So, you spent money on buying the best notebook - Moleskine. Everyone gave rave reviews and told you that you will get very high-quality notes/sketches now. But instead, you keep getting dull, smudged, poor results that don't do justice to what you wanted.
Maybe it's time to consider that the problem is not the paper - it's the ink! Not every ink is great for writing/drawing on every paper.
Moleskine is one of the largest manufacturers of premium quality notebooks/sketchbooks. The paper used in Moleskine books is
acid-free, FSC-certified, and made from pigmented pulp.
The paper ranges from 70-200gsm and is particularly suited for dry media such as ink. So if your ink is bleeding or smudging, then it may be because of low-quality ink instead of the paper.
What you need is an ink that has a rich pigment base that dries quickly and increases lubricity. In this article, we talk about the best fountain pen ink for Moleskine products.
#1 Parker Black Quink Ink Bottle
If you plan to use ink as a medium for your next masterpiece, this ink can be highly suitable for you. It comprises everything that makes it one of the best inks for Moleskine papers.
Features and Benefits
- Richly pigmented ink: The ink of this bottle consists of a rich carbon pigment. After drying, the pigment that is left behind creates a dark and vivid impression on the page.
- Quick-drying: The ink dries quickly after application on the surface. When the ink dries quickly, there is no smudging, and you can, without any fear, draw thin lines in your artwork.
- Added lubricity: This is a high-quality ink that contains added lubricity. Lubricity results in the smooth flow of ink on the paper. High lubricity makes your every stroke remarkable.
- Tight sealing: The bottle's base is wide, and its neck is tightly sealed with a screw-top lid. A secured seal ensures that you don't accidentally spill ink over your artwork or written text.
- 57ml ink: the bottle contains 57ml of black pigmented ink. 57ml is a considerable quantity when you plan to make a large masterpiece on the XXL size Moleskine sketchbook.
Why should you buy it?
If you are a professional artist and you need smooth-flowing and quick-drying ink, then this ink is just for you. You can draw fine lines in your artwork without any fear of smudging them.
#2 Waterman Intense Black Ink Bottle For Fountain Pens
If you use a Moleskine notebook to pen down your lectures' notes, then this intense black ink can be suitable for you. The dark black ink leaves a strong impression on the page and helps to enhance your writing.
Features and Benefits
- Intense black color: This bottle of ink from Waterman contains intense black color ink. The ink leaves a remarkable stroke on every surface on which it is applied.
- Dye-based black ink: This ink is a dye-based ink derived from a combination of black dye and additional cyan, magenta, and yellow dyes to create a rich black color.
- 50ml bottle: the bottle contains 50ml ink. This much quantity can last long even if you are a vigorous writer and write many pages a day.
Why should you buy it?
If you write a lot and use the traditional way of writing using a fountain pen, this ink is ideal. Its intense black color leaves a dark impression on your Moleskine notebook papers, making it suitable for writing down class notes, etc.
#3 PILOT Iroshizuku Bottled Fountain Pen Ink
If you wish to indulge in luxurious writing, then this ink from PILOT is best for you. PILOT has been making high-quality, smudge-free, and quick-drying inks for more than a hundred years. Each ink bottle carries a unique name derived from Japanese plants and natural landscape. The ink is ideal for many purposes.
Features and Benefits
- Black color: The black color of the ink comes from bamboo charcoal. It is made using the highest industry standards and variations of colors. It leaves behind a rich black color on the paper, making your every stroke remarkable.
- Smudge-free ink: The ink dries quickly as soon as it is applied to the paper. It leaves behind no messy or smudgy sheets. Every written text is easy to read even after several years of usage.
- No color fading: This ink color does not fade even after many years of application. Whenever you open your old notebook or sketchbook, you will always find your drawing or texts as fresh as new.
Why should you buy it?
If you want to create a bouquet of drawings that you can share with people for generations to come, use this ink to make sure that the drawings don't fade. The ink will neither smudge nor fade even after many years.
#4 Noodler's Black Waterproof Fountain Pen Ink
If you plan to paint your next drawing with ink, this may be a great option. Noodlers is a one of a kind waterproof fountain pen ink that is suitable for all types of fountain pens. Its waterproof quality makes it ideal for archival purposes.
Features and Benefits
- Waterproof ink: The unique property of this ink is that it is waterproof. So if you mistakenly spill water on your masterpiece, there is nothing to worry about. Take a cloth and wipe off the water gently. Your work will be as it is.
- Bleach proof: Besides being waterproof, the ink is also bleach proof. You cannot wash the ink away even by using bleach.
- No discoloration: The ink is lightfast, which means that it is not prone to discoloration even if exposed to sunlight for quite some time.
Why should you buy it?
If you work on a messy desk, surrounded by things, this ink is best suitable. The ink is waterproof; even if you drop a drink on the notebook, it will not clear away the writing.
#5 Platinum Carbon Ink Bottle
Moleskine papers are suitable for all kinds of inks, but they are best for carbon ink. Every stroke of carbon ink looks nice on Moleskine, no matter if you have made a small doodle or an elaborative portrait.
Features and Benefits
- Pigmented carbon ink: The ink makes every stroke visible. It leaves an impressive dark black color behind after drying. The pigmented ink makes your artwork stand out from others.
- 60ml bottle: You get a good 60ml ink to paint your next masterpiece. With just one bottle, you can paint a lot of Moleskine pages.
- Quick-dry ink: The ink dries quickly hence leaves behind no smudgy papers. It is ideal for artists who draw very fine lines on their masterpieces.
Why should you buy it?
If you are a big fan of Moleskine books and your heart breaks when you see cheap inks spoiling the pages, then this ink is just for you. Its black color and quick-drying features make every doodle you draw a masterpiece.
Buyers Guide
Ink Type
Some inks are made using low-quality ingredients and cheap formulas. Such inks can easily spoil your Moleskine sketchbook.
Hence choose either a pigmented carbon ink or dye ink. Both these kinds of inks are good for Moleskine pages.
Quick-drying
While using ink, you will never want to destroy your masterpiece by smearing it. Hence select an ink that dries quickly.
When it's a Moleskine sketchbook or notebook, you will have to close it after using it. Therefore, you do not want to destroy other pages. Quick-drying ink is a must.
Waterproof
Although not all inks are waterproof, it will be great if you use waterproof ink. It will not only protect your artwork but will also help you save it for years. Hence, try to get a bottle of ink that is waterproof.
Lightfast ink
Lightfast ink is an ink that does not fade away after it is exposed to sunlight. It remains as fresh as new even after decades of application. Hence consider an ink that is lightfast if you wish to store your notes or artworks for future references.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which type of ink is best for fountain pens?
For fountain pens, ink made of carbon pigments or dye is the best. They leave a dark color shade behind and do not affect the surface on which they are applied.
Are Moleskine pages vulnerable to ink?
No, Moleskine pages are not vulnerable to ink. You can use most inks on Moleskine paper. It will not damage the sheet. Instead, it will leave a fine stroke of colors behind.
Will the ink bleed through Moleskine sheets?
If you use ink judiciously and don't go for layers and layers of ink, there will be no paper bleeding risk. On the other hand, if you apply excess ink on one area of the sheet, it will most likely bleed through the other side.
It also depends on the ink's quality - if you use poor quality ink, the ink might bleed and smudge even on the high-quality Moleskine pages.
Does Moleskine produce fountain pen inks?
No, Moleskine does not produce fountain pen ink. Moleskine ballpoint pens are available with a fine tip and a medium tip, with black ballpoint ink.
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