Inks With A "sheen"

[Charles Skinner]

I guess I am "backward," and have an eye problem, but I see no "sheen," or whatever you call it, in these "pictures.!" Perhaps, I just don't know what you mean by the word "sheen." It seems that it MUST mean more than just a strong color, but I don't know what it is. Is it a color that slightly slows hints or "other colors?" Please tell me how and when I can see "sheen." Perhaps what you call sheen, to me is just a strong, bright color. Don't talk ugly about me! I just don't understand. C. S.

[Barkingpig]

It is merely the unexpected "second" color that is SOMETIMES visible when you are using an ink that is another color. In the above swab, you had a bottle of "Blue" ink, when you filled your pen, however due to pen, nib, or paper, you "MAY" be blessed with the above image. It is not a sure thing, a broad wet nib usually has a greater chance of producing the effect, your paper choice will also be a factor, papers that are less absorbent allow your ink to "pool" upon the surface, which also can help to produce the condition.

 

I recently discovered an ink left in a pen can also influence the odds of production; I noticed no sheen on a Japanese ink when I filled the pen & used it a few days, BUT after a week of non use, I had a beautiful greenish "halo" surrounding the burgundy ink. Old fashioned onion skin paper is another way to enhance the behavior that produces sheen.

 

Interestingly I have read some posters complain about the effect, while others, myself included, also think it is a desirable factor. I would hope anyone who reads your post will consider you a man of great intelligence; I was raised to respect persons who asked questions if they didn't understand the subject under discussion. By admitting they "didn't know it all," they were allowing themselves the opportunity of learning "something NEW." I learn something here everyday & it is usually because of questions asked by others; they receive the answers or help & I frequently benefit of same.

Edited January 31, 2017 by Barkingpig

[amberleadavis]

CS, sometimes it looks like a halo effect.

[amberleadavis]

CS, here is an example, the Bung Box Tears of a Clown in is RED (or burgundy), but in this picture it looks green. That secondary color is not seen on every paper or in all lights, but it is visible in this picture (at this angle, on this paper). I hope this helps.

 

http://sheismylawyer.com/She_Thinks_In_Ink/Inked_Today/slides/20140616_142637.jpg

[HalloweenHJB]

Just to follow up on Amberlea's photo and BankingPig's explanation, here is a photo, taken at an angle, that shows the metallic, shiny "sheen" of Sailor's Oku-yama:

 

[dvalliere]

Go back a few posts to mine. I show the sample directly overhead then at an angle so that the sheen becomes evident.

 

When enough of the right ink dries on the surface of the page, light reflects off it (when viewed at an angle) such as to produce a different color that the ink normally appears.

[chromantic]

Think of the standard diagram of light striking a prism - white light enters side A, bounces off side B and emerges from side C as a rainbow.

 

Ink is usually a mix of different dyes and, on non-absorbent paper, these can dry as discrete layers. When light is reflected straight back off the paper, it produces the 'mixed' color; when it reflects at an angle, the ink acts as a prism, the light reflecting off the lower layer passes through, and is scattered by, the layers above, producing the 'extra' color.

[HalloweenHJB]

Some of my favorite sheeny inks —in vintage pens that really show the maximum sheeniness!

 

 

 

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Edited April 6, 2017 by HalloweenHJB

[amberleadavis]

WOW

[Barkingpig]

I believe HalloweenHJB could make ANY ink sheen to the MAX!

 

It is always a delight to witness his talent & those Vintage pens showing their mastery as well.

 

(I could almost regret giving away my bottle of Yama Budo, but I really didn't like the color after using it a bit. But, THIS sheen makes it look really nice.)

[HalloweenHJB]

Yama-budo is certainly not for everyone —it's such an unusually red-red-violet. For me, Bungubox L'Amant is a much nicer color in that specific range. Have you tried it?

[Barkingpig]

I have indeed, enjoy both it & BB SPP; I just did not like Yama Budo & happily sent it to live with a friend who did not have it.

[Olya]

Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black! Has a nice silvery sheen and looks similar to Kyo No Oto Nurebairo.

Had it sheen for the first time totally unexpectedly out of my Parker Frontier with a medium nib.

 

Parker Quink Blue also sheens quite a bit, but I think most know about this.

[bob_hayden]

I had the same puzzlement as Charles Skinner. What I thought of as "sheen" was some inks I tried years ago that went on heavy and dried glossy -- but still the nominal color. I think they may have been from Private Reserve.

[Mishka5050]

Another sheen monster is Blackstone Sydney Harbour Blue - it sheens on every paper I tried... Copier paper, Post-its, Whitelines (not coated). How??? Mind boggling

 

[Cyber6]

Another sheen monster is Blackstone Sydney Harbour Blue - it sheens on every paper I tried... Copier paper, Post-its, Whitelines (not coated). How??? Mind boggling

 

20170413_155802_HDR-1200x1600.jpg

 

 

Same for Barrier Reef Blue. They sheen even on toilet paper.... (Don't ask)... LOL...

 

 

[dvalliere]

Same for Barrier Reef Blue. They sheen even on toilet paper.... (Don't ask)... LOL...

 

That looks like some very high end toilet paper! I won't even ask about it.

[lgsoltek]

Yes Barrier Reef Blue sheens everywhere. But my Sydney Harbour Blue doesn't sheen much, it feathers. I guess they've put too much surfactant in it...

[dvalliere]

Sydney Harbour Blue doesn't sheen much, it feathers. I guess they've put too much surfactant in it...

 

I've had the same experience. I haven't tossed my sample yet...perhaps blending it with another ink sample would reduce the surfactant ratio enough to make it usable...

[Cyber6]

Yes Barrier Reef Blue sheens everywhere. But my Sydney Harbour Blue doesn't sheen much, it feathers. I guess they've put too much surfactant in it...

 

 

Interesting you say that. My Sidney Harbour (originally) did not sheen much .. at least compare to Barrier Reef. But a few weeks later (maybe a month).. I noticed that Sidney Harbour Blue was a monster sheener. I have noticed that with a few inks, leaving it in the pen for some time, water evaporates, they become more saturated and sheen like crazy.

 

MB Tolstoy is another example. Mine sheens like Barrier Reef.

 

 

 

C.