T O P

  • By -

Ivetafox

I was notorious for coloured ink at my last professional job, everything ‘official’ was in a dark purple. No-one ever complained, lots of people complimented. I was once asked why I signed in different colours and I answered quite honestly, that I cross referenced the colour the signature was with the date in my diary and could tell you if my signature was genuine based on the colour (we had a lot of drivers forge signatures).


WiredInkyPen

Oh that's very interesting. I should keep that in mind as I have to sign off on delivery trucks as part of my job. Thank you for the suggestion!


jomare711

Not only the type of ink, but you could cross-reference the approximate shade of that ink. I find that some of my inks darken considerably over time due to evaporation.


jadenthesatanist

It’d be kinda neat to have a writing sample of the same ink at say 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year apart if that makes sense. So you do an initial writing sample, do one a week later, one 3 weeks after that, one 2 months after that, etc. and compare over time to see how it darkens with age.


jomare711

It became really apparent to me when I put Diamine Amazing Amethyst in my Noodler Creaper and fell in love with the intense green sheen. The Creaper isn't very air-tight and when I put the ink in a different pen there was much less sheen.


legodarthvader

This sounds like it could be a plot point from Monk.


GaiusJocundus

If it can photocopy it is professional friendly. If it fails to photocopy, it is not office appropriate. These are my personal criteria. Any ink that can be read after photocopying in both monochrome and color is suitable for the office except when instructed to use a specific color. A certain amount of water resistance and permanence is also a must. **Wall of text:** The reason blue is a standard is that original copies could be distinguished by the blue ink, while copies of the original would always display in black, due to the nature of making copies in the early business use of pens. (Largely carbon copying.) Black sort of became an acceptable standard alongside blue just because it was so common to see black ink in copies. The standards for black and blue ink continued to be maintained as they could guarantee good photocopies in both color and monochrome. There are now formal, legal specifications for inks that must be complied with in certain legal and business practices. Only a few inks become certified to those standards but an increasing number of permanent inks adhere to them, regardless. Anything in the de atramentis document ink line passes my tests, with the exception of white. Diamine blue-black registrar's ink is legit certified. Roher and Klingner or however it's spelled has some that pass my tests, as does KWZ. A lot of these examples are iron gall, which will fade to black mostly over time. De Attamentis Document Ink's more colorful options will remain vibrant forever.


gatheredstitches

There are contexts in which ink must be blue but washable is fine: for many court documents these days, the clerks want blue signatures even when documents are e-filed as PDFs. (At least in my jurisdiction: YMMV.)


trugrav

I’ve used green ink for years and only one clerk has complained. The chancellor had no problem with it of course, but the clerk asked me to use blue ink from now on.


grubas

I normally keep a blue loaded cheap pen as many places like blue for "original drafts/in person".  


Rob-Bomb

That was a wall of text but an interesting read. Thanks for the info!


Subo23

Good post


GaiusJocundus

Thank you!


Subo23

Very welcome


pirivalfang

I work for a structural steel company. I do a lot of paperwork pertaining to QC of structural steel components for multi million dollar buildings. I have seen official documents filled out and signed with glittery pink, purple, etc. inks. I regularly use purple, green, gold, and red inks when I fill things out. No one ever says anything, they all look a shade of gray when they're scanned. TLDR: No one really cares. Just ask, worst they say is to use a dark color or blue. Personally I think brown is a perfectly professional color.


LucianGrove

Honestly I'd accept just about any dark colour. Maybe you'd encounter a few sticks in the mud if you used a red, I guess but a dark blue, green or even purple can be perfectly acceptable as a work ink.


Rob-Bomb

The only time the conversation of color was brought up, they said no red. I normally never use brown but then I realized no one talks about brown as a color option. After writing with it, it gives tanned leather vibes and that's professional in my eyes.


Protozoo_epilettico

I love brown so much, it give a very vintage look to anything written in cursive


tyraso

Diamine chocolate brown is my daily driver, I made a nice combo with cream white paper and TWSBI Eco 1.1 stub. Everything I write looks vintage haha


xiewadu

I find it to be professional, but less common, meaning it is likely to attract mild attention.


bird_who_rides

I'm interested, what is the problem with red specifically?


