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This is my 2nd pigment ink review from this brand. The first one is here. Kala inks are based in Taiwan and make mostly pigment inks. According to https://geology.com/minerals/hematite.shtml: Hematite is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's surface and in the shallow crust and the most important ore of iron. For what is worth Hematite (which means blood red) is one for the oldest pigments and was used for the cave painting by our ancestors These are some modern Hematite pigments. Kala Hematite resembles the top right (Blue Ridge Violet Hematite). It is dusky dream grey, purple, not as wet as Scapolite, but slightly sluggish. It is pleasing, soothing colour, especially with broad and fude nibs. Lets starts with the Chroma: Comparison It has also a beautiful green/ gold sheen on Mnemosyne paper under artificial light: Writing samples: Midori TR 68gr Photos: Rhodia Maruman Cheap paper front and back Water resistance: Note: under running water it was fine, but the moment I dried it with a paper towel, this happened and finally a fun sketch of a favorite ink character: · Pens used: Lamy Safari (Reverse Fine/ Fine/ Medium /Broad) / Kanwrite Ultraflex / Pilot Plumix · What I liked: Very easy to clean. Pleasing / tender colour. A pleasure to write with. · What I didn’t liked: It’s iffy water resistance. If you spill water, you’re ok, however, if you try to dry it up you will make a mess. · Shading: Only wide a fude nib. · Ghosting: Yes, On cheap paper · Bleed through: Yes, with absorbent papers. · Flow Rate: Good. · Lubrication: Good. · Nib Dry-out: Not noticed. · Start-up: No problem. · Saturation: Dark. · Shading Potential: Only with a fude nib · Sheen: With some papers, like Mnemosyne. · Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Not noticed · Nib Creep / “Crud”: No · Staining (pen): No · Clogging: No. · Cleaning: Very easy to clean…. · Water resistance: See for yourself · Availability: 30 ml bottles Comments appreciated but absolutely not necessary

Kala inks are based in Taiwan and make mostly pigment inks, the Gemstone (variations on grey), Abstraction (variations on Khaki, Grey and Purple) and Tribute to Neon (highlighter), They have also 3 series of dye-based inks, as of now (2023). This is my first pigment ink from this brand. According to https://geology.com/minerals/scapolite.shtml "Scapolite is a name used for a group of aluminosilicate minerals that includes meionite, marialite, and silvialite" No comment Now about the ink. Chroma: Kala Scapolite belongs to the Gemstone series. It is a dark green, grey. With finer nibs it’s almost black. It needs a drier, wider nib, in order to enjoy the green. It reminds me of Noodler’s Zhivago or dark El Lawrence. Comparaison: Ink is very wet, to the point I can easily write/sketch in reverse with a European fine nib. I am not a fan of pale/ pencil greys or grey blacks. Initially I thought, I should have gone with a paler green, grey, yet I’ve been refilling my Lamy Safari, constantly with it. I really like writing and sketching with it. Writing samples: Rhodia TR 68 gr Photo of the scan above: Marumann Midori Cheap Paper (Front) Cheap paper (back) This ink is water resistant but not 100% waterproof. Rubbing or washing it will spread the green dye, which makes it perfect for washes. A simple wash on Canson Water colour paper: A sketch I did for inktober (shadows) - Note I used a wet brush to float the green dye about. (my apologies to Georges de La Tour) I had to use a pen cleaner for the Safari. Note this was after the half a day of soaking in water.... Ironically the Pilot didn't need that much cleaning... · Pens used: Lamy Safari (Fine/ Medium /Broad) /Pilot Kakuno (M), Kanwrite Ultraflex /TWSBI Go Stub, · Shading: Only wide a fude nib. · Ghosting: Yes On cheap paper · Bleed through: Yes, with absorbent papers. · Flow Rate: Very wet · Lubrication: Great. I enjoyed reverse writing with a Japanese M · Nib Dry-out: Not noticed. · Start-up: No problem. · Saturation: Dark. · Shading Potential: Only with a fude nib…needs a dry pen · Sheen: Faint · Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Not noticed · Nib Creep / “Crud”: No · Staining (pen): No · Clogging: No. · Cleaning: Lamy Safari needed a pen cleaner. · Water resistance: See for yourself · Availability: 30 ml bottles Comments appreciated but not obligatory