Tintenlabor Dunkelgrün/Schwarz 1 / Dark Green/Black 1 (Discontinued) — Ink Review #182
Tintenlabor - Dunkelgrün/schwarz 1 (Dark Green/Black 1)
Ink Review # 182
Brand: Tintenlabor
Country: Switzerland
Availability: Discontinued. Tannenwald is the current Tintenlabor green-black ink.
🧾 Description
Tintenlabor is a Swiss ink company specializing in Iron Gall inks. What differentiates this brand from others is that it discloses the iron content.
The samples were sent to me by David, the Ink-Meister.
Dark Green 1 has 3 g/L iron content and high dye content. It is the most user-friendly of the original Dark Green series.
Writing with these inks is different, especially for the modern user who is used to well-lubricated inks. The more I use these inks, the more I cannot get enough of them. It is a bit like tasting wine or dark chocolate: either you are hooked or not.
Dark Green 1 had flow issues with the Sailor Fude de Mannen, yet it worked well with a Chinese fude pen. It needs a wet pen and benefits from soft nibs and well-sealed pens.
The colour is a lovely, mysterious green-grey iron gall shade with the lowest oxidation of the group, depending on how much ink you put on the paper.
The ink also benefits from being left in the pen overnight; for some reason, the flow regulates itself.
Cleaning was effortless with most pens, but more time-consuming with vintage pens.
Cleaning Note: Like all IG inks, flush with water first. For stubborn residue, use a small pinch of pure ascorbic acid in water, then rinse thoroughly. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners with iron gall inks.
An ultrasonic cleaner can help with removable pen-safe parts, but avoid it with fragile vintage materials, plated trim, or anything uncertain.
🧪 Chroma
✍️ Writing Samples (scan)
JEF stands for Japanese EF nib.
Rhodia
Iroful
Midori
Tomoe River 68gsm
Hammermill
📸 Photo
Rhodia / Iroful
Wet ink
Note that the last line is wet, before the oxidation process.
🔍 Comparison
Fresh swatch
A month later
💧 Water Test
Bottom side: 10 seconds under running water, after 24 hours.
Note: I named the ink by its iron content on the page. It should read Dark Green 1, not 3. You can also see how intense the oxidation is when ink is applied liberally with a glass pen.
🎨 Artwork
Madeleine of Proust
Paper: Talens Mixed Media pocketbook.
Aries and the New Beginnings
Paper: Strathmore.
Leave my mouse out of it!
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· What I Did Not Like: Flow issues with some pens.
· What Some Might Not Like: It is an IG ink and needs some patience.
· Writing Experience: Loved it.
· Pros: Needs the right pen.
· Cons: Needs patience.
🧷 Ink Characteristics
· Ghosting: Some on cheap paper, depending on pen width.
· Bleed Through: Same as above.
· Flow Rate: Wettish.
· Lubrication: Slightly below average.
· Nib Dry-out: Yes.
· Start-up: Good on most pens.
· Saturation: Gorgeous.
· Shading Potential: Excellent.
· Sheen: No.
· Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.
· Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.
· Staining (Pen): Did not notice.
· Clogging: Did not notice.
· Cleaning: Check cleaning note above.
· Water Resistance: Good.
💬 Closing
Dark Green 1 was the most user-friendly of the original Tintenlabor Dark Green inks, a mysterious green-grey iron gall ink that rewards the right pen.
No fountain pens were harmed in preparing this review. 😉
Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments. The more the merrier. 😊
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