Review: Dr. Ph. Martin's Black Star HiCarb India Ink
Dr. Ph. Martin's Black Star HiCarb India Ink is the darkest black ink from Dr. Ph. Martin's. It's darker than both Black Star Matte and Bombay Black.
This is also the darkest compared to all other black inks I've reviewed. It's really quite amazing to see an ink so black. It's like looking into a black hole.
The ink comes in a 30ml bottle with a dropper.
It's pigmented, made from 100% carbon black pigment. Interestingly, the label on the bottle says that it can be used in technical pens as mall as 0.134mm.
It contains no varnish or shellac.
Below are some ink tests.
It dries fast to a matte surface.
The ink is waterproof and resistant to erasing.
It's able to hold a sharp edge well.
Conclusion
If you want the darkest possible permanent ink, Dr. Ph. Martin's Black Star HiCarb India Ink is the one to get. I've tested more than a dozen black inks and the Black Star HiCarb is the darkest.
I'm really impressed at how dark it is. When you use it on white paper, the contrast is striking.
It also dries fast to a matte surface just like the Black Star Matte.
I just don't see any downside to this ink.
Availability
Find more reviews at Dick Blick Art Materials (US) | Jackson's Art (UK)
Comments
Hi Teoh! ^^
Hi Teoh! ^^
I'm a bit confused. In one video you mentioned you can't use this ink for technical pencils but on the bottle it says you can.
I wanted to use this ink for my lamy fountain pen because i heard it also works with the pentel pocket brush. Or is there any difference i don't get? xD
Since it's pigmented ink,
In reply to Hi Teoh! ^^ by strawberry (not verified)
Since it's pigmented ink, when it dries, the pigment particles may clog the pen. That's why I say that it may not be suitable for technical pens. You could try using in pens that you can fully dismantle for cleaning just in case it clogs.
After testing this ink with
After testing this ink with several technical pens of different sizes, I can say with confidence that it if you leave this ink in your pen, it will clog, even at a 2:1 water dilution. Not completely, it flows just fine at first and lays down beautiful ultra-black lines, but it's quite hard to clean. I've managed to clog my Faber Castell TGs over and over when leaving it in. I got fed up and just put Rotring ink instead.
If you must have black hole matter on your paper, I suggest using it for tech pens you're going to wash immediately after you're done drawing. For tech pens you're going to carry around with you, I suggest using Rotring technical pen ink, or Koh-I-Noor Ultradraw (which I've NEVER had any issues with, past its lack of saturation).
I've yet to try Matte Black, but I have the feeling it might give me less clogging issues.
@grumps
In reply to After testing this ink with by grumps (not verified)
@grumps
Thanks for your insight. This ink is thick so it's likely to clog. I recommend using ink that specifically says they are made for fountain pens.
Hello
Hello
I hope you can answer me.
I have a question regarding this ink.
I understand that this ink is of an intense black color and perhaps for that reason only one layer of the ink is enough but when placing more layers, do they acquire some shine?
Thanl you.
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