Franklin-Christoph Dark Denim - First Thoughts

[cybaea]

OK, this isn't really a review but just a few first thoughts on the Franklin-Christoph Blue Denim Writing Fluid (aka "ink"). I have not seen any reviews of it here yet, so I thought I'd post these thoughts in the hope that someone would do a proper review

 

This is on Rhodia No 18 Dotpad and the big fat passes are with the 1cm plakat:

 

 

I like this ink a lot. For bleed-through, see the back page:

 

 

And for a fast writing sample (pen is the cheap Pelikan Style with the broad nib):

 

 

I hope someone finds this interesting. Maybe you can do a real review?

 

----

PS: I get the feeling this is a little acidic - can anybody test it?

[watch_art]

OOoh that is pretty.

[Uncle Red]

Nice color and water resistant.

[inkstainedruth]

That is a nice color. Like the shading. Anyone know whether these inks are made by Franklin-Christoph, or are they re-branded inks made for them by someone else?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Ted A]

Oh good. It looks quite nice. Good to know since I have some in the mail on my way.

[Jared]

From what I understand, there are few ink manufacturers and many inks are in fact rebranded. So I'd be more likely to believe that this is probably a Diamine ink (like Akkerman).

[FranklinChristoph]

We are having it custom manufactured for us, but not by the usual suspects. We buy it in bulk and bottle and label here in our facility in Raleigh, NC.

 

Seth

[amberleadavis]

OOooo, very pretty. Thank you.

[MyDarnSnakeLegs]

I need to stop into the shop in Raleigh soon and get some of these inks.

[notVirtuThe3rd]

Really informative review! Thanks for sharing!

[jonro]

I have some of the FC Dark Denim and their Black Magic, too. I agree with your review. I find Dark Denim to be quick drying, fairly well lubricating and it doesn't feather much. I like the color, but usually prefer darker blues. I recommend FC Dark Denim to anyone who likes the color.

 

I'm planning to write a review of the black ink, but I will say this about it. It's a very black ink and dries very quickly. Unfortunately, it feathers more than any other ink I've ever used. It actually bleeds through the pages in my Black n' Red notebook. No other ink I've used with that paper shows any bleed through. I wish that FC would get it reformulated, but that's probably not in the cards. I had high hopes for FC Black Magic, but I find it unusable. If you have a paper that works well with it, you may enjoy it quite a bit.

[cybaea]

I'm planning to write a review of the black ink, but I will say this about it. It's a very black ink and dries very quickly. Unfortunately, it feathers more than any other ink I've ever used. It actually bleeds through the pages in my Black n' Red notebook. No other ink I've used with that paper shows any bleed through. I wish that FC would get it reformulated, but that's probably not in the cards. I had high hopes for FC Black Magic, but I find it unusable. If you have a paper that works well with it, you may enjoy it quite a bit.

 

I also find Black Magic unusable; see https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/244123-franklin-christoph-black-magic-ink/ for my notes on it. Please link your review there if possible, and I look forward to your comments.

[Soundsider]

Love vintage-looking blues for correspondence and journaling. Waterman blue-black (now "Mysterious Blue") a personal favorite. Must pick this ink up at the Triangle pen show next month.

 

/Soundsider

[HistoricalMan]

It looks darker here than on Franklin-Christoph's website.

 

I might have to order a bottle.

Edited May 23, 2013 by HistoricalMan

[MyDarnSnakeLegs]

Yeah, I want to get my hands on some of this in the near future.

[MyDarnSnakeLegs]

<Sigh> I've just noticed that I posted in this thread twice saying the same thing. The good new is that I DID get a bottle of this ink (and all of the others) and I'll be writing a review of it after I've had a chance to use it for a few days. The F-C guys could not have been nicer to me at the Raleigh show.

[amberleadavis]

You've all got me missing Durham (and I rarely miss Durham). I'm glad ya'lls had fun at the show!

[TheGreatRoe]

You've all got me missing Durham (and I rarely miss Durham). I'm glad ya'lls had fun at the show!

 

• Tastiest city in the south (this is a recent gastronomical award...I didn't go around tasting various cities or anything).
• Music scene (The Triangle = new acts & affordable tickets, Vegas = aging singers for premium prices).
• You can go watch a movie without going to a casino.
• In Durham, the summer temps can usually be described without relying on that dreaded third digit--you can touch your car without risk of a severe burn!
• Although you guys do have decent pipe band.

[amberleadavis]

 

• Tastiest city in the south (this is a recent gastronomical award...I didn't go around tasting various cities or anything).
• Music scene (The Triangle = new acts & affordable tickets, Vegas = aging singers for premium prices).
• You can go watch a movie without going to a casino.
• In Durham, the summer temps can usually be described without relying on that dreaded third digit--you can touch your car without risk of a severe burn!
• Although you guys do have decent pipe band.

But in Las Vegas, we can measure our humidity in single digits most of the year (and maybe even when it's raining -haha)

 

Sure you didn't go around munching on cities.

[Jared]

I enjoyed getting a chance to test this ink (and others in this line) at the ink testing table at the DC Pen Show this weekend. It's a lovely ink, but looked just like Diamine Denim to my eyes. Too bad there wasn't any Diamine Denim there to compare it to.