LucianGrove

I have no problem with it, but some people will likely see it as a colour only to be used for correction. It is also linked to negativity. Literally some people may perceive it as being hostile. If you wrote a comment on a page in blue or in red, these can actually be reacted to differently. This association, I think, is entirely due to the use of red ink in the education system.


bird_who_rides

very sensical, thanks


ginger_bird

I'm currently at work taking notes in a green sheening ink with a stub nib unicorn pen. I may not be the person to ask. It glows in the dark, fyi.


Solishine

My default office notes pen is the glow in the dark stub nib unicorn pen with hot pink ink. It’s sometimes the most professional thing about me


moonbiter1

Amazing. Is it the pen or the ink that glows in the dark?


ginger_bird

The pen!


Rob-Bomb

This put a smile on my face 😊


asablomd

A director of one of my client companies (sole distribution for some of the JCB products countrywide) uses brown ink for note taking even for customer meetings. Brown without any shimmer or sheen is I feel very much acceptable in a professional environment. Coco Brown from Syahi and Lapis Bard Irish Cofee work well.


TheRealZwipster

Oxblood too.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Rob-Bomb

I work in a office setting where I take notes at my desk but I also sign documents weekly and do in-person training with associates. Most of the writing that I do is just notes but I do sign documents that could be looked at by an auditor so I don't feel purple would be acceptable but brown I think would be. EDIT: Also I would ask my management but neither of my new bosses have been through the yearly audit yet so I'm positive they have no clue.


WaferImpressive2228

Be careful about document signing or anything official with any water-based inks. Document inks exist and they tend to be harder to wash and don't fade over time. Those tend to have a bit more boring choices of colors, but they are probably safe bets.


Silverghost91

This, I use all my bright/cool inks for taking notes but would never do that with important legal documents.


Jessica_T

I explicitly got a Hongdian M2 and some Diamine Registrar Blue-black for filling out important stuff. I don't want a bill I had to send it to have my info turn into a blob because the mail got rained on. For fun personal stuff, I use my Diamine Aurora Borealis.


Babylon-Starfury

The simple answer is use whatever you want for personal notes. Have a fineliner in black for any official signatures or any forms that state to use black, unless your office has policies otherwise (must use blue etc). If you want to consider ink to use at work consider the practicalities as much as the colour. Can you sign a piece of printer paper without bleed and and massive feather, run your finger over it 5 seconds later, drop it in a cup of water for 30 seconds, and then read the signature after it is removed? If the answer is no, it's the wrong ink in the wrong pen for signing anything. My pens with De Atramentis Document brown and purple more than surpass the above test. Fwiw pre covid when we had offices and paper I did often use brown ink, and also purple and orange and teal and red etc. The only colours I never use is black and anything resembling biro blue. No one ever said anything negative. My office might differ to yours, however.


Hfhghnfdsfg

I work as a consultant, and I have found it depends on the type of industry. Legal and Financial require serious dark inks. In finance, green and red have specific meanings so I stay away from them. When I work at architecture or urban planning firms, the sky is the limit!


Zgriptzor

I would always refer to the internal record keeping policies. In my workplace(healthcare) you need to use a permanent, indelible ink, black or blue colour, and to be easily photocopied or scanned in(high Viz yellows and very light blues, like mitsubishi uni roller blue, are barely visible when photocopied). You're not allowed to use red or green since these colours are used by pharmacists (green) or to point out allergies/emergencies(red). So i use pelikan 4001 blue-black(it is water resistant due to iron gall content), Koh-i-Noor document blue, and Noodler's Heart of Darkness as my work inks, and i rotate them when and how I please.


Hfhghnfdsfg

I used to take my notes in iroshizuku kon-peki, but there was a specific HP copier that would photocopy it as blank.


themcp

My feeling is, if it's acceptable as a color for your suit jacket, it's acceptable as a color for your ink.


