Magic Color Acrylic Pigment Inks

[scannon18]

Hey,

Has anyone heard of Magic Color ink? Supposed to be lightfast, fade proof, etc, and also safe for fountain pens. If anyone has used these inks in their fountain pen can you please comment on clogging, drying, or other problems sometimes associated with pigment inks in fountain pens?

 

They also sell a pen cleaner, has anyone used this?

 

All comments appreciated

[andru]

Do a web search for "magic color ink" + "fountainpennetwork" and you'll find some experience reports. Basically, unless you're a fan of using "difficult" inks in fountain pens, and have a pen easy to disassemble and clean completely, you'd probably be better off avoiding them.

[fiberdrunk]

I'm probably the only person on this forum who uses Magic Color regularly. I only recommend using them in a Rotring ArtPen or Pilot Parallel-- pens that can be taken apart for cleaning easily. Never let the ink dry out in the pen. I also recommend designated ink converters per color as they do tend to stain. I've never ruined a pen yet. You can read my various posts here (a search for "Magic Color" doesn't work very well on FPN):

 

Lesser Known Inks (includes a color chart of their inks... some are no longer available)

 

Speedry Magic Color: Rust

 

Magic Color Grecian Olive

 

Light Fastness Scans (Notice how permanent they are!)

 

Magic Colour dark burgundy (my own custom mix)

 

These inks are very permanent, acid-free, highly waterproof and fadeproof. They dry lightning fast. This is what I used for years before learning about Noodler's. But I've found in my UV tests, these acrylic inks even out-perform some of the Noodler's bulletproof inks. Delta Violet can be prone to feathering on some papers. Only use transparent versions of this ink, not the opaque ones.

Edited September 8, 2012 by fiberdrunk

[scannon18]

  On 9/7/2012 at 11:01 PM, fiberdrunk said:

I'm probably the only person on this forum who uses Magic Color regularly. I only recommend using them in a Rotring ArtPen or Pilot Parallel-- pens that can be taken apart for cleaning easily. Never let the pen dry out in the pen. I also recommend designated ink converters per color as they do tend to stain. I've never ruined a pen yet. You can read my various posts here (a search for "Magic Color" doesn't work very well on FPN):

 

Lesser Known Inks (includes a color chart of their inks... some are no longer available)

 

Speedry Magic Color: Rust

 

Magic Color Grecian Olive

 

Light Fastness Scans (Notice how permanent they are!)

 

Magic Colour dark burgundy (my own custom mix)

 

These inks are very permanent, acid-free, highly waterproof and fadeproof. They dry lightning fast. This is what I used for years before learning about Noodler's. But I've found in my UV tests, these acrylic inks even out-perform some of the Noodler's bulletproof inks. Delta Violet can be prone to feathering on some papers. Only use transparent versions of this ink, not the opaque ones.

 

Thank you for all of the information. Have you seen the pen cleaner solution that they sell? If that could clear out any gunk I wouldn't mind dedicating my Cross Solo pen to these inks.

[fiberdrunk]

I did buy some of the pen cleaner a few months ago for the first time, just to try it. But I've been using acrylic inks for 20+ years (first Rotring ArtistColor when it was still being produced, and then Magic Color) and never used any special cleaner with them (I just used diluted ammonia and a toothbrush for the ink feed, and sometimes an ultrasonic cleaner if I was feeling particularly lazy). The cleaner smells a bit like Windex.

 

eta: I don't know what the ink feed on the Cross Solo is like. If you look at this thread for the Rotring ArtPen, you'll notice how the metal nib lifts right off the plastic ink feed for cleaning. This is the kind of pen you want for this type of ink. The toothbrush is mainly for cleaning the fins on the plastic nib feed, where ink is more apt to build up. Use the pen daily to keep it happy and flowing. Flush as needed. Don't let it dry out!

Edited September 8, 2012 by fiberdrunk

[scannon18]

  On 9/8/2012 at 1:23 AM, fiberdrunk said:

I did buy some of the pen cleaner a few months ago for the first time, just to try it. But I've been using acrylic inks for 20+ years (first Rotring ArtistColor when it was still being produced, and then Magic Color) and never used any special cleaner with them (I just used diluted ammonia and a toothbrush for the ink feed, and sometimes an ultrasonic cleaner if I was feeling particularly lazy). The cleaner smells a bit like Windex.

 

eta: I don't know what the ink feed on the Cross Solo is like. If you look at this thread for the Rotring ArtPen, you'll notice how the metal nib lifts right off the plastic ink feed for cleaning. This is the kind of pen you want for this type of ink. The toothbrush is mainly for cleaning the fins on the plastic nib feed, where ink is more apt to build up. Use the pen daily to keep it happy and flowing. Flush as needed. Don't let it dry out!

