Pilot Shin - Kai

[Sandy1]

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~◎~

Fidelity

At time of writing, this ink is not depicted on a Pilot site, so one cannot determine if the ink I used is as intended.

 

Figure 1.

Swabs & Swatch

Paper: HPJ1124.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK910_zps21c6d33c.jpg

Figure 2.

Nib-ism ✑

Paper: HPJ1124.

Depicts nibs' line-width and pens' relative wetness.

Distance between feint vertical pencil lines is 25mm.

Thumbnail:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/th_INK907_zps7cd424be.jpg

L ➠ R: Elite, 440, Safari, PPP, Max, Carene.

 

WRITTEN SAMPLES - Moby Dick

Ruling: 8mm.

 

Figure 3.

Paper: HPJ1124.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK911_zpscd368eea.jpg

 

Figure 4.

Paper: Rhodia.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK912_zps52f6e065.jpg

 

Figure 5.

Paper: G Lalo.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK913_zps45fcf891.jpg

 

Figure 6.

Paper: Royal.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK914_zpse20ef04a.jpg

 

Figure 7.

Paper: Staples.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK915_zpsa7f0a5d0.jpg

 

Figure 8.

Paper: Tamoe River Creme.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK917_zps88f371d2.jpg

 

Figure 9.

Grocery List

Paper: Pulp.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK918_zpsceb3d94d.jpg

 

OTHER STUFF

 

Figure 10.

Smear/Dry Times & Wet Tests.

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK909_zps1d3e7bdf.jpg

 

Figure 11.

Bleed- Show-Through on Staples.

Thumbnail:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/th_INK916_zps2cba77b8.jpg

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

 

Type:

• Dye-based fountain pen ink.

Presentation:

• Bottle.

Availability:

• Available at time of writing.

Daily writer?

• Quite possible.

A go-to ink?

• When a robust variant of Blue-Black ink is desired.

USE

 

Business:

(From the office of Ms Blue-Black.)

• Has a comfortable balance of gravitas, animation and conviviality to suit much business correspondence that could be hand written.
• A good pick for personal work product with its comfortable writing experience and high readability; and the bit of off-Blue keeps Ps-k from bogging down during a lengthy read.
• Line quality remained high on the print/copy papers, so could be used for marginalia and annotation.
• At middling value, (light - dark), there is enough separation from material printed in Black to be used for dedicated forms use, and a bit of mark-up & editing.
• Not enough zap for error correction or grading.

Illustrations / Graphics:

• Possible, but I do wonder if the ink is a bit too malleable to be consistent / reliable across different pens, so perhaps other means of application should be considered. (!)
• That said, performance from all pens was certainly acceptable.
• As a watercolour, there is quite a difference in behaviour of the dyes upon application of water, so it may be possible to generate colour gradients by reworking dry ink with a wet brush.

Students:

• Possible.
• As for Business use, it would be grand for general notes.
• Two-sided use on 'lowest bidder' papers might be limiting, but water resistance was quite high.

Personal:

• Oh yes indeed.
• Another ink that is right up my street.
• Certain to be used for letters to just about anyone - except pro forma personal business letters that get whatever inks have fallen from favour.
• The low chroma softness of Ps-k is balanced by the off-Blue aspect, which can be manipulated by changing the value (hence saturation.)
• Unlike most Blue-Black inks, a more personal 'tu' feeling can become apparent when the ink is light on the page - a slightly floral/vegetal aspect is revealed, where most BlBk inks would become Blue-Grey.
• As ever, I enjoy the wider nibs when using an subtle ink - lots of subtle ink on the page. Yet there is a high potential to use a very wide range of pens and [white] papers to generate the desired appearance.
• Clearly it is early days for this ink, so I'll let the written samples speak with the loudest voice.

PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE & CHARACTERISTICS

 

Flow Rate:

• Middling.

Nib Dry-out:

• Not seen.

Start-up:

• Immediate.
• With confidence.

Lubricity:

• Middling.
• Narrow nibs were just OK on toothy / textured papers.

Nib Creep:

• Not seen.

Staining (pen):

• Not seen after two days.

