This is a quick little review of an ink that I've only used for a little while. Delta Orange came with a great pen trade from @RandomThinks on Instagram. I actually can't find this ink online at any of my usual sites, so perhaps it's out of production? Anyway, here's the quick review of this one. It's an ink that might be best used as a highlighter ink. Maybe? Anyway, I think it's too pale for most regular uses. A little more saturation would have been great on this ink, but it's no Oranje Boven.
Written Review
Close Ups!
It almost looks like there's a little bit of sheen at the edges of the swatch, but it's hardly noticeable.
Ink Comparisons
Copy Paper Test
One thing I can say in this ink's favor is that it behaves really well on copy paper. It's still too light to use, though, I think.
Chromatography
Sooo...no water resistance for this one, I'm guessing. (Watch the video, anyway. ;-) )
Video Review and Water Drop Test
This one is a pass, for me. I'm just not a fan. Of course, maybe I'm not the only one if the stores that carry Delta don't have this ink available. Since I don't have a source to send you to, there's no link to a vendor on this post.
Man. This is a review that I've been meaning to post for a long time. I've been using this ink for years, and I've had this review sitting in my stack of reviews for a long time. I have no real idea how long. Anyway, thanks to the YouTube viewer who suggested that I compare this ink to Akkerman #7. They look similar on the page, but that's where the similarity ends. You'll see the comparison at the end of the post.
There are lots of things to like about this particular ink. It's a cheerful blue color when you first lay it down, and it changes to another interesting blue color as it ages. I tried to catch this color transformation in time-lapse the other day (and you can see it in the video at the bottom of the review), but I don't have the patience to leave the video going for long enough to see a huge change. It does happen, though.
Another positive thing is the water-resistance that Salix has. It's an iron gall ink, so it's got instant water-resistance. Very helpful for those of you who are worried about your words being washed away. This stuff is permanent.
It's also going to behave well on crappy papers. No bleeding, feathering, or other nonsense. It even works on good paper (like this Rhodia)! Hooray for consistent behavior!
Speaking of behavior, it's an ink that I know will work even in pens that I think have problems. My VP isn't great, and I don't love it, but this ink makes it useable in a way that other inks haven't allowed.
Long story short, get this one. It's rad.
Written Review!
Close-Ups!
Check out the difference between these two colors. That's the color-shift I was talking about. The Custom 74 bit was just written when I took the photos, and the VP section has been on the paper for a long while. Months, probably. Cool, right?
The photo below shows what little sheen this ink has. You're unlikely to see that on regular paper or from regular nibs.
Compare!
This was written so long ago that I'd kinda forgotten about many of these inks. It's a walk down memory lane!
Copy Paper Test!
It doesn't really get any better than this. Perfect performance.
Chromatography!
A Requested Comparison!
As I said, these two look a bit alike on the page. Aside from that passing resemblance, though, they ain't much alike. The chromatography shows the huge difference. So do the water tests and such. For me, Salix wins.
This is an ink that I've been using for a while. I was sort of holding off on writing the review for a bit because I wasn't really sure what I thought of it. As you'll see in the video (and the pictures below), I've used almost all of the 3ml sample that I got from Anderson Pens.
I was on the fence about this ink because its behavior varies so much depending on what you're using it in and on. As pen/ink nerds know, a writing experience is dependent upon three factors: paper, ink, & pen. In this case, you want a wet nib on Rhodia paper and a drier nib on more normal papers. You'll see more of this below.
So, what do I think of this ink? I kinda like it. I'm probably not going to go for a bottle, but if you really like the color, then there shouldn't be any reason not to go for it.
Written Review
So, I decided to make the video for this review before I took the pictures. I dunno why. I think I just had to work off some nervous energy from buying some things that I'll show on the blog when they arrive. Anyway, I was doing the water test, and blasted water all up the center of the page. It's still legible, so that's good. Right? Science.
Close-Ups
The sample at the top is from the broad stub nib on my Panther 40, and it looks cool on the Rhodia. The one on the bottom is from the drier oblique medium nib of my Lamy Al-Star. I don't think it looks nearly as nice. On the other hand, when you look at the copy paper test below, the Lamy sample look much better. So keep those things in mind when you're buying and using this ink. Nib/Paper choice is important.
Color Comparisons!
I didn't do a ton of comparisons today. Just the ones that were sitting on my desk. Okay. I have a lot of blue inks in pens.
Chromatography
Copy Paper Test
Video Review and Water Test
This is a pretty solid ink, even if I'm not totally sold on it. It's an interesting darkish blue that's not quite a blue-black, and it has some (really mild) water resistance. It flows pretty well, though it's a little on the dry side. That just means that you should use it in your pens that tend to run wet. It'll tame them and make them more usable.
You can find it at Anderson Pens (and almost nowhere else in the US) in a 60ml bottle or a 3ml sample. If you get some, tell them I said "Hi!"
***The ink for this review was provided for free, but all opinions expressed are mine alone. No money changes hands, no expectations are expressed, and I'm not an employee.***
So, I like orange things. Maybe not as much as RandomThinks on Instagram, but I do love me some orange. This ink is fully orange. It's not a shader and it doesn't have any sheen, but it is exactly the right shade and just the right saturation. So good. That's all for now. Enjoy the colors!
Written Review
All of the pictures in this post were taken in sunlight through my window. They're kinda sun-dappled.
Close Ups
Comparisons
Most of these are from pens that I dipped in the inks to test them. I don't actually have this many orange inks in pens right at the moment. That would be crazy. Ish.
I've heard it said that Akkerman inks are just re-branded Diamine inks, but I'm not at all sure about that. I actually didn't know that I had Diamine Orange in my collection until I started looking for oranges to compare for this post. It's darn close, but Oranje Boven seems deeper, somehow.
Uh...more of that...
Here are some more oranges to compare to Oranje Boven.
Copy Paper Test
Not perfect performance, but pretty darn solid.
Video Review & Water Test
You can find this awesome orange ink in 60ml bottles and 3ml samples at Anderson Pens. They sent this ink out for me to review, and they're one of the only places in the US to find this ink. I'm getting a bottle, I think. (It's out of stock right now, but I hope it'll be back soon.) I'd say get a sample of this, at least.
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