Diamine Imperial Blue

[DetlevCM]

Yikes....

 

How long did that review take you? - That's really a very thorough review.

 

Diamine Imperial Blue... I think I have some at home... now I hope I'm not mixing things up, but hasn't Imperial Blue got a very purplish tone to it?

More at least than it would seem from your samples... ?

Hi,

 

The Reviews do not take so much time. I sample my inks, so the Written Samples are going to be done regardless - not just for the Review. Though they are formatted to be more useful to more people; and to support subsequent comparisons. And people wanting to see written samples from pens - with no interest in the ink!

 

It does take time to gather my thoughts to write about the intangible properties of an ink. Certainly amongst the Blue inks, there's soooo much hair-splitting between inks. Once a basic colour is chosen and performance profile requirements are satisfied, it comes down to The Look - which is totally subjective, but I do try to be honest / transparent. One can certainly select an ink by ignoring anything but the ink-on-paper samples and the performance profile notes.

 

I really cannot comment on the ink which you have.

• Post #30 Link above and subsequent, idicated that some mis-labelled ink entered the market, so please be aware of that possibility.
• I do not have the hubris to claim that my scans are perfect, but there seems to be a consensus that they are accurate and fit-for-purpose. And by using an array of pens and papers, the range of an ink's appearance is demonstrated to some small extent.
• Accurate depiction of the samples is a shared responsibility: I capture accurate scans, and provide a means to access tools for the viewer to meet their bit of that responsibility. All else is up to the viewer.
  

Bye,

S1

 

Goof to know you'd be doing a comparison anyway.

Well, I dug out my bottle (which I now have had for maybe 2 years?)

 

It does indeed look like a very dark purple to me (less violet than I though) - and yes, maybe it matches your scans. - I don't have an empty pen to fill right now.

 

On the colour accuracy - my screen is calibrated (Photography)

[Chris]

I have found that Diamne Imperial Blue has a nice purple tone when writing (if you like that) and a reasonable intensity when wet (OK, I admit to not liking wishy-washy inks much) but it dries to a boring flat blue, or that's how it looks to me. So, I'm not wildly keen. Majestic Blue is another matter, but I do also like the Diamine Prussian Blue which does remind me of the colour I had by that name in a box of water colour paints I had as a child.

 

But, if you like Imperial, enjoy it and don't be put off by anyone else.

Don't forget the influence different pens, nibs and paper have though on any ink. Sometimes you would not believe it was from the same bottle.

 

Chris

[Sandy1]

Comparison to Private Reserve American Blue : My link

Comparison to Noodler's Ottoman Azure : My link

[lovemy51]

Yikes....

 

How long did that review take you? - That's really a very thorough review.

 

Diamine Imperial Blue... I think I have some at home... now I hope I'm not mixing things up, but hasn't Imperial Blue got a very purplish tone to it?

More at least than it would seem from your samples... ?

that's it, i give up! i had a second bottle sent to me and still purplish violet... now i know i'm not the only one that sees it that color.

 

still, very nice color, but not what i expected!

[Sandy1]

Hello all,

 

Some question has arisen as to the naming, packaging, and the formula of Diamine 'Imperial Blue'.

 

There are online entries, including the Diamine site entry, shown below, which list only 'WES Imperial Blue' as one of their New Century line of FP inks.

LINK:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Imperial%20Blue/th_64f25efa.jpg

 

Member 'lapis' mentions HERE that the packaging on his bottle of WES Imperial Blue is far different than the packaging of the ink used for this Review, shown below. (There is no UPC barcode.):

LINK:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/InkyThoughts2010/Ink%20Review%20-%20Diamine%20Imperial%20Blue/th_e121d0be.jpg

 

Until Diamine UK clarifies any confusion, all else would seem to be idle speculation, hence a WOMBAT.

 

Bye,

S1

 

 

Edited March 28, 2011 by Sandy1

[Sandy1]

Hello all,

 

Some question has arisen as to the naming, packaging, and the formula of Diamine 'Imperial Blue'.

 

There are online entries, including the Diamine site entry, shown below, which list only 'WES Imperial Blue' as one of their New Century line of FP inks.

 

Until Diamine UK clarifies any confusion, all else would seem to be idle speculation, hence a WOMBAT.

 

Bye,

S1

Hi all,

 

I received clarification from Christine at Diamine in the UK:

 

Hi Sandy,

 

WES Imperial Blue & Imperial Blue are one and the same, no formulation difference at all.

 

It started off as a special for the WES some years ago but was intergrated into our New Century line after permission was given, eventually when we consolidated both Old English & New Century ranges last year it became known as just imperial blue and is now sold in the black/grey display.