Clogging:

• Not seen.

Bleed- Show-Through:

• On HPJ1124: A bit from Max & Carene, but still OK for two-sided use.
• On Staples: PPP. (See Figure 11.)

Feathering / Wooly Line:

• Not seen on papers used.
• (See Hi-Res image of Carene on Royal.)

Aroma:

• Sharp.
• May clear one's sinuses if huffed.
• Barely noticed whilst writing.

Hand oil sensitivity:

• Not evident.

Clean-Up (pen):

• Too early to tell - all pens remain inked-up!
  

Mixing:

• No stated prohibitions.

Archival:

• Not claimed.

THE LOOK

• Subtle.
• Understated.
• A bit of a chameleon.

Saturation:

• Middling.
• A fully inked line may be achieved.

Shading Potential:

• Low.

Line quality:

• Very high for a simple dye-based ink.

Variability:

• Pen+nib combos used:
  • Greater than expected.

  [*]Papers used:

  • Greater than expected.

  [*]Malleability:

  • High.
  • May be either bothersome or intriguing.
    
  • The low saturation of the ink makes the appearance very sensitive to the wetness of the pens and the absorbency of the paper.
    
  • If the line is not well-inked, the base-tint of the paper will be added to the ink so some degree, which will reduce any snap on the page due to loss of simultaneous [colour] contrast. Conversely, if the pen is wet enough and the paper sufficiently absorbent, a well-inked line is achieved, so the ink may cover the base-tint of the paper, and so generate some snap on the page.
    
  • There is a tipping point between a soft ink and a relatively snappy ink, and the perceived colour. Such a situation is not uncommon, but it seems accentuated in the case of Ps-k.

Hi-Res Scans:

Originals are 60x30mm.

All images are thumbnails.

 

Elite on HPJ1124:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/th_INK919_zps3ff5fb08.jpg

Safari on Rhodia:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/th_INK921_zps6b034551.jpg

PPP on G Lalo:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/th_INK923_zpseb343e1e.jpg

Carene on Royal:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/th_INK924_zps42b1c5ea.jpg

PPP on Tamoe River:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/th_INK925_zps3d3ee21d.jpg

OTHER INKS

■ This Review uses the same Written Sample format, atrocious handwriting and some pen+paper combos common to most of my previous Reviews of Blue-Black inks. Consequently, ad hoc comparisons through manipulation of browser windows is supported.

■ Should that functionality not meet your requirements, I welcome your PM requesting a specific comparison. Additional scans may be produced, but the likelihood of additional inky work is quite low.

 

PAPERS

Lovely papers:

• Crisp white papers.

Trip-wire Papers: ☠

• Not seen.

Copy/Printer Paper:

• Quality of the writing is very good indeed.
• Dry pens would seem necessary to enable two-sided use on 'lowest bidder' papers, but may not give as dark a line as desired.

Tinted Papers:

• Unlikely.
• Ps-k does not typically have the saturation to come away unscathed by tinted papers.
• I wouldn't go beyond the Natural White seen on G Lalo, or the palest Powder Blue.

Is high-end paper 'worth it'?

• If one chooses to run Ps-k at a dark value, high-end papers with a coated surface may help avoid bleed- show-through.
• I must say that I was a bit disappointed at the low degree of shading on Rhodia and Tamoe River papers, it seems that Clairefontaine Triomphe + Pen X will be up next.

ETC.

 

Majik:

• Significant conjuring may be required to generate Majik.

Billets Doux?

• Not from yours truly.

Personal Pen & Paper Pick:

• Right up the middle: the Platinum President Purist on the HPJ1124.
• The soft nib seems to give a bit of tonal variation, but not full-on shading, which keeps the line soft and translucent on the page.
• HPJ1124 does what it does best: mostly stays out of the way by providing a slightly cool crisp surface for the ink to show-off.

Yickity Yackity:

• It seems Ps-k has me outward bound on yet another inky voyage of discovery, which may need more than the usual pens and papers to find any booty lurking in the depths of this deep sea.
• Ah kushbaby, do you see something I've missed?

