"Blackest black" is probably not the best target for black inks. For one thing, paper makes a huge difference so you'd have to put ink on lots of different papers. Also, nib sizes make a difference, and a dip pen will not give you consistency or variety. I've been studying black inks for 10 years or so and have most popular versions. My personal requirement is first of all a deep black black. As you've learned, many blacks are really gray and gray/blue in disguise. Second is permanence. If I'm going to write something, I don't want it washed away with the next thunderstorm. For a long time I used Platinum Carbon Black, and I've had it in pens for years with no need to clean them. The Platinum desk pen is especially good as it's made to use with that ink. Finally, I've settled on DeAtramentis Document Black in a Pilot Custom 823. It puts as black a line as I've seen on paper, and it's bulletproof. That new Platinum Chou Kuro looks promising, but it's more expensive than any ink I've seen ---- $60 a bottle at Jet Pens!!! Out of my league.
A very good, relevant topic for a video. In my experience, Aurora Black, Noodler’s Heart of Darkness and Sailor’s Kiwa-Guro are the trio that I’ve found to be the truest blackest black inks I’ve used. edit: Kaweco Pearl Black is an excellent, yet quite overlooked black ink.
HOD was a disappointment - not as dark as I thought it would be. I don't know why I didn't get the Aurora Black into this test, so I'll have to try that one the next round. I might try the Kiwa-Guro some day, but I'm trying to stay away from the high maintenance pigmented inks. If I was using a pigmented ink in a pen that was being used daily then I might be more inclined to try it, but I usually rotate 4-5 different pens through my writing sessions, so the pen might not get used for a couple of days. I've been using Kaweco Pearl Black for a few years and love it.
@@thepenman357 ..Surprised to hear about HoD. I certainly found it to be impressively black - but I found it to be less than stellar in its behavior i.e. very slow to dry and also very prone to smudge and smear. Aurora Black is just fabulous, on every count. Just not water-proof, if that’s a deal-breaker for you. And happy to report that Sailor’s Kiwa-Guro is very low-maintenance contrary to common preconceptions about its pigmented nature. I’ve used Kiwa-Guro for years already in several different pens. It’s a breeze to clean out of pens, does not stain converters or demonstrator pens at all. The ink also has a distinctly lovely almost satin-y, velvety appearance to it on the page. Pricey, yes, ($24-$28 for 50 ml), but totally worth it to me for its permanence, blackness and all round ease of use.
Hard to find, but the new Platinum Chou Kuro Black is supposed to be amazing. It's on my list to try but they keep selling out pretty fast. Supposed to be no more hard to clean than Platinum Carbon Black.
I just watched a review video, and it does look intriguing. However, I'm thinking I might want to shy away from the pigmented inks, simply because the tend to be high maintenance. I only saw the gift set for $60, so I wouldn't want to lay out that kind of cash for a bottle of ink. Besides, as you pointed out, it seems to be sold out everywhere. It was a limited edition to 1000 units, so I'm not even sure they will produce this one again. We all remember Lamy Petrol. That said, If they do come back in stock I will probably try a sample. Maybe a bottle if that's all they offer. But not the gift set. Thanks for the suggestion - I'll continue to keep my eye out.
I haven't found a better black but its funny, I use De Atrementis Document black and never realized it was so grey. I'm curious to try that Polar Noodlers Black.
Platinum Carbon Black & Noodler's Bad Black Mocassin are my blackest black inks, honorable mention goes to Noodler's Raven Black that shades black. Next black ink that might join them might be PR Ultra Black.
When looking for a black ink it becomes a lot like looking at TV's in [insert popular tv store here]; when you see them all displayed next to each other some look better, but when you get it home or see others with different TV's you considered, you dont really notice a difference when theyre separate imo. I was blessed my wife made the decision for me when i first started out in FP's, she bought me Lamy black bottle with the L2k for our anniversary, so i tried it & liked it; i would recommend it except you already have bottles & im not personally a fan of buying when you have super similar colors imo. I also have Platinum Carbon as a bottle though, but i wanted a waterproof ink for letter addressing & other specific reasons. I recommend shaking up the bottle again for PCB to see if it darkens with the pigment mixed in as you would with most Noodlers inks, if you hadnt already done so for a darker example. May the triune, infallible, omniscient God bless you with faith in Him.
