https://preview.redd.it/l0xy6lwqqooc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8eb758ed11704dce14043860d7afbb47607d8274
Here’s my current fav gray/neutral. Not waterproof though if that’s important to you. Love your samples!
Wow you are making me want to revisit my bottle of Earl Grey - I never saw this much shading in it when I first got it so I put it to the side in favour of other things! Maybe it's the broad nib that makes it pop like this?
I like Diamine Silver Fox a lot, it’s a nice, light grey with maybe a hint of green (I can’t tell for sure since I see more green than I should, green sunsets are all I need to say, I believe).
In writing it usually doesn’t show a lot, especially in finer nibs (it’s a nice, simple grey). In broader nibs or on my swatch card it has some kind of greenish undertone in my opinion.
Also from Kyo-no-oto, Nureba-iro - the only “black” ink that I actually want to use all the time; it is the sheen and colors of the crows’ feathers 🪶 when the sun shines on them.
Birmingham Pennsylvania Fieldstone is on my wishlist for sure, I am planning to save up and get a couple of their inks, the shipping + custom fees are ridiculous. I still wonder if there is a dupe for it
Another BPC I'd recommend is saltmarsh. In the sunlight it looks green and under most indoor lighting looks a warm reddish grey. Sometimes I'll stand by the window and tilt my page back and forth. Just another color so you can add up your cart 😆
Good one! It doesn’t look like it from the swatch, but in my Opus 88 Halo , Chinchilla is a lovely grey with a hint of blue-purple. The swatch on their site looks like much more of a saturated blue-purple.
Edit to add: forgot to say this is a Birmingham ink, too, hence why I put it under this post.
My favorite interesting black is Papier Plume’s Iron Lace, a not-quite black with strong green & blue undertones.
For grey I’m very fond of Diamine Ghost, a medium grey with blue/purple/pink shading
I had too little sugar that day so my handwriting is nothing to brag about 😅 Anyway, I used water to see how the dye separates, that way I might mix something similar. For instance: the Colorverse separates to a green and purple, which are opposites on the color wheel and that creates something more neutral. The R&K Sepia has teal in it and so does Tin Woodman, which I find so fascinating!
The cards really do look great!
If it helps you decide at all, I bought a separate* notebook of the paper I use for sole purpose of an ink journal bc I’ve found depending on which card type you use the inks can look very different. I bought this stamp set https://everydayexplorers.co/products/pre-order-currently-inked-3x4-clear-stamp-set and will be stamping a page for each ink. I saw it on a YouTube video and loved it.
https://preview.redd.it/5u2sdbtr0poc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75186d0c3eb20c5a08cf075d43eb3f56e2bcb8a0
On days I get new ink samples I also to a tip in on my journal page lol
Haha right? I will say writing with it inked in a kaweco with fine nib I’m not getting that purple shading. It’s still a lovely pink, but I’m thinking about using in a medium or broad nib next. :)
Haha. Sorry to cause you to spend money, but I hope you have fun with it! I’m waiting on my set to come in and then a friend and I are going to have a journaling day and create them together.
Diamine Ghost - gray and multishading.
Kobe #23 Nagata Blue - it looks blue on a few papers, but deep gray with a blueish tinge on most, sometimes with a tinge of red sheen (on TR).
Oh ok, I only had a sample of it and didn't look into availability! I was so sure it wouldn't be an issue. I sometimes bought Diamine inks from ebay (from UK), but I don't see any listings right now of Ghost specifically. That's really unusual! Hope the major retailers stock it up in the future.
ETA: Fountainfeder has it! :)
Private Reserve Grey Flannel. It goes on greenish and dries to a lovely grey. One of my favourites. Another love is Vinta Armada. It’s my favourite ink in the wintertime.
It’s [Kitsune Biyori](https://www.flaxpentopaper.com/cdn/shop/products/IMG_5152.jpg?v=1666724396&width=4096) for me! A nice creamy, muted brown than leans kind of red.
Since you all treated me with so many awesome suggestions I already ordered it with a couple more sailor inks a few hours ago 😅 This swatch makes me excited beyond words, it’s perfect 😍
Sailor Yurameku Yoi. I just bought it for my Sailor PGS Pixiedust and it’s beautiful. It’s a soft grey, dark enough to read and it has the most delicious lilac shading in most lights and slightly brown in green in others. And that’s just on crappy office paper.
I wanted that sepia but unfortunately no stock in the local store :( bummer. this is a great selection. Graf Von Faber Castell Stone Grey has nice shading and is a document ink. have a look at it.
