Not a real review, but some pics of FPR's "Mardi Gras"

[Horseflesh]

I got a sample of FPR Mardi Gras ink on a whim when I was placing an order. It's billed as purple with green sheen. Coincidentally it is the first bottled ink I ever used, because it arrived with the FPR order that contained my first proper pen, a TWSBI 580. I did not find any existing reviews in the usual places, and I am too new to do a proper review myself, but I thought some pics and comments might be appreciated. 

 

The bottom line is, I like this ink a lot, and not just because it's new and novel. Even after trying a dozen samples of other inks there is a lot to like about Mardi Gras. 

 

On copy paper and unlined CVS Caliber paper, it does not perform well. No surprise. It just looks dark purple, almost black if the paper is more absorbent, and there can even be feathering. I would rate this as a semi-wet ink among the handful I have tried to date. 

 

  

 

On Caliber lined paper, you start to see its character. The colors are still quite dark, but in the right light you see purple and green. It's very lighting dependent, though. I wrote this sample outside in the sun and to me, it just looked dark purple, hence the "where's the green?" note. Only when I looked at the sample inside did I see what I was missing. 

 

 

On Endless paper with a medium nib, it really comes alive. I think the green is more obvious than you can see here, but it isn't garish. 

 

 

Hope this helps someone!

 

[A Smug Dill]

@Horseflesh Thank you very much for showing us!

[LizEF]

Thank you, @Horseflesh.  It definitely looks different on your different papers.  And, I hope you're happy - you sent me on a tour of FPR's website.  I managed to talk myself out of a 14K ultra flex nib - at least for now.  But there's a fair chance I'll get getting lots of ink samples - in a year or so...

[Horseflesh]

I dived into fountain pens very recently, and I ordered pens from FPR and inks from Goulet. Based on the strength of Mardi Gras, I'm now regretting that I did not get more FPR ink samples!

 

[inkstainedruth]

I looked at the link and to my eye the swab seems to have more of gold sheen than a green one.  But the images that Horseflesh posted definitely make the ink look more interesting.... 

This might be added to the "maybe" list for me.  As if I REALLY needed any more purple inks.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Horseflesh]

I see the gold color you're talking about on the product page. In normal writing, even really wet writing, I never got it to look like that... And for that matter I never got the purple to look quite that saturated. I think the Caliber and Endless paper samples in my post are a pretty fair portrayal of how it looks in person, in normal writing. It's so hard to take a faithful photo, though. 

[XYZZY]

@Horseflesh, thanks for the photos and your writeup.  That is valuable commentary to explain what you're seeing.
 

I have to wonder if the colors are just off in FPR's photography.  Not just the green sheen that appears gold for this ink.  Check out their "Classic Blue": the description even says "a well behaved business-like blue", but the swatch appears to be purple.  Not even a purple leaning blue...just purple.

 

 

[XYZZY]

And the prices!  $7.00 regular price for a 30ml bottle, and for the next six days on sale for $4.90!!!  At that price why bother with samples?  ETA: I was looking at the cheap one, the others are $8.50 on sale at $5.95.😀

 

@Horseflesh, how is the bottle?  From the picture it looks like it could be very nice.

[Horseflesh]

@XYZZY I agree, FPR's photos aren't always great. I also noticed the "Classic Blue."

 

I don't have any FPR bottles yet ... My first order from them was a couple of pens and samples. I am absolutely ordering more inks from then during this sale, full bottles of a few things plus a couple more samples. 

 

I have now dip-tested about 25 other inks, and loaded a couple of Preppy pens with longer test drive samples... And I have to say, the FPR Mardi Gras remains one of my favorite inks of all so far and it was the very first thing I tried. Funny how that worked out. 

 

Here's another picture where I fiddled with exposure, contrast, and saturation to try and make it look more like what it looks like in person. And I noticed something new in this longer test... Look at the spotty areas in the words "PHASE" and "enemy." I think that the ink is somewhat sensitive to the oils from your skin that end up on the page. A little bit of that was not uncommon. I didn't notice any of that with the other ink on these pages, which was Diamine Red Dragon. 

 

(Red, purple, green? An artist would shoot me.)

 

 

[Sailor Kenshin]

I WAS an artist, and I won't shoot you.  I can easily see the green in your photos of that ink, too.

….mustn't….look…at…FPR….l😜

[XYZZY]

18 hours ago, Horseflesh said:

Here's another picture where I fiddled with exposure, contrast, and saturation to try and make it look more like what it looks like in person. And I noticed something new in this longer test... Look at the spotty areas in the words "PHASE" and "enemy." I think that the ink is somewhat sensitive to the oils from your skin that end up on the page. A little bit of that was not uncommon. I didn't notice any of that with the other ink on these pages, which was Diamine Red Dragon. 

 

 

Yes, sensitivity to hand oils is a thing.  It varies with ink, paper, and the individual person.  

 

I had a moment of confusion because you mentioned at the top using "Endless paper".  I thought that the Endless notebooks used Tomoe River paper, which I personally find to be less susceptible to hand-oil / ink interactions than other papers I have used.  But I see that Endless has their own in-house paper now, so I assume that's what you're using?

 

Tricks to avoid:  Assuming the oil is coming mostly from fingertips of your other hand holding the paper in place while you're writing, try keeping a scrap of paper between the fingers and the paper.  Or get in the habit holding the paper down by curling your fingers into a loose fist and then use the backs of your fingers to contact the paper.  I find those to be simple, easy, practical solutions that work well for me without resorting to something more extreme like wearing gloves while writing.  

[Horseflesh]

25 minutes ago, XYZZY said:

But I see that Endless has their own in-house paper now, so I assume that's what you're using?

 

Correct. I just got the "Endless Recorder" and it's apparently their "Regalia" paper.  (It is nice paper.)

 

25 minutes ago, XYZZY said:

Tricks to avoid:  Assuming the oil is coming mostly from fingertips of your other hand holding the paper in place while you're writing

 

Good ideas, thanks!