Review: Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Sumi Ink 60

This is the Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Sumi Ink 60 that's made in Japan. Note that Kuretake sells several types of black ink.

The ink comes in a rather large 60ml bottle. The large base keeps the bottle stable. It has a wide opening for dip pens and brush.

Sumi ink is usually made for brush calligraphy and painting. However, the label on the bottle says it's a ink for manga or comic drawing. This ink is actually quite similar to the Kuretake Black Ink 60 but there are some differences. For one, this is not waterproof.

This scan is adjusted for exposure while leaving the paper texture intact. Below are the close ups.

The ink is intensely black and dries to a matte neutral black with a slight sheen at concentrated areas.

It's able to hold sharp edges well.

It's pigmented so you should not use it in fountain pens.

Drying time is average to fast. When dry, it becomes permanent and holds up well to erasing.

Unfortunately, the ink is not waterproof. It's smudge-proof though when dry.

To see how this ink compares with other black ink, visit https://www.parkablogs.com/picture/comparison-of-different-black-inks

Conclusion

For comic book inking, whether or not it's waterproof is not that important. As a black ink, it has good covering strength and resistant to erasing, so it's still a good choice for illustration and comic work.

At the time I bought it, it was around US $6. That's a good deal for 60ml of ink.

Availability

Follow the direct links below to get Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Sumi Ink 60 on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.it | Amazon.es

Search Jackson's Art (UK) too.