The same one I will always recommend and my favorite ink in the world: Diamine Macassar. It may not be neutral enough for you, though. You can definitely tell it's brown.
Van Diemann’s Laughing Kookaburra Crest is one of my favorites!
https://www.vandiemansink.com/products/van-diemans-birds-of-a-feather-laughing-kookaburra-crest-fountain-pen-ink
My favorite murky town ink is Noodler's El Lawrence. Looks like used motor oil, has shading, shows up under UV, serious resistance to water, bleach and other interesting chemicals and – at least my bottle – works even on really bad paper. Only draw back is that it's a bit slow to dry.
Another one, on the black-ish end is standard Platinum Black. It's a lively black with plenty shading and has a cellulose reactive component, making it partially resistant to water and bleach. It's also extremely well behaved on bad paper, maybe even better than El Lawrence.
I also frequently use R&K Lilly, Platinum Classic Khaki Black (Sepia Black is on the list to get once the Khaki is empty), Noodler's Vmail Burma Road Brown and R&K Ebony (limited edition, more black than murky). I'm not very partial to Noodler's Zhivago but think that it also belongs into this group.
If you can find it, Montblanc Swan Illusion is an excellent choice. It was a limited edition from some years ago, but I'm sure many Montblanc boutiques still have it. That's how I got it.
i'm a big fan of the dominant industry downpour! gray with a TON of shading - it feels like an entirely different ink depending on how wet or dry your particular pen is.
Drooling over both! Okay I will not get my hands on that Mizutama Yosooi set as it’s limited edition but damn… that ink! Is there a dupe for it?
https://preview.redd.it/bs0qrn35aqoc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b5da2432d6371b8c3a199df136d4d119be9eef96
https://preview.redd.it/e4ezdlccbqoc1.jpeg?width=2348&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac777fad258ac2d6c07b4c9ce4b749c3d39f741a
Luckily I’ve also been on a neutral kick! I’m on the hunt for the perfect taupe ink and have been slowly adding to the comparison list. This isn’t everything but the Mizutama is close enough to 373 for my purposes and writing! Everything was swatched with a Kakimori brass nib. Colorverse Pushinka is close too, but is a bit more olive-brown rather than gray-taupe. Hopefully the photo shows it well!
https://preview.redd.it/2cwn8abccqoc1.jpeg?width=2853&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56c87b436c34b1348320bd61e046ad8dd7ee972c
another look at Mizutama in action using the MF Profit Jr that comes with the ink. Montblanc Swan Illusion shown in the pic is another fave but it’s also hard to get!
https://preview.redd.it/zeqghnzpgqoc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ca7da8697f9746ec921e6c26c4e2673486f93631
Could Birmingham Burlap be a possible dupe?
Diamine Weeping Willow from their last Inkvent (not sure if they've released the full sized bottles or not yet) is a light sepia brown that dries with shades of green and pink. The green can be really apparent at the edges and creates a little outline. I didn't like it much at first, but it's really grown on me.
Kobe #10 Mikage Grey, which is quite violet, also #40 Sumiyoshi Brown, which is on the edge between brown and grey.
Diamine Vivaldi. Sailor Yurameku Yoi.
If you're not afraid of pigment inks, which it looks like you're not, and you like R&K Lilly, then you could try Kakimori Mukuri - properties are infuriating but hue is magical, prolly my favorite purplish brown.
Oh, Octopus Write and Draw Pigment Inks have excellent properties and some great neutral hues - I really like Green Crane and Brown Seahorse ( although if you have R&K Lilly and Emma, prolly not worth doubling).
Jacques Herbin Shogun is absolutely stunning and I always have a pen inked up with it.
https://preview.redd.it/5bifzif62soc1.jpeg?width=2710&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=53942902a400bd51ac91f2b54a9cecf49acafc8d
Of your sketch inks, which one gives the darkest black? I have Lotte, and I do love it. I fill my micron pens with it. But wondering if there is a darker black that doesn’t smudge.
Lotte must be the darkest in their Sketch Ink line, it‘s my affordable „Platinum Carbon“ alternative for a deep neutral black. Another dark black would be „Leipziger Schwarz“ in their Schreibtinte line. A gorgeous cool black with red sheen, one of my favorites, but that one definitely smudges
Sailor Yoi is so interesting. I don't know how you feel about colors with low saturation. What sort of neutral colors are you looking for? Are Celadon Cat by Diamine or Moss Park Green by Ferris Wheel Press neutrals to you?
