Dr. Ph. Martin's Black Star India Ink (Hi-Carb) Ink Bottle, 1.0 oz, Black, 1 Bottle

Yes - this is the blackest and most opaque of the black pigmented inks. To dilute it to a medium grey, I add 20 drops of water to 1 drop of ink in a small jar. It binds permanently to every surface, even heavily-sized watercolor papers upon which Speedball Superblack won't be water-proof (such as Fabriano Studio Hot Press Watercolor paper). If you want a water-proof, opaque black pigmented ink that will stay put while you put wet media over it, you can't top this ink. Downsides: 1) Clean-up, 2) Shine, and 3) Only for dip pens. This ink doesn't clean up with water, it cleans up with rubbing alcohol. Keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol on your desk next to a jar of water - you will be using it often. It clogs dip pen nib in a couple of minutes of work, so you will be dipping your nib in rubbing alcohol every couple of minutes. And while cleaning the nib, some drops will fall and stain, so also cover your working surface in multiple layers of heavy paper to protect your workspace from this ink. This ink has a brilliant shine, which will not scan well if you plan to scan your work to reproduce it. Absolutely do not put this ink (either full strength or diluted) in a fountain pen or brush pen ever - it will clog it.

I use this for lens edge Blackening for lens optics, awesome stuff!

This is the blackest ink I've ever used by far. It's opacity on even very thin lines is impressive. It's staying power on a brush or on a nib is also a huge plus. I do a lot of inking with a Kuretake Menso sable brush, and this ink lasts and lasts between reloads. It dries with a sweet matte finish. I used to use Deleter Black 4, but found that it dried way too fast on my brushes and nibs. It made it a massive pain to work on large areas at one time. Dr PH Martin's ink is comparable in darkness and opacity, and doesn't have these problems. My favourite method is to draw and shade with pencil on cotton paper, set and stretch it with water, then ink and watercolour. This ink does NOT smear or pick up under watercolours. I use transparent watercolours, and the ink shines right through. If you work in wet media, this ink is one of the best. I think I'm going to use it from now on.

Great coverage, rich black. My favorite black ink.

The ink is indeed waterproof making it great for using watercolors over it. it tends to bleed into the paper and dry fast on the nibs (calligraphy).

This is my new favorite ink for cartoons! I always used Higgins India Ink, but all the bottles I had had gone dry from lack of use. I needed something 100% waterproof for using watercolors over the top, so I ordered this and was very impressed.

Great ink

I love the thickness of the ink, it flows really nicely! Less dipping for me for sure! Great matte black just what I wanted!

Slightly on the pricey side - let's not pretend it's not - BUT worth every penny, cent or soul of the child you traded to get it. This is hands down the best drawing ink I have tried to date. I was a big fan of another india ink and I used to buy that in bulk - it's rather cheap here in England - but recently I decided to branch out and try this one. Wow! I'm not going back. Very black. Waterproof. Can take a beating with successive layers of watercolour and remain vibrant and black like my soul and my coffee. I want to try and use it in a fountain pen next as to date I have only tried crow quill and brush. Wish me luck.

Best ink I've ever tried! Deep black and consistency is perfect for brush work.

This worked perfectly for what I needed it for. I was worried it might break in the mail but it came in perfect condition!

Probabilmente il migliore in circolazione, abbastanza grasso, ma di ottima viscosità. Il risultato su foglio è di un nero intenso, di alta qualità. Adatto per pennelli e brush pens.

Le top pour mes stylos tubulaires Rotring et Faber-Castell après avoir très légèrement coupé avec de l'eau. L'encre est parfaite, un beau noir qui sèche très rapidement (même après l'avoir coupée comme précisé). Je la recommande et j'en rachèterai une fois vide.