I got spoiled with my first black ink being Kaweco Pearl Black. Nothing has compared to its blackness until I tested the Polar Black. The additional benefit of the Polar Black is its water fastness. Thanks for watching!
1. I have been using Noodler's Borealis Black for a while, which I bought for it's wetness and cheapness. Plenty black and it goes on pretty even with a brush. 2. Moving forward I have decided to buy nothing but De Atramentis Document Inks, for their lightfastness; I have HAD IT with fading inks. I'm sure their black ink will be sufficiently black, and I'm hopeful I can lay it down even enough. 3. I do not share your concern about Platinum Carbon Black being a pigment ink and therefore possibly problematic. No major pen manufacturer can afford to make an ink that isn't safe to put in any major fountain pen - it would be commercial suicide. Carbon Black is said to have smaller pigment particles, specifically to make sure it is safe. It has been particularly popular, for years, amongst us who draw, for its excellent water and light resistence. 4. I look forward to trying Platinum's new Chou Kuro, if/when it becomes readily available, which is supposed to be particularly dark. 5. For aesthetic reasons I tend to prefer to use what I call "near black" inks, which are so dark they can pass when liberally applied. My current favorite is Sailor Ink Studio 453, which is a very dark violet.
You mentioned "lightfastness," and I think that would make a great test in the future. Doodlebud did a test on Noodlers Baystate, which was pretty interesting. So, maybe I'll take the sheet I made and stick it in the window for a while. True, if a blacker ink can't stand up to solar fading, then it won't be the blackest for long. The way I write this won't be an issue, though, and I want the blackest black out of the bottle and onto the page. I was surprised at the Polar Black, considering the inks it was up against. I was certainly thinking Carbon Black would win the day. But, Polar Black was not only the blackest of the inks tested, but was also as water fast as any of the others, if not better. I suppose there are other properties to consider, and my test was limited, but that was my intent to begin with. I wasn't even too concerned about water fastness/resistance, but thought I would throw that in anyway. You made a good point about the low level risk of Carbon Black, due to its finer pigment particles. I have read reviews that state that even with this ink, cleaning more frequently is a must. But perhaps it isn't as bad as what some make it out to be, as in the case of never eye droppering a metal fountain pen. You made some great points, and I appreciate your taking the time to share the good info. Have a great day!
@@thepenman357 Actually I just started another fade test, swatching all my inks on one big piece of drawing paper, and putting it up on the wall where it gets a little direct and more indirect sun every day. I sure hope the De Atramentis Document inks don't fade the first, since I am already emotionally committed to them.
My experience with Herbin Perle noire is that the look of that ink depends critically of the width of the nib and the flow of the feed. With a medium or broad nib and a primed feed, it is really, really black, otherwise it shows a range of shading between super dark and gray. Yes, it seems that I am cheating, but if I was to try out which black ink is the blackest, I could likewise try the best combination of nib, feed, etc. Clearly, any ink that is applied in thinner layer on paper will look less black than they can be with a more generous application. I am not sure of to translate this into swatching. Doing two layers? Or more, and then, how many? All this to say that I found this topic absolutely fascinating and I enjoy this video so much I watched it three times!!😊
Thanks for your input, it was very helpful. I did use a glass dip pen for the writing portion of this comparison, so the lines are pretty broad. It's a challenge to know just how to do these comparisons, because while I want a good saturated look at the ink, I also want an accurate representation of the practical look at the ink with a nib I'm more likely to use, which is a medium tip.
@@thepenman357 Here is something you may like to check. The is one black ink, for dip pens, that is permanent and is, to my knowledge, blacker than almost any fountain pen ink. It is from Winston & Newton, "Black Indian Ink". It is good to check it with a dip pen, either for calligraphy or glass dip, but the interesting point here is that there is at least one ink that is fountain-pen usable and even darker, it is "Blink" from CultureHustle. It is made for artists, but can be used for fountain pens, too. It is cheaper than Chou Kuro, but the shipping fees are horrendously expensive unless you buy many bottles. I did not try blink yet, and wonder if I will ever do, but the Black Indian Ink is amazingly dark on Clairefontaine paper.
