Mont Blanc - Swan Illusion Plume

[Markol]

Very interesting review. I'm using this ink (from time to time) in a Waterman with F nib (contemporary, so it's rather thick F) and it's also working well, maybe not with such an amazing shading...

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

A very nice collection of papers.

It's a type of ink if I think about it, it won't be there after the smoke alrm finally goes off, and with even regular Shoe MB has reached at E19....a limit....and I might dither this one away.

 

Thanks for the review...so I now know about it.

[Tom Kellie]

Very interesting review. I'm using this ink (from time to time) in a Waterman with F nib (contemporary, so it's rather thick F) and it's also working well, maybe not with such an amazing shading...

 

 

~ Markol:

 

Thank you for posting the handwriting sample.

The shading from the Montblanc Swan Illusion ink is lovely.

I've also used this ink, enjoying its color and shading.

Tom K.

[Chrissy]

Sometimes I look at this ink and think I need to buy some, but other times it just looks grey and I'm less keen.

 

I'm guess I'm going to have to try and get a sample before I buy a whole bottle.

[lgsoltek]

Sometimes I look at this ink and think I need to buy some, but other times it just looks grey and I'm less keen.

 

I'm guess I'm going to have to try and get a sample before I buy a whole bottle.

Well it has always looked like a boring grey to me 😅 You can try cartridges! Edited August 18, 2018 by Lgsoltek

[Chrissy]

Well it has always looked like a boring grey to me You can try cartridges!

 

I know what you mean. I haven't seen cartridges in Swan Illusion ink, and wondered if it was because the pen is a POA. There are no cartridges listed on the Montblanc web-site.

[Tom Kellie]

Sometimes I look at this ink and think I need to buy some, but other times it just looks grey and I'm less keen.

 

I'm guess I'm going to have to try and get a sample before I buy a whole bottle.

 

~ Chrissy:

 

If I were to describe this in a class I'd probably go with ‘dun’ rather than ‘grey’.

On a page it doesn't have that charcoal-ish grey look.

Something different. Soft without being pale.

It's a gentle color but not so much as to lack any character.

Tom K.

[Chrissy]

 

~ Chrissy:

 

If I were to describe this in a class I'd probably go with ‘dun’ rather than ‘grey’.

On a page it doesn't have that charcoal-ish grey look.

Something different. Soft without being pale.

It's a gentle color but not so much as to lack any character.

Tom K.

 

Thanks Tom. I could be happy with "dun", as it applies to the colour of a horse, as long as it isn't grey.

[Bexinthecity247]

Sometimes I look at this ink and think I need to buy some, but other times it just looks grey and I'm less keen.

 

I'm guess I'm going to have to try and get a sample before I buy a whole bottle.

Yeah I'm really in two minds about it.

[swanjun]

Has anyone seen a retailer who is selling samples? Mostly I just see the full bottle, and $43 is a big ask.

[Driften]

Great review! I would not have given it a second thought until now.

[Chrissy]

Has anyone seen a retailer who is selling samples? Mostly I just see the full bottle, and $43 is a big ask.

 

This is the problem. I suspect that boutiques will let you try it but otherwise it's difficult to do so.

[Uncial]

I've bitten the bullet and ordered it through my local B&M store. I was always tempted by Stone Road of Gion, but in this instance I can get a match, more ink and for less than the price of the Kyoto ink when you factor in postage.

[Ghost Plane]

I've bitten the bullet and ordered it through my local B&M store. I was always tempted by Stone Road of Gion, but in this instance I can get a match, more ink and for less than the price of the Kyoto ink when you factor in postage.

 

The Kyoto is worth it if you can find an excuse to batch it with other items for shipping. But I have the advantage of the bulk buyers here in the States + some with free shipping.

[dumaresq]

I just bought a bottle and I think of the colour as taupe!

[NeverTapOut]

Very good review. I like the muted color. I think I could use it in a professional setting. If MB Swan Illusion is used in a MB XF or F nib will the color be dark enough to make legible photocopies or scans?

Kindest Regards,

David

[NeverTapOut]

I wanted to bump this post because I am strongly considering buying a bottle. Is MB Swan Illusion if used in a MB with a XF of F nib dark enough to make legible photocopies and scans.

Regards,

David

[Uncial]

It's a very light and pale ink which pools to a slightly darker tone, but not so much so that it cannot be read from a fine nib. I'm not sure about an xf or how it will appear when photocopied. Presumably a scan would be more or less the same as what you see. If you have ever seen an ugly duckling cygnet when it's grown a bit bigger but still has its down, that is precisely the colour of this ink. It's quite watery on the page before it dries. In a broad nib it takes on a slightly odd halo effect to the edge of the line. In low light it might be a little hard to read.

[NeverTapOut]

It's a very light and pale ink which pools to a slightly darker tone, but not so much so that it cannot be read from a fine nib. I'm not sure about an xf or how it will appear when photocopied. Presumably a scan would be more or less the same as what you see. If you have ever seen an ugly duckling cygnet when it's grown a bit bigger but still has its down, that is precisely the colour of this ink. It's quite watery on the page before it dries. In a broad nib it takes on a slightly odd halo effect to the edge of the line. In low light it might be a little hard to read.

 

Uncial...So you think it would be more legible in a F nib. MB Toffee Brown for me has too much red and when client see a red hue psychologically it signals or says stop.

Regards,

David

[Uncial]

I don't know, I haven't tried it in an xf nib, but it perfectly legible in an f. I tend to use it in medium nibs because I like to see that peculiar halo to the line edge which appears when using Tomoe paper.