Platinum Pigment Inks Writing Sample — The nib on the Platinum Desk Pen (which I’ve installed on a Platinum Plaisir) is a bouncy steel extra-fine that many love for drawing and works great with Platinum Carbon Black.

Ask TGS: Permanent Inks for Artists and Attorneys

July 17, 2024

Whenever I get asked about permanent inks, it's typically a question from an artist or an attorney. Many artists enjoy inks that allow them to draw a dark line and then wash over it with ink or watercolors (or both), whereas the attorneys are typically concerned about permanence of a signature on a legal document and preservation of work product.

Platinum Pigment Inks Writing Sample after being soaked for 20 minutes — This writing sample shown above was soaked for approximately 20 minutes in a sink full of water. This is the result. The paper wrinkled and started to fall apart more than the ink bled.

So what are my recommendations? While I'm not an artist, nearly all of my artist friends recommend Platinum Carbon Black as a drawing and sketching ink of choice. Carbon Black is a pigment ink, similar to other inks such as Sailor Kiwa-Guro "Nano Black", Noodler's Bulletproof Black, Tom's Studio Pigment Black, among others. These inks are formulated differently than most fountain pen inks, in that they rely on pigments that dry quickly and bond to the paper rather than water-based dye, and therefore have very fine particles that can potentially clog your pen if left to dry out. That's not to say they are "unsafe" - these inks are very much intended for use in fountain pens, but they do require periodic maintenance in the form of a thorough cleaning, especially when changing ink colors. The upside? I can say that these inks are absolutely "waterproof," not just water-resistant. (In addition to the photograph shown here, I posted a short video to YouTube demonstrating how I soaked this piece of paper in standing water and how the ink barely moved at all.) And if the ink does end up drying out and clogging your pen, a simple flush with water should fix the issue.

Water-resistant, but not waterproof: Caran d’Ache Magnetic Blue, a blue-black that was also soaked in the sink for the same amount of time.

For attorneys - and speaking as one myself - I would say that you have a bit more leeway. If you need absolute permanence (i.e., for a signature on a contract), you can of course use a pigmented ink or a ballpoint. But if what you're concerned about is preserving handwritten notes or marked-up documents, or simply avoiding losing work product due to spilled water or coffee, there are other suitable options to serve that more limited purpose. For example, certain blue-black inks such as Pilot Blue-Black, TWSBI Blue-Black, Pelikan Blue-Black, Caran d'Ache Magnetic Blue, etc., are highly water-resistant to the point that most writing will survive a simple spill, especially one that is cleaned up quickly. Similarly, any ink that contains iron-gall will have high water-resistance, including the line of Platinum "Classic" inks. (As with pigmented inks, you should clean your pen thoroughly to avoid mixing iron gall inks with standard fountain pen inks, which could result in clogs.)

Platinum Pigment Blue Cartridges — Though pigmented black inks and blue-black inks with iron-gall content get the most attention (probably because they have been around the longest), companies do make other colors of permanent inks. Shown here are Platinum Pigment Blue cartridges (which we carry in our shop), and other options include the Kakimori pigment inks, Noodler’s “Bulletproof” inks, and Sailor Storia line, which come in a wide array of colors.

I personally don't worry much about permanence with fountain pen inks. In nearly 20 years of using fountain pens, I can count on one hand the number of times I've completely lost a piece of writing due to a spill, none of which ended up being of any importance. That said, I will regularly use low-viscosity ballpoints such as the Uni Jetstream whenever permanence could be at issue. You can even use pencil, which is both water and fade-resistant, though documents that must be permanent for legal reasons generally require ink.

Do you have a favorite permanent or water-resistant ink? Drop a comment!

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Ink Brand Profile: Platinum Mix-Free Inks

January 25, 2020

Occasionally I get to review a product (or line of products) that has been around for a long time, but that I’ve never reviewed. Platinum’s “Mix-Free” inks fall into that category. While Platinum has manufactured these inks for years, availability has been spotty at times, and the Mix-Free inks have never received the kind of attention you would expect for a product of this quality, especially given enthusiasts’ obsession with color-matching discontinued inks and the ability to create unique mixes from scratch.

Part of the issue is likely Platinum itself, which until recently never made much of an effort to promote their products heavily outside of Japan, and therefore trailed Pilot and Sailor as a “distant third” in terms of popular Japanese pen companies around the world. As Platinum’s limited and special edition pens have taken off in popularity, Platinum’s inks have also received more attention, including the Mix-Free line.

The nine base colors, unmixed. Ink swabs done on Canson White Mixed Media Paper. These colors are quite vibrant, and I plan to try out a few of them on their own.

How Do the Mix-Free Inks Work?

It’s pretty self-explanatory: Platinum sells nine base inks (Aqua Blue, Aurora Blue, Cyclamen Pink, Earth Brown, Flame Red, Leaf Green, Silky Purple, Smoke Black, and Sunny Yellow) that you can combine to form your own colors, whether that be your perfect shade of blue-black, or a reproduction of that long-discontinued Montblanc Writer’s edition ink. As long as you have a syringe or pipette and a sample vial or empty ink bottle, it’s quite easy to experiment. (I’d personally recommend a syringe, since it’s easier to get precise measurements.)