 

 

Is the cleaner effective? I would prefer to use the Solo even though the nib cannot be disassembled like the rotring pen. Is the Rotring pen good for general writing? I do like extra fine nibs but it needs to be smooth enough for writing. Although in my experience art supplies make great writing instruments.

 

It mostly has to do with the fact that I just bought the Solo and don't really want to buy another pen just yet.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

I've been using the MC semi-transparent inks every now and again.

 

My primary use is to generate a coloured line that is resistant to water to the extent that no ink comes adrift if wet, and to generate mono-colour washes on common writing paper.

 

I use 'expendable' dedicated ED-converted Platinum Preppies: the ink is loaded, and the writing is done quickly, capping the pen even for a few minutes rest, then the pen is thoroughly flushed with water, followed by vigorous dilute ammonia+surfactant flushing, then water flushes. (I discard the a+s solution.) So far so good.

 

I intend to acquire a Noodler's Konrad or Ahab pen for dedicated use with the MC inks: those can be taken to bits for physical scrubbing of the parts, the feed channel can be modified to tune the flow, and other nibs can be fitted.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited September 8, 2012 by Sandy1

[fiberdrunk]

  On 9/8/2012 at 9:15 AM, scannon18 said:

 

 

Is the cleaner effective? I would prefer to use the Solo even though the nib cannot be disassembled like the rotring pen. Is the Rotring pen good for general writing? I do like extra fine nibs but it needs to be smooth enough for writing. Although in my experience art supplies make great writing instruments.

 

It mostly has to do with the fact that I just bought the Solo and don't really want to buy another pen just yet.

 

Yes, the cleaner works as well as diluted ammonia.

 

eta: I agree with Sandy1 about using an inexpensive dedicated pen for these inks, and one with a nib feed that can be taken apart. Back in the day, the Rotring ArtPen was designed to be used with their acrylic Rotring ArtistColor. It didn't cost more than $20 when I bought mine. I don't use my ArtPens with any other ink since they work so well with this ink. I've also tried the Platinum Preppy (I keep one permanently inked with Magic Color Rust). The ink has stained the barrel, presumably permanently. I would caution about using the Cross Solo if its ink feed does not come apart or if it was a really expensive pen. The cleaner may not be able to reach those areas if the nib feed has multiple fins that you can't access. Like I mentioned earlier, I take a toothbrush to those, with the cleaner, if I get an ink build-up (it doesn't always flush away with just the cleaner on its own, even after soaking). If you do use the Cross Solo, let us know how it goes!

Edited September 8, 2012 by fiberdrunk

[scannon18]

  On 9/8/2012 at 4:22 PM, fiberdrunk said:

  On 9/8/2012 at 9:15 AM, scannon18 said:

 

 

Is the cleaner effective? I would prefer to use the Solo even though the nib cannot be disassembled like the rotring pen. Is the Rotring pen good for general writing? I do like extra fine nibs but it needs to be smooth enough for writing. Although in my experience art supplies make great writing instruments.

 

It mostly has to do with the fact that I just bought the Solo and don't really want to buy another pen just yet.

 

Yes, the cleaner works as well as diluted ammonia.

 

eta: I agree with Sandy1 about using an inexpensive dedicated pen for these inks, and one with a nib feed that can be taken apart. Back in the day, the Rotring ArtPen was designed to be used with their acrylic Rotring ArtistColor. It didn't cost more than $20 when I bought mine. I don't use my ArtPens with any other ink since they work so well with this ink. I've also tried the Platinum Preppy (I keep one permanently inked with Magic Color Rust). The ink has stained the barrel, presumably permanently. I would caution about using the Cross Solo if its ink feed does not come apart or if it was a really expensive pen. The cleaner may not be able to reach those areas if the nib feed has multiple fins that you can't access. Like I mentioned earlier, I take a toothbrush to those, with the cleaner, if I get an ink build-up (it doesn't always flush away with just the cleaner on its own, even after soaking). If you do use the Cross Solo, let us know how it goes!

 

 

Hmm, given these concerns I think that I will avoid this ink. The artpen looks pretty cool and I wouldn't mind buying one if came with a non-caligraphy nib. Otherwise I think I will pick up noodlers for fadeproof ink. Thank you both for your input

[fiberdrunk]

  On 9/8/2012 at 4:53 PM, scannon18 said:

 

 

 

Hmm, given these concerns I think that I will avoid this ink. The artpen looks pretty cool and I wouldn't mind buying one if came with a non-caligraphy nib. Otherwise I think I will pick up noodlers for fadeproof ink. Thank you both for your input

 

 

The ArtPen comes in a 1.1 mm stub-type nib, as well as an extra-fine non-calligraphy nib (and sometimes you can find a medium nib as well). Dick Blick sells the extra-fine nib one cheaper than anywhere else. I've seen the medium ones on eBay.

Edited September 8, 2012 by fiberdrunk