Probably my favorite ink, just got me a fresh bottle.
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Fountain pen users, rejoice!
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Ah, wonderful.
Do enjoy.
What is special, or unique, about this particular ink?
Is the texture of the ink different, or is it a particular pleasure to write with?
In recent times, I've used Mont Blanc ink (and, earlier, in my student days, Parker ink).
Typically Iroshizuku inks are on the wetter side, which is why I like to pair them with a Fine nib.
I feel it somehow compensates for the rather thin line width.
As for the Tsuki-Yo in particular, I love the colour. A mixture of black, blue and green.
I am really curious to try Iroshizuku ink... There is so much praise for it. (Although I do amuse myself thinking that Iroshizuku is Japanese for "expensive ink" LOL)
I see positive comments about both the behavior of the ink when writing and the appearance on the page. Some colors are particularly liked. The appearance is what makes me curious--I was half thinking in December that Iroshizuku could add some flair to my Christmas card mailing. But in the end, I ended up sticking with my less exciting--but far cheaper per milliliter--Diamine ink.
I see positive comments about both the behavior of the ink when writing and the appearance on the page. Some colors are particularly liked. The appearance is what makes me curious--I was half thinking in December that Iroshizuku could add some flair to my Christmas card mailing. But in the end, I ended up sticking with my less exciting--but far cheaper per milliliter--Diamine ink.
It makes sense, given that it seems that Japanese pens often seem to have finer nibs.
I'm using Pilot black in a Pilot fine nib pen (basically to get rid of a cartridge that came with a pen...). I don't really like black ink--I've always preferred blue, since my first fountain pen, in which I used blue Sheaffer Skrip--but it seem like that Pilot ink works well in that pen.
I agree, it's a rather expensive ink. As are many of the Japanese stationary products, I'm afraid.
But in general, you get high quality.
To enjoy writing with a fountain pen, I think you need a good pen, good ink and good paper. Which is why I often lean towards Japanese brands.
Black is a somewhat save choice but indeed, there are so many others out there to enjoy.
I recently emptied a Diamine Damson (very dark purple and gray mix).
While I like both black ink and blue ink, I find that I also really like writing with blue/black ink, a sort of very dark blue ink.
+1. And don’t forget: writing with a fountain pen in 2023 is superfluous. If you like it, enjoy it and baby your passion with good products (pens, inks and papers) ☺️
No, it is not superfluous.
One can use modern tech, and one can write with pen and ink; the one does not - or need not - exclude the other.
Absolutely agreed.
It’s superflous: a 30 cent ballpoint pen is enough to write with ink and paper 😉
Your opinion, not mine.
Some of us don't much care for (the feel) of writing with a ballpoint pen; I've been writing with a fountain pen since I was in school, and like the physical experience of writing with a good quality pen, on good quality paper.
"Enough" may be the key word here. But I just want more than enough
While I do use a rollerball or a felt tip occasionally (for drawing), a ballpoint does turn me off because it needs more pressure, is less responsive and often leaves a poor quality line.
Don’t misunderstand me: I’ve got at least 10 fountain pens each ones with its inks 😅 and I hate the fatigue that I feel writing more than two words with a ballpoint 😂 I’m just saying that in the rest of the world, the one that is outside us (fountain pens lovers), still don’t understand why we are paying 30€ for a bottle of ink or 300-1000 or more € for a fountain pen ☺️
Fair enough.
Well, each to their own.
In the past, I have had - and enjoyed - fountain pens made by (among others) Papermate, Cross, Caran d'Ache, and various others, but not Parker, as I found their pens too large and heavy to hold comfortably.
Over the past decade and a half, I have written with Mont Blanc Meisterstuck fountain pens, (and one Mont Blanc ballpoint pen) and these days, this is all I write with.
I love how I feel when I write, that these pens are an extension of my wrist when I write with them, the ease and comfort with which I write when using them, the way the ink glides easily over the page, and the wonderful lack of fatigue despite writing - sometimes - for hours on end.
I'm reaching the point where I don't want to seriously use any other kind of pen. Fountain pens are more comfortable--a fact I notice each time I try using anything else. I've even started using a fountain pen for crossword puzzles. My only real use for a ballpoint recently was addressing an envelope. I am tempted to have a fountain pen with waterproof (or at least very water resitant) ink for such uses, but it's probably not worth it, given how infrequently I address envelopes.
I rcently got a Uni-bal roller ball for the princely sum of ten cents (thrift shop find) to play with. I've used it enough to understand why people like these, but I much prefer a fountain pen.
I rcently got a Uni-bal roller ball for the princely sum of ten cents (thrift shop find) to play with. I've used it enough to understand why people like these, but I much prefer a fountain pen.
Blue/black might be a good choice for those days you can't decide between blue and black!
I personally prefer blue, but at some point want to try iron gall blue/black. I'd be fascinated watching the color shift after writing that gets reported.
I had some blue/black cartridges from Cross. (Dye based, I'm sure.) The ink worked fine, but it seemed more black to me.
Pricing is probably one thing that repels many away from fountain pens. Although there are affordable pens and inks that are decent. A cheap Pilot pen with cheap Pilot ink is affordable. And for the right person, it would be preferable to cheap ballpoints/gel/roller ball pens.
But there are other factors that could repel the modern person, such as pen maintenance.
And then so many are conditioned to think that pens are a cheap, disposable commodity.
Nowadays, many people seem to fill their (limited) need for writing with their smartphone. Think appointments, grocery list, tasks, reminders etc. So why on earth would they even consider a writing instrument, let alone a fountain pen?
And I would count myself among these people - if it weren't for the fact that I keep a daily journal and a commonplace book, mostly as an incentive to pick up my pens. My guess is, one has to be intentional enough to do any kind of (serious) handwriting. As it turns out, not too many people are - but that's perfectly OK.
Leaving aside "serious" writing, (for professional reasons, or for reasons of personal pleasure), whenever I wish to prepare something as mundane as a list - a to-do list, a grocery list, tasks, reminders, or a mix of the aforementioned - I will invariably write in by hand (and usually on a yellow post-it with a fountain pen).
To my mind, there is something that I find to be immensely enjoyable physically in constructing such a list (by hand) and crossing out each item as you have dealt with it.
To my mind, there is something that I find to be immensely enjoyable physically in constructing such a list (by hand) and crossing out each item as you have dealt with it.
Really? I always found the post-it paper to be not absorbent enough.
I'm using an A6 "reporter" notepad instead (I got a lot of them for free, when I was still an architect
)
Well, I have to wait for the ink to dry, but I find it extraordinarily satisfying to write one out, fold it into a pocket, cross out the various entries as they have been attended to, (and compose a fresh list, if necessary).
My A5 notebooks (Leuchtturm1917) are perfect for note-taking - perfect in size and in the superb quality of the paper - but too large for ordinary errands.I'm using an A6 "reporter" notepad instead (I got a lot of them for free, when I was still an architect
Mind you, there is also my lovely (paper) Moleskine diary, which I find most useful, and is a pleasure to write on, as the quality of the paper is excellent.
And yes, I regularly write in it, - and not just for appointments, necessary notes, reminders, contact details, personal details, some passwords, etc.