(I C U) Ink Review - Susemai - Blue Diamond

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http://i.imgur.com/BAYQZuZ.jpg

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http://i.imgur.com/OrmuS0F.jpg

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http://i.imgur.com/6zmlZxA.jpg

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General observations of Blue Diamond:
The SHEEN! I had no idea I would see so much sheen in this ink! I loooove sheen.

I don't really like these brighter inks too much, but this one was so well behaved, I'd be very tempted to buy it.

I tried to do a larger comparison of Sailor Yama-Dori, so that the sheen from both could be seen, but I don't think it worked very well. I'll have to get a dropper out and make a separate sheen review or something.

[ScienceChick]

My favorite of the colors

 

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/cynthiapowers/BlueDiamondRhodiaF.jpg

 

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/cynthiapowers/BlueDiamondB.jpg

 

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad301/cynthiapowers/BlueDiamondF.jpg

[amberleadavis]

I hope they make this one. Right now it's not on the list, but it is super duper pretty. I love the colors of the Diamond Line. I hope Red Diamond is reformulated.

[ScienceChick]

I hope they make this one. Right now it's not on the list, but it is super duper pretty. I love the colors of the Diamond Line. I hope Red Diamond is reformulated.

 

It's not on the list??? Noooooooo!!!! It HAS to be on the list, it' the best color! Shading, sheen, yummy color, great behavior. How do we convince Susemai to produce Blue Diamond??? It will sell like crazy.

[amberleadavis]

We have to tell him how cool it is!

[white_lotus]

And here is my Blue Diamond review. I like this ink. But the Cashmeres are my faces. Please note that the color of the papers are not showing up. The scanner is happily making them all white, which isn't true.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[amberleadavis]

It was a dry writer?

[white_lotus]

That's the way it felt to me. BUT, these pens have been getting a workout with the Susemai inks sometimes at the higher concentrations. I seem to see comments that the Blue Diamond was very wet. So I should recheck that. I have plenty to play with.

 

I'll check again in a different pen with a converter, and a pen with a sac (Estie), and maybe a different Parker 21 and see if I get different results.

[amberleadavis]

I think Blue Diamond is drier than the others.

[vossad01]

I have posted an Inky Gradient of Blue Diamond for those wondering about dilution.

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This is the only ink in the Diamond line that I love - Blue Diamond at 8%

There is so much sheen in this ink - I am keeping it in my Ahab until I run out completely. It's so much fun to look at!

 

http://i.imgur.com/GzYcfQZ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fSpe6T0.jpg

[amberleadavis]

I love that paint that looks different!

[visvamitra]

Blue Diamond is quite nice, however it behaves strangely in both pens I've filled with it: Jinhao 599 and Pilot 78G. It literally pours out of the section. Anyway the color is quite nice and it has great shading potential.

 

INK SPLASH

http://imageshack.com/a/img633/1378/7Gb6MV.jpg

DROPS OF INK ON KITCHEN TOWEL

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/4420/Ltv04u.jpg

SOFTWARE IDENTIFICATION / COLOR RANGE

http://imageshack.com/a/img743/6985/ivu7Do.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img911/9079/erF8gR.jpg

Calendar - Jinhao 599

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/6249/gOihZg.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/8665/0zxcuA.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/5658/S3T8R5.jpg

 

 

http://imageshack.com/a/img674/6681/PHxKoF.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img743/6066/z1POWi.jpg

I've made also one more ink splash. Well actually not splash - I've spilled the rest of the sample on the Clairefontaine 120 g paper (around 1 ml of ink) to create thick layer and then I let it dry. Here's the result.

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/741/upVmPM.jpg

[Cyber6]

Another WOW moment ... just for you Vis... I love this color, is one my favorites. If you were using the 16% concentration..it might have been too wet. Adding a little of water will have helped.

 

It comes wet out of my flex pens but is perfect on my regular pens.

[amberleadavis]

This is a great ink. Thank you Vis for the reviews!

[mhguda]

One thing this particular thread is bringing home to me is how different this ink is experienced by different people...

Here are my scans:

I want to add my voice to the chorus: I hope this ink makes it into production.

At 16% this is a nice dark tealish ink with medium flow, slightly on the dry side, and occasional dry starts. But the color can vary dramatically from light turquoise to dark teal. No feathering, bleeding or ghosting. It takes a bit of time to dry, too. But the color makes up for that. I love this ink at 16%.

 

At 8% it seems a different ink: lighter in color, easier starts, better flow. And again, no feathering, bleeding, or ghosting.

But the fuss-free character was not consistent, and sometimes there would be a dry start, or skipping.

And after a dip in water (to get it going again) there could be some feathering or line spreading.

Still, a very nice ink at this dilution, too!

 

If I get the powder I will try to find my ideal solution. I may even add a little flow helper...

Again, thanks, team Susemai, for letting me play!

[amberleadavis]

I'm glad you are all enjoying the inks.