Diamine Imperial Blue

[Sandy1]

Please take a moment to adjust the brightness & contrast of your monitor to accurately depict the Gray Scale linked below.

As the patches are neutral gray, their colour on your monitor should also be neutral gray.

• Mac http://www.wikihow.c...te-Your-Monitor
• Wintel PC http://www.calibrize.com/

Gray Scale.

http://i783.photobuc...10/INK576-1.jpg

Figure 1.

Swabs & Swatch

Paper: HPJ1124 24 lb. Laser Copy.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Imperial%20Blue/95a7fa4b.jpg

Figure 2.

NIB-ism

Depicts nibs' line-width and pens' relative wetness.

My link

 

 

WRITTEN SAMPLES: Moby Dick

 

Row Height is 8mm.

 

Figure 3.

Paper: HPJ1124.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Imperial%20Blue/7c243fae.jpg

Figure 4.

Paper: Rhodia.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Imperial%20Blue/00c4649a.jpg

Figure 5.

Paper: G Lalo, Verge de France, white.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Imperial%20Blue/4a20af1d.jpg

Figure 6.

Paper: Royal, 25% rag.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Imperial%20Blue/28385763.jpg

Figure 7.

Grocery List

Paper: Pulp. One-a-Day calendar page.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Imperial%20Blue/c482e09b.jpg

OTHER SAMPLES:

 

Figure 8.

• 'HAPPY!' on Glossy Card.
• Smear/Dry Time on Glossy Paper.
• Smear/Dry Time on HPJ1124.
• Wet Tests on HPJ1124.
• Wet Tests on Royal.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Imperial%20Blue/2874767b.jpg

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

 

Type:

• Dye-based fountain pen ink.

Daily writer?

• Very possible.

A go-to ink?

• Possible.

USE

 

Business:

• Easily.
• DIB can encompass internal and external correspondence; and will be welcome in the Conference Room, and in team / egalitarian settings.
• It may be useful for mark-up, editing, etc., especially in the lighter to medium densities when the colour is more apparent.
• It strikes me as too calm for error correction or grading of assignments.

Illustrations / Graphics:

• Possible.
• It is best used as a separate colour - not a gradient or intermediary colour; and in the darker tones, will stand alone - calmly patient patiently calm.
• In narrow nibs it shows even density, so should be suitable for narrow lines, crosshatching, etc.

Students:

• Can do.
• DIB performance on the highly absorbent Royal was very good, so may deliver adequate performance on low-cost papers: no serious feathering, but some woolly/plump lines that could sneak by yours truly.
• It is sufficiently robust to survive domestic mishaps.
• Suitable for hand-written assignments.

Personal:

• Oh, OK then.
• I don't use DIB for personal correspondence; and I have no specific reason for that practice. Too business-like? Too calm? Short on charisma? Anyway ...
• If I received a letter written in DIB, I'd notice that the ink was quite nice indeed, then have a sit-down to read the letter.
• For pro forma business writing, if a pen inked-up with DIB was to hand, I'd use it without hesitation.
• Using DIB for any sort of billet doux would be an obvious gaffe - better a 2H pencil.
• I've come to enjoy DIB from mono-line nibs; yet I see nothing untoward with using DIB from any sort of nib that is no larger than a Western B.
• Somehow I don't care for this ink when its splashed about. (?)

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE & CHARACTERISTICS

 

Flow Rate:

• Ever so slightly on the dry side.
• (Quite a surprise for a Diamine ink.)

Nib Dry-out:

• Not noticed.

Start-up:

• Prompt.

Lubrication:

• More than adequate; not slippery.
• Will not enhance your nibs.

Nib Creeping:

• None.

Staining:

• None after 3 days.

Clogging:

• Not seen.
• Seems unlikely.

Bleed Through:

• Yes.
• 502 on the HPJ1124.
• 502 & the Safari on the Royal.

Show Through:

• Yes.
• Here and there on the HPJ1124.

Feathering / Woolly Line:

• Sometimes plump & woolly lines appear on the Royal.
• Not a major concern.

