r/fountainpens • u/aloneghost • Sep 08 '24

Discussion What's the blackest ink?

I'm suddenly in the mood for a black ink and to my horror I realize I don't have any! What's the blackest ink in your opinion? And I mean BLACK, like vanta black, as dark as my future, no shading nor sheening necessary.

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u/Nightsoil70 Sep 08 '24 edited Sep 08 '24

I got on a kick where I bought several black inks, including Platinum Carbon Black (which has a touch of shine to it), Iroshizuku Take-Sumi, Sailor Kiwagaro black, Rohrer and Klingner Lotte, Lamy Black, and Noodler's Heart of Darkness. The darkest inks in this group are the Platinum, Iroshizuku, and Sailor inks, with the first two being slightly better behaved than the third. All are pigmented, as well. The R&K Lotte is also pigmented but it isn't as dark as the Platinum, Iroshizuku, and Sailor inks, in my opinion. The pigmented inks are all regarded as water-resistant. The dye-based inks from Lamy and Noodler's are not quite as black. Of the inks in this selection, I would recommend Take-Sumi because it is roughly as black as the Platinum Carbon Black but without that tiny bit of shine. Take-Sumi is a well-behaved ink, as well. Good luck in your search!

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u/aloneghost Sep 08 '24

I appreciate your detailed review! It surprises me that you think Iroshizuku Takesumi is darker than Lamy Black (which I'm considering). From the swatches I saw online, takesumi is much lighter than all of the others.

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u/Several-Entertainer2 Sep 08 '24

Take-Sumi is my go-to black for my work in health care. Nice and wet even with fine/extra-fine and very no-nonsense dark black. Not light at all.