Must The Colour Of The Ink Match That Of The Pen?

[Sandy1]

 

Absolutely! Just buy everything you desire and can afford. That's what you learn here. Only last week I was clearing a couple of boxes in a storage room at home and to my shame I discovered a hoard of pens I had bought a few years ago and totally forgotten - mostly user-grade but including a couple of gems, like a Mercedes that just needs a bit of nib work and a mint Pelikan 140. Now, which ink would suit a black semi-flex pen?

 

Hi,

 

Well, I don't use Black ink, so the notion of matching ink colour to pen colour is out the window.

 

I'm still learning how to get the best from semi-flex nib, which slows my writing speed considerably. So I'd be writing a brief personal letter. That would have me choosing a somewhat vibrant ink that suits the shorter letter - not one of the more muted inks I use for tomes.

 

Considering the mood I'm in today, I'd be writing sunny Sunday happy thoughts, so Pilot kon-peki would be my inky pick: a pleasurable writing experience, reluctant to give railroading (tram lines) when the nib is flexed, and provides just enough shading to complement the modest line width variation from flexing the nib without becoming jumbled. Pen+ink also suits the few sheets of Rhodia stowed in my satchel.

 

Just add espresso & a sunny terrace . . .

 

Bye,

S1

Edited September 21, 2013 by Sandy1

[Aysedasi]

Any ink I like in any pen.......

[SeeksAdvice]

For the most part, my pens are either black or demos. I don't worry about ink color and pen color.

[cellmatrix]

Dear fellow FPNers,

 

Please forgive me if this is an oldie that has been dealt with before, but I am new to FPN.

 

I have seen on various threads both here and elsewhere, a variety of comments in relation to whether or not the colour of the ink that one uses should match the colour of the fountain pen.

 

For me, it seems to detract significantly from the overall experience of using a fp if the two colours are not at least somewhat in harmony, one with the other. Red pen......green ink.....yuk! For me, a direct match is neither desirable, practical nor achievable. But I do believe that a warm coloured pen should be used to deliver a warm colour ink and a cooler colour pen, a cooler colour ink. Gold, silver, black and demonstrator pens appear to me to be immune to this 'rule' and may be used to deliver any colour.

 

What is the general view amongst you all?

 

Mike

Its great when it does match, but when it does not, it does not ruin my day. I have a blue (kikyo) nakaya that I love and have been known to write red ink using it. Sometimes contrast is nice.

[Christi0469]

Sometimes the color of the pen suggests a certain inks color, but as general rule I use whatever color ink that strikes my fancy.

[Chrissy]

I tend to use any ink I like, in any pen, but maybe I wouldn't break my one rule of not putting green ink in my blue pen when I can put it in several black ones instead.

[carlosviet]

Do you match the color of your hammer to the color of your nails?

 

A pen is a tool. It serves your needs.

[WaskiSquirrel]

I somewhat match pen and ink, but I don't try too hard. After all, I would only be able to use invisible ink in my demonstrators!

 

The only reason I match is so I can remember what ink is in what pen.

[ravantra]

I have an elaborate system for ink and pen color. I base it on the thickness of my socks. The thicker the socks the bluer the ink, the thinner the redder the ink. The pen color is based on taking the letters of the month and the day and randomly selecting letters until I get a color. Holidays are wildcards and anything goes. One additional wrinkle, I divide my pens and inks in half and place each half on opposite sides of the room and whichever side I am facing in the morning I can only use those pens and inks.

[mirosc]

I dedicate one ink to one pen (as a general rule, only a few exemptions), but it's not color-related. It simply makes life easier when refilling.

 

The only color combination I don't like is a brown pen with a blue ink or vice versa.

Edited September 21, 2013 by mirosc

[N2theBreach]

I have an elaborate system for ink and pen color. I base it on the thickness of my socks. The thicker the socks the bluer the ink, the thinner the redder the ink. The pen color is based on taking the letters of the month and the day and randomly selecting letters until I get a color. Holidays are wildcards and anything goes. One additional wrinkle, I divide my pens and inks in half and place each half on opposite sides of the room and whichever side I am facing in the morning I can only use those pens and inks.

Nice. Very organized and thoughtful. Now, if I wanted to adopt this ummm... unique system, how would I decide what thickness my socks should be? So much rests on that one choice. Surely you dont just cast your fate to the winds, stick your hand in your sock drawer and take whatever comes. Do you?

[ravantra]

Nice. Very organized and thoughtful. Now, if I wanted to adopt this ummm... unique system, how would I decide what thickness my socks should be? So much rests on that one choice. Surely you dont just cast your fate to the winds, stick your hand in your sock drawer and take whatever comes. Do you?

Fate to the winds?…Of course not that would be insane. My "system" involves 5 pairs of dice, some chicken bones and a ouija board. This scientific method ensures the proper sock thickness. NOTHING is left to chance.

[GabrielleDuVent]

I have an elaborate system for ink and pen color. I base it on the thickness of my socks. The thicker the socks the bluer the ink, the thinner the redder the ink. The pen color is based on taking the letters of the month and the day and randomly selecting letters until I get a color. Holidays are wildcards and anything goes. One additional wrinkle, I divide my pens and inks in half and place each half on opposite sides of the room and whichever side I am facing in the morning I can only use those pens and inks.

 

Your ritual is so elaborate it makes electing a new pope sound a simple affair. But what about purple?

[F104]

Must the ink color match the pen color? I have no such requirement. I do however require that the ink in the pen match the ink remaining in the bottle from which it came. And polka-dot ink is verboten!

[Runnin_Ute]

No.

green Esterbrook - currently has a violet/purple in it.

gun metal True Writer - blue black - had Sherwood Green in it for a long time.

black Phileas - different violet

aluminum/silver Al Star - blue

red marbled Phileas - Sherwood Green

maroon/red mesa tortoise Konrad- a blue black.

[alexander_k]

Well, I don't use Black ink, so the notion of matching ink colour to pen colour is out the window.

 

Ah, but black goes with everything, doesn't it?

[WOBentley]

Green is the new black...

[ravantra]

 

Your ritual is so elaborate it makes electing a new pope sound a simple affair. But what about purple?

<sits in fetal position in closet> system failure…failed to account for purple.

[MJ Vesuvius]

My favorite combo: bright orange Lamy Safari, bright Noodler's turquoise ink.

 

So, no.

 

-- MJ

[MisterBoll]

Rules.............rules................rules.............................we must be in virgo territory.

 

I don't get these posts where people want other people's rules.

 

There is a place for rules - traffic.

 

Writing with a fountain pen should be free and flowing - in every way.