PlatinumCarbon Ink Bottle 60ml - Black

Very nice ink. Slight feathering on most papers using dip-pen. Works excellent on textured watercolor paper, whereon, once dried it will not smudge, and totally waterproof. Not as good as Sumi inks for dip-pen, but I needed something that was waterproof. Mine had a small vial inside, which according to my research was to hold last very small amount of ink for types of pens used by sailors.I had writing that is in the description translated, and below is what I got:Here is the translation of the Japanese text in the image:Features• Platinum’s Carbon Black ink has ultra-fine particles, making writing smooth.• Carbon Black is a pigment-based ink, providing excellent lightfastness and durability, ensuring long-lasting clarity. It is ideal for archival writing and document preservation. However, because it is not water-soluble, once dried, it cannot be re-dissolved. Therefore, when using it in a fountain pen, maintenance and care are necessary.Usage Instructions• Carbon ink is for writing with fountain pens and similar instruments. Avoid using it for other purposes.• If changing ink types, clean the nib, cover, and pen reservoir thoroughly with water to prevent chemical reactions.• After use, ensure the bottle cap is tightly closed.Fountain Pen Maintenance• The ink solidifies as moisture evaporates, so always close the cap when not in use.• If the writing quality declines slightly, soak the nib in water and gently wipe it with a soft cloth.• If the pen has not been used for a while or the ink flow is poor, soak the nib in lukewarm water for one to two days. Then, rinse with running water until no more ink color comes out, ensuring only clear water flows. Finally, dry with a soft cloth to remove any moisture.• Do not leave the pen uncapped. If the ink clogs and dries completely, a full disassembly and cleaning will be required.

Until recently, Platinum Carbon Ink was the blackest ink on the market. Several months ago, Platinum released an even blacker ink, called Chou Kuro. So, is it still worth your time and money to use Carbon Ink?Let's "talk" this out.When you write with fountain pen ink, your thoughts may be about the subject you're writing about, or how smoothly (or not!) the nib moves across the paper. You probably don't think much about the CMYK color code of the liquid that's leaving the nib of your pen, only about how it makes your writing look, and whether it helps convey the thoughts you're putting on paper better with its color, hue, and intensity. And you may even choose a particular off-white shade of paper to help with that.Carbon Ink is black. When you use your fountain pen to put it on paper, you will see very little, if any, shading, sheening, or shimmer. Whether you write the line once, or go over it again, it's just as black. Unless your pen happens to run out of ink in the middle of a word, or has ink flow issues, you would not see a dark shade of gray, only black.Now, I want you to imagine standing in front of that big color palette at the big box store's paint section, while trying to decide which shade of beige would be perfect for the guest room. Only you're selecting black ink for your fountain pen. You'd see 50+ shades of "black", because every ink manufacturer has at least one black entry. Some will be dark gray, with hints of purple, blue, green, red, and combinations thereof...and way off to the side is black. Not dark gray, just black. And almost at the very edge is Carbon black. Only when viewed from the side, with the light hitting it at just the right angle, do you see some very dark gray, but you have to try to catch it at just the right angle. And next to that is Chou Kuro, which is so black that you can feel your soul being pulled from your body into the ink swatch.Chou Kuro is also twice as expensive as Carbon Black Ink! And will any reader really care if the fourth word on line 14 of your writing has a lighter spot of black in it?A word of admonition about either one of these two inks: these inks are virtually waterproof, permanent, fade resistant to sunlight, and they are pigmented! That means that there are tiny particulates floating in the liquid. When they get on the paper, they stick to the surface of the paper, and bond with it as soon as the liquid evaporates. Once the liquid is gone, you're not going to remove that ink without destroying the paper...or whatever else it may get on. Don't wear light colored shirts while using this ink. I'm sure that soap and water, mixed with some elbow grease may get almost all of the residue out, but why risk it? And your pen? Yeah, weekly, and whenever your reservoir needs to be refilled, it's a good idea to conduct a thorough cleaning of your pen. If that ink dries in your pen, you may need to find someone with an ultra-sonic cleaner (like what's used for jewelry cleaning) to get the residue out. And/or a soft brush for the area between nib and feed. And for Chou Kuro, you're supposed to use distilled water only to clean out your pen, so...you've been warned.Carbon Ink is plenty black enough for most applications, and it's perfectly safe to use with your (non-vintage) pen, provided you clean it religiously. I wouldn't put it in a pen that was valuable to me, because I'd never forgive myself if, for example, I destroyed my grandfather's Pelikan because the cap wasn't on as tight as I thought it was...

Platinum Carbon Ink is a solid choice if you're looking for a true black ink that’s waterproof and archival quality. It has a deep, rich black color that makes your writing or artwork stand out. The ink is great for situations where permanence is important, and it performs well on different paper types with minimal feathering and low bleed-through.However, it's a pigmented ink, which means it requires a bit more care and maintenance. If you don't regularly clean your pen, it can lead to clogging, and getting the pen back to working smoothly can be a hassle. While it doesn't offer any shading or sheen, the rich black tone provides excellent contrast, which is great for readability.Overall, Platinum Carbon Ink is a great option for those needing durable, high-quality ink. Just be prepared for the extra effort to maintain your pens to avoid any performance issues.

Excellent, dries quickly on most paper. I was able to sketch using this ink with an EF Jinhao and color using highlighters, markers and colored pencils without the ink smudging.

Good ink, it's waterproof, meets the description, a bit expensive I must say.