Diamine Umber

[FLZapped]

Just curious: Does anyone know why Diamine named a green ink with a brown name? (I looked up 'umber' in the online dictionary just to be sure.)

 

:blink:

Yeah, me too, I really thought I had lipped my flid.....

 

-Bruce :blink:

[Stephen-I-am]

Richard, I like the photo. I'd be interested in how you took it. Did you use an external flash?

 

I've been having limited success with my internal flash.

 

Stephen

[RichardS]

Hi Stephen, the picture was taken with natural diffused light, no flash at all.

 

I find that direct flash (as fitted on the camera itself) leads to an over-contrasty and "glare-y" result. You can of course use flash, but it really needs to be off-camera, and usually have at least a second slave unit to balance out the strong shadows. I have some of this kit, but prefer using diffused daylight. You can achieve this by using a light tent (see Ebay or the Green Board - Zoss has a new consignment) and shooting by a window or in the garden. You can also use flash or photoflood bulbs with this system, but again, off-camera obviously.

 

Whatever you use, remember to have some reflectors handy - white or silver card, to bounce light and shade back into the pen. This makes a big difference with nib detail and things like the highlight running along the pen barrel.

 

Hope this helps

Richard

[Slush99]

The new cap is interesting. I'd get that color if I didn't use a lot of greens already, but who knows?

 

 

I thought umber was brown. The umber color pencil Dillo has is brown.

[Roger]

I thought umber was brown.   

Umber sure is brown! I join the rest here who are puzzled over that choice of name.

[Goodwhiskers]

I found Diamine Inks Ltd.'s street address. I'm airmailing a paper letter to them today, asking in a friendly and polite way for an explanation, to be posted on this website and topic thread, about the "Umber" ink name.

[krz]

I found Diamine Inks Ltd.'s street address. I'm airmailing a paper letter to them today, asking in a friendly and polite way for an explanation, to be posted on this website and topic thread, about the "Umber" ink name.

Now that's how to get to the bottom of this!

[Roger]

I found Diamine Inks Ltd.'s street address. I'm airmailing a paper letter to them today, asking in a friendly and polite way for an explanation, to be posted on this website and topic thread, about the "Umber" ink name.

Good going, Steve. Hope they respond.

 

One other possible choice could be http://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/

 

They are an ink vendor in the U.K. and may have a pretty close tie with Diamine.

[twdpens]

One other possible choice could be http://www.thewritingdesk.co.uk/

 

They are an ink vendor in the U.K. and may have a pretty close tie with Diamine.

I'll let you know tomorrow .

 

Martin

[twdpens]

OK folks, here's the run-down:

 

Diamine Umber is made of a mixture of green and brown. However, as we have all seen, the green is dominant. According to Diamine, the origin of this blend is most likely to be a customer request as it isn't on their regular "shade card".

 

Diamine's recipes are really quite old so this particular customer request could have been made 100-years ago. Unfortunately, no records exist to give any further background as to its origin or naming.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Martin

[Roger]

Thanks Martin.

 

Interesting, but I still wish they'd rename it.

[krz]

OK folks, here's the run-down:

 

Diamine Umber is made of a mixture of green and brown.

Ok! That makes sense. A little history on ink. Very good.

 

Thanks,

[Goodwhiskers]

Thanks, Martin!

 

Here is what sounds plausible to me, although I'm just making it up: A customer in the 1890's wanted a brownish-green color . This customer discussed and perhaps argued with the person in charge of the colors (I don't know that person's real title, so I'll say, "color master") . The color master followed the customer's instructions exactly <_< , knowing the customer wouldn't like the result. The customer didn't in fact like the result after all, sheepishly agreeing to put less brown in the mix and producing a "compromise," very green, product. Other customers liked this new "compromise" color, so the color master put it into regular production and gave it a name that carries an inside joke . Like I said, I just made this up. I would expect the truth to be more interesting.

 

Oh, now I wonder if the real story behind Diamine Umber, whatever that story is, is related to the story behind the association some British people still draw between green ink and craziness?

 

In the digital scans, including the photo in the review at the top of this thread, I can't notice any brown or red tones in Umber, but it looks darker and denser than all the greens except Dark Green.

[Carrie]

I'm curious now, I want to know how much of Diamine's archive still survives. Presumably still held by the company rather than in a Record Office. Next question, whereabouts in Liverpool are they? I've never been able to find an address.

[twdpens]

They are now located here. Prior to Diamine's recent resurrection as a maker of writing ink the brand was owned by Dormy, a stamp pad manufacturer based in Stockport.

 

A quote from our website:

"Now located in Liverpool, the history of Diamine dates back to 1864 when the company was founded by T Webster and Co. in London. The business moved to Liverpool in 1925 and T Webster and Co. changed its name to Diamine in 1964. However, changes of company ownership had all but killed the brand until its recent resurrection."

 

We have an old Diamine ink bottle at home (we even used it until it ran out a few years ago) and the label states "Diamine Ltd, Liverpool 5".

 

Martin

[krz]

so the color master put it into regular production and gave it a name that carries an inside joke . Like I said, I just made this up. I would expect the truth to be more interesting.

I've worked in the graphics industry in a position where I formulated and named the colors we used. I could see that happening!

[Tricia]

Thanks, Martin. It makes sense now, but still doesn't make sense as a name since few folks will be lucky enough to have read your post!

 

Maybe "Umber-Green" or "Green-Umber"?

 

Still, on my monitor it has a blue cast to it. Does it in real life? If it does indeed look like it does on my monitor, it really is a pretty color! (And would be put on my list. Like I need more ink...)

[Goodwhiskers]

I'm curious now, I want to know how much of Diamine's archive still survives. Presumably still held by the company rather than in a Record Office. Next question, whereabouts in Liverpool are they? I've never been able to find an address.

Carrie, the address I found in a business guide after several tries in Google was

 

Edit: Feb. 19, 2996: I finally found Diamine's website! The following address is NOT the snail mail address given on Diamine's website!

 

DIAMINE INKS LTD

38 - 46 BRASENOSE RD

LIVERPOOL MERSEYSIDE

L20 8HG

GREAT BRITAIN

 

That's how I addressed my envelope to them. If the format isn't standard, I hope the Royal Mail can decipher it easily enough to get it there soon enough. Did I use the correct format?

 

Edit: Feb. 19, 2996: Please see my new message today for the address from Diamine's website.

 

The US Postal Service's "Automated Postal Center" machine (see the thread I'm going to post about it in "Chatter") refers to your country as "GREAT BRITAIN" rather than as the "UNITED KINGDOM." I had written the former on the envelope before arriving at the post office, so I added the latter as another line before putting the stamps on and dropping the envelope into the slot.

Edited February 19, 2006 by Goodwhiskers

[petra]

Here's a theory on the name vs. the actual color...

 

Maybe the color name refers to something that is originally brownish/umber, but then develops a greenish patina over time, like copper...

 

Plausible?

 

Petra

[Goodwhiskers]

Here is Diamine Inks' website.

 

Here is the current snail-mail address for Diamine Inks, from the Diamine website, today:

 

28 FARRIERS WAY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

OFF BRIDLE ROAD

LIVERPOOL

L30 4LX

GREAT BRITAIN

 

Sorry about the previous, out-of-date information! I wonder if the letter I sent them will be returned to me, forwarded or lost. Oh well.

Edited February 19, 2006 by Goodwhiskers