Sailor Jentle - Souten

[jasonchickerson]

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Written review on Rhodia dotpad #16

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Desiderata Mercury Flex Pen, Zebra G nib, OCM Pure Cotton Paper

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Sakura Koi Water Brush, Strathmore Watercolor Paper

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Souten is my newest ink purchase. I bought it because I lack a blue light enough to use in pointed pen calligraphy that still reads blue when a lot of ink is laid down. This one does, and it works really well for this purpose.

 

As an ink for everyday writing, I'm not quite so impressed. Like most Sailor inks I've tried, Souten is on the wet side. It's not extremely lubricating, though, and I find my pens write with a bit more feedback than I'd prefer.

 

One area where Souten really shines is dry time. I did the test three times just to make sure. This ink dries on non-absorbent papers like Rhodia in under 5 seconds! For comparison (sorry, I don't have access to any comparable blue hues at the moment), Herbin's Bleu Nuit dried in 12 seconds (very respectable) and Shin-kai dried in 16 seconds (average).

 

Reasonable care was taken to ensure color accuracy, etc.

Edited April 21, 2015 by jasonchickerson

[lgsoltek]

Great review of one of my favourite blue.

[amberleadavis]

Thank you. I like the washes.

[Frank C]

Thanks for the review. I like this ink, especially coming from the wetter pens.

[fireant]

Wow that ink on the OCM is just amazing.

[jasonchickerson]

Wow that ink on the OCM is just amazing.

 

I have not yet found an ink that OCM Pure Cotton didn't elevate. I hope to post (if I ever get the time) an elite paper comparison between Original Crown Mill, Crane's Crest and Neenah 100% cotton papers. I may wait until I have a sample of G. Lalo on hand, though. Another FPNer sent me some Vevleka (Austrian) paper I'll have in there, too. I expect OCM will have them all, though. It is amazing.

[fireant]

I was sent several sheets of G. Lalo, want me to send you one?

[jasonchickerson]

I was sent several sheets of G. Lalo, want me to send you one?

 

 

Why, yes, I would. Of course, at some point you will have to allow me to reciprocate! Have you tried the OCM? I have a diverse supply of papers.

[fireant]

 

 

Why, yes, I would. Of course, at some point you will have to allow me to reciprocate! Have you tried the OCM? I have a diverse supply of papers.

 

 

I switch between writing on OCM, Tomoe and some clairefontaine. Let me dig up the G. Lalo and I will send you a sheet.

[jasonchickerson]

 

 

I switch between writing on OCM, Tomoe and some clairefontaine. Let me dig up the G. Lalo and I will send you a sheet.

 

Thanks so much!

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks for the review. I have a sample of Souten but haven't gotten around to trying it yet. Love the sheen but I'm not sure it's quite the replacement for for Sky High.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[jasonchickerson]

Thanks for the review. I have a sample of Souten but haven't gotten around to trying it yet. Love the sheen but I'm not sure it's quite the replacement for for Sky High.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

In what way does it fall short aside form the sheer amount of sheen?

 

Looking here, I cannot spot any difference in the writing samples ,"looks like this," between Sky-High and Souten. Even the sheening (on the writing samples) appears equivalent. The swatches are another matter, of course.

[Charles Skinner]

I am looking for a blue to replace Toucan Bright Blue, an ink I can not seem to find for sale, these days. Is this ink close? Is it a bright blue, and not a dark blue?

 

C. S.

[Chrissy]

When Toucan Bright Blue was reviewed here it was compared with Sailor Sky High that's almost the same as Souten. If you Google images of Sailor Souten, you will find lot's of examples of how it looks in order to help you make your mind up.

 

I think Toucan Bright Blue might be slightly more Turquoise Blue than Souten though.