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Your cart is empty.Dr. Ph. Martin's black star India inks are lightfast, permanent, and waterproof when dry. Hi-carb is a gloss finish ink with an extremely high carbon content, best when used on acetate where density and line integrity are most important. It produces excellent results when used with technical pens or calligraphy Dip pens. Also good for works on paper, illustration board, and canvas. Comes in a 1. 0 oz (30 ml) bottle with dropper.
JH
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2025
Yes - this is the blackest and most opaque of the black pigmented inks. To dilute it to a medium grey, I add 20 drops of water to 1 drop of ink in a small jar. It binds permanently to every surface, even heavily-sized watercolor papers upon which Speedball Superblack won't be water-proof (such as Fabriano Studio Hot Press Watercolor paper). If you want a water-proof, opaque black pigmented ink that will stay put while you put wet media over it, you can't top this ink. Downsides: 1) Clean-up, 2) Shine, and 3) Only for dip pens. This ink doesn't clean up with water, it cleans up with rubbing alcohol. Keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol on your desk next to a jar of water - you will be using it often. It clogs dip pen nib in a couple of minutes of work, so you will be dipping your nib in rubbing alcohol every couple of minutes. And while cleaning the nib, some drops will fall and stain, so also cover your working surface in multiple layers of heavy paper to protect your workspace from this ink. This ink has a brilliant shine, which will not scan well if you plan to scan your work to reproduce it. Absolutely do not put this ink (either full strength or diluted) in a fountain pen or brush pen ever - it will clog it.
Evens Lamarre
Reviewed in Canada on October 6, 2023
Best ink I've ever tried! Deep black and consistency is perfect for brush work.
Susan Allen
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2022
This is the blackest ink I've ever used, and I love it! It's also waterproof, which allows me to add lighter marks over the top, or use with watercolours after inking. It works particularly well with brushes and creates a very flat, continuous jet black mark when used neat from the bottle. It works well also when used with water to create other effects. It's pricey, but I think it's worth it.
Strephon
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2022
I like using this ink for my calligraphy and ink drawing. I like the thickness and slight gloss look.
Shane Aquarian
Reviewed in Japan on April 25, 2022
This worked perfectly for what I needed it for. I was worried it might break in the mail but it came in perfect condition!
Tim Richter
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2021
worked well for my use! I use them with watercolors for the black ink lines. very very black! flows well with dip pens and is a nice matte finish. some sheen does happen on areas where the ink pools but its not a huge issue.. and didnt happen a bunch.
L. Smith
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2019
I can compare this ink to another brand that came in a pen and ink set, so can confirm the difference between high quality and low quality. This ink is PURE black, offering a beautiful artwork experience. The other plus is that it doesn’t smell like the cheaper product we tried, which was so strong, we threw it out.
101A
Reviewed in Italy on July 19, 2018
Probabilmente il migliore in circolazione, abbastanza grasso, ma di ottima viscosità.Il risultato su foglio è di un nero intenso, di alta qualità.Adatto per pennelli e brush pens.
Maria Cuellar
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2018
I could write a book about how much I love this ink, I am amazed by it. I bought this last year and it's still almost completely full and I use it all the time! It's truly 100% water proof and one tiny drop goes a LONG long way. It's the blackest black I've ever seen and I love to dilute it with water and create nice washes. I want to buy ALL of the colors by Dr. Ph. Martin!
Becky Mitsui
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2018
This is the blackest ink I've ever used by far. It's opacity on even very thin lines is impressive. It's staying power on a brush or on a nib is also a huge plus. I do a lot of inking with a Kuretake Menso sable brush, and this ink lasts and lasts between reloads. It dries with a sweet matte finish.I used to use Deleter Black 4, but found that it dried way too fast on my brushes and nibs. It made it a massive pain to work on large areas at one time. Dr PH Martin's ink is comparable in darkness and opacity, and doesn't have these problems.My favourite method is to draw and shade with pencil on cotton paper, set and stretch it with water, then ink and watercolour. This ink does NOT smear or pick up under watercolours. I use transparent watercolours, and the ink shines right through. If you work in wet media, this ink is one of the best. I think I'm going to use it from now on.
Vicky
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2018
The ink is indeed waterproof making it great for using watercolors over it. it tends to bleed into the paper and dry fast on the nibs (calligraphy).
BoV
Reviewed in France on July 28, 2016
Le top pour mes stylos tubulaires Rotring et Faber-Castell après avoir très légèrement coupé avec de l'eau.L'encre est parfaite, un beau noir qui sèche très rapidement (même après l'avoir coupée comme précisé).Je la recommande et j'en rachèterai une fois vide.
Ryan K
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2016
I don't personally notice a huge difference between the Hi Carb and Matte versions of this ink. The matte isn't particularly matte, and they both cover extremely well on the papers I've tested them on. The Hi Carb flows great from a nib (maybe even a little better than the Matte does), and produces good hairlines. For comic illustration, this is probably the best ink you can get your hands on, along with the Black Star Matte.
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