Platinum Carbon Ink Bottle 60ml - Black

I don't know how this seller can charge half of what everyone else seems to for this iconic, reliable ink, but it seems to be the real deal. Second bottle I've bought on Amazon. Great for using with watercolor and for everyday writing. Dries fast enough for a lefty to use without smearing.

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.

I've written this review multiple times trying to get it right so I'm going to start from the beginning. I draw comic books and saw people talking about this ink and how black it was on Youtube. After all the reviews, I found it on Amazon an ordered it. Comic book artist like deep black ink against white Bristol board, Speedball Super Black is generally what's used along with Ultra Draw, Dr. PH Martin and various sumi inks which are also getting popular now. I wanted to review this ink on the Night Phoenix Press Youtube channel specifically from the point of view of a comic book artist and how it would work with my Pentel Fude Brush Pen, brushes and dip pens. When I got it, it seemed to dry more dark grayish than black. I shook it up and everything. I will say with the dip and fountain pens there were never any problems. My go to inks are Blick Black Cat and Yasumoto Waterproof Sumi, but I originally tested Carbon Black against Blick Black Cat and Zig Black Ink 60 which is also sumi and made for drawing. Both inks seemed noticeably blacker, so I reviewed it here. I revamped my review when I noticed on 300gsm cotton water color paper Carbon Black went down black and stayed black. I don't know what happened, but a few days later I was going to remove Carbon Black from my brush pen and fill it with Ultra Draw (a thinner ink used for technical pens), but I made some marks with the brush pen and the Carbon Black went down very black and stayed that way. I drew a few images using the brush pen and it was indeed satisfyingly black. I don't know if the pigment had to settle or maybe there was some water still in the brush pen, but I did also try it with a brush early on so I don't know. It is very black now. I tossed the original dark grayish images I used in the original review, but have posted the new images of the ink being very black. My issue is with pricing, considering big bottles of sumi ink cost the same as this and two ounces of Super Black, Black Cat and Zig's cartoonist and manga inks all cost much less. The thing is this ink is marketed to fountain pen users. It's a very black ink that's thin enough to use in fountain pens and easy to clean up according to reviews I've seen. Also the cool glass bottle and internal cup definitely add to the price as most fountain pen inks come in these slick glass bottles that do look cool on a desk. It's a definite recommend, but not something I would buy consistently considering Black Cat, Speed Ball Super Black, Yasumoto and Zig's sumi inks are all very black and Ultra Draw is decently black and can be used as a brush pen ink. I assume Ultra Draw would also work in a fountain pen as it's made for Rapidograph and other technical pens which have much smaller outlets. Also it's more water resistant than waterproof, but according to some that has to do with the kind of paper used. I'm not going to be painting over it and sketch artist who watercolor their art like Teoh Yi Chie still like it, so there's that. -Nathyn Brendan Masters

Love this ink! Bought it after a horrible failed attempt in my Lamy fountain pen. Feared I had ruined it with junk Speedball India Ink as all it would do is clog up. But now after being cleaned out. My lamy pen is working how it should! This really is fabulous ink! And it’s waterproof for my watercolor art. Dries quick, and no smearing. Exactly what I was looking for.

This carbon ink has quickly become one of my favorite art supplies. It dries fast, holds up flawlessly to water, and delivers an impressively deep, dark black. Whether you sketch, ink, create line art, or simply want a dependable ink for everyday fountain pen writing, this one performs beautifully. As someone just getting into urban sketching and watercolor, this ink has been a game-changer— especially after learning the hard way that not all “waterproof” pens can withstand a good watercolor wash. This ink absolutely can. No smearing, no feathering, no losing that crisp line work! I honestly have nothing negative to say. It does exactly what it promises, and it has elevated my artwork more than I expected. If you’re looking for a truly waterproof, fast-drying, super black ink that works for both art and everyday writing, this one is absolutely worth adding to your toolkit.

Excelent ink for plain paper. Almost no bleeding and very little feathering in ordrinary and even thin paper. Black is very black. No shimmer, no sheen, no nothing but what you want for a black ink to do just right.

This ink is really BLACK, which I like. It's fairly waterproof, which I also like. However, the way it flows out both of my LAMY 2000 pens (one is F-tip, Lamy's version of "fine" and the other EF or "extra-fine") makes lines that are far too WIDE for my taste. This ink also markedly reduced friction, causing the tip slide about on the paper too easily... like writing on a "slip-n-slide" mat! Some of this may be due to the paper I'm using: Clairfontaine 90 g/sq. meter. If your pen has a scratchy tip, too much friction, etc. then this ink will oil that baby up! ... which I don't much care for, but you might like it. Otherwise, darn good ink for the price!

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.