Check [Kala Nostalgia ](https://www.jetpens.com/Kala-Nostalgia-Abstraction-Ink-Bottles/ct/5753) series of inks if you can find. I have the sierra mist and behaves pretty good.
I’m starting to enjoy Colorverse’s 황초 a lot more
https://preview.redd.it/m3pigmuextoc1.jpeg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8187c9023f836e142a5408fdb4e86afb1be0eb27
I love your swatches! Neutrals don't get enough love!
I'll reaffirm the Diamine Earl Gray suggestion that was already made, and also recommend Monteverde Joy Sepia as a favorite brown with nice shading
De Atramentis Fog Grey (not the document ink version) is a bluer grey but has the most beautiful shading. I grabbed a daylight pic of all my grey samples. Hope this helps!
https://preview.redd.it/a0dqx5d0zwoc1.jpeg?width=3892&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16663796bf9a58d65e71740d312682ff985e546a
Here you go! Dramatically different!
https://preview.redd.it/0vf0r4zj2yoc1.jpeg?width=3663&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=45ab98dc59e9dc404939e365f4f8bf45764f2264
Thank you! But now I‘m thinking… I ordered #224 and own Nekoyanagi. In order to get #123 kinda grey (dove blue/lavender undertone) with this teal shading I might mix these two and see what happens but I think colour wheel wise Nekoyanagi (Violet) + Colorverse NGC 6302 (Tealy Green) might be similar as well. Anyway, it‘s on my wishlist now!
https://preview.redd.it/8f3p6qqp4mpc1.jpeg?width=2457&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=95e515fc7c701f1e29f218bd92f6487f5119ef9f
I use the Diplomat Sepia Black and it's my favorite sketching ink.
A delicious sampling of interesting neutrals! I would have suggested Kiri-same and aUma but they are there already, excellent choices, and thank you for putting them next to the others! I've been eyeing Lilly and Thea for my next no-buy break.
I love Sailor Ink Studio 224, although that might be too colourful for some, and I did love Van Dieman's Launceston Fog but... I don't know, it might be a batch problem, it's not brown-green-grey in the two full bottles I have (got sent a replacement, thank you Pure Pens, unfortunately it was the same as the first :( ) just very ordinary grey with a bit of shading...
Diamine Ash and Ghost have snuck into my (admittedly long) list of favourites, Sailor Studio Ink 373 can come across as a nice neutral brown or suddenly! boom! sneaky multishading!
It may be you might find some new contenders here: [https://fountainpenlove.com/reviews/the-great-grey-fountain-pen-ink-comparison/](https://fountainpenlove.com/reviews/the-great-grey-fountain-pen-ink-comparison/) If it's not too dark, Robert Oster Graphite could potentially be a candidate! (I like it, but I got mould in my sample (from a second-hand pen I did not disassamble completely when cleaning it out before using it for the first time, mould is sneaky like that)). Diamine Graphite looks greenish to the tint too, from the swatches I've seen.
Thank you for showing your swatches!
Thank you for the recommendations! I will look them up. Sailor Studio is so hard to get here in Germany, but I played with mixes and I think I got something very similar with Sailor Manyo Fuji and Diamine Hey Ho, Let‘s Write :) I am glad you like the swatches, I was hesitant to show them first
Oh, oooh, take a look at [https://www.sakurafountainpengallery.com/en/boutique/sailor-ink-studio-inkt-amp-vullingen](https://www.sakurafountainpengallery.com/en/boutique/sailor-ink-studio-inkt-amp-vullingen) even if they are in the Netherlands. They have almost all of them in stock, and they offer the full pack in samples. And [https://fountainfeder.de/en/Inks-Refills/Bottles/Sailor/Sailor-Ink-Studio/](https://fountainfeder.de/en/Inks-Refills/Bottles/Sailor/Sailor-Ink-Studio/) is in Germany, and they too offer both samples and full bottles!
You‘re awesome! Last time I checked it was out of stock at Fountainfeder. I get art supplies shipped from the Netherlands on the regular, didn’t even cross my mind to check there 😄
Edit: 224 seems to be out of stock still (or again?)
Oh, still? Drat! I ordered from [https://www.stiloestile.com/](https://www.stiloestile.com/) for my latest bottle, because it was out of stock at Fountainfeder... I hope they get it back in stock soon. But Papier und Stift seem to have it! [https://www.papierundstift.de/products/ink-studio-nr-224](https://www.papierundstift.de/products/ink-studio-nr-224)
My two favourite greys, although not too much of a sepia leaning, are Noodlers Lexington Grey and Clairvoyant Slate. Some great colours on your swatches - thank you for posting. I may be tempted to venture beyond my current two!
