iroshizuku, maybe.

Ah, Sweet Mystery of Ink! In Which Dr. inkenstein Reveals Part One

On the Fountain Pen Geeks forum, we have been playing a wonderful Ink Guessing Game, started by KLP and Laura N.  

Here's how it goes:  They send us a sample vial of Unmarked Ink.  We test it, not knowing the maker or color name, so we won't be unduly influenced by Industry Hype (ie: 'This is the Best Ink Ever!' Or, 'This Ink Will Eat Your Pen Alive!'). Sort of, almost, like a double blind science experiment.

And as we all know, Dr. Inkenstein loves science experiments.  Muahahaaaa.

I missed MI 1 so...

It started with MI 2.

By chance, I believe I picked the perfect pen for this Mystery Ink:

 

The image is scanned so you can't see much shading, but I believe there is some. For a wet ink, it still dries fast enough for this southpaw overwriter.

This has been such fun, and I can't thank you two enough for the opportunity.

PS: Chroma:

(MI 2 was revealed as Sailor Kobe Maiko Green.  Loved it.)

MI 3 proved to be a bright spot in a dark winter.

Here are just my quick impressions, but I love it too! It's not anything like any color I have or know...I call it Raspberry Sorbet. 

The chroma reveals a not-all-that-complex color halo, unlike some of my other inks, which fan out into multi-hued coronas. That's okay.  I found that J Herbin Rouge Bourgogne had a very similar chroma, but...that waan't this ink.

Have I mentioned I loved this ink? 

It dries fast enough, and does not seem quite as wet as MI 2. But it seems unique. (Now, given that I was wrong with both my MI 2 guesses, watch this 'become' an ink I already own and use, lol).

Thank you both, Laura and KLP, for this wonderful ink-ertunity, and for brightening up a snowy winter day.

This ink turned out to be...Caran D'Ache Sunset.  Never used a CDA ink before, and sadly, this is a discontinued color.  It got a little bit sticky in the pen after a coupoe of weeks, refusing to dry well.  Coulda been the pen.  Anyway the ink was a wonderful color and fun to use.

Up next: Part Two!  With at least two more inks!