De Atramentis Document White

[Yazeh]

De Atramentis Document White
To my knowledge there are two white inks by De Atramentis (Document and Artist), Noodler’s Whiteness of Whale (though technically speaking it’s not a white ink from what I understand), and Octopus Write and Draw, Polar Bear white.

This is an unusual ink, somehow like Maalox, liquid chalk or whitewash; take your pick
It’s disconcerting when you see it in fountain pen. It shows off all the muck in the feed and how dirty your convertor truly is
Here is a photo of a stained no named Chinese piston filler
Pen De Atramentis white.jpg

I tested it on two types of paper one a no name notebook bought from Amazon (a not so black absorbent paper, and the other a true black Mix Media from Clairefontaine.

It really needs a true black paper to contrast with. Don’t go for a cheap paper, you’ll regret it.

Ink was atrociously awful in Pilot Kakuno with Ef nib. It clogged a noname Chinese Piston filler. However, in the Lamy Safari it was wonderful writer.

This is more of sketching ink, than a writing ink or maybe an ink for teachers who have the nostalgia of black boards.

It was fun reviewing this ink, as there’s not much to do I didn’t bother to use Stub and flex nibs; and doing the chroma was irrelevant. 😛

And finally cleaning this ink is really difficult and time consuming. So don’t fill your latest, shiny overpriced piston filler with this ink, otherwise you’ll curse the pen, ink and the hobby.


Writing samples:
No name very absorbent notebook from Amazon:
Noname - .jpg
Clairefontaine
Clairefontaine - Mixed Media.jpeg

see the contrast between the two papers (photo
20240228_154803.jpg

and a few sketches:
on no name paper:
The Artist within



On Clairfontaine:
"Balloon"

and another "detente" or "speech Balloon"

· Pens used: Pilot Kakuno Ef, Lamy Safari (EF/F/M/B)
· What I liked: Sketching on a very dark paper.
· What I did not like: Clogging in some pens, cleaning, work with a Japanese Ef
· What some might not like: You need black paper.
· Shading: n/a
· Ghosting: n/a
· Bleed through n/a
· Flow Rate: Wettish
· Lubrication: n/a
· Nib Dry-out: Yes
· Start-up: Yes.
· Saturation: n/a
· Shading Potential: n/a
· Sheen: n/a
· Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: n/a
· Nib Creep / “Crud”: Yes.
· Staining (pen): n/a
· Clogging: Yes.
· Cleaning: Very, very difficult. Takes time.
· Water resistance: I cannot ascertain it. I tried a wet Q-tip on the Clairefontaine and the Q-tip turned black. I assume the paper came off, so did the ink
· Availability: 45 ml bottles.

Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples or any other comments. The more the merrier

[LizEF]

I seriously would have a hard time telling whether the first writing image was actually a chalk board or not, at least, it looks just like one at first glance.

The paper comparison is very helpful and explains why I didn't much like De Atramentis Document White. It also had a tendency for the pigment to settle out badly, requiring frequent shaking or agitation. (Same as the Yellow, which stained worse than the other CMYK+White colors I got.)

Thanks for taking another (cleaning) hit for the team!

Most of all, thanks for the sketches, Yazeh!! Great fun. Mouse, the painter; climb, kitty, climb! And what are Mouse and Kitty talking about? Hmmmm.

[Yazeh]

I seriously would have a hard time telling whether the first writing image was actually a chalk board or not, at least, it looks just like one at first glance.

It's quite an awful paper. It absorb the ink like a black hole

The paper comparison is very helpful and explains why I didn't much like De Atramentis Document White. It also had a tendency for the pigment to settle out badly, requiring frequent shaking or agitation. (Same as the Yellow, which stained worse than the other CMYK+White colors I got.)

Yes. Quite understandable. I saw a sketch on toned paper, where it was used as an accent. Quite effective. But for day to day use, I don't recommend it

Thanks for taking another (cleaning) hit for the team!

It's horrible when you see the cloudy/milky substance in the water.