 

I might add that Kensington Blue was also orginally a WES colour too and followed a similar path into our ink line.

 

I hope this clears things up for you.

 

Kind Regards

 

Christine

------------------

Done & dusted.

Bye,

S1

Edited March 28, 2011 by Sandy1

[twdpens]

See also my reply here.

 

Martin

[RonB]

Great review, partially ruined by the unfortunate political commentary.

[Phormula]

Thank you for the review. It was useful, after reading it I decided to go for Diamine Midnight because I do not like the slightly purple shadow.

[Sandy1]

OOTT Comparison to Waterman Florida Blue: https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/194436-comparison-diamine-imperial-blue-waterman-florida-blue/page__pid__1965784#entry1965784

[Gobblecup]

Yikes....

 

How long did that review take you? - That's really a very thorough review.

 

Diamine Imperial Blue... I think I have some at home... now I hope I'm not mixing things up, but hasn't Imperial Blue got a very purplish tone to it?

More at least than it would seem from your samples... ?

Hi,

 

The Reviews do not take so much time. I sample my inks, so the Written Samples are going to be done regardless - not just for the Review. Though they are formatted to be more useful to more people; and to support subsequent comparisons. And people wanting to see written samples from pens - with no interest in the ink!

 

It does take time to gather my thoughts to write about the intangible properties of an ink. Certainly amongst the Blue inks, there's soooo much hair-splitting between inks. Once a basic colour is chosen and performance profile requirements are satisfied, it comes down to The Look - which is totally subjective, but I do try to be honest / transparent. One can certainly select an ink by ignoring anything but the ink-on-paper samples and the performance profile notes.

 

I really cannot comment on the ink which you have.

• Post #30 Link above and subsequent, idicated that some mis-labelled ink entered the market, so please be aware of that possibility.
• I do not have the hubris to claim that my scans are perfect, but there seems to be a consensus that they are accurate and fit-for-purpose. And by using an array of pens and papers, the range of an ink's appearance is demonstrated to some small extent.
• Accurate depiction of the samples is a shared responsibility: I capture accurate scans, and provide a means to access tools for the viewer to meet their bit of that responsibility. All else is up to the viewer.
  

Bye,

S1

 

Goof to know you'd be doing a comparison anyway.

Well, I dug out my bottle (which I now have had for maybe 2 years?)

 

It does indeed look like a very dark purple to me (less violet than I though) - and yes, maybe it matches your scans. - I don't have an empty pen to fill right now.

 

On the colour accuracy - my screen is calibrated (Photography)

 

 

I have found that Diamne Imperial Blue has a nice purple tone when writing (if you like that) and a reasonable intensity when wet (OK, I admit to not liking wishy-washy inks much) but it dries to a boring flat blue, or that's how it looks to me. So, I'm not wildly keen. Majestic Blue is another matter, but I do also like the Diamine Prussian Blue which does remind me of the colour I had by that name in a box of water colour paints I had as a child.

 

But, if you like Imperial, enjoy it and don't be put off by anyone else.

Don't forget the influence different pens, nibs and paper have though on any ink. Sometimes you would not believe it was from the same bottle.

 

Chris

 

I think you both are describing an effect I experienced with Diamine Imperial Blue as well. It goes down an almost purple colour when wet, but then (for me) it dries to a much more plain blue. If Sandy wasn't too keen this could have happened so quick it wasn't even noticed. I suspect we all have the correct ink, because I have two different bottles that both behave and look the same. But perhaps some batches have this effect more so than others.

[ugly]

hey, sandy. i had seen those comparisons before. thx for posting them again. mine is sooooooo diferent!!! almost looks like violet, but more towards blue.

 

beautiful color, but not what i expected. for $3 a bottle i can order another one and tell Niklas (nordic pens) to check it for me before sending it... well, that's when he gets some more, he's out of that one ink now.

 

regards,

 

Based on sandy's review since I liked this colour very much I get a bottle from Niklas too.

I expected a nice blue but , just like you , I got a nice violet ....

I tryed to catch that purple on photos but I was not very successfull.

 

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5985/dsc0530oh.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/3289/dsc0535cx.jpg

 

Edit: few drops on watter to see that purple tones ...

 

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/6149/dsc0531dz.jpg

 

Probably something is wrong with Niklas batch.

Edited September 25, 2011 by ugly

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

With thanks to all who contributed the time & effort to create and post swabs and written samples. :clap1:

 

To help determine the colour of the Ink in this Review, I suggest that it be compared to another ink that you may have, and can make your own swatches & samples as a fast and dirty 'calibration'.