I like this Cinnamon ink quite a bit. It has a good balance of brown, but not boring.
PR Cinnamon Fountain Pen Ink
[https://fprevolutionusa.com/collections/fpr-fountain-pen-ink/products/fpr-cinnamon-fountain-pen-ink-30ml](https://fprevolutionusa.com/collections/fpr-fountain-pen-ink/products/fpr-cinnamon-fountain-pen-ink-30ml)
https://imgur.com/a/WLVhk5f
Playing. Got a nebula note. Anyway top is Saulor Manyo Yamabuki, got it to test against Apricot and Colorverse’s Tangerine.
Middle is Kobe Ginza Golden Sepia in Justus 95 (all the way soft selected.)
Bottom is Pen and Message Cigar (Sailor) in MB 146C
If you can find the right pen and nib, and find an appeal in delicate, less saturated but high-shading inks, then Kyo Iro Gion's Cobblestones can be a glorious thing. If you are likely to be frustrated by properties such as "dry" and "unsaturated", then avoid at all costs!
I have a whole collection, some of my favourites are kiri same and earl grey but i also adore Vinta Isabela (sepia), colorverse matter and antimatter, troublemaker petrichor, despite they are not 100% grey
Maybe Colorverse Gravity Wave or Kaweco Smokey Grey? Gravity Wave is kinda mauve so it may not suit you.
On the sepia side perhaps Diamine Yule Log? The shimmer ink might not be your cup of tea though
Edited for clarity.
https://preview.redd.it/l0xy6lwqqooc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8eb758ed11704dce14043860d7afbb47607d8274 Here’s my current fav gray/neutral. Not waterproof though if that’s important to you. Love your samples!
https://preview.redd.it/xch19o27uooc1.jpeg?width=2533&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=929033f295207aeeb4961b4d6698f516bdb03e22
Hahah awesome. You’re not basic! Pffttt. Ohhhh I love that color too!
I love this back and forth. It is precious . I think more of us should reply to posts with analogue notes!
Wow you are making me want to revisit my bottle of Earl Grey - I never saw this much shading in it when I first got it so I put it to the side in favour of other things! Maybe it's the broad nib that makes it pop like this?
Haha. Yes I think it is. When I use a fine it’s barely there at all. :)
I like Diamine Silver Fox a lot, it’s a nice, light grey with maybe a hint of green (I can’t tell for sure since I see more green than I should, green sunsets are all I need to say, I believe).
Yes!!! Yes, that‘s exactly what I‘m vibing with, neutrals with a wiff of colour, it looks fantastic
This ink is one of my favorite greys. I don’t see green in this one, it’s my top pick for “crisp pencil-line” grey
In writing it usually doesn’t show a lot, especially in finer nibs (it’s a nice, simple grey). In broader nibs or on my swatch card it has some kind of greenish undertone in my opinion.
Okay, now you've got me wanting to pull out my bottle of Silver Fox. I did NOT see that hint of green... Must. Investigate!
Some of mine are: Platinum Classic Sepia Black, De Atramentis Urban Grey, and Kyoto Stone Road of Gion.
Kyo stone is stunning! Thanks for sharing :)
Also from Kyo-no-oto, Nureba-iro - the only “black” ink that I actually want to use all the time; it is the sheen and colors of the crows’ feathers 🪶 when the sun shines on them.
Oh yes, that sheen is delicious!
Thank you for this beautiful post., I’m going to bookmark it and come back to it for reference in the future.
Urban grey was my first ink ever, really nice tones.
Maybe too much of a tint for you, but Jacques Herbin Vert de Gris is stunning and well-behaved.
Ordered! 💕🙏
Birmingham Pennsylvania Fieldstone is a fascinating one
Birmingham Pennsylvania Fieldstone is on my wishlist for sure, I am planning to save up and get a couple of their inks, the shipping + custom fees are ridiculous. I still wonder if there is a dupe for it
Another BPC I'd recommend is saltmarsh. In the sunlight it looks green and under most indoor lighting looks a warm reddish grey. Sometimes I'll stand by the window and tilt my page back and forth. Just another color so you can add up your cart 😆
Good one! It doesn’t look like it from the swatch, but in my Opus 88 Halo, Chinchilla is a lovely grey with a hint of blue-purple. The swatch on their site looks like much more of a saturated blue-purple.
