Brilliant Red - Pelikan 4001

[visvamitra]

The 4001 ink is a well-established brand by Pelikan from the very first beginning of the company. It was first mentioned in a price-list from 1897 and proved its worth within all the years. Ink 4001 was registered as a number only, during years there was plenty of colors on the market. However in recent years the line didn't change at all. Happily Pelikan decided to invest not only in Edelstein line but also in 4001 (much cheaper) line and introduced new ink (Dark Green) in january 2016. You may find it interesting that Pelikan 4001 are the only inks that can be bought practically in every B&M store in Poland.

At the moment the line consists of

1. Blue - Black
   
2. Brilliant Black
   
3. Brilliant Brown
   
4. Brilliant Green
   
5. Brilliant Red
   
6. Dark Green
   
7. Pink (cartridges only)
   
8. Royal Blue
   
9. Turquoise
   
10. Violet
    

I never liked Brilliant Red. In my opinion it's dry ink, rather unpleasant in use. Additionally i'm not keen on the color.

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

Software ID

Tomoe River, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

Leuchtturm 1917, Kaweco Classic Sport, B

Comparison

[grainweevil]

Thanks for the review, and I believe we are in agreement on this one. I like my 4001s as a rule, but this one is a retina-searing neon pink-orange stinker. In my experience it doesn't always play terribly well with the others either, so due warning to any budding ink mixers - this is not the time to skip a test run!

[Dragonmaster Lou]

Not a fan of this color either. I also found it dry and not "red" enough for my taste... tending to be too much on the pinkish side.

[AndyKeir]

It seems that Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Red is the ink everyone loves to hate
I have a bottle and even though it's more of an orange than a red, I really don't hate it that much.

[lgsoltek]

Exactly the kind of red I hate. More like a pale and undersaturated pink. JH Rouge Caroubier and De Atramentis Document Red are other reds of this kind. The worst is Sailor Storia Fire Red.

 

You have to be vibrant to be red!

Edited February 26, 2016 by Lgsoltek

[ksm]

This colour is good for editing, but I would not use it for writing.

In my opinion it is not dark enough and it reading more than few pages written with it would put too much strain on my eyes.

[swanjun]

I think it's really cute! That said, I'm gonna try the cartridges I have before committing to a full bottle.

[AndyKeir]

I think it's really cute! That said, I'm gonna try the cartridges I have before committing to a full bottle.

 

I bought a 30ml bottle while I was buying some other Pelikan inks and the price wasn't much more than a pack of cartridges.

I've been using it in some cheap piston-filler calligraphy pens to practice.

[mehandiratta]

naah... not my color...

 

thank you vis

[namrehsnoom]

I'm looking for a red to use for annotating/correcting documents. This color looks OK for that purpose, given that it's not an expensive ink. But I would need some water resistance - how does this ink behave in that respect? Or is there another low-cost red ink you can recommend that is reasonably water-resistant?

[wastelanded]

Good lord, what an awful colour. Red, yellow, the ink blot is like a 1970s kitchen.

[titrisol]

Yup, I used this ink when I was a kid... it was the red ink of choice

It always reminded me of the Merthiolate (Mercurechrome) that was used at the time to disinfect wounds... and it burned like %^%%$@

 

HAHA! Someone made a comparison to a different ink here!!

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Mercurochrome1s.jpg

[tinta]

I was going to get a box of Brilliant Red when I order my Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Brown carts, but no.

This colour is washed out, almost pink. Not a fan.

[TitoThePencilPimp]

How have peoples opinions of this ink changed? This is one of the red inks I really enjoy. 

[inkstainedruth]

I haven't tried it.  But the images remind of of inks like Noodler's Empire Red and De Atramentis Document Red -- and not in a good way.... 

Of course the ink that reminded ME of Mecurachrome was Platinum Mix Free Flame Red....  Just a hideous color.   I gave it away and that person gave it away to somebody else....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[vtgt]

It reminds me of Noodler's Fox Red in a dry writer more than anything else I have, but Noodler's do other desaturated reds that I don't care for, especially Empire Red.

The Rouge there looks twice as saturated as the "Brilliant" red - !

[encremental]

'The best way to enjoy this ink

Is pour it swiftly down the sink'

 

John

[mizgeorge]

It was horrid then.

It's still horrid now. Perhaps even more so because there are so many great reds out there that there's really no excuse for using it.

[Paul_LZ]

On 2/26/2016 at 9:31 AM, AndyKeir said:

It seems that Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Red is the ink everyone loves to hate
I have a bottle and even though it's more of an orange than a red, I really don't hate it that much.

Well, I love the colour. The name given to inks are rather subjective or artistically inclined. For what it's worth, they could have called it orange pink or pinky red, or whatever. The idea is to like the colour and this being a matter of taste, I like it. When I first asked to see it on paper in the shop, I said "wow, the colour of coral!" Anyway, everyone has her or his preferences, the goal is to enjoy writing with pens and this is what really matters. 

[OCArt]

1 hour ago, Paul_LZ said:

... When I first asked to see it on paper in the shop, I said "wow, the colour of coral!" ....

The, sadly, now defunct podcast "The Nib Section" said that Pelikan Red was a great replacement for the unobtanium Lamy Coral ink.