With all the talk on other threads about using permanent inks in notebooks and journals, addressing envelopes exposed to rain, and writing checks I was curious how my every day inks would hold up.
The inks tested are below. Some I use everyday (E) for work notes, one is for addressing (A), one is for checks (C). I threw in a couple others for sake of comparison.
* MB Mystery Black (E)
* Parker Quink (E), just purchased
* Namiki Black
* deAtramentis Document Violet (A)
* Diamine Registrar's Blue-Black (C)
* Mystery Ink #21 IG
* Iroshizuku Take-sumi (E)
* Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black (E)
* Speedball Super Black India Ink
Paper: Clairefontaine Papier Velouté.
Procedure: I dripped water on the middle part and let it roll around then dabbed it off. I ran water over the right side for several seconds.
Results:
Document Violet is completely impervious to water, showing no sign whatsoever of color bleeding. To my surprise, even Speedball India Ink isn't quite as waterproof as Document Violet, but close. I could use either for addressing envelopes.
All the other inks immediately began dissolving in water, transforming lines into illegible smears.
Mystery Black washes away completely. So I will need a permanent black for my oft-used MB 221.
The rest of my daily use inks are suitably waterfast, leaving behind at least a faint trace of writing. Namiki Black was best. I like Quink Black for everyday so I'm glad to see I don't have to fear Iced Latte spills.
Thanks for reading. Hope it was interesting and/or useful.
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