Smear/Dry Time:

• Glossy: 10 - 12 seconds.
• HPJ1124: 15 - 20 seconds.

Water Resistance:

• HPJ1124 and Royal:

-3-

"All legible, but either very faint and/or has heavy staining from re-deposit of soluble dye.

Needs recovery/restoration for anything beyond personal use."

Smell:

• Sharp but lean esters.
• Reminiscent of fresh whole red radishes.

Hand oil sensitivity:

• Not noticed.

Clean Up:

• A bit slower than most, but very thorough with plain water.

Mixing:

• No stated prohibition.
• I see no reason to mix DIB.
• Once again, if one wants something different...

Archival:*

• Not claimed.

*

Only one ink is claimed to be 'permanent', by virtue of conforming to ISO 12757-2, a standard for BP ink. That ink is not DIB.

THE LOOK:

 

Presence:

• Solid, but not rigid. (No no imolas3 - DIB does not shimmy like Jell-o™.)
• DIB is not an 'action figure' in one's ink array.
• Reminiscent of someone who doesn't care to dance, but sings well - especially in the shower.

Saturation:

• Modest.
• For a darker ink, Imperial Blue strikes a rare balance between transparency and saturation.:clap1:

Shading:

• Yes.
• Subtle and soft on the smooth-surfaced papers.

Sheaffer 330 on Rhodia.

LINK

Variance depending on pen+nib combos used:

• A little more than anticipated, but certainly not a Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde ink.
• I do not consider DIB to be very malleable though.

High Resolution Scans:

 

• From 51 on HPJ1124 http://i783.photobuc...ue/f71a8b8d.jpg

• From 502 on Rhodia http://i783.photobuc...ue/79b79de7.jpg

• From Estie on G Lalo http://i783.photobuc...ue/b491d1a3.jpg

• From Safari on Royal http://i783.photobuc...ue/545b27c7.jpg

FIDELITY:

 

Is the name appropriate?

• Apparently this handle was bestowed by the UK-based Writing Equipment Society (WES).
• The name is uninformative, perhaps alluding to 'Royal' Blue. ErrrAh 'Imperialist Blue'? But Diamine really couldn't market ink under such a name unless they were to depict a Stetson on their box. Pardon me.

Are swatches accurate?

• Within reason.

SIMILAR COLOURS:

• Even though this was created as a bespoke ink, there are similar colours.
• I defer to Member who chime-in.

PAPERS:

 

Lovely papers:

• Crisp white paper.
• Can be used with off-white papers, and those with optical brighteners.

Trip-wire Papers:

• Can't think of any within reason.

Tinted Papers:

• Could work well on any sensible tint, especially from a wetter writer.

PrePrinted Paper:

• DIB does well on preprinted paper, partly because of the solidity of the ink.
• For grids, charts, etc., DIB will handle being tucked into a pre-set format without squirming about - a calm ink.

Is high-end paper 'worth it'?

• Not so much, but I do prefer the greater transparency on the Rhodia.♡
• Once again, its more a matter of preference over performance.

OTHER THAN INK:

 

Presentation :

• 80ml. bottle in a box.
• No HazMat warnings.

Country of origin:

• UK.

Container:

• A squat square-based, clear glass, slope shouldered bottle, 65mm tall when capped.
• Ink level cannot be easily determined.
• The centred round opening seems snug: 20mm ∅.
• Single tank, no sediment collector, no filling aid. Bah!
• The bake-light screw cap has adequate grip.
• The cap seal seems to be some sort of plastic-coated card. (>_<)
• The cap is not child-proof.

Box:

• 58x78x58mm
• Nicely coated card stock.
• No swatch. Oh - moose feathers!!
• Labelled on top. Tsk Tsk Tsk

• Useless when inks are stacked, or at/above eye level.
• Work-around: Hire the beloved Biffy Beans to draw a Herbin-ist picture, then affix to the box.

Eco-Green:

• OK.
• All should be recyclable or benign.