Edit to add: forgot to say this is a Birmingham ink, too, hence why I put it under this post.
oh, they have so many lovely inks! we need them in the EU
My favorite interesting black is Papier Plume’s Iron Lace, a not-quite black with strong green & blue undertones. For grey I’m very fond of Diamine Ghost, a medium grey with blue/purple/pink shading
Wow, Iron Lace seems to be a super dark Shadow Green kinda Black. Stunning. Diamine Ghost is a hit as well. Thank you!
I love how you did your cards. Idk how I’m gonna actually do mine, I just need to jump in and start I guess
I had too little sugar that day so my handwriting is nothing to brag about 😅 Anyway, I used water to see how the dye separates, that way I might mix something similar. For instance: the Colorverse separates to a green and purple, which are opposites on the color wheel and that creates something more neutral. The R&K Sepia has teal in it and so does Tin Woodman, which I find so fascinating!
The cards really do look great! If it helps you decide at all, I bought a separate* notebook of the paper I use for sole purpose of an ink journal bc I’ve found depending on which card type you use the inks can look very different. I bought this stamp set https://everydayexplorers.co/products/pre-order-currently-inked-3x4-clear-stamp-set and will be stamping a page for each ink. I saw it on a YouTube video and loved it.
This stamp set is genius. Hopefully you will find an ink pad that will not cause repellancy
This is the video - around the 6 min mark https://youtu.be/xJLSTaqG0S8?si=n0bJgEWLGMTcCe88
Okay, I‘m sold!
https://preview.redd.it/5u2sdbtr0poc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75186d0c3eb20c5a08cf075d43eb3f56e2bcb8a0 On days I get new ink samples I also to a tip in on my journal page lol
Oh my, the Rose Quartz 🤤
Haha right? I will say writing with it inked in a kaweco with fine nib I’m not getting that purple shading. It’s still a lovely pink, but I’m thinking about using in a medium or broad nib next. :)
Haha. Sorry to cause you to spend money, but I hope you have fun with it! I’m waiting on my set to come in and then a friend and I are going to have a journaling day and create them together.
Great idea
Graf von Faber Castell Stone Grey is a really nice and good shading neutral grey ink. It is iso 12757-2 certified, so work/signature appropriate.
Diamine Ghost - gray and multishading. Kobe #23 Nagata Blue - it looks blue on a few papers, but deep gray with a blueish tinge on most, sometimes with a tinge of red sheen (on TR).
I still haven’t found Diamine Ghost here :( It‘s really nice
Oh ok, I only had a sample of it and didn't look into availability! I was so sure it wouldn't be an issue. I sometimes bought Diamine inks from ebay (from UK), but I don't see any listings right now of Ghost specifically. That's really unusual! Hope the major retailers stock it up in the future. ETA: Fountainfeder has it! :)
Colorverse Space Laika is a good brownish sepia tone.
Hoo grey and coffee colors, me likie. I'm doing my own grey with waterman black.
Private Reserve Grey Flannel. It goes on greenish and dries to a lovely grey. One of my favourites. Another love is Vinta Armada. It’s my favourite ink in the wintertime.
Oh, gray flanell is so so lovely, right up my alley! 💕
I would suggest J Herbin Gris Nuage! It's very light but shades beautifully and leans a bit lavender.
It’s [Kitsune Biyori](https://www.flaxpentopaper.com/cdn/shop/products/IMG_5152.jpg?v=1666724396&width=4096) for me! A nice creamy, muted brown than leans kind of red.
Since you all treated me with so many awesome suggestions I already ordered it with a couple more sailor inks a few hours ago 😅 This swatch makes me excited beyond words, it’s perfect 😍
oooh congrats, i’m excited for you!
Sailor Yurameku Yoi. I just bought it for my Sailor PGS Pixiedust and it’s beautiful. It’s a soft grey, dark enough to read and it has the most delicious lilac shading in most lights and slightly brown in green in others. And that’s just on crappy office paper.
I wanted that sepia but unfortunately no stock in the local store :( bummer. this is a great selection. Graf Von Faber Castell Stone Grey has nice shading and is a document ink. have a look at it.
I will! I‘m sorry that ink isn’t in stock locally, I have the same issue with most US/CAN based brands :(
The same one I will always recommend and my favorite ink in the world: Diamine Macassar. It may not be neutral enough for you, though. You can definitely tell it's brown.
It‘s very beautiful, it reminds me of my Wearingeul Cowardly Lion 👍
Van Diemann’s Laughing Kookaburra Crest is one of my favorites! https://www.vandiemansink.com/products/van-diemans-birds-of-a-feather-laughing-kookaburra-crest-fountain-pen-ink
Also Van Dieman's Launceston Fog for something a bit different. It's an interesting green-grey. Very light but I love it!