Hmm, I can't say that I knew they had a line of inks, pardon my ignorance. Is it a permanent ink? Is it blacker than other blacks you've tried? What is its strong point for you. I'll be checking it out for sure.
@@thepenman357 Hi. It’s the blackest I’ve tried…and stays black. Fairly wet. I have several pens inked with it right now. A lot of people seem to dislike black inks. To each his own.
@@thepenman357 Yeah, didn’t think of that. I would think with all the videos on Nakayas and Namikis (I own multiples of each), I wouldn’t think $50 for 70ml would be so scary for some :).
Yes, I've heard of that one. Although, I think when I checked on it, it was on the expensive side. Goldspot has it the cheapest at $48, and Goulet has it up to $60 for a 60ml bottle. That should last a while. I might get a sample to check out, anyway.
@@thepenman357 Please do. I've only seen/used the black ink myself (single cartridge that came with a pen I ordered) and I'm trying to see how the other colors look before I commit to buying a different color. The reviews can only do so much.
YES! Thank you for mentioning this. Lots of people mention Chou Kuro as the blackest of the blacks, but I've always personally considered Tsuwairo Black as the blackest. I'm really fussy when it comes to sheen, and lot of "blackest" inks have that "shininess" to them, which I dislike. So far, Tsuwairo has been the winner for me.
Platinum Carbon Black AND Aurora Black are 2 magnificent black inks !
"Blackest black" is probably not the best target for black inks. For one thing, paper makes a huge difference so you'd have to put ink on lots of different papers. Also, nib sizes make a difference, and a dip pen will not give you consistency or variety. I've been studying black inks for 10 years or so and have most popular versions. My personal requirement is first of all a deep black black. As you've learned, many blacks are really gray and gray/blue in disguise. Second is permanence. If I'm going to write something, I don't want it washed away with the next thunderstorm. For a long time I used Platinum Carbon Black, and I've had it in pens for years with no need to clean them. The Platinum desk pen is especially good as it's made to use with that ink. Finally, I've settled on DeAtramentis Document Black in a Pilot Custom 823. It puts as black a line as I've seen on paper, and it's bulletproof. That new Platinum Chou Kuro looks promising, but it's more expensive than any ink I've seen ---- $60 a bottle at Jet Pens!!! Out of my league.
Good points throughout.
I know Lamy Obsidian is frequently said to be a black ink, I think of it more as a very dark teal... and I love it.
I might get some more for something different once in a while.
A very good, relevant topic for a video.
In my experience, Aurora Black, Noodler’s Heart of Darkness and Sailor’s Kiwa-Guro are the trio that I’ve found to be the truest blackest black inks I’ve used.
edit: Kaweco Pearl Black is an excellent, yet quite overlooked black ink.
HOD was a disappointment - not as dark as I thought it would be. I don't know why I didn't get the Aurora Black into this test, so I'll have to try that one the next round. I might try the Kiwa-Guro some day, but I'm trying to stay away from the high maintenance pigmented inks. If I was using a pigmented ink in a pen that was being used daily then I might be more inclined to try it, but I usually rotate 4-5 different pens through my writing sessions, so the pen might not get used for a couple of days. I've been using Kaweco Pearl Black for a few years and love it.
@@thepenman357 ..Surprised to hear about HoD. I certainly found it to be impressively black - but I found it to be less than stellar in its behavior i.e. very slow to dry and also very prone to smudge and smear.
Aurora Black is just fabulous, on every count. Just not water-proof, if that’s a deal-breaker for you. And happy to report that Sailor’s Kiwa-Guro is very low-maintenance contrary to common preconceptions about its pigmented nature. I’ve used Kiwa-Guro for years already in several different pens. It’s a breeze to clean out of pens, does not stain converters or demonstrator pens at all. The ink also has a distinctly lovely almost satin-y, velvety appearance to it on the page. Pricey, yes, ($24-$28 for 50 ml), but totally worth it to me for its permanence, blackness and all round ease of use.
