How To Increase Ink Shading

December 2, 2012

Hi all,

I'm interested in finding out if there's any way I can increasing the shading capabilities of an ink. I managed to increase my PR Ebony Blue shading by diluting 1:1 with distilled water, but is there any other way? I would imagine introducing another similar colour could introduce shading, but I haven't tried it.

The thing is, I'm really liking my Diamine Grey, but I'd love it to be a little more 'shady'. I don't have any similar colours. Hell, I don't mind if it shades with another colour entirely! I guess this is a 'what shall I mix with the colours I have?'. I have;

PR Ebony Blue

Diamine Grey

Midnight

Grape

Poppy Red

Meadow

Apple Glory

What shall I do?

December 3, 2012

Diluting highly saturated inks will definitely bring shading out shading, and in the case of very dark colored inks it can also bring out the hidden color.

Here's Rohrer and Klingner Verdigris:

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh494/gunsandlights/RKVerdigrisShading.jpg

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh494/gunsandlights/RKVerdigrisDiluted.jpg

Private Reserve Ebony Blue:

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh494/gunsandlights/PrivateReserveEbonyBlueShadingandDilution.jpg

Sailor Epinard:

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh494/gunsandlights/SailorEpinardShading.jpg

Diamine Eclipse:

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh494/gunsandlights/DiamineEclipseShading.jpg

Diamine Sherwood Green:

http://i1248.photobucket.com/albums/hh494/gunsandlights/DiamineSherwoodGreenShading.jpg

December 3, 2012

I think the answer to your question is both plus try a drier pen. You can dilute; you've already had success with that. You can mix; look up threads on Black Swans in North African Violets. A drier pen can bring out shading too, especially if you use wet pens.

D'oh, I forgot that paper can affect shading too. How could I do that.

So, what kind of pens are you using and what kind of paper.

December 3, 2012

Hi,

As mentioned above by Member mhphoto, it might be the case that dilution will lower the dye-load enough to reveal the shading potential of a saturated ink. My dilution trials revealed that is most often not the case. Yet, as it is a no/low-cost approach, its worth trying.

I'm less confident that mixing is likely to generate a shading ink, unless the predominant ink in the mix already has high shading potential. (Mixing is only mixing, it is not formulation or manufacturing.)

See also: ESSRI mixes LINK

It seems to me that going to a paper with a hard smooth surface and a wide [shaped] nib will most often reveal the shading potential of an ink.

Good luck!

Bye,

S1

December 3, 2012

D'oh, I forgot that paper can affect shading too. How could I do that.

Can't believe I forgot that too!

December 3, 2012

Apple Glory

What shall I do?

You don't say what paper you are using. It makes a difference.

I jes tried apple glory, which I have in a 78G M nib pen. I tried it on HP1124 printer paper and on ruled Clairefontaine (CF). Since the M nib is such a fine line (to my geezer eyes), I had to use a magnifier to really see the ink and to see any shading. Yep! There it is. There is more shading on the CF than the HP1128, as the CF is a slicker harder paper. I then tried it on a cheapo legal pad and got almost no shading, or at least barely noticeable shading.

Seems to me, the less absorbent a paper is, the more shading will reveal itself, as the paper does not suck in the ink as quickly and allows it to pool at the bottom of the stroke more so than a cheaper highly absorbent paper. I notice mhphoto uses Rhodia, which is also a hard slick paper and more inclined to shade. Another thing, use a magnifier. A glass, loupe, reading glasses, something. I didn't think I was getting any shading, too, until I took a CLOSE look with a 7X jeweler's loupe. w00t!! I've got shading! Even with apple glory and an anemic M nib, I get lotsa lovely shading on my CF paper.

December 3, 2012

dupe

Edited December 4, 2012 by notbob

December 3, 2012

DOH!

Is there a way for ME to go in and delete my goofed double post or do I need to wait for an admin to come along and sweep up?

December 4, 2012

Hi Notbob, you can go in and edit one -- just erase all the text and put *duplicate post* or something instead. Forum software will generally not allow the saving of a totally blank post, which is why you have to put something. Hope this helps!

December 4, 2012

Hmm. I wonder if one of the suggestions would be the solution to finding a good match for whatever ink came out of my Esterbrook SJ. Diamine Denim was a near perfect match colorwise, but had zero shading. Whereas Diamine Indigo had some nice shading but the color wasn't dark enough for what I wanted. Noodler's Midnight Blue wasn't a bad match for the color, but also had almost no shading (and had pretty much zilch in water resistance (Denim seemed to have more than that).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth