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A couple of months back, I swatch tested 100 samples from the Sailor Ink Studio range and four new colours from Troublemaker Inks. I was hugely impressed with all of the dramatic chromatic behaviours and their magical effects when used for watercolour painting. So, when Anja Gebler from Papier und Stift suggested that I swatch test Vinta Inks, how could I refuse? Like Troublemaker Inks, Vinta Inks are a small artisan ink manufacturer based in the Philippines. The range currently consists of twenty colours featuring eleven standard inks, 4 sheening inks and five shimmer inks.The inks are all named after people, places and events with further information on the Vinta Inks website. Gold Dust [Piloncitos 1521] - A deep brown earth ochre colour bleeding out browns, greys and feint green blues when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A strong gold reaction with bleach. Gold shimmer dust and a strong sheen. Pastel Blue[Julio 1991] - A light blue/purple pastel colour bleeding out dusty pink, grey/blue and light cyan when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A neon white reaction with bleach. Silver shimmer dust and a hint of sheen. Pastel Pink[Julia 1991] - A transluscent pink pastel colour bleeding out just a feint hint of cyan when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A neon white reaction with bleach. Silver shimmer dust with no sheen. Pink Sands[santa Cruz 1983] - A vivid orange (no pink!) bleeding out yellow when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A muted reaction with bleach. Gold shimmer dust with no sheen. Cosmic Blue[Kosmos 1955] - A deep blue bleeding out turquoise when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. No reaction with bleach. Gold shimmer dust and a strong red sheen. Deepwater Blue[Lucia 1952] - A fabulous blue grey bleeding out feint green blues, grey and pink when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A strong white gold reaction with bleach. Hint of sheen. Visual similarities with inks in the Troublemaker and Sailor Ink Studio ranges. Bronze Yellow[La Paz 1985] - A lively hazelnut brown bleeding out yellow browns and feint green when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A dull gold reaction with bleach. No sheen. Blue Floss[Perya 1820] - This appears to be a lighter version of Deepwater Blue bleeding out feint grey and green blue when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A neon white gold reaction with bleach. No sheen. Visual similarities with inks in the Troublemaker and Sailor Ink Studio ranges. Aegean[Armada 1944] - A multi-tone dusty pink, blue and grey bleeding out green blue, grey and dusty pink when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A strong white gold reaction with bleach. Hint of sheen. Visual similarities with inks in the Troublemaker and Sailor Ink Studio ranges. Sea Kelp[Leyte 1944] - A deep khaki green bleeding out browns, greens, yellow and cyan when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A gold reaction with bleach. No sheen. Summer Green[Carnival 1908] - A blue green bleeding out browns, greens, and cyan when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A gold reaction with bleach. Hint of sheen. Sunrise[Hanan 1964] - A translucent gold yellow bleeding out feint yellow and even a hint of green when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A neon white gold reaction with bleach and a strong sheen. Emerald[Carlos 1960] - A dark emerald green bleeding out browns, greens, yellow and cyan when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A negligible reaction with bleach. No sheen. Mermaid Green[sirena 1952] - A pastel grey brown bleeding out pink browns, greys and feint green blues when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A strong white gold reaction with bleach. Hint of sheen. Violet[Maskara 1890] - A pastel violet bleeding out purples, pinks and turquoise when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A strong white gold reaction with bleach. Hint of sheen. Vineyard[La Union 1971] - A deep rich maroon bleeding out pinks when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A weak reaction with bleach. Azure[Maharlika 7107] - A deep blue bleeding out turquoise when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. No reaction with bleach. Strong red sheen. Teal[Andrada 1898] - A seriously dark teal bleeding out green and cyan when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. No reaction with bleach. Heavy black red sheen. Blue Blood[Dugong Bughaw 1521] - A deep blue bleeding out turquoise when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. No reaction with bleach. Heavy red blue black sheen. Sikatuna[sandugo 1565] - A deep rich red bleeding out vermilion and pinks when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A weak reaction with bleach. Heavy black sheen. This is a compact and dynamic range of fountain pen inks with plenty of colour, variety and personality. Big sheens and subtle shimmers are underpinned with some wonderful chromatic revelations - with some inks demonstrating all three. There is something here for everyone. Tests conducted on Bockingford 200lb rough using a Noodler's Creeper fountain pen. As I only had 3ml samples, some of the shimmer ink tests are lacking a bit of shimmer dust. Just saying.