I’ve come up with two different mixes that I like a lot: a “Racing Green” mix, the base formula for which I found online and modified somewhat (Top) and a mix of my own creation that I refer to as “Alfred” (second from bottom). Montblanc Hitchcock i… — I’ve come up with two different mixes that I like a lot: a “Racing Green” mix, the base formula for which I found online and modified somewhat (Top) and a mix of my own creation that I refer to as “Alfred” (second from bottom). Montblanc Hitchcock is one of the hardest discontinued inks to duplicate, in part because of the rust-colored sheen it leaves. For now, I’m happy with how close I’ve gotten.
Formulas are: Racing Green (1 part Leaf Green, .5 parts Earth Brown, .5 parts Sunny Yellow, .3 parts Aurora Blue, and .3 parts Black); and “Alfred” (3 parts Earth Brown, 1 part Flame Red, 1 part Silky Purple, .5 parts Sunny Yellow). Forgive the janky measurements - for mixing purposes, equate “parts” with “milliliters” as measured on an ink syringe.

I’ve found the Mix-Free inks to be well-behaved and low-maintenance. The mixes that I use flow better than other Platinum inks (which can be on the dry side), and none of mine have feathered or bled on decent paper. I’ve also not had any trouble with staining or difficulty flushing the inks out of pens.

A Note of Caution: I’ve been warned by a couple different people that Platinum Mix-Free inks don’t “play nice” with Sailor and Pilot inks, due to their different chemical compositions. While I have used the Mix Free inks in pens that have previously held inks from Sailor and Pilot, I’ve always been sure to flush the pens thoroughly to avoid any clogging that might occur. If you are considering mixing inks, only mix the Platinum Mix-Free inks with other Platinum Mix Free inks, and not with inks from any other brand.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I have had Platinum Mix-Free inks loaded into several pens more or less nonstop since early December. Sure, I’ve used ink lines exclusively for long stretches before, but eventually I do get tired of the same colors. Here, with the ability to change up the colors, that same risk of boredom doesn’t really exist, and you can experiment with creating your own unique mixes without worrying whether your signature ink is “safe” for all pens, since the ink is still made by a reputable pen company.

In recent years, Platinum Mix-Free Inks have been hard to find at times, but that’s changed as the brand has improved distribution and experienced a surge in popularity. Not only are these inks in stock, but they sit at an attractive price point and come in two bottle sizes: larger 60ml bottles and smaller 20ml bottles. Given there is only a $4 price difference between the two sizes (currently $16 vs. $12 at site sponsor Pen Chalet), the larger bottles are a no-brainer for me. If you don’t already have syringes, pipettes, and leftover ink sample vials or empty ink bottles to hold your new creations, you can also purchase a “mixing kit” for $16, which also contains “dilution liquid” (i.e. ink with no dye) to soften colors. I don’t have the kit or the dilution liquid, so I can’t speak to its capabilities, but I’d imagine you could simply use distilled water to achieve the same effect.

I’m really enjoying these inks and look forward to sharing new mixes in the future as I get more experience mixing the colors. Stay tuned! After I dial in the formulas, maybe I’ll giveaway some samples of my creations.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. I purchased the inks featured in this review from site sponsor Pen Chalet, using store credit generated through the Pen Chalet affiliate program, which is one of many ways I support the blog.

Ink Review: Platinum Classic Ink Cassis Black and My Thoughts on Iron Gall Inks

July 22, 2017

Until recently, Platinum was known for having a well-regarded but extremely limited lineup of inks. The company had a standard black and blue-black, as well as a small line of pigmented inks. Then came the "mix-free" inks, which are high-quality, but a lot of people write them off (ha!) because there's a perception that you need to purchase the entire set in order to enjoy them, as the purpose behind the inks is to be able to mix them to create any color you like. This year, Platinum expanded their ink lineup yet again, releasing six new "Classic" inks in somewhat offbeat colors: "Cassis Black," "Forest Black," "Citrus Black," "Sepia Black," "Lavender Black," and "Khaki Black."

You may wonder, what's with the "black" theme? Well, all of these inks are iron gall inks, meaning that Platinum has added iron to the ink in order to make it permanent and to give it color-changing (i.e., darkening) properties.

You can get a sense of the color change here: compare the cherry-red wet ink on the inside of the cap to the dried writing sample/swab (on Col-o-Ring Paper).