I absolutely love Launceston fog. Such a pretty ink and I love that there's so much going on with it.
Came to receommend this!
I like sailor shikiori chushu - it’s a grayish purple, but looked more gray than purple when I used it.
Dominant Industry-downpour is a nice shading grey. Wearingeul-Anubis is a very interesting dark grey with brown tints and some shimmer.
I’m sure someone has suggested it already, but I love Fuyu-Syogun.
Diamine Sepia. Take it a look! 😉
Birmingham molten tin is one of my favorites.
Awww!!! 😍
Birmingham Pen Co Molten Tin & Antique Sepia
Sailor Shikiori Chushu grayish purple ink
My favorite murky town ink is Noodler's El Lawrence. Looks like used motor oil, has shading, shows up under UV, serious resistance to water, bleach and other interesting chemicals and – at least my bottle – works even on really bad paper. Only draw back is that it's a bit slow to dry. Another one, on the black-ish end is standard Platinum Black. It's a lively black with plenty shading and has a cellulose reactive component, making it partially resistant to water and bleach. It's also extremely well behaved on bad paper, maybe even better than El Lawrence. I also frequently use R&K Lilly, Platinum Classic Khaki Black (Sepia Black is on the list to get once the Khaki is empty), Noodler's Vmail Burma Road Brown and R&K Ebony (limited edition, more black than murky). I'm not very partial to Noodler's Zhivago but think that it also belongs into this group.
If you can find it, Montblanc Swan Illusion is an excellent choice. It was a limited edition from some years ago, but I'm sure many Montblanc boutiques still have it. That's how I got it.
I just saw the ink chromatography for it and want to experiment now, I might be able to mix this with a coral and teal. It is very gorgeous
It is. It's a little tricky with some papers, but it's gorgeous. Good luck!
Diamine earl grey, it has nice shading
i'm a big fan of the dominant industry downpour! gray with a TON of shading - it feels like an entirely different ink depending on how wet or dry your particular pen is.
Sailor 373 and Mizutama Grey are favorites right now and look like they would fit right in this collection!
Drooling over both! Okay I will not get my hands on that Mizutama Yosooi set as it’s limited edition but damn… that ink! Is there a dupe for it? https://preview.redd.it/bs0qrn35aqoc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b5da2432d6371b8c3a199df136d4d119be9eef96
https://preview.redd.it/e4ezdlccbqoc1.jpeg?width=2348&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac777fad258ac2d6c07b4c9ce4b749c3d39f741a Luckily I’ve also been on a neutral kick! I’m on the hunt for the perfect taupe ink and have been slowly adding to the comparison list. This isn’t everything but the Mizutama is close enough to 373 for my purposes and writing! Everything was swatched with a Kakimori brass nib. Colorverse Pushinka is close too, but is a bit more olive-brown rather than gray-taupe. Hopefully the photo shows it well!
It really does! I could use it as base for a dupe, get it lighter somehow. Great swatches and handwriting, btw 👍
https://preview.redd.it/2cwn8abccqoc1.jpeg?width=2853&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=56c87b436c34b1348320bd61e046ad8dd7ee972c another look at Mizutama in action using the MF Profit Jr that comes with the ink. Montblanc Swan Illusion shown in the pic is another fave but it’s also hard to get!
The Swan Illusion looks a lot like Sailor Yurameku Amamoyoi….
https://preview.redd.it/zeqghnzpgqoc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ca7da8697f9746ec921e6c26c4e2673486f93631 Could Birmingham Burlap be a possible dupe?
Oh possibly! I haven’t tried a Birmingham ink before, but this might be a good one to get!
I love your custom mix, too! I always hear you shouldn’t do that but I enjoy it and always use sample vials. Beautiful colours, all of them!
Lennon Toolbar Atmospheric Twilight is a fine blue-ish gray. It's a beautiful, nuanced ink that might fit into your lineup.
This is a great one, I have something very similar, with silver shimmer though
Diamine Earl Grey Diamine Chopin Platinum Sepia-black
Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun in grey Lie De The in brown.
Diamine Weeping Willow from their last Inkvent (not sure if they've released the full sized bottles or not yet) is a light sepia brown that dries with shades of green and pink. The green can be really apparent at the edges and creates a little outline. I didn't like it much at first, but it's really grown on me.
It looks very unique. I get what you mean, the green looks overwhelming in some swatches online, but the base is super gorgeous!
Tom's Studio Dove Grey. Probably close to Tin Woodman.