Hard to find, but the new Platinum Chou Kuro Black is supposed to be amazing. It's on my list to try but they keep selling out pretty fast. Supposed to be no more hard to clean than Platinum Carbon Black.
I just watched a review video, and it does look intriguing. However, I'm thinking I might want to shy away from the pigmented inks, simply because the tend to be high maintenance. I only saw the gift set for $60, so I wouldn't want to lay out that kind of cash for a bottle of ink. Besides, as you pointed out, it seems to be sold out everywhere. It was a limited edition to 1000 units, so I'm not even sure they will produce this one again. We all remember Lamy Petrol. That said, If they do come back in stock I will probably try a sample. Maybe a bottle if that's all they offer. But not the gift set. Thanks for the suggestion - I'll continue to keep my eye out.
I haven't found a better black but its funny, I use De Atrementis Document black and never realized it was so grey. I'm curious to try that Polar Noodlers Black.
WHEW!!! A very thorough and well thought out deep dive... It musta taken a while to do something so exhaustive! Thank you for your service. 🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅🔈🔉🔊
I'm glad I can share my experiment with you. I've been looking forward to making this video for quite a while. Thanks for watching.
Platinum Chou Kuro
Platinum Carbon Black & Noodler's Bad Black Mocassin are my blackest black inks, honorable mention goes to Noodler's Raven Black that shades black. Next black ink that might join them might be PR Ultra Black.
When looking for a black ink it becomes a lot like looking at TV's in [insert popular tv store here]; when you see them all displayed next to each other some look better, but when you get it home or see others with different TV's you considered, you dont really notice a difference when theyre separate imo.
I was blessed my wife made the decision for me when i first started out in FP's, she bought me Lamy black bottle with the L2k for our anniversary, so i tried it & liked it; i would recommend it except you already have bottles & im not personally a fan of buying when you have super similar colors imo.
I also have Platinum Carbon as a bottle though, but i wanted a waterproof ink for letter addressing & other specific reasons. I recommend shaking up the bottle again for PCB to see if it darkens with the pigment mixed in as you would with most Noodlers inks, if you hadnt already done so for a darker example.
May the triune, infallible, omniscient God bless you with faith in Him.
I got spoiled with my first black ink being Kaweco Pearl Black. Nothing has compared to its blackness until I tested the Polar Black. The additional benefit of the Polar Black is its water fastness. Thanks for watching!
1. I have been using Noodler's Borealis Black for a while, which I bought for it's wetness and cheapness. Plenty black and it goes on pretty even with a brush.
2. Moving forward I have decided to buy nothing but De Atramentis Document Inks, for their lightfastness; I have HAD IT with fading inks. I'm sure their black ink will be sufficiently black, and I'm hopeful I can lay it down even enough.
3. I do not share your concern about Platinum Carbon Black being a pigment ink and therefore possibly problematic. No major pen manufacturer can afford to make an ink that isn't safe to put in any major fountain pen - it would be commercial suicide. Carbon Black is said to have smaller pigment particles, specifically to make sure it is safe. It has been particularly popular, for years, amongst us who draw, for its excellent water and light resistence.
4. I look forward to trying Platinum's new Chou Kuro, if/when it becomes readily available, which is supposed to be particularly dark.
5. For aesthetic reasons I tend to prefer to use what I call "near black" inks, which are so dark they can pass when liberally applied. My current favorite is Sailor Ink Studio 453, which is a very dark violet.
You mentioned "lightfastness," and I think that would make a great test in the future. Doodlebud did a test on Noodlers Baystate, which was pretty interesting. So, maybe I'll take the sheet I made and stick it in the window for a while. True, if a blacker ink can't stand up to solar fading, then it won't be the blackest for long. The way I write this won't be an issue, though, and I want the blackest black out of the bottle and onto the page. I was surprised at the Polar Black, considering the inks it was up against. I was certainly thinking Carbon Black would win the day. But, Polar Black was not only the blackest of the inks tested, but was also as water fast as any of the others, if not better. I suppose there are other properties to consider, and my test was limited, but that was my intent to begin with. I wasn't even too concerned about water fastness/resistance, but thought I would throw that in anyway. You made a good point about the low level risk of Carbon Black, due to its finer pigment particles. I have read reviews that state that even with this ink, cleaning more frequently is a must. But perhaps it isn't as bad as what some make it out to be, as in the case of never eye droppering a metal fountain pen. You made some great points, and I appreciate your taking the time to share the good info. Have a great day!