======

 

NUTS BOLTS & BOILERPLATE

 

Pens

Written Samples:

A. Pilot Elite + 18K Script nib.

B. Sheaffer 440 + steel F nib.

C. Lamy Safari (Charcoal) + Black steel F nib.

D. Platinum President Purist + 22K B nib.

E. Parker England Maxima + № 50 14K nib.

F. Waterman Carene + 18K stock Stub nib.

Lines & labels:

• OMAS Turquoise from a Pilot Penmanship + XF.

Papers:

• HPJ1124: Hewlett-Packard laser copy/print, 24lb.
• Rhodia: satin finish vellum, 80gsm.
• G. Lalo Verge de France: natural white, laid, 100gsm.
• Royal: 25% cotton, laser/inkjet copy/print, 'letterhead', 90gsm.
• Staples White: house brand multi-use copy/print, USD4/ream, bears FSC logo, 20lb.
• Tamoe River Creme: 52gsm.

Imaging:

• An Epson V600 scanner was used with the bundled Epson s/w at factory default settings to produce low-loss jpg files.
• Figures shown were scanned at 200 dpi & 24 bit colour.
• No post-capture manipulation of scanner output was done, other than dumb-down by Epson, Photobouquet, IP.Board s/w, and your viewing gear.

Densitometer Readings on HPJ1124:

• Red 83
• Grn 105
• Blu 167
• Lum 112

Fine Print

The accuracy and relevance of this Post depends in great part upon consistency and reliability of matériel used.

Ink does not require labelling/notice to indicate (changes in) formulation, non-hazardous ingredients, batch ID, date of manufacture, etc.

As always YMMV, due to differences in materials, manner of working, environment, etc.

Also, I entrust readers to separate opinion from fact; to evaluate inferences and conclusions as to their merit; and to be amused by whatever tickles your fancy.

 

-30-

Tags: Fountain Pen Ink Review Sandy1 Pilot iroshizuku shin-kai shinkai Deep Sea Blue Blue-Black

Edited January 26, 2013 by Sandy1

[Laura N]

Thank you for the excellent review. This is one I've been waiting for.

 

I am working with a new monitor, so I'm not sure if my calibration is all there, but with some of your pens this looks a bit like Pilot/Namiki Blue Black. Do you see that in real life?

[Sandy1]

  On 1/25/2013 at 9:22 PM, Laura N said:

Thank you for the excellent review. This is one I've been waiting for.

 

I am working with a new monitor, so I'm not sure if my calibration is all there, but with some of your pens this looks a bit like Pilot/Namiki Blue Black. Do you see that in real life?

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

I've been waiting for this one too!!

 

Here's a sample of both inks from the Platinum President Purist on Rhodia, with Pk-s on the left side.:

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK926_zps8af6aba1.jpg

 

As mentioned in the Review, unless Pk-s is run from a wet pen and/or onto an absorbent paper - enough to give a fully inked line - the base tint of the paper will influence the perceived colour and 'snap' of the ink. That effect is demonstrated above, with the PPP giving low coverage, which allows the slightly warm base-tint of the Rhodia to shift the appearance of Ps-k away from a classic Indigo Blue-Black.

 

As ever, ambient lighting plays a significant role.

 

Below we have swabs at 3, 2, 1 passes on HPJ1124. Once again, saturation and the paper's base-tint are factors.

 

 

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK927_zps6859a498.jpghttp://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy116/Sandy1-1/FPN_2013/Ink%20Review%20-%20Pilot%20shin-kai/INK928_zpsc6d80df0.jpg

 

Or am I just OCD-fussy, and splitting the same hair once too often?

 

Bye,

S1

 

___

Pilot Blue-Black : My Review

 

Edited January 26, 2013 by Sandy1

[dunhamsa]

Try not to huff too much, even in the name of thoroughness....

[kp288908]

Sandy, thank you so much for the review! I recently ordered a sample of this and am waiting for it to arrive in the mail. I've been eager to try this one out, since I love all things blue-black. I had high expectations for this one, and so I'm curious to see what I will experience. After reading your review, I was a little surprised to hear that the flow is a bit moderate. I will be sure to start it off in a wetter writing pen and see what happens. Thanks so much for being thorough. As always, your review is amazing.

