Monday, May 10, 2010

Testing Inks

I've talked/asked about ink before on my blog, but last night I decided to break out several different inks and compare them all. I had five different black ink pads on hand that I had tried. Obviously more than I need, but some how I had collected them all on the search for the perfect black ink. I also tried several different brown inks as well as two different brands of chalk ink.

Black Ink Review


You can also view this video on YouTube here. Here is the scanned version of the sheet I promised in the video (click on the image to see it larger and to zoom in):
In the next video I compared several different brown inks as well as the Hero Arts and ColorBox chalk inks. I honestly had never done this with either!

Brown/Chalk Ink Review


You can also view the video on YouTube here.

Here are the two scans from that video (click on the image to see it larger and to zoom in):

So what is your favorite black and brown inks? Do you like chalk ink? I'd love to hear your thoughts, and I'd love to hear if there's an ink that you think is better than all of these!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Courtney.. thanks for the tutorials. I have bought plenty of inks earlier when I first started.. only starting to use them more a year later.. I love Versafine (crisp and black) - black, sepia n crimsom red (only thing about drying.
Brown.. I am still searching. Have to try chestnut roan.. but some of my small chalks ink are drying out.. dont like the packagin.. they dont stick well and tend to fall off. again..I DONT like Memories... thanks for the tutorial.. wish I had look at all these before purchasing. :)

Brenda Weaver said...

Thanks for the great review, Courtney! It's nice to see the colors side by side and see how they'll work before going out and spending money on an ink you may not end up liking very much.
Great information!

Kay said...

Wow, thanks Courtney! This is will be a wonderful reference. Have a great week!! ♥♥ Kay

wendyp said...

great comparison of the inks!!! I started with Stazon too. It was my favorite (i think I truly loved it for the smell, LOL!) and I used it all the time until I tried Ranger's Archival Jet Black...LOVE it! It depends on what coloring medium I'm working with now as to what I use. Watercolors I use the Stazon. Colored pencils or anything I'm not coloring I use the Archival. I get great details with the Archival. And then Momento of course for the Copics.

My goofy dogs were barking back at your dog during the video, LOL! Silly things!

Jessica said...

Great tutorial!! I personally love my Palette noir and burnt umber. For color my biggest investment is on versa mark. Then Color box chalks. Some I've owed for 5 years and when it's time to ink them up they perform lovely :)

Cindy Lee said...

Thanks for the review gal!! I only have one brand of ink in my stash...Tsukineko. I do use Ranger's distress ink for stamping sometime..and it works great.

StampinCathy said...

Courtney,
Thanks so much for this comparison of the inks. I really need to try different kinds. I Stazon and SU black and SU Brown. I just love chalk Ink, cuz of that soft look it gives. Thanks again.

Ayana Posadas said...

Thanks for doing this Courtney! So helpful. I usually use Memento for everything, since I started using Copics. But it's nice to see what other options I have!

Karen B. said...

Thanks Courtney! Any chance you will be selling the Versafine and Momento in your store for those of us that aren't by any LSS or major craft outlet?

Lea L. said...

My favorite inks are Clearsnap Colorbox chalk & pigment inks. They are pretty much the only ones I use...except for my CTMH Vanilla Creme pigment ink. I use that a lot too. :)

♥♥♥Lea

Lisa Petrella said...

Thanks for the video, Courtney! It was really informative and helpful!

Alice said...

i love Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa, but i also love PTI's Dark chocolate for brown.

Shaz said...

I love my versafine black. By when I use copic I always go back to Stazon. I just started using Dew drops and LOVE them!!! The color is so beautiful and it looks great on dark cardstock. {I was a CTMH rep so I only used there stuff} I also Love SU! Whisper white. I used that a lot. Do you ever use navy? I love to stamp images. I navy for coloring, it gives a great soft look. I use CTMH Outdoor denim.

Diana said...

Awesome! Way to go. Thanks for sharing. Happy Monday in May!

Laurie Chilton said...

Thank you so much Courtney for taking the time to share your ink tutorial. I use Memento most of the time since I tend to use Copics a lot, but it was great to see other options. Very helpful. Thanks again. :)

Michelle said...

I use memento ink when I plan to colour with Copics, however if its general stamping for sentiments and stuff nothing beat Chestnut Roan chalk ink by Colorbox, lovely crisp stamping and I love that its not patchy like dye inks. If I want black, I use charcoal by Colorbox.

Thanks for taking time to do the tutorial:-) its appreciated.

Dana said...

Ranger archival black is my top favorite and I've tried them all. I do use Memento black and cocoa for Copic coloring, but that's about it for black.
I have SOOOO many favorite browns I could't list them! lol
I like them all for different reasons.
Very awesome titorials and comparisons here Courtney...you are the best!

Karen said...

Love ink comparison posts!! I have a gazillion inks and mix them up all the time. I can't really say I have a preference since it mostly depends on what I'm stamping on, what its for, and what kind of stamp I'm using. Thanks for posting the scans! :>

Winter said...

Great videos! I LOVE ColorBox chalk inks! I think I need to try the Versafine ink too! :)

Mei Ann G. said...

Thanks for this money-saving tip Cortney! This is a great help!!!
Take care,
Mei Ann