Review of Colorverse 'Vortex Motion' Ink

[migo984]

Colorverse Inks
Season 2
Vortex Motion

This ink is made by Korean company Coloverse. Their inks have a SPACE/PHYSICS/QUANTUM MECHANICS theme. They are a relatively (pun intended) new arrival on the fountain pen ink scene. They sell their inks in packs of 2 bottles (65ml +15ml). Season 1 and 2 packs contain bottles of the same colour. Season 3, recently released, includes contrasting colours.

Review of Vortex Motion

Wow! I really love this ink. It is unusual, quirky and different, quite unlike any other ink that I have tried before. It is very difficult to describe this colour. It is a colour-changer. It is a distinct brown when wet, and then dries to a brown-grey shade, with a muted pinkish undertone (barely perceptible). It has a light turquoise dye component. It has an amazing, delicate, but quite pronounced, silvery/ sage green sheen. It is very different to those other chameleon-like inks – Pen & Message Cigar and Sailor Rikyu-cha. I can’t find an ink that is a similar colour. The colour is very paper dependent.

It is a saturated ink; very lubricated and flows well. It has a feel similar to a typical Sailor-style ink to me. I have tried it in various pens and with different nib sizes, and it has worked flawlessly so far. I left it in a pen for 2 weeks unused and I had no start-up issues. It is slow to dry (around 25 – 30 secs), especially on papers like Tomoegawa and Elias, but is more acceptable on other more absorbent/toothy papers.

I tested this ink on 3 papers:

• Clairefontaine Papier Veloute 90gsm White. A fine paper with a smooth surface
• Tomoegawa 52 gsm Cream. Well-known paper, with surface sizing, resulting in a high degree of resistance to absorption.
• Hobbycraft brand 130gsm sketch paper White. A toothy paper, that tolerates light applications of water. It handles inks well although does absorb fountain pen inks more than the other 2.

I haven’t seen any feathering yet, but I haven’t used it on very cheap copier/printer papers. There was no bleed-through, albeit there was some slight ghosting on the reverse side of 52gsm Tomoegawa. It is still possible, though, to write on both sides.

There is little water-resistance. That’s not an important consideration for me, but I know it concerns some.

This is one of the very few inks of which I will buy more than one bottle. I love it!

[fountainpagan]

Very instructive review. Thank you, migo.

[Rossler]

Fabulous and informative review. Thank you very much for your dedication.

I had ordered this ink as well as Black Hole and Dark Energy, and from what I have read, I feel this beginning of the year couldn't have started any better.

All the best.

[migo984]

Very instructive review. Thank you, migo.

You're welcome. I’m pleased you found it instructive

[migo984]

Fabulous and informative review. Thank you very much for your dedication.

I had ordered this ink as well as Black Hole and Dark Energy, and from what I have read, I feel this beginning of the year couldn't have started any better.

All the best.

Thank you for your encouraging feedback.

Excellent choice of inks. I have Black Hole & Dark Energy on order too. Black Hole in particular looks really interesting. I hope you’ll enjoy using Vortex Motion. I love to try new ink makers, and I agree, Colorverse inks are a very good start to the year

[Sammyo]

So... I know what I'm buying now... Your great review made me decide to bite the bullet and get a bottle.

[migo984]

So... I know what I'm buying now... Your great review made me decide to bite the bullet and get a bottle.

And I didn’t even need to get out the thumbscrews!

[Fermata]

Enjoyable review, great style.


Lovely depth of color, no feathering, no bleedthrough. The only downside seems to be the longish drying time but if you can live with that then an ink to buy.

I am no chemist, but I guess that a long drying time is an inevitable consequence of a saturated ink - is that correct?

Thanks again Migo.

[gylyf]

Intriguing color! I’m preparing a Colorverse order and I have to say I’m finding it hard to resist the urge to order a bunch...

[migo984]

Available now from resellers, although Bureau Direct in the U.K. don’t seem to have stocked this one. A shame, because it’s just so unusual.

[Rossler]

And Hipponoto already has the season 1 inks, finally.

[penwash]

Vanness Pens also now carry this brand.

[migo984]

Vanness Pens also now carry this brand.

The more the merrier 🙂

[Rossler]

And when I placed an order from Vanness, the inks arrived in two days.
Fantastic service.

[Woody]

Thanks Migo. Vetigo reminds me of the Noodlers Nightshade older recipe of 5 years ago. I'd love to get some of this.

[Lady Onogaro]

Pen Chalet has them, too, as well as the Krishna inks.

[DaveBj]

Idon'tneedanymoreinks,Idon'tneedanymoreinks,Idon't need . . .

[DrPenfection]

Thank you for the thorough review. This is an interesting color. I may have to get a bottle.