 

xoxo,

kp

 

 

 

 

[Sandy1]

  On 1/26/2013 at 12:50 AM, dunhamsa said:

Try not to huff too much, even in the name of thoroughness....

 

:roflmho:

Hi,

 

I use my open hand to waft some scent from an open bottle towards me, but this time I leaned in a bit too close to the bottle's opening - a clear case of operator error. Oopsie.

 

⚠ I advise against using Pk-s for the off-label purpose of clearing ones' sinuses! Enjoy a steaming bowl of spicy Szechuan soup instead.

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

  On 1/26/2013 at 2:32 AM, kp288908 said:

Sandy, thank you so much for the review! I recently ordered a sample of this and am waiting for it to arrive in the mail. I've been eager to try this one out, since I love all things blue-black. I had high expectations for this one, and so I'm curious to see what I will experience. After reading your review, I was a little surprised to hear that the flow is a bit moderate. I will be sure to start it off in a wetter writing pen and see what happens. Thanks so much for being thorough. As always, your review is amazing.

 

xoxo,

kp

 

 

Hi kp,

 

You're welcome!

 

I also have high expectations for Pilot inks, and am always ready for something new and impressive in the Blue-Black range. Ps-k didn't leap onto the page and bowl me over with a 'wow', rather it has me intrigued.

 

It may take a fair few more trials for me to get a firm grasp on this ink.

 

IMHO the flow is somewhat greater than Waterman Florida Blue, and definitely less than Sailor Jentle Sky High.

. . From a personal standpoint, I wouldn't want much greater flow, as bleed- show-thought would occur on 24lb copy/print paper. But, like Pilot tsuki-yo, I may prefer to run this ink from wet pens, (e.g. Maxima, Carene), onto a paper that resists bleed- show-through, such as Clairefontaine Triomphe. From what's shown in the Review, Ps-k should handle such a pen+paper combo with ease.

 

I look forward to learning of your experience with Ps-k.

 

Bye,

S1

[Laura N]

Fabulous, thank you for the comparison with Pilot Blue Black. I agree with everything you say. Further, I think one should never shrink from splitting hairs. Fine distinctions are half the fun of comparing inks.

[AlejoPlay]

Thanks for this review. I am going to Japan in March and was going to get some inks. While Tsuki-Yo, Syo-Ro and Ku-Jaku are screaming my name, I felt a little Meh on this one despite sharing your love for Blue Black. I feel I may save my cash and get myself an elusive bottle of Pilot Blue Black instead since the colors are so close and PBlBk is such a well behaved and versatile ink.

[larsbj]

Sandy, thanks for a excellent and thorough review! I got a bottle sitting right in front of me; added on impulse (I believe it was just released) as I was buying a 3776 century borgognen for engeika (no affiliation). I consider it to be excellent for business or formal writing; for personal stuff I prefer more blue/less black. Hence, I had to buy a kon-peki too. Ooooh, how sad? No, not at all

 

LBj

Edited January 26, 2013 by larsbj

[Sandy1]

  On 1/26/2013 at 4:31 PM, Laura N said:

Fabulous, thank you for the comparison with Pilot Blue Black. I agree with everything you say. Further, I think one should never shrink from splitting hairs. Fine distinctions are half the fun of comparing inks.

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

  On 1/26/2013 at 7:36 PM, AlejoPlay said:

Thanks for this review. I am going to Japan in March and was going to get some inks. While Tsuki-Yo, Syo-Ro and Ku-Jaku are screaming my name, I felt a little Meh on this one despite sharing your love for Blue Black. I feel I may save my cash and get myself an elusive bottle of Pilot Blue Black instead since the colors are so close and PBlBk is such a well behaved and versatile ink.

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

I certainly think you've made fine choices and great constraint picking those three iroshizuku inks. (Syo-Ro is a real sleeper - under the radar of many.)

 

While exploring shin-kai, I recalled my experience with tsuki-yo: it took a fair while for me to be wooed by its charms and overlook its foibles; and it was only when I was into my second bottle that I posted a Review.

