Platinum Carbon Black — Ink Review #254

 

Platinum Carbon Black

 

Ink Review # 254

 

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🧾 Description

 

Ink:  Carbon Black

Brand: Platinum

Country: Japan

Pens Used: Platinum Preppy EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/stub 1.1), Osmiroid Copperplate semi-flex nib. 

Available: Platinum Cartridges and 60 ml bottles.

 

This is a classic pigment black ink; I’ve been using it on and off for years in a vintage Platinum Pocket pen. It even made the prickly, needlepoint-like Osmiroid copperplate nib sing. I was surprised by the feedback from the Lamy Safari nibs on some papers. With a light touch, it went away.  

 

This is the gold standard for copy paper: Show-through and bleed-through are as faint as can be. 

 

For anyone who draws, this ink is a must. It dries fast and you can do washes over it almost immediately. 

 

There is some silver sheen on Iroful, which I have noticed with many pigment inks. 

 

I needed a cleaning solution for the Osmiroid. Surprisingly, the Safari had ink in it for much longer, yet didn’t release any black residue in the pen jacuzzi after an overnight soak. 


However, I won't recommend this inks for fountain pens that can not be easily dismantled.

 

Overall, this is such a solid, dependable black that when I saw a bottle on sale, I didn’t hesitate to grab one. 

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🧪 Chroma


 



 

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✍️ Writing Samples (photos LED light only)

 

Translations from language are provided for reference only and may differ from published versions.

 

 

Rhodia dotpad

“On this moonless night, love’s sparks leap up in my breast.” — Ono no Komachi, female Japanese waka poet, c. 825–c. 900.

 



 

Iroful

“Black hair, a thousand strands—my thoughts tangled as my hair.” — Yosano Akiko, Japanese poet, 1878–1942

 



Midori MD Codex

“Snow—white cat on the roof ridge, only its voice.” — Masaoka Shiki, Japanese poet, 1867–1902.

 

 

Tomoe River 68gsm (Taroko Design Notebook)

Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews.

“On a withered branch, a crow has settled—autumn dusk.” — Matsuo Bashō, Japanese poet, 1644–1694.

 

 

Hammermill 20lb copy paper

“Before I could be sure, the midnight moonlight hid in clouds.” — Murasaki Shikibu, female Japanese writer and poet, c. 978–c. 1014.


 

Closeup

 

 

🔍 Comparison


Col-O-ring swatches. Scans are approximate.


 


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 💧 Water Test



 

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 🎨 Artwork

Cat and Mouse at Long Beach

Inspired by photos of Long Beach, Vancouver Island.

 

Jinchen Sea Color, Platinum Carbon Black (diluted), and Uni-ball white ink on Strathmore watercolor paper.

 


 

 

Inktober52, 2026 — Prompt: Father.

Take 1

 

Platinum Carbon Black, Tintenlabor Barrique, Tintenlabor Bernstein, Jinchen Xi Xia, Jinchen Sea Color, Strathmore Watercolour Paper.

 


Father

Take 2

 

Jinchen Xi Xia, Jinchen Sea Color, Platinum Carbon Black, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook.

 




Sharing the Moonlight

Cat & Mouse enjoy a moonlit moment. 

 

Platinum Carbon Black, Tintenlabor Azure Noir, Tintenlabor Barrique, Octopus Polar White, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook.


 

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- Writing Experience: Very good to excellent. 

- What I Liked: Lovely cushiony feeling with EEF nibs, waterproofness, not as black. Excellent on copy paper.

- What I Did Not Like: It might not be as black as one thinks. 

 

 🧷 Ink Characteristics


- Shading: Thankfully no. 

- Ghosting: Faint on copy paper. 

- Bleed Through: Same as above. 

- Flow Rate: Wet. 

- Lubrication: Excellent with Japanese EF and Copperplate nib. A bit of feedback with Lamy Safari nibs. 

- Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. 

- Start-up: No problems. 

- Saturation: Deliciously black. 

- Sheen: Silver sheen on Iroful.

- Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.

- Nib Creep / Crud: Yes.

- Staining (Pen): No.

- Clogging: No.

- Cleaning: You’re better off with a cleaning solution, but check note above. 

- Water Resistance: Excellent. 

 

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 💬 Closing


This is a solid, waterproof black ink. It’s not the blackest of inks, but it does what it promises and does it well.

 

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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