Fountain pen ink: a quick guide
Fountain pen ink is available in different colors and is used to refill the ink tank of a fountain pen. There are different types of ink, such as water-soluble, permanent or pigmented inks. You just have to make sure that the ink is suitable for your fountain pen.
We offer ink in ink bottles as well as ink cartridges. The selection of inks in ink bottles is much larger. When it comes to ink cartridges, you should make sure that the cartridge is compatible with your fountain pen: while most German and European fountain pen manufacturers use the so-called standard cartridge, many Japanese fountain pen manufacturers have their own format of ink cartridges.
Overview of ink types
There are a variety of ink types suitable for different applications and materials. Here are some of the most common ink types:
1. Water-based inks: These inks are water-based and make up the majority of all fountain pen inks. These fountain pen inks are very easy to use in fountain pens and can also be document-safe.
2. Solvent-based inks: These inks contain solvents that help them adhere to a variety of materials, including plastic, metal and glass. They are often water-resistant and lightfast. These are definitely not suitable for fountain pens.
3. Pigment inks: These inks contain color pigments that are not soluble and therefore do not fade or run. These are very popular for creative use because they can easily be painted over. Urban sketching is very easy by using a fountain pen with pigment ink for the preliminary sketch and then painting on with watercolor or water-based inks. Pigment inks are also suitable as document-safe inks due to their durability and water resistance. But fountain pens must be cleaned quickly and thoroughly after using pigment inks, as they can dry out in the fountain pen and then stick to the fountain pen.
4. Glitter inks: Glitter particles are added to a water-based ink. These particles are usually so fine that they can be used in fountain pens. However, it should be noted that they can easily settle and then clog the ink feed.