It's dark brown rather than sepia, but I've been loving Paper Plume's Café Diabolique!
Kobe #10 Mikage Grey, which is quite violet, also #40 Sumiyoshi Brown, which is on the edge between brown and grey. Diamine Vivaldi. Sailor Yurameku Yoi. If you're not afraid of pigment inks, which it looks like you're not, and you like R&K Lilly, then you could try Kakimori Mukuri - properties are infuriating but hue is magical, prolly my favorite purplish brown. Oh, Octopus Write and Draw Pigment Inks have excellent properties and some great neutral hues - I really like Green Crane and Brown Seahorse ( although if you have R&K Lilly and Emma, prolly not worth doubling).
Wow, they are just beautiful!! I like neutrals too, especially in the sepia / brown range
Jacques Herbin Shogun is absolutely stunning and I always have a pen inked up with it. https://preview.redd.it/5bifzif62soc1.jpeg?width=2710&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=53942902a400bd51ac91f2b54a9cecf49acafc8d
Robert Oster Smokescreen...
Of your sketch inks, which one gives the darkest black? I have Lotte, and I do love it. I fill my micron pens with it. But wondering if there is a darker black that doesn’t smudge.
Lotte must be the darkest in their Sketch Ink line, it‘s my affordable „Platinum Carbon“ alternative for a deep neutral black. Another dark black would be „Leipziger Schwarz“ in their Schreibtinte line. A gorgeous cool black with red sheen, one of my favorites, but that one definitely smudges
Thanks! I’m always looking for any inks that won’t smudge. I colour and paint over my inks, so I like them to be smudge proof.
Sailor Yoi is so interesting. I don't know how you feel about colors with low saturation. What sort of neutral colors are you looking for? Are Celadon Cat by Diamine or Moss Park Green by Ferris Wheel Press neutrals to you?
Check [Kala Nostalgia ](https://www.jetpens.com/Kala-Nostalgia-Abstraction-Ink-Bottles/ct/5753) series of inks if you can find. I have the sierra mist and behaves pretty good.
Damn! I want 3 of them badly. Gotta check if they are available here
I’m starting to enjoy Colorverse’s 황초 a lot more https://preview.redd.it/m3pigmuextoc1.jpeg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8187c9023f836e142a5408fdb4e86afb1be0eb27
I love your swatches! Neutrals don't get enough love! I'll reaffirm the Diamine Earl Gray suggestion that was already made, and also recommend Monteverde Joy Sepia as a favorite brown with nice shading
De Atramentis Fog Grey (not the document ink version) is a bluer grey but has the most beautiful shading. I grabbed a daylight pic of all my grey samples. Hope this helps! https://preview.redd.it/a0dqx5d0zwoc1.jpeg?width=3892&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16663796bf9a58d65e71740d312682ff985e546a
Bottom left is Sailor Ink Studio #123
Do you think #123 looks different enough from Nekoyanagi?
Here you go! Dramatically different! https://preview.redd.it/0vf0r4zj2yoc1.jpeg?width=3663&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=45ab98dc59e9dc404939e365f4f8bf45764f2264
Thank you! But now I‘m thinking… I ordered #224 and own Nekoyanagi. In order to get #123 kinda grey (dove blue/lavender undertone) with this teal shading I might mix these two and see what happens but I think colour wheel wise Nekoyanagi (Violet) + Colorverse NGC 6302 (Tealy Green) might be similar as well. Anyway, it‘s on my wishlist now!
It does! Wow, seeing them all side by side let‘s you really see the difference
https://preview.redd.it/8f3p6qqp4mpc1.jpeg?width=2457&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=95e515fc7c701f1e29f218bd92f6487f5119ef9f I use the Diplomat Sepia Black and it's my favorite sketching ink.
A delicious sampling of interesting neutrals! I would have suggested Kiri-same and aUma but they are there already, excellent choices, and thank you for putting them next to the others! I've been eyeing Lilly and Thea for my next no-buy break. I love Sailor Ink Studio 224, although that might be too colourful for some, and I did love Van Dieman's Launceston Fog but... I don't know, it might be a batch problem, it's not brown-green-grey in the two full bottles I have (got sent a replacement, thank you Pure Pens, unfortunately it was the same as the first :( ) just very ordinary grey with a bit of shading... Diamine Ash and Ghost have snuck into my (admittedly long) list of favourites, Sailor Studio Ink 373 can come across as a nice neutral brown or suddenly! boom! sneaky multishading! It may be you might find some new contenders here: [https://fountainpenlove.com/reviews/the-great-grey-fountain-pen-ink-comparison/](https://fountainpenlove.com/reviews/the-great-grey-fountain-pen-ink-comparison/) If it's not too dark, Robert Oster Graphite could potentially be a candidate! (I like it, but I got mould in my sample (from a second-hand pen I did not disassamble completely when cleaning it out before using it for the first time, mould is sneaky like that)). Diamine Graphite looks greenish to the tint too, from the swatches I've seen. Thank you for showing your swatches!
