Octopus — Document Brown — Ink Review #268

Octopus — Document Brown

 
Ink Review # 268
 
Ink: Document Brown
Series: Dokumenthus (Document)
Brand: Octopus
Country: Manual check needed
Type: Pigment (Document)
Availability: 30 ml bottles. 
Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF,  Kaweco Sport (EF/F/M/B/ stub 1.1)

Description

After testing many Octopus Write and Draw inks, I thought I’d test one of their document inks.
This series is comprised of 9 inks.

The ink behaved flawlessly with all nibs. There was a bit of feedback only with Kaweco EF & F. The ink then spread with M and broader nibs, especially on copy paper. But it was quite well-behaved with F and finer nibs.

I didn’t test it with a flex nib as I didn’t find it pertinent for this type of ink.

The color is reddish-brown, kind of flat. I like my browns darker and greyer. The price is more expensive compared to the Write & Draw series, and Document inks by De Atramentis and Rohrer and Klingner. 

Cleaning is a pain. It stained the clear Kaknuo section. Even an overnight soak in an ammonia-based cleaning solution didn't work. However the pen solution and a long cycle in the pen jacuzzi cleaned it finally. However, neither the Kaweco or Kakuno convertors were stained. 

Pigment Ink Note: Pigmented fountain pen inks are best used in well-sealed pens that are easy to dismantle. Some colors clean out easily, while others may need pen flush if water alone is not enough.

Chroma

Writing Samples
Photos LED only
Translations from other languages are provided for reference only and may differ from published versions.
Rhodia
“What means this tear all-lonely that troubles now my gaze?”— Heinrich Heine (1797–1856)

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Iroful
“He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster.”
— Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)

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Midori
“All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned.”
— Karl Marx (1818–1883)

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Tomoe River 68 gsm
“Have courage to use your own reason!”
— Immanuel Kant (1724–1804)
Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews.

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Hammermill 20 lb
“Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.”— Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860)

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Comparison
Col-O-ring swatches. Scans are approximate.

Water Test
I didn’t bother with my usual 24 hour curing time, I put it under running water an hour later.

Artwork
Multi-tasking

Octopus Document Brown, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook

The Dice Are Cast

Inktober52:, 2026, Prompt37: Dice

My grandfather taught me how to play backgammon. For him it was a mirror of life: You can play perfectly,  yet if the dice are against you, you will still lose. This is my interpretation of that memory through my Cat & Mouse theme. 

Octopus Document Brown,  Tintenlabor Monte Rosa, Jacques Herbin Bistro, white gel pen, Fabriano Mixed Media Sketchbook. 

Ink Characteristics

·      Writing Experience: OK.
·      What I Liked: Decent document ink.
·      What I Did Not Like: Color. Lack of oomph. Price.
·      Shading: You need to look for it.
·      Ghosting: A bit with M nibs and above on copy paper.
·      Bleed Through: Same as above.
·      Flow Rate: Average.
·      Lubrication: Average.
·      Nib Dry-out: Did not notice.
·      Start-up: No problems.
·      Saturation: Medium reddish-brown.
·      Sheen: No.
·      Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.
·      Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.
·      Staining (Pen): The plastic container of the sample is stained after two years, so did the the transparent Kakuno section. Not the convertors. 😊 
·      Clogging: No.
·      Cleaning: See note above.
·      Water Resistance: Excellent.

Closing
This is a decent, no-nonsense document ink by Octopus. However, its higher price compared to other document inks, its staining of transparent feeds (which can be easily mitigated by using different pens), and the cleaning required make me less inclined to seek it out.

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. 😊