Calligraphy ink is available in waterproof and non-waterproof, pigmented or dyed and in many various colours. The choice of calligraphic inks is wide and quality and viscosity will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. You're going to have to resort to trial and error until you find an ink that suits your needs and style. Visit the Calligraphy Pen Store to meet your calligraphy ink needs.

In the meantime, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Ink Hints and Tips

  • One of the most important considerations when buying ink is to make sure it will not clog the pen.
  • For bottled inks, choose a nonwaterproof variety, whether black or coloured.
  • Waterproof inks are thicker and clog the pen.
  • Coloured inks are not as easy to work with as may first seem to be the case because they often have dyes in them that adversely affect the writing surfaces.
  • Never use waterproof ink in a fountain pen.
  • India ink are completely waterproof. They dry quickly to a nice lacquer shine and are not suitable for fountain pens due to the shellac type lacquer.
  • If you use calligraphy brushes with india ink, be sure to wash them out immediately.
  • Check the label for lightfastness.
  • Watercolour paints are transparent and perfect for background washes.
  • Watercolour paints are good for writing on white paper where the colour will stand out.
  • The opacity of gouaches (designer's colour) makes these the best choice when writing in colour on top of a background colour.
  • The ink that is preferred by many pracitising calligraphers for finished, high-quality calligraphy work is Chinese stick ink.
  • If you use Chinese stick ink, the correct combinations of water and ink are extremely critical so make sure you take a note of the proportions every time you make some ink.
  • For work that will be exposed to the sun, permanence may be an issue it might be a good idea to run a little test before committing to a major task.

As with all other parts of calligraphy, there is much to remember and learn to ensure that your work will look great and last for a long time. Calligraphy ink choice is a key ingredient to reaching success.

For a vast range of Calligraphy Ink to buy, visit The Calligraphy Pen Store.