Availability:

• High street shops, online retailers.
• Other locations? Please chime in.

ETC.

 

Majik:

• I'd like to, but DIB is just too solid for majik.

Personal Pen & Paper Pick:

• I like the Sheaffer 330 on the Rhodia.

Yickity Yackity:

• As I don't use DIB for personal correspondence, it is used for off-duty casual writing and/or pro forma personal business writing. It does what it does with no complaint.
• Ah kushbaby, not so very close to the front and centre of the top shelf of my ink array, but I'd certainly miss DIB if it were absent.

{=x*x=}~{=w*w=}~(-\=-=/-)~{=w*w=}~{=x*x=}

 

MATERIEL USED:

 

To be relevant to most members, I make an effort to use papers, pens & nibs that are readily available. For pens, I use those for which I paid $100 or less, new or used; and are 'factory stock' - not customised.

 

For the 'One Of The Ten' suite of inks, the same set of pens are used.

http://i783.photobuc...cans/PEN836.jpg

 

A. Parker 51, Flighter^✩, Mark I + 14K XF nib.

B. Pelikan M200 + M200-series g-p steel XF nib.

C. Waterman England 502 + some-flex 14CT 2A nib.

D. Sheaffer 330 + inlaid steel M nib.

E. Esterbrook J + 9968 firm steel B nib.

F. Lamy Pink Safari + steel 1.1i nib.

 

^✩ I cannot determine if this pen is a true 'Flighter' - set-up for use at low atmospheric pressure.

 

For lines & labels:

• Pilot Penmanship + steel XF with Montblanc Racing Green.

On these papers:

• HPJ1124 24 lb. Laser Copy.
• Rhodia.
• G Lalo, Verge de France, white.
• Royal, 25% cotton rag.
• Pulp.
• Glossy paper.
• Glossy card.

_________________

 

IMAGES

• Scans were made on an Epson V600 scanner; factory defaults were accepted.
• Figures shown were scanned at 96 dpi & 24 bit colour.
• Images linked were scanned at 300 dpi & 24 bit colour.
• Scans were cropped and straightened; no other changes were made.

_________________

 

DENSITOMETER READINGS (FWTW)

• Red 100
• Grn 107
• Blu 209
• Lum 124

===============

 

-30-

Edited December 28, 2010 by Sandy1

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

Diamine Imperial Blue is the ninth ink to be reviewed in the 'One of the Ten' (OOTT) group of Blue inks.

 

When/if completed, the intention is to have the OOTT inks reviewed in the same manner, and compared in the same manner to the maximum practical extent.

 

Hopefully the OOTT reviews and comparisons will assist practitioners in choosing their lynch-pin Blue/s, and avoid unintentional purchase of equivalent ink/s. (As was seen in the comparisons of the Cd'A Blue Sky to Cd'A Blue to Sheaffer Skrip Blue.)

 

Also, the OOTT results should give common ground for claims, rumour and scuttlebutt to be discussed. Or be considered irrelevant, and so be ignored.

 

Bye,

Sandy1

[Viseguy]

DIB is one of my go-to blues. Works well on cheap paper, on just about everything. Respectable water resistance, too, as the review illustrates. Right up there with D's Sapphire as an all-purpose workaday blue.

 

I always jump straight to the billet-doux entries in these reviews. Forget feathering and whatnot, I wanna know! No surprise about the verdict here. (Although it might work for specialists in, say, municipal bond indentures. Whereas the party of the first part has had the pleasure of the acquaintance of the party of the second part for some goodly time; and whereas during such time the affections of the party of the first part for and towards the party of the second part, being completely regular and of an honorable nature, have increased so substantially that the party of the first part has determined, after due deliberation and all requisite diligence, that the party of the second part is one without whom the party of the first part etc. etc. Yes, it might just do.)

[Sandy1]

DIB is one of my go-to blues. Works well on cheap paper, on just about everything. Respectable water resistance, too, as the review illustrates. Right up there with D's Sapphire as an all-purpose workaday blue.

