Fade Resistant Blues And Purples

[Arkanabar]

Rather than hijack either the Diamine thread or the "shading blues" thread for my ink searches, I decided to start my own.

 

OK, fade resistance is clearly the first of my go/no go characteristics. I want my blue to have it. I will want decent flow and feather resistance on cheap paper (which is all I use). I also want it to be resist ink eradicators. I think I'd prefer a pretty dark blue ... say, not too far from the menu immediately below the banner on this site. I don't want it to be too purplish (e.g., Diamine Imperial Blue).

 

And let's face it, I want a darkish purple with the same virtues -- fade resistance, feather resistance, decent flow, and ink eradicator resistance. Bilberry is plenty purple enough, but I don't know about its fade resistance. Diamine Grape is probably as reddish/plum a purple as I'd want. Waterman Violet/Tender Purple, which I have, isn't dark enough to suit me.

[tinysnail]

I don't know about blues, but Noodler's La Reine Mauve (when sliiightly diluted) sounds like it would fit your specifications. Definitely fade resistant and I find it well-behaved (I had it in a Lamy Safari for a few months).

[yogalarva]

I don't test things like bleach and alcohol, but I can tell you that Pilot Blue-Black is highly water resistant and a lovely ink in terms of behavior (haven't tested fading yet, but I will be soon). Iron gall inks will fade if you leave them in direct sunlight long enough and I don't think they are bleach resistant, but if you are mostly worried about water and a shut book, iron gall inks will serve you quite well and ones like Salix and Scabiosa are not as harsh and better suited for long term, daily use I think.

 

Edited to add - I forgot to mention De Atramentis Alexander Hamilton and Black Ed. Blue. Alexander Hamilton is a deep purple that shows great water resistance and has resisted fading to illegibility for 6 months now in my sunny window, and the blue is very water resistant and I suspect will also exhibit some good light resistance.

Edited November 24, 2014 by yogalarva

[amberleadavis]

Did you check out the threads with the comparisons and experiments?

 

Cybaea did a wonderful mini fade test of Diamine inks. My tests were 4 months, 6 months and 1 year long.

[Glen1981]

I was planning to ask a similar question this evening. I don't normally write in blue but today I have used both Quink washable and Lamy blue at work. I quite like the shade that both inks look when they first hit the paper (from wet nibs), however they soon fade to a washed out bland grey/blue. Is there an ink that stays the colour that these two inks go onto the paper?

[Icywolfe]

How about KTC?

[amberleadavis]

How about KTC?

 

I've tried Water, Sun, Sand, Dirt, Alcohol (rubbing and drinking), Ammonia and Bleach.... KTC does not FADE! If it dries out, add more water. As Ruth pointed out, KTC will out last the cockroaches after Armageddon.

[Glen1981]

KTC?

[Glen1981]

ah... Kung Te-Cheng! I'm awake now.

[Erik Dalton]

Pilot blue-black is a very well behaved ink, great flow, cleans up with water, is pretty water resistant, medium high color concentration. Works well in just about any pen. Got some on my shirt the other day and despite 4 hand washings and scrubbing, it's still there.