As DIB is included in the OOTT series, I suggest looking at the OOTT Summary Topic, where NIB-ism samples from six pens are shown, and comparisons of written samples are linked. LINK: OOTT Summary

 

Diamine Majestic Blue is 'down the list' of inks to review, so I have no samples to post. These days I am away from my pens & inks (and scanner) more often, and for greater duration, so please do not hold your breath. (Although I hope to arrange things so I can review Diamine's new ink/s.)

 

Bye,

S1

[Gobblecup]

hey, sandy. i had seen those comparisons before. thx for posting them again. mine is sooooooo diferent!!! almost looks like violet, but more towards blue.

 

beautiful color, but not what i expected. for $3 a bottle i can order another one and tell Niklas (nordic pens) to check it for me before sending it... well, that's when he gets some more, he's out of that one ink now.

 

regards,

 

Probably something is wrong with Niklas batch.

 

Sorry, but I highly doubt this. I have had several bottles of Diamine Imperial Blue, it looks just like your scans and samples, and not a single bottle came to me through Niklas of Nordic Pen Imports. The slightly violet hue is just the colour of this ink, although I have noticed it has an almost purely purple colour when wet and dries to a much bluer, 'purplish' blue. Perhaps there is some batch variation as to how all the components end up drying on the page, some being more purple when dry others more blue. But that is just speculation on my part. Plain and simple, I don't think it is fair to assume Niklas is selling or did sell, a faulty batch.

 

By the way, this ink's name, Imperial Blue, I would 'assume' is a more British nod to the colours often called "Royal Blues", which are blues with a violet or purple tint. I don't want to post an article, but it is pretty easy to find a good explanation as to why Royal Blues have this colour and are called so.

 

I hope my post helps clear up a bit about the "violetness" of Diamine Imperial Blue.

[ugly]

The slightly violet hue is just the colour of this ink

 

Might be so but I don't see that violet hue in Sandy's review.So I assumed, and I am not the only one , I got a wrong batch.

 

I don't think it is fair to assume Niklas is selling or did sell, a faulty batch.

 

It has nothing to do with Niklas who IMO is a great seller. If the batch is faulty is Diamine's fault.

[Gobblecup]

The slightly violet hue is just the colour of this ink

 

Might be so but I don't see that violet hue in Sandy's review.So I assumed, and I am not the only one , I got a wrong batch.

 

I don't think it is fair to assume Niklas is selling or did sell, a faulty batch.

 

It has nothing to do with Niklas who IMO is a great seller. If the batch is faulty is Diamine's fault.

 

My batch is from the early New Century production (silver boxes), probably 2008, and they have the same "violet" hue. Batches can vary over time, but I don't think this is to be considered faulty, especially considering many batches seem to have this same "fault". If you look at the Goulet Swab Shop's scan, it looks very much like the samples you posted, and to my eyes like the several bottles I have at home. Sandy's review's scans and description does look slightly less violet than most examples I have seen of this colour, but you should note this colour tends to look differently on different papers (In my experience, and see also the Goulet's Swabs, one on a white paper, and one on Ivory paper, the white paper's swab looks a true blue, and the ivory paper looks more of a violet blue). And that scans and computer screens do not always end up showing the exact colours; even though I know Sandy's scans are quite accurate, our screens may vary even with adjustment. So I would think if there is a difference in Sandy's bottle's batch, hers might be the exception rather than the rule.

[SHK]

For me one of the best ink colors together with the Diamine Royal Blue!

[lovemy51]

hey, sandy. i had seen those comparisons before. thx for posting them again. mine is sooooooo diferent!!! almost looks like violet, but more towards blue.

 

beautiful color, but not what i expected. for $3 a bottle i can order another one and tell Niklas (nordic pens) to check it for me before sending it... well, that's when he gets some more, he's out of that one ink now.

 

regards,

 

Based on sandy's review since I liked this colour very much I get a bottle from Niklas too.

I expected a nice blue but , just like you , I got a nice violet ....

I tryed to catch that purple on photos but I was not very successfull.

 

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5985/dsc0530oh.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/3289/dsc0535cx.jpg

 

Edit: few drops on watter to see that purple tones ...

 

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/6149/dsc0531dz.jpg

 

Probably something is wrong with Niklas batch.

after a second bottle i bought from him, thinking the same as you,i came to the conclusion it's violet. mind u, a very nice violet!!!! it's in my sheaffer 500 TD for keeps!

[twdpens]

The violet content in Diamine Imperial Blue will be more apparent in dryer pens. This has been commented on before on this board. It is perhaps not surprising, therefore, that when the ink is dropped into water the violet tones are quite dominant.

 

See also (my) post number 47 in this thread. It contains a link to another discussion where I record a comparison between 2011 DIB and the original production of 2005. There was no apparent difference.

 

HTH,

 

Martin

Edited October 6, 2011 by twdpens