Iroshizuku Shin-Kai

[mhphoto]

Here's a great dark blue Iroshizuku ink from their recent release of the last three of their collection. The sample was kindly provided for this review by member Terminal, thanks!

 

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/q712/FiveCatKnittery/IroshizukuShin-Kai1.jpg

 

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/q712/FiveCatKnittery/IroshizukuShin-Kai2.jpg

 

http://i1355.photobucket.com/albums/q712/FiveCatKnittery/IroshizukuShin-Kai3.jpg

 

On a side note, my reviews are going to look a little different for a while. The new computer is too new for my old scanner, so all new reviews (most of which are already written) will be photographed using sunlight and a custom white balance to better represent the true color of the inks. I'll also be going back and re-photographing some old reviews with inaccurate scans.

[Lloyd]

What aspect of the other Iroshizukus have you been disappointed in (aside from cost)?

[The Good Captain]

This looks a great ink but it will be one I probably won't be buying due to the cost, at the moment. Good review too.

[Rhoddo]

it looks quite similar to tsuki-yo on my computer screen..

[terminal]

I don't have any prussian blue but it's interesting how similar it is. Looks like the prussian has less shading though, is that what you see in person? Sei-boku really seems to have more shading... pretty nice and a lot cheaper.

One thing about shin-kai is the sheen. I posted this in another thread, but it's fun to play with:

 

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/omasArtDeco-12.jpg

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/omasArtDeco-16.jpg

[whitelily]

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I´m impatiently awaiting my bottle of shin-kai which I ordered not long ago.

[georges zaslavsky]

very nice blue thanks for sharing

[Rafael Macia]

it looks quite similar to tsuki-yo on my computer screen..

It's way different than Tsuki-Yo, which has lots of green in it. Tsuki-

Yo is more a deep teal than a blue.

I just traded a bottle of Tsuki-Yo, for a bottle of Shin-Kai, and could not be happier.

The drying time is longer than the Tsuki-yo, but a small amount of 99% alcohol in the Shin-Kai will speed that up.

The Iroshikuru inks are a cut above a lot of inks available.

 

I think they are worth the extra cost

[ravantra]

It's way different than Tsuki-Yo, which has lots of green in it. Tsuki-

Yo is more a deep teal than a blue.

I just traded a bottle of Tsuki-Yo, for a bottle of Shin-Kai, and could not be happier.

The drying time is longer than the Tsuki-yo, but a small amount of 99% alcohol in the Shin-Kai will speed that up.

The Iroshikuru inks are a cut above a lot of inks available.

 

I think they are worth the extra cost

I don't think adding alcohol is a good idea. There is a potential of damaging components of some pens, possibly softening of gasket or o-rings. Let see if others who know more about this can comment to my gut feeling.

[Rafael Macia]

I will start a thread about it.

[jasonchickerson]

I don't usually love blue inks. But your excellent review here and the shots of sheen made me buy a sample. Thanks for the both.

 

Hopefully it will do as well in my everyday pens. I'll likely be getting a bottle with the next order I place at Goulet's. I sampled it in a dip pen and was impressed. I'll have my own review up soon.

[amberleadavis]

Great Stuff. Thank you.

[Newjelan]

Shin-Kai is a subtle and easily underrated ink IMHO. I love it. I don't think it's like Prussian Blue (which I think is "blah"), it has more depth and complexity.

[jasonchickerson]

Shin-Kai is a subtle and easily underrated ink IMHO. I love it. I don't think it's like Prussian Blue (which I think is "blah"), it has more depth and complexity.

 

Shin-kai definitely leans just slightly red.

[Northcorner]

Hello,

 

Great review!

 

I have ordered my bottle of Shin-Kai a few days ago. Hopefully it arrive soon so I can squander some sheets of Rhodia paper.

 

I am looking forward to see the shading of this ink.

 

Regards,

 

Martin.

[Abner C. Kemp]

I also had a sample of this ink and was incredibly impressed with it. It is a blue-black with some very nice character and I was surprised at how well it shaded. Flow was maybe slightly drier than other Iro inks which I actually kind of prefer. It is expensive but I also found it to be one of the most interesting blue-blacks I've ever used -- and I am a blue-black fanatic.