Any Recipes For A Nice Dark Blue Ink?

[nottmbantam]

Folks,

 

Does anyone have any recipes or suggestions for a nice dark blue ink?

 

I'm in the UK, and only here for a short while before flying back to the UK, so ordering Noodlers for example isn't an option. I have the following colours:

 

Mont Blanc - Royal Blue, Midnight Blue, Irish Green and Burgundy Red.

 

Diamine: Imperial Blue, Matador

 

Parker Quink : Black, Blue / black.

 

I find the Royal Blue far too wishy washy for my liking, so want to darken it, but I don't want a blue black colour, a nice rich navy blue is the aim. Thought about adding some MB Black to the MB Royal Blue - any idea of the ratios I need, or do I need to add anything in addition ( a touch of red for example? )

 

I use EF nibs, so the lines are not as 'colourful' as the broader nibs. Currently using a MB 146, Pelikan M805, TWSBI 540 and a couple of Parkers 51s. I thought the Diamine Imperial Blue might be the answer, but it still comes ups little light.

 

Cheers.

[jotterius]

Diamine Majestic blue or Diamine Midnight

[JLT]

Private Reserve DC Supershow Blue . . .

[amberleadavis]

Visconti Blue with a smash of Noodlers whatever you can get a hold of....

Mont Blanc Midnight Blue might suit your needs

Edited April 12, 2012 by amberleadavis

[The Good Captain]

I second the Diamine Midnight and what about their Denim?

[Uncle Red]

"I'm in the UK, and only here for a short while before flying back to the UK"

 

Do you mean you're in the US and returning home soon? Where are you exactly? How's the Midnight Blue?

[nottmbantam]

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated.

 

Visconti Blue with a smash of Noodlers whatever you can get a hold of....

Mont Blanc Midnight Blue might suit your needs

 

I already have the MB Midnight Blue - I'm not after a blue black, more of a navy blue.

 

I second the Diamine Midnight and what about their Denim?

 

Have got the Diamine Imperial Blue, bought from The Writing Desk. On their colour swatches, I thought the Imperial Blue looked darker than the other blues. Midnight and Denim still look too blue black.

 

"I'm in the UK, and only here for a short while before flying back to the UK"

 

Do you mean you're in the US and returning home soon? Where are you exactly? How's the Midnight Blue?

 

Sorry, awful typing. Meant to say Im in the UK right now, but flying back to Saudi Arabia soon. Have got enough time to order from UK online retailers, but not to order from the US ( e.g. Noodlers ) . As mentioned above, I have the Mont Blanc Midnight Blue, but just wanted a really nice dark blue. Might just try and darken the Imperial Blue I have right now.

[lapis]

Okay, I'm by no means against any mixing but for a "pure" dark, saturated ink why not start off by ordering a ready-made comodity? E.g. Levenger's Coblt Blue or Visconti's. Or Diamines WES Imperial Blue?

 

Mike

[The Good Captain]

Monteverde Blue is a good blue too.

[nottmbantam]

Okay, I'm by no means against any mixing but for a "pure" dark, saturated ink why not start off by ordering a ready-made comodity? E.g. Levenger's Coblt Blue or Visconti's. Or Diamines WES Imperial Blue?

 

Mike

 

Yup, already have the Diamine WES Imperial Blue. Still comes up a little too light for my liking... Might try and search for the Cobalt Blue - sounds intriguing! Thanks.

[UDog]

Try 2 parts NI Polar Blue + 1 part PR DC Electric Blue.

 

This is a dark blue mostly bulletproof and like no other blue out there.

[Uncle Red]

And he's in the UK with no easy access to Noodler's ink. However, I think the Writing Desk has Private Reserve, look at the DC Electric Blue. Omas Blue would have been perfect but there have been issues with it.

[Margana]

Stipula offers a dark blue ink. Haven't used it in a couple of years but it struck me at the time as being quite different from a blue-black.

[JamesTheBard]

I have say that as far as dark blue (not blue-black) goes, my favorite is still Diamine Midnight. (Third vote...lol).