 

I always jump straight to the billet-doux entries in these reviews. Forget feathering and whatnot, I wanna know! No surprise about the verdict here. (Although it might work for specialists in, say, municipal bond indentures. Whereas the party of the first part has had the pleasure of the acquaintance of the party of the second part for some goodly time; and whereas during such time the affections of the party of the first part for and towards the party of the second part, being completely regular and of an honorable nature, have increased so substantially that the party of the first part has determined, after due deliberation and all requisite diligence, that the party of the second part is one without whom the party of the first part etc. etc. Yes, it might just do.)

Hi,

 

DIB was a pleasant surprise when I first used it, pretty fair performance profile and all that, but ...

 

it just isn't all so very warm-blooded. (And this is Ms Blue Black speaking, whose #1 Ink remains MBMBl.)

 

Ah! "Appropriate for workplace flirtations between Actuaries who are risk-adverse. Unlikely to heat-up such relationships beyond room temperature - even on the smooth yellow sheets of a narrow-ruled legal pad."

 

Some things just aren't meant to happen.

 

DIB doesn't even have the 'stealth' ability of Pelikan Royal Blue, but ...

 

... I reckon it does qualify as an OOTT ink.

 

Bye,

S1

[Alohamora]

Thank you for another excellent review!

 

I'm on pins and needles with excitement, waiting to find out what blue #10 is.

[reprieve]

I bought a bottle of Imperial Blue at a pen show last year. I almost never use it. I have tried, really tried, to like it. It is a very well-behaved, nice blue... but that's just it--it's nice. There's no excitement, no electric "oooh, look at me!" factor, nothing to make me think "I should ink a pen with Imperial Blue today."

[Sandy1]

Thank you for another excellent review!

 

I'm on pins and needles with excitement, waiting to find out what blue #10 is.

Hi,

 

You're welcome.

 

I too am waiting to find-out which blue is #10!

 

Can one experience pins & needles whilst procrastinating?

 

Bye,

S1

[Viseguy]

DIB was a pleasant surprise when I first used it, pretty fair performance profile and all that, but ...

 

it just isn't all so very warm-blooded.

I'd call it blue-blooded -- not inappropriate for an "Imperial" blue. Aurora Blue is in the same vein, so to speak. My preferences in blue run to something a tad brighter, like D's Sapphire or Visconti Blue.

 

By the way, are the inks that comprise The Ten listed anywhere?

[Sandy1]

I bought a bottle of Imperial Blue at a pen show last year. I almost never use it. I have tried, really tried, to like it. It is a very well-behaved, nice blue... but that's just it--it's nice. There's no excitement, no electric "oooh, look at me!" factor, nothing to make me think "I should ink a pen with Imperial Blue today."

Hi,

 

And here I thought I was the only one with that sort of 'take-it-or-leave-it' relationship with DIB.

 

Yet I would not be thrilled if I was without DIB. (???)

 

Ah me! Well, let's see what happens when the bottle starts to run dry. Purchase another? Or perhaps that interesting Monteverde Blue could be worth taking for a whirl.

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

DIB was a pleasant surprise when I first used it, pretty fair performance profile and all that, but ...

 

it just isn't all so very warm-blooded.

I'd call it blue-blooded -- not inappropriate for an "Imperial" blue. Aurora Blue is in the same vein, so to speak. My preferences in blue run to something a tad brighter, like D's Sapphire or Visconti Blue.

 

By the way, are the inks that comprise The Ten listed anywhere?

Hi,

 

Hmm - 'blue blooded'. I can easily see that. (I toyed with Imperialist Blue)

 

The One Of The Ten inks are not listed per se, (I'm only at nine, OK), but one can search this Forum for character string "OOTT", then check the Topic Description (Sub-Title) for One Of The Ten. The same search strategy will return the OOTT Comparisons in that subForum. It is my intention to continue to add links to OOTT inks as comparisons, samples, tests, etc. may be generated over time. (As I did for the GCE Orchid: generated a set of dilution samples, which were x-linked to the IR)

 

Somewhere on my ToDo List is generating some kind of OOTT summary, which will at least provide links to IRs & Comparisons.

