Mike's 5 Favorite Black Inks in 2023!

You've asked for it, and now they're here! My favorite inks in lots of categories! Some of these categories are really specific, but that's how my colodex is organized, so that's what we get! These aren't in a particular order, and sometimes there are more than 5. Honorable mentions are always an option!

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** These inks come from all over. Vendors, brands, stores I bought them from, friends, viewers. All that. I try not to let that sort of thing color my reviews. What you see is what I got. Thanks for the support, Patrons! **

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[sajjadhusain]

Aurora Black
Sailor Kiwa-Guro
Kaweco Pearl Black

[BlushnBlue]

Noodlers Dark Matter
Pilot Take-Sumi (Favorite)
Noodler's Black for art

[emmaythegray]

I haven't tried too many black inks, but have had good luck with Herbin Perle Noir, even on some not-great paper. Great flow, easy cleanup. Kind of the way you use the Aurora as the 'test ink' I do the same with the Herbin. I'm really enjoying this series!

[Calcprof]

My go to blacks for many years were Aurora Black and Sailor Kiwa Guro

[JessicaCEP]

I have carbon black and base black..I like them both

[williamcatalano]

I like Noodler's Dark Matter or a basic black, For a shimmer black Shogun by J. Herbin, and for the darkest black that doesn't feather much and behaves well at work on terrible paper Noodler's Texas Black Bat. I also like Thunderstorm from Robert Oster and Motor Oil by Robert Oster.

[Sarah_Stacks]

I got Goulet’s black sampler and chose de Atramentis document black for waterproof illustrations. I like a very black black!

[xerxiusmaximus]

J. Herbin Perle Noire is my single go-to... Dries true, intense, goes on wet and has a gorgeous (silky-wet) luster even after it dies. It is wet and has a good dry-time. Exceptional value. I have tired other bands... and either they look grey/grey-ish upon drying or look like a wash/pastel-like... especially Pilot black inks... and with Aurora... it just looks too chalky... like soot once it dries. Get you a bottle of Perle Noire and you will never need another black ink...

[paulmchugh]

Thanks for the recommendations, Mike. I use Aurora Black and it is a great standard dark black but that Monteverde Smoke Noir just seems to be a winner. Have you ever used Private Reserve Ultra Black? If so, what is your opinion?

[ichirofakename]

1. Thanks for including lightfastness info, always useful to me.
2. I bought a bottle of Noodler's Borealis Black for it's wetness (similar to Aurora Black) and cheapness; it works fine for me. I can get a nice even coat with a brush, which I need.
3. Can someone explain why people love Noodler's Dark Matter? What's so exciting about it?

[pbpickett]

Great vid. Aurora black is so well behaved and reliable. The Platinum Carbon Black bleeds too much for me. Looking forward to trying some of the inks you mentioned.

[Inazarab]

The gold sheen of Dominant Industry Base Black really stands out. It does the impossible and makes black not boring. It's the black I use almost exclusively.

[Richard_Barnes]

Have you tried Platinum Chou Kuru yet? Looks incredible and the deepest black ink you can buy.

[roderickfemm]

I'm one of those, like you used to be, who sees no point in using black ink for the kind of writing I do. So I am looking at all these inks with fresh eyes, and I apparently prefer velvety to shiny, and so Cross Black would be the one for me.

[jemcant]

1) I'm not afraid to love Kiwa Guro and PCB. Come at me, haters.
2) J. Herbin Shogun is my new fav black (or super dark grey) with flair

[neokali]

I have a bottle of Monteverde Smoke Noir and it is a lovely ink.

[catherinehubbard]

My tastes in black and dark gray inks seem close to yours.

My favorite soluble and waterproof black inks: Sailor Black (great flow, behavior, and darkness) and Platinum Carbon Black inks, respectively.

My favorite soluble and waterproof dark gray inks, respectively: Monteverde Smoke Noir (dark but less harsh than black, partial water resistance) and Noodler’s Lexington Gray (a dark, transparent gray, very well-behaved, and absolutely waterproof straight or diluted).

[michaelchavez]

Herbin Perle Noire, Platinum Carbon Black, and....wait for it....Monteverde Blue Black...really nice "black" as it's really an off-black, just enough to be interesting.

[korax]

KWZ Grey Lux is a very nice Black.
Rohrer & Klinger Leipziger Schwartz is also great with some dark blue tones.
Pelikan Edelstein Onyx is very nice and shining but it smears

[varadharajannadarajah]

Perle Noire, Take-Sumi and Namiki/Pilot Black (not in ranking order)