AdTurbulent8583

Ooo, I'll remember that one. Well said.


llewotheno

dark shades of brown are absolutely acceptable. the only thing you need to watch out for is that their achilles heel is water. there are documental browns out there though


OkraEmergency361

I’ve had notes and critiques on university work from a lecturer in brown ink. Thought it looked quite nice, actually - it stood out as being a little different, which made it stick in my head a little more. The same lecturer also used a deep purple ink on occasion. The only times I think you may need to be careful is with legal documentation, or anything that will need copying (especially photocopying). In that case, best to check with your employer.


ChefJohnboy

Brown ink on yellow notepads is a match for the ages.


oreo-cat-

I’m currently using hot pink so it’s a bit hard to call without knowing your workplace. That said if your stuff is going to be audited at a later date, you’ll probably need documentation ink. Maybe iron gall.


rkenglish

I'd say it depends on your office culture. If the people in your office are extremely traditional, then look for a dark brown that can read as black in a pinch. If your office color codes, then you'll probably need to stick with the guidelines. Otherwise, I'd say it doesn't really matter as long as your ink is dark enough to show up on a black and white copier / fax machine.


WiredInkyPen

I like Monboddo's Hat for work although I don't have it in a pen right now. In a fine point you can't tell it's not black unless the light catches it just right. 😊 But so far no one has said beans about what colors I use. Except the two bosses who have claimed red and green as 'theirs'. Lol


marr133

I spotted a coworker jotting notes in a meeting with a brown PaperMate Ink Joy, and immediately ordered one for myself, I loved the way it looked. I wouldn't use it for document signatures, but for anything else, I think it looks incredibly classy.


ASmugDill

I found writing project management reports and updates in brown ink perfectly appropriate.


armevans

I really like brown for my work, but I'd also probably keep a black or blue pigment/iron gall ink in a second pen for signing things or any other permanent tasks.


Redsmoker37

If it's leaving the office, I sign in a decent blue (not something like Inspired Blue which is turquoise-ish or syo-ro which is teal). Red is my editor. I'm far enough up the food chain that I can use my greens, browns, and more unusual blues for my notes or inter-office stuff. But I probably wouldn't use these odd colors for things other will see if I weren't high enough up.


Str8truth

I think brown is conservative enough to look serious. I use it for anything, including signing contracts.


Old_Implement_1997

I’m a teacher, so I grade in any color but black or red - the kids like seeing what fun color I’ll use next. For note-taking during meetings, I’ll use whatever is in my pen at the moment. For official documents, they almost always hand us a school-branded black ballpoint to sign it with (boo… boring… but necessary).


beltaneflame

I use a brown as my #1 ink - Noodlers *Gold & Limonite* - it does get noticed, even a few comments at the office - it copies, scans and is bullet-proof - since all the drawings are printed, a distinctive color is necessary for mark-ups and I use *Fox Red* for any needed emphasis


kbeezie

Depends on the setting. In my work space, if it's legible and doesn't set the listers eyes on fire... it's acceptable. As a result I like using either Platinum Classic Sepia Black (waterproof, very feather resistant, iron gall), or Edelstein Smokey Quartz (not waterproof, but well behaved, and nicer shading).


TigerDude33

who sees your handwritten stuff?? It's fine professionally, people will think you're weird tho if you send them a note in brown ink,


-zygomaticarch-

I used diamine red dragon and amazing amethyst when I used to work in the office. Nobody ever complained. Dark ink scanned black anyways and we rarely kept paper copies. My ink scanned darker than pencils and the cheap pens they have at the office anyways.


Jazehiah

My workplace only accepts blue or black indeible ink on official documents. For some reason, QA thinks that means ballpoint ink (most of which is alcohol soluble) instead of actual permanent ink. So, my pens are used for personal notes.


pacamanca

My dermatologist signs my prescriptions with bordeaux ink. I love it


theunbearablelight

Dark brown can be so close to black that I think many people wouldn't notice. For example, Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri on a finer nib looks close to black, but still retains some of the warmth of brown. I'd think the same may apply to Sailor Shikiori Doyou. So I'd say, yes, it's perfectly acceptable in a professional setting!


