De Atramentis Document Ink - Dark Blue

[visvamitra]

De Atramentis is german manufacturer of calligraphy and writing ink. The inks are hand made (the entire production process is done manually in their manufacturing center) by i's founder - Dr. Franz-Josef Jensen. I believe he uses high quality dyes from well established European companies like BASF and Bayer.

De Atramentis offers a variety of "traditional" fountain pen inks and a broad selection of special and scented inks. I believe they should get more attention as the quality od these fluids is rather good and many of the colors are simply stunning.

Document inks are permanent and waterproof. I confirm - water does nothing to them. Time will tell if light influences them in any way.

The colors are:

1. Blue
2. Brown
3. Dark Blue
4. Fuchsia
5. Green
6. Red
7. Turquoise
8. Yellow

Dark Blue from document line is fairly well saturated blue black. The color wasn't made for me, but it's ok. Drying time is excellent but there's a drawback to it - the ink tends to feather on some papers and cause bleedthrough, especially when used in broader nibs.

Ink splash

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/6531/9PO9K7.jpg

Drops of ink on kitchen towel

 

http://imageshack.com/a/img901/7638/A2vz5d.jpg

 

Software ID

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/2075/I0ISdQ.jpg

Waterproofness (I soaked it for 20 minutes. Water is powerless to distort the text)

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/4125/xzGpyx.jpg

 

Oxford Recycled, Kaweco Sport Classic, B + Platinum Preppy, M

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/6820/GPSip9.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/8986/6ThPRx.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/9697/emnLVT.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img901/2207/qNLgjQ.jpg

Lyreco Copy Paper, Waterman Hemisphere, F

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/2452/bBNnZL.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img537/3121/Tb44NV.jpg

CIAK, Kaweco Classic Sport, B + Platinum Preppy, M

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/7959/RyEpto.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/1772/CRvr5c.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/8412/O4mD4a.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img909/2807/iLQDul.jpg

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/8427/bWBTwo.jpg

Edited July 23, 2015 by visvamitra

[lgsoltek]

I have wanted to get this one but now seeing the colour I'm not so sure I want it.

[PaperDarts]

Thanks for your review, I've been curious about this ink because I'm looking for a waterproof dark blue. It looks like a darker version of Diamine Prussian Blue on my monitor.

[inkstainedruth]

Thanks for the review. I have a sample of this but haven't tried it yet. How is it for spread and showthrough/bleedthrough? I was really disappointed with the Document Turquoise because of the amount of spread on the page. But the waterproofness of this one is definitely a plus.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[eelldan]

Thank you for the review! I was looking at this ink as a new one for work but it it misbehaves on cheap copy paper I may pass on it. Still worth a try.

[Abner C. Kemp]

I purchased a sample of the Document Blue awhile back and it actually feathered on Rhodia paper. I certainly like the idea behind these inks but it seems the Montblanc Permanent line and many Noodler's inks behave much better.

[visvamitra]

Well to be honest I'm not really keen on this inks. Sure you can mix them and get whatever color you like, but I don't like to mix inks. I prefer to have interesting, well behaved ink out of the box. And here De Atramentis DI don't deliver.

[ca49reber]

This is the ink I use to write checks. I like it.

[Tas]

I like the colour, it's lack of saturation but it lies "flat" on the page without a hint of shading or nuance. I passed on this years ago but am a massive fan of their archival black.

 

Thanks again visvamitra.

[amberleadavis]

Vis, great stuff! Thank you for all the reviews.

[meiers]

I like it a lot!!! Thanks.