[dcwaites]

It's hard to tell what you mean by Dark Blue.

I would think that Noodler's Midnight Blue is a dark blue, but others might think that PR DC Supershow Blue/PR American Blue are dark blue.

We know that you think that WES Kensington Blue is too light. If we knew what you thought was too dark, then we could make better suggestions.

 

One way to get a range of colours without spending too much is to buy four of the Diamine 30ml bottles, 1 each of some of the colours mentioned above.

 

You can also darken a blue by adding a tiny percentage of black, ie 1 black part to 40 parts blue, or 1:20 . This will give you a darker blue without going to Blue-Black.

[mhosea]

I have say that as far as dark blue (not blue-black) goes, my favorite is still Diamine Midnight. (Third vote...lol).

 

Although the OP seems to regard it to be "blue-black", I'm with you: Diamine Midnight is not really a blue black. It is, rather, an over-saturated navy blue. I think if one dilutes it, one can probably dial in a desired lighter shade of navy blue.

[nottmbantam]

I have say that as far as dark blue (not blue-black) goes, my favorite is still Diamine Midnight. (Third vote...lol).

 

Although the OP seems to regard it to be "blue-black", I'm with you: Diamine Midnight is not really a blue black. It is, rather, an over-saturated navy blue. I think if one dilutes it, one can probably dial in a desired lighter shade of navy blue.

 

Thanks again for all the replies and suggestions. So far I have tried:

 

Diamine WES Imperial BLue - too light

Mont Blanc Royal Blue - too light

Pelikan Sapphire - too light

Diamine Majestic Blue - hmm. Interesting. A nice rich colour, but is it maybe a little to green - blue? Jurys out on that one.

 

I have tried my own combination consisting of WES Imperial Blue, Parker Blue Black and a touch of MB Mystery Black. It seems to be heading into the right direction, giving a nice rich dark blue, but maybe just venturing a little too much into blue black territory. I might just have enough time to order in Diamine Midnight and try lighten a little...

 

As mentioned earlier, I use EF nibs, so I'm aware that the thin lines tend not to give as rich a colour as lets say a medium nib.

[The Good Captain]

I have say that as far as dark blue (not blue-black) goes, my favorite is still Diamine Midnight. (Third vote...lol).

 

Although the OP seems to regard it to be "blue-black", I'm with you: Diamine Midnight is not really a blue black. It is, rather, an over-saturated navy blue. I think if one dilutes it, one can probably dial in a desired lighter shade of navy blue.

 

Thanks again for all the replies and suggestions. So far I have tried:

 

Diamine WES Imperial BLue - too light

Mont Blanc Royal Blue - too light

Pelikan Sapphire - too light

Diamine Majestic Blue - hmm. Interesting. A nice rich colour, but is it maybe a little to green - blue? Jurys out on that one.

 

I have tried my own combination consisting of WES Imperial Blue, Parker Blue Black and a touch of MB Mystery Black. It seems to be heading into the right direction, giving a nice rich dark blue, but maybe just venturing a little too much into blue black territory. I might just have enough time to order in Diamine Midnight and try lighten a little...

 

As mentioned earlier, I use EF nibs, so I'm aware that the thin lines tend not to give as rich a colour as lets say a medium nib.

Strangely enough, I'm using R&K Konigsblau in a Pelikan KF (ballpoint fine) nib and it's darker than the same ink in a medium nib; presumably because the ink looks more concentrated as it occupies a narrower space on the paper.

[den_lim]

If you're up to mixing, try this:

Parker Quink Blue -- 5 parts

Parker Quink Black -- 1 part.

[nottmbantam]

If you're up to mixing, try this:

Parker Quink Blue -- 5 parts

Parker Quink Black -- 1 part.

 

Hmmm - tried it and it comes up too much like Blue Black. Had another 'play' around with the Diamine Majestic Blue, and it's starting to grow on me. Just waiting for my order of Diamine Midnight to come through to compare the two.

 

Thanks for the tip.