5. INK TEST — Fountain pen inks: colours and effects

Much more than a color. Discover how fountain pen inks can transform your strokes, reveal surprising effects, and change your writing experience.

When we think of a fountain pen, the first things that come to mind are probably its design, its nib, its materials, or its weight. Yet there's one element that often goes unnoticed and can completely transform our writing experience: the ink.

Because choosing an ink isn't just about deciding whether we want to write in blue, black, or green. There are colors that change intensity within a single word, inks that reveal unexpected sheen as they dry, and others with tiny shimmering particles that can turn the simplest stroke into something extraordinary.

And the most interesting part is that two inks that seem to be the same color can deliver completely different results.

So how do we know which ink is perfect for us? To find out, we first need to understand what happens when ink meets paper.

How many blues are there? A world of possibilities

Imagine walking into a store and asking for a blue ink. It sounds like a simple choice. But which blue? A deep, elegant navy? A bright blue? One that leans toward turquoise? Or maybe a slightly grayish blue?

And we can go even further. Do you prefer a uniform color or one that shows different intensities? Do you want an understated finish or an ink that surprises you when light hits the page?

Diamine is one of the brands that best represents this diversity. With a history dating back to 1864, the British brand offers an extraordinary range of colors and finishes, from classic shades to inks with special effects.

But what's really interesting isn't how many colors exist. It's discovering which one you'd choose.

Color has a personality too

Let's think of the same sentence written in different inks. First in black, then in dark blue, now in green, and finally in a deep burgundy. The words haven't changed, but the feeling they convey probably has.

Black can seem sober and elegant. Dark blue can convey professionalism. Green can suggest creativity, while burgundy can add warmth and personality.

These associations are subjective, and that's exactly where their appeal lies. The color one person chooses to write a letter can be completely different from the one another prefers for their daily notes.

In collections like Pelikan Edelstein, inspired by gemstones, color takes center stage and shows how an ink can add character to even the most everyday writing.

Shading: when one ink hides several tones

There's something especially fascinating about watching a word written with a fountain pen dry. Sometimes we notice that some parts of the stroke are darker than others, even though we've used exactly the same ink.

This effect is known as shading and appears when the ink varies in intensity along the stroke.

The same letter can show lighter and darker areas, creating a visual depth that transforms how it looks. For many enthusiasts, it's one of the great pleasures of writing with a fountain pen.

However, not all inks produce this effect with the same intensity. Nib width, ink flow, and the characteristics of the paper also influence the result.

Sheen and shimmer: the special effects of inks

Imagine you write a word in dark blue. You wait a few seconds, tilt the paper, and discover reddish highlights you hadn't seen before.

You haven't changed inks. You're seeing an effect known as sheen, which can appear in certain formulations when the dyes concentrate on the surface of the paper.

Unlike shading, which produces variations in intensity, sheen can reveal highlights in a different hue depending on how the light hits it.

And there's yet another effect: shimmer. In this case, the ink contains tiny glittering particles that stay on the paper and reflect the light, creating a sparkling finish.

Some collections from Diamine let you explore these effects and discover just how far an ink's creativity can go.

That said, inks with particles require certain precautions: make sure they're suitable for your fountain pen, keep them well mixed before filling, and clean your pen regularly, as particles can build up in the feed.

They may not be the most practical choice for taking quick notes in a meeting. But for writing a letter, decorating a journal, or making a sentence stand out, they can be extraordinary.

Ink also changes how your nib feels

So far, we've talked about what we see. But ink also influences what we feel when we write.

Some formulations offer a more generous flow, while others provide a more restrained feel. These differences can change how we perceive the nib's behavior on paper.

A free-flowing ink can produce visually bolder writing and a smoother, more fluid glide. A drier ink, with a more moderate flow, can be especially suitable for those who want controlled strokes.

Brands like Visconti and Graf von Faber-Castell, with their own ink collections, offer different options for exploring color and experimenting with different combinations.

Because ink doesn't work alone. The nib, the feed, the paper, and the way we write all influence the final result.

Practicality or creativity? It depends on how you write

Let's imagine two situations. In the first, you're taking notes during a meeting: you write, turn the page, and keep going. You'll probably value an ink that dries relatively quickly, with a clear line and good legibility.

Now imagine you're at home, writing calmly in your journal with your favorite fountain pen and special paper. At that moment, you might prefer an ink with variations in intensity, surprising colors, or sheen you can admire once it dries.

These are two different ways of enjoying writing. And neither is better.

An ink that's perfect for work may not be the one we'd choose for a personal letter. And a spectacular ink for journaling may not be the best choice for every kind of paper.

That's why, before choosing, it's worth thinking about drying time, color intensity, ease of maintenance, and the effects we want to achieve.

Ultimately, there's one question that can help you decide:

The same fountain pen, a completely different experience

There's something many writing enthusiasts discover over time: we don't always need a new fountain pen to experience something different.

Imagine your favorite pen filled with a deep black. Now picture the same fountain pen with a bright turquoise, then with a brown that shows different intensities, and finally with an ink with special highlights.

The barrel is still the same. The nib hasn't changed. But the look of our writing and the sensations we experience can be transformed.

That's one of the great possibilities of this world: rediscovering an instrument we already know simply by changing its ink.

So, what's the best fountain pen ink?

There's no single answer. Some people have written exclusively in blue for years and feel no need to change. Others enjoy discovering new colors, experimenting with different properties, and exploring special finishes.

For some people, drying time is essential, while others prefer to prioritize the visual richness of the stroke.

What matters isn't finding the most eye-catching ink, the most intense one, or the one with the most effects. It's discovering which one suits the way you write.

And the answer may surprise you.

INK TEST · Discover your ideal ink

At Pen Week 2026 · The Writing Lab, we want to help you discover which ink is most like you.

That's why we've prepared our Ink Test, an online experience to explore your preferences in color, intensity, and finish.

Do you prefer classic shades, or are you drawn to unexpected colors? Do you like uniform strokes, or do you enjoy variations in intensity? Are you looking for practicality for everyday writing, or do you want to experiment with special effects?

Through a few simple choices, you'll discover your ink profile and get closer to inks from Diamine, Pelikan, Visconti, and Graf von Faber-Castell that you might never have considered.

You don't need to know any technical terms or be a fountain pen expert. All you have to do is look, compare, and choose what appeals to you most.

Because an ink can change how our writing looks, how our nib feels, and even how we enjoy every word.

If you need help, contact us and we'll be happy to help.