Most of all, thanks for the sketches, Yazeh!! Great fun. Mouse, the painter; climb, kitty, climb! And what are Mouse and Kitty talking about? Hmmmm.

A pleasure! As for the conversation between mouse and kitty, that's a secret

[mizgeorge]

Fab! Thank you Yazeh - what a fantastic collection of delicious pictures!

Oh! and there's an ink review in there too - what a bonus

I use quite a lot of this one - though almost exclusively with dip / glass / brass pens and brushes. It's useful for all sorts of things, and yes, I also love the cool things that can be done with white ink and black paper.

I utterly love every single picture. But I think we need a competition to fill the bubbles

[dneal]

Not an ink I think I would ever use, but this is a great review!

Agree with the chalk board effect. I kinda like it.

[Yazeh]

Fab! Thank you Yazeh - what a fantastic collection of delicious pictures!

Thank you so much!

Oh! and there's an ink review in there too - what a bonus

I use quite a lot of this one - though almost exclusively with dip / glass / brass pens and brushes. It's useful for all sorts of things, and yes, I also love the cool things that can be done with white ink and black paper.

Yes. It's really fun to create sketches/ drawing on a black "canvas". It gives on a different perspective

I utterly love every single picture. But I think we need a competition to fill the bubbles

I'm open to it. Give me your take?

[Yazeh]

Not an ink I think I would ever use, but this is a great review!

Thank you!

Agree with the chalk board effect. I kinda like it.

Yeah, it's reminiscent of a different era

[Sailor Kenshin]

Disconcerting is not the half of it! 🙀

My immediate reaction on seeing the feed and section of your NoNami Chinese piston-filler: “Ewww!” However, I love your sketches, and the quotes! The ink shows much better on Clairefontaine, but I once had (and might still have) a Plain Ol' Notebook, spiral-bound, that had black paper with white lines. I used it for milky gel pen scribbles. Wonder what it actually was?

You took another for the team! Thanks again, Yazeh, and may your bold Ink-Splorations continue to delight us.

[Yazeh]

Disconcerting is not the half of it! 🙀 My immediate reaction on seeing the feed and section of your NoNami Chinese piston-filler: “Ewww!”

Same here! The pen has been forgotten soaking for quite a while in water, to wash its shame

However, I love your sketches, and the quotes!

Thank you!

The ink shows much better on Clairefontaine, but I once had (and might still have) a Plain Ol' Notebook, spiral-bound, that had black paper with white lines. I used it for milky gel pen scribbles. Wonder what it actually was?

That only you would know

You took another for the team! Thanks again, Yazeh, and may your bold Ink-Splorations continue to delight us.

A pleasure!

[Brilliant Bill]

Funny, as much as I know about ink, I've neither seen nor imagined a white fountain pen ink. Obviously, a specialty item.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I used white gel pens, but they'd soon sieze up if not written with every day.

[Jaguarish]

I bought some Kwz white ink but for the reasons you found, am hesitant to put it in a pen. I think maybe a refillable brush pen? I only wanted it for adding highlights over paintings, so I could just dip in a glass nib or small brush. The idea was to see if it was better than a gel pen or various disposable brush pens. (Haven't tried it yet!) @Janinescribbles on Instagram uses white ink in Chinese pens with fude nibs a lot.

[Yazeh]

I bought some Kwz white ink but for the reasons you found, am hesitant to put it in a pen.

I believe the KWZ ink is only for dip pens
https://vanness1938.com/en-ca/produc...aphy-ink-white

I think maybe a refillable brush pen? I only wanted it for adding highlights over paintings, so I could just dip in a glass nib or small brush.

THat seems like a great idea

The idea was to see if it was better than a gel pen or various disposable brush pens. (Haven't tried it yet!) @Janinescribbles on Instagram uses white ink in Chinese pens with fude nibs a lot.

I'm assuming she uses either the De Atramentis or the Octopus one. She has a gorgeous handwriting