@@thepenman357 Actually I just started another fade test, swatching all my inks on one big piece of drawing paper, and putting it up on the wall where it gets a little direct and more indirect sun every day. I sure hope the De Atramentis Document inks don't fade the first, since I am already emotionally committed to them.
Good review! I enjoyed it. My own two favorites so far are Noodlers Bad Black Moccasin and Pilot's Iroshizuku Take-Sumi.
My experience with Herbin Perle noire is that the look of that ink depends critically of the width of the nib and the flow of the feed. With a medium or broad nib and a primed feed, it is really, really black, otherwise it shows a range of shading between super dark and gray.
Yes, it seems that I am cheating, but if I was to try out which black ink is the blackest, I could likewise try the best combination of nib, feed, etc.
Clearly, any ink that is applied in thinner layer on paper will look less black than they can be with a more generous application.
I am not sure of to translate this into swatching. Doing two layers? Or more, and then, how many?
All this to say that I found this topic absolutely fascinating and I enjoy this video so much I watched it three times!!😊
Thanks for your input, it was very helpful. I did use a glass dip pen for the writing portion of this comparison, so the lines are pretty broad. It's a challenge to know just how to do these comparisons, because while I want a good saturated look at the ink, I also want an accurate representation of the practical look at the ink with a nib I'm more likely to use, which is a medium tip.
@@thepenman357
Here is something you may like to check. The is one black ink, for dip pens, that is permanent and is, to my knowledge, blacker than almost any fountain pen ink. It is from Winston & Newton, "Black Indian Ink". It is good to check it with a dip pen, either for calligraphy or glass dip, but the interesting point here is that there is at least one ink that is fountain-pen usable and even darker, it is "Blink" from CultureHustle. It is made for artists, but can be used for fountain pens, too. It is cheaper than Chou Kuro, but the shipping fees are horrendously expensive unless you buy many bottles. I did not try blink yet, and wonder if I will ever do, but the Black Indian Ink is amazingly dark on Clairefontaine paper.
I really enjoy ST Dupont’s black ink. I don’t see anyone talking about it.
Hmm, I can't say that I knew they had a line of inks, pardon my ignorance. Is it a permanent ink? Is it blacker than other blacks you've tried? What is its strong point for you. I'll be checking it out for sure.
I just checked some listing, and price may have something to do with the lack of interest. Still, I may just get some cartridges to take a look see.
@@thepenman357 Hi. It’s the blackest I’ve tried…and stays black. Fairly wet. I have several pens inked with it right now. A lot of people seem to dislike black inks. To each his own.
@@thepenman357 Yeah, didn’t think of that. I would think with all the videos on Nakayas and Namikis (I own multiples of each), I wouldn’t think $50 for 70ml would be so scary for some :).
And thanks for the video. I enjoyed it.
Platinum came up with new ink please check Platinum " Chao kuro " black
Yes, I've heard of that one. Although, I think when I checked on it, it was on the expensive side. Goldspot has it the cheapest at $48, and Goulet has it up to $60 for a 60ml bottle. That should last a while. I might get a sample to check out, anyway.
Wordsworth & Black's Mysterious Black. At least that's what it's labeled as under the ink bottle section of their website.
I've not heard of that brand; I'll have to check it out. I'm also going to be looking into Octopus inks.
@@thepenman357 Please do. I've only seen/used the black ink myself (single cartridge that came with a pen I ordered) and I'm trying to see how the other colors look before I commit to buying a different color. The reviews can only do so much.
pilot tsuwairo...
I'll have to check it out, thanks
YES! Thank you for mentioning this. Lots of people mention Chou Kuro as the blackest of the blacks, but I've always personally considered Tsuwairo Black as the blackest. I'm really fussy when it comes to sheen, and lot of "blackest" inks have that "shininess" to them, which I dislike. So far, Tsuwairo has been the winner for me.