I picked up this bottle of Platinum Cassis Black at the Atlanta Pen Show back in April. While this particular color probably wouldn't have been my first choice, I really wanted to review one of the Platinum Classic Inks, and they were extremely difficult to find after they were first released. So what do I think? Here are my impressions:

As it turns out, this is a great color. I love red inks, and this one is extremely interesting. It starts out as a bright cherry red, but it surprised me by drying to a deep burgundy with black undertones. Reds - and especially burgundies - are some of my favorite colors to write with.
Like most iron gall inks, Platinum Classic ink feels a little dry for my taste. I'm not talking about bad flow - the ink flows well and pens will put a lot of it on the page - Iron gall inks are generally less lubricating and many people notice more feedback from the nib on the page.
No feathering, show through, or bleeding at all on cheaper paper, even work-issue copy paper that can barely handle gel pens.
These inks are a decent value. Though not inexpensive at $25 per bottle, you do get 60ml of ink.

Another writing sample in my Hobonichi Planner.

My Thoughts on Iron Gall Ink in General

Inks with iron content are commonly known as "iron gall ink," because they traditionally were manufactured using oak galls. This is ancient technology that goes back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. If you're looking to replicate that blue-black or sepia-black ink color that you often see on old letters from the 1700s or 1800s, you should pick up a bottle of iron gall ink. But other than aesthetics, why do people still use iron gall ink today?

The inks dry extremely quickly.
The inks change colors as they dry, leaving a very dark line in most cases.
Iron gall inks are excellent on thin or cheap paper, and they don't feather. Many calligraphers love these inks because they allow you to write a very fine line.
Iron gall inks are permanent and waterproof. [Edit: It's been brought to my attention that "water-resistant" is probably a more accurate term. See comments below.]

But won't iron gall inks corrode / eat your pens? You may have read "warnings" in various blogs and online forums that iron gall inks are dangerous and not suitable for fountain pens. In my opinion, categorical statements like these are off-base, because you can absolutely use iron gall inks in most fountain pens as long as you take certain precautions. A few tips:

If you load a pen with iron gall ink, use that pen, especially if it has a steel nib or metal parts, like a piston or vacuum-fill rod. When you hear reports of iron gall inks ruining pens, it typically involves the ink reacting with a steel nib or steel components that come into contact with the ink, and the pen being left to sit for a long period of time unused. You don't need to worry about gold or titanium, but a good rule of thumb that I follow is to use the ink or flush it after a week, regardless of what pen it's in.
Under no circumstances do you mix iron gall inks with non-iron gall inks. If you're emptying a pen that was loaded with an iron gall ink, CLEAN IT WELL. Otherwise, the different inks can react and create clogs.
Vanness Pens has an excellent discussion of iron gall inks and precautions you should take on their KWZ Iron Gall page. (More on the KWZ inks below)

A Montegrappa Fortuna nib that was damaged by old formulation Montblanc Midnight Blue. Note that the black coating on the nib was corroded along the nib slit and at the base. The nib still writes perfectly fine, but this was my fault for leaving the… — A Montegrappa Fortuna nib that was damaged by old formulation Montblanc Midnight Blue. Note that the black coating on the nib was corroded along the nib slit and at the base. The nib still writes perfectly fine, but this was my fault for leaving the ink in the pen for too long. (Approximately two weeks).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I don't use iron gall inks on a regular basis, but it's not because I have any great fear of damaging my pens. I just generally prefer more lubricated inks. I do, however, keep a couple bottles around in case I need a permanent ink or an ink that works well on super-cheap paper. Standard Platinum blue-black is my personal favorite.

If you're interesting in testing out iron gall inks, Vanness Pens has one of, if not THE, largest selection of modern iron gall inks available. In addition to the Platinum Classic Inks mentioned above (and you can purchase a sample set of all six), Vanness also carries the entire line of iron gall inks by KWZ, which manufactures an extensive range of colors. If you're looking for a traditional blue-black, another option is Diamine's Registrar's ink. Finally, Rohrer & Klingner makes the Salix (blue-black) and Scabiosa (purple-black) iron gall inks that many people love. Montblanc Midnight Blue was reformulated a few years ago to remove and/or significantly reduce the iron gall content because there were reports of it corroding pens (which I experienced personally - check out the picture above).

I'm sure there are other options, and if you are looking for a specific color ink with iron gall properties, reach out to the folks at Vanness Pens. They'll be able to point you in the right direction.

Disclaimer: Vanness Pens provided me with the bottle of ink featured here for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for this review.

Ink Review: Platinum Blue-Black

November 26, 2014

Platinum Blue-Black is an undersung workhorse of an ink, and one I use a lot. Some feel that this ink isn't really a true blue-black, since it has a strong blue undertone to it, but it's nice-looking nonetheless. In the U.S., Platinum black and blue-black inks are best known for being the pack-in inks for Nakaya pens; each pen sold comes with 10 high-capacity cartridges . As I've mentioned before, when I first purchased my Nakaya, the blue-black cartridges were the only ink I used in the pen for quite some time.

Platinum Blue-Black Writing Sample Shading

This ink contains iron gall, which can be corrosive to metal parts in pens if the ink is left in there for long periods of time (i.e., months), so take care to use your pens and/or flush regularly. Iron gall, however, is what gives this ink its key properties, from its nice color and shading (pictured) to its performance on (most) cheap office papers without bleedthrough or feathering.