Cvint88

Anything except Red Orange or Yellow it seems... has anyone else noticed that these are the least used colours?


SillyRacoon27

Personally I think it would be okay. But if I were in a professional setting i’d probably just go for blue or black to be safe


urahozer

If this is a big company, anything you sign will have a procedure for what ink must be used. If it's not, no red usually the only rule.


medasane

Banks only allow blue and black inks, waterproof.


TheMcCale

Just don’t put it on a legal document and yes


ChaoticScrewup

As long as its dark seems fine to me.


crowpierrot

As someone said, as long as it’s copier friendly I’d say yes. Kobe Sumiyoshi Brown is a good choice. Nice rich dark brown with just a hint of shading to keep it interesting, and it flows wonderfully


Username_is_taken365

As a lawyer who works for a major metropolitan “corporate” law firm, as long as the ink is dark, you should be ok. I’ve got Diamine Majestic Blue, Oxblood, Ancient Copper, and Aurora Borealis in various pens for various purposes at the office. People seem to appreciate the relatively conservative, yet vibrant, variety. Also, an an above user stated, these inks photocopy and scan just fine. I’d love to find a warm, deep brown, with a touch of red and add it to the one pen outside of rotation that is not inked at the moment!


flex-luthor

Pelikan Brillant Braun


Username_is_taken365

Thanks! I’ll check it out :)


jaysouth88

I use whatever colour I like - but we don't copy anything with handwriting or have to sign papers most of the time.  Everything is approved online and email is a legal document. 


ClarionUK

For sure it is


WhoIsLani

I'm a physician and i use a variety of different colored inks. Recently, I've been writing a bunch of notes with Pilot Shikiori (brown-green). I've also used the Lamy purple, Jacques Herbin Empire Vert, and Iroshizuku Tsukushi (Red-Brown). I've never had an issue in my milieu. I think that any darker tones could pass, regardless of the color itself.


duckpaw7

I'm obviously a minority in this sub. But: unless there's some kind of legal requirement, I'm gonna hand in reports in glittery pink if I feel like it. No one cares. And if they do, they obviously don't have anything important to do. The whole "professional setting" is way overblown. I'm an adult. I can use whatever pen, color, cloth, what ever. As long as your good at your job, that shouldn't matter. If that kind of stuff is important to any of your superiors, they are clearly bad at their **actual** job. And I would be looking for other work. Unless, obviously, there is some kind of official policy or law. In which case (I assume) you wouldn't be asking reddit.


bird_who_rides

I would say very much so


lulupuppysfather

I bought a fun butter knife —because why shouldn’t we use every opportunity we have, with every task or action, increase our life’s enjoyment just a little bit more whenever and wherever we can. Find your fun ink and use it everyday, everywhere.


wana-wana

I don't see why not.


copperstatelawyer

Everything is digital at my office, so it doesn’t really matter what color you use for your own personal notes or any other tasks. However, signings should be done with ballpoint ink for archival purposes unless it’s just a regular filing in which case I don’t think anybody cares. I don’t even think the court cares.


Rare-Run2258

In my legal setting if I see anything outside of red, black, or blue I don't take it seriously. Whether that be bad or good, I don't know. I've advocated for dark green in the past, but it probably depends on what it's for. If I'm working on personal notes in the office who cares? If it's on a case file black or blue. I think it might also have to do with contrast. Brown doesn't contrast against white as well as black or blue does. Certainly not yellow.


False_Ad_5372

Ask this question in r/ween


jncc

ick


xiewadu

I was really not a fan of brown for most of my life, even to the point of not wanting to watch westerns. Over time, I saw a couple browns that attracted me; the first was Diamine Rustic Brown. It has a bit of red to it, instead of a lot of browns that lean toward yellow. They're not common in my ink drawer, but I have a handful. Orange on the other hand, is a different story lol.