 

And OOTT aren't 'Top Ten' or such like - just 10.

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS - COMPARISONS - COMPARISONS

 

Pilot asa-gao: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/179325-comparison-pilot-asa-gao-diamine-imperial-blue/page__gopid__1803812#entry1803812

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS - COMPARISONS - COMPARISONS

 

Pilot asa-gao: http://www.fountainp...12#entry1803812

Visconti Blue: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/179439-comparison-visconti-blue-diamine-imperial-blue/page__gopid__1805023#entry1805023

[meghan]

Thanks for the review! I was considering buying a bottle, but, as mentioned above -- there's no "ooooh" factor. Diamine Royal Blue has an "ooooh" factor, so I think I'll stick with it.

 

I chuckled when I read, "It is sufficiently robust to survive domestic mishaps."

[ImolaS3]

Very enjoyable and poetic

 

Personally, I don't much care for blue inks, but the review is quite a fun read even if some places leave me somewhat confused about the ink

 

Solid, but not rigid. (No no imolas3 - DIB does not shimmy like Jell-o™.)

 

:)

[Viseguy]

The One Of The Ten inks are not listed per se, (I'm only at nine, OK), but one can search this Forum for character string "OOTT", then check the Topic Description (Sub-Title) for One Of The Ten. The same search strategy will return the OOTT Comparisons in that subForum.

Thanks. I put together a list of the OOTT blue-ink reviews so far:

 

• Sheaffer Skrip Blue - Slovenia Production
   
  
• Pelikan - 4001 Royal Blue
   
  
• Montblanc - Royal Blue
   
  
• Private Reserve - American Blue
   
  
• Noodler's - Ottoman Azure
   
  
• Herbin - Eclat De Saphir
   
  
• Pilot - Asa-gao
   
  
• Visconti - Blue
   
  
• Diamine Imperial Blue
   
  

[Sandy1]

The One Of The Ten inks are not listed per se, (I'm only at nine, OK), but one can search this Forum for character string "OOTT", then check the Topic Description (Sub-Title) for One Of The Ten. The same search strategy will return the OOTT Comparisons in that subForum.

Thanks. I put together a list of the OOTT blue-ink reviews so far:

 

• Sheaffer Skrip Blue - Slovenia Production
• Pelikan - 4001 Royal Blue
• Montblanc - Royal Blue
• Private Reserve - American Blue
• Noodler's - Ottoman Azure
• Herbin - Eclat De Saphir
• Pilot - Asa-gao
• Visconti - Blue
• Diamine Imperial Blue

Hi,

 

Thanks for your contribution!!

 

When/if the OOTT series of Reviews & Comparisons is complete, I plan to generate a 'Summary' document.

 

I would like to have the Summary include a list of links to all Reviews and Comparisons; and serve as a place to address the OOTT series - rather than individual Reviews and Comparisons. Other ideas about what to include in a Summary?

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS - COMPARISONS - COMPARISONS

 

Pilot asa-gao: http://www.fountainp...12#entry1803812

Visconti Blue: http://www.fountainp...23#entry1805023

Sheaffer Skrip Blue: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/180309-comparison-sheaffer-skrip-blue-diamine-imperial-blue/page__gopid__1814112#entry1814112

[Sandy1]

COMPARISONS - COMPARISONS - COMPARISONS

 

Pilot asa-gao: http://www.fountainp...12#entry1803812

Visconti Blue: http://www.fountainp...23#entry1805023

Sheaffer Skrip Blue: http://www.fountainp...12#entry1814112

Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/181500-comparison-pelikan-royal-blue-diamine-imperial-blue/page__gopid__1827302#entry1827302

 

[beak]

Thanks for this review, I found it very useful.

[Sandy1]

Thanks for this review, I found it very useful.

You're welcome!

I do try to show & share lots of stuff about an ink.