 

I hadn't realised that Pilot BlBk was so elusive that you find it necessary to bring it from Japan. (!) But I do think it is one of the best all rounders I've seen, with their Blue in the same league.

 

Have a great time in Japan!

 

Bye,

S1

Edited January 27, 2013 by Sandy1

[AlejoPlay]

  On 1/27/2013 at 12:09 PM, Sandy1 said:

  On 1/26/2013 at 7:36 PM, AlejoPlay said:

Thanks for this review. I am going to Japan in March and was going to get some inks. While Tsuki-Yo, Syo-Ro and Ku-Jaku are screaming my name, I felt a little Meh on this one despite sharing your love for Blue Black. I feel I may save my cash and get myself an elusive bottle of Pilot Blue Black instead since the colors are so close and PBlBk is such a well behaved and versatile ink.

Hi,

 

You're welcome!

 

I certainly think you've made fine choices and great constraint picking those three iroshizuku inks. (Syo-Ro is a real sleeper - under the radar of many.)

 

While exploring shin-kai, I recalled my experience with tsuku-yo: it took a fair while for me to be wooed by its charms and overlook its foibles; and it was only when I was into my second bottle that I posted a Review.

 

I hadn't realised that Pilot BlBk was so elusive that you find it necessary to bring it from Japan. (!) But I do think it is one of the best all rounders I've seen, with their Blue in the same league.

 

Have a great time in Japan!

 

Bye,

S1

 

You can’t get bottles of BlBk in stores here and they're always sold out at Jet Pens. I do have in in cartridges and I love it.

[CryptoDave]

Sandy,

 

Thanks for the review.

 

Very nice. I will add this to my next ink purchase.

 

Dave

[sarahfar]

I really like this ink, bought it from Japan and have loved the general Iroshizuku properties. I like most of the blues and both of the browns. I find the ink safe, dependable, free flowing and worth the money. I like this and you've correctly typed it as a blue black. I like Moonlight too but clearly this is a well defined all purpose type ink. You're review is great as always. I especially also like the charcoal gray they came out with too.....

 

Best

[Sandy1]

  On 1/30/2013 at 6:21 PM, CryptoDave said:

Sandy,

 

Thanks for the review.

 

Very nice. I will add this to my next ink purchase.

 

Dave

 

Hi Dave,

 

You're welcome!

 

I look forward to hearing of your adventures with this recently released ink.

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

  On 1/30/2013 at 10:41 PM, sarahfar said:

I really like this ink, bought it from Japan and have loved the general Iroshizuku properties. I like most of the blues and both of the browns. I find the ink safe, dependable, free flowing and worth the money. I like this and you've correctly typed it as a blue black. I like Moonlight too but clearly this is a well defined all purpose type ink. You're review is great as always. I especially also like the charcoal gray they came out with too.....

 

Best

Hi,

 

I'm glad you like the wee Review.

 

I agree that kin-shai is very much an iroshizuku ink, combining many admirable traits with a quite unique appearance and a certain something.

 

As I don't use Black FP inks, I haven't picked-up the take-sumi. I reckon if anyone would make a truly interesting Black ink, with that certain something, it may well be those who bring us the other iroshizuku inks.

 

Bye,

S1

[Sandy1]

U P D A T E

 

Hi,

 

I found the clean-up of shin-kai to be quite prompt with plain water:

• After a plain water cleansing (flush, short soak, flush), an ammonia-based cleaning solution did not release any visible residue.
• No staining was noticed.
  

Bye,

S1

[johnchoe]

Thanks for the review. I am new to the discussion boards, but wanted to ask you about your thoughts comparing Shin-Kai to Tsuki-yo. Different tone, different feeling, but in the same general blue-black-grey. You mention that it took some time to warm up to each of these two inks. Now that you've spent time with both, do you favor one over the other?

[sarahfar]

Yeah I am not a black ink person, but they did a good job with this one, its got some blue and other color movement in it. It really is a classic charcoal deep color with movement. And Shin Kai is a gorgeous deep classic restrained I would call it BB.

 

Best