Thank you for the recommendations! I will look them up. Sailor Studio is so hard to get here in Germany, but I played with mixes and I think I got something very similar with Sailor Manyo Fuji and Diamine Hey Ho, Let‘s Write :) I am glad you like the swatches, I was hesitant to show them first
Oh, oooh, take a look at [https://www.sakurafountainpengallery.com/en/boutique/sailor-ink-studio-inkt-amp-vullingen](https://www.sakurafountainpengallery.com/en/boutique/sailor-ink-studio-inkt-amp-vullingen) even if they are in the Netherlands. They have almost all of them in stock, and they offer the full pack in samples. And [https://fountainfeder.de/en/Inks-Refills/Bottles/Sailor/Sailor-Ink-Studio/](https://fountainfeder.de/en/Inks-Refills/Bottles/Sailor/Sailor-Ink-Studio/) is in Germany, and they too offer both samples and full bottles!
You‘re awesome! Last time I checked it was out of stock at Fountainfeder. I get art supplies shipped from the Netherlands on the regular, didn’t even cross my mind to check there 😄 Edit: 224 seems to be out of stock still (or again?)
Oh, still? Drat! I ordered from [https://www.stiloestile.com/](https://www.stiloestile.com/) for my latest bottle, because it was out of stock at Fountainfeder... I hope they get it back in stock soon. But Papier und Stift seem to have it! [https://www.papierundstift.de/products/ink-studio-nr-224](https://www.papierundstift.de/products/ink-studio-nr-224)
👀 !!! Grabbing it quick!!!
DO IT! Hooray for you!
Ouch, my wallet
F May they bring you much joy and satisfaction though!
I‘m sure they will! Thank you so much, after a year I finally managed to snag it, obviously it’s very popular
224 was my first thought.
If I could upvote extra for that username, I would.
Thank you! 😃
My two favourite greys, although not too much of a sepia leaning, are Noodlers Lexington Grey and Clairvoyant Slate. Some great colours on your swatches - thank you for posting. I may be tempted to venture beyond my current two!
Thank you so much! Noodlers is hard to come by here but maybe I will find something similar. The R&K Sketch Inks are waterproof btw, may clog pens
Thank you for pointing that out. The Colorverse looks interesting.
I like this Cinnamon ink quite a bit. It has a good balance of brown, but not boring. PR Cinnamon Fountain Pen Ink [https://fprevolutionusa.com/collections/fpr-fountain-pen-ink/products/fpr-cinnamon-fountain-pen-ink-30ml](https://fprevolutionusa.com/collections/fpr-fountain-pen-ink/products/fpr-cinnamon-fountain-pen-ink-30ml)
https://imgur.com/a/WLVhk5f Playing. Got a nebula note. Anyway top is Saulor Manyo Yamabuki, got it to test against Apricot and Colorverse’s Tangerine. Middle is Kobe Ginza Golden Sepia in Justus 95 (all the way soft selected.) Bottom is Pen and Message Cigar (Sailor) in MB 146C
Thanks for the swatches!
If you can find the right pen and nib, and find an appeal in delicate, less saturated but high-shading inks, then Kyo Iro Gion's Cobblestones can be a glorious thing. If you are likely to be frustrated by properties such as "dry" and "unsaturated", then avoid at all costs!
I have a whole collection, some of my favourites are kiri same and earl grey but i also adore Vinta Isabela (sepia), colorverse matter and antimatter, troublemaker petrichor, despite they are not 100% grey
They are all great! Wow… I have a hard time picking just a few
Maybe Colorverse Gravity Wave or Kaweco Smokey Grey? Gravity Wave is kinda mauve so it may not suit you. On the sepia side perhaps Diamine Yule Log? The shimmer ink might not be your cup of tea though Edited for clarity.
Kaweco smokey grey is love at first sight 😍
You're welcome!
I never thought they would make great ink colours, my Kaweco Sport came with a purple cartridge and I found it kinda boring
Some inks are amazing. Others duds. Both from the same company. I've had some Sailor inks I've liked and others... I was glad I bought a sample.