Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Ink (Black)

Kuretake make two very similar inks which are easily confused. Each comes in the same low profile black plastic bottle. This one is described as "Black Ink 60" and is wrapped in a black label; the other is called "Sumi Ink 60" and is wrapped with a white label. However, the former is also described elsewhere on the label as "sumi ink". The 60 seems to correspond to the 60ml contents. The ink under review describes itself as "very quick drying Sumi ink for Manga drawing". The other type, with the white label, describes itself as "very smooth flowing ink for Manga drawing". The white label version says it is waterproof when dry; the black label version does not say this, at least not in English. These are both pigment based black inks which are unsuitable for fountain pens. These are both high quality sumi drawing inks which produce a clean line off a dip nib. Off a paint brush they can both dry to a slight sheen if applied generously. Off a brush but less liberally applied both will dry to a slight texture. Both are very black and readily diluted. I have not been able to detect any discernible difference between the two inks, unless it is that that the black label version, the subject of this review, dries more quickly. The plastic bottle has a pleasingly wide neck and the bottle cannot easily be tipped over. The cap can be hard to unscrew if the bottle is not opened for a while - you might need one of those small perforated rubber sheets which handily assist to open recalictrant ink bottles. These are both high quality, dependable inks for drawing, calligraphy and washes. I have not found either one to be entirely waterproof in the sense of not reacting at all to water when dry. Overall, excellent ink.

Excellent black drawing ink. This is the latest in my exploration of black india ink. When I started out, I thought one black ink would be much like another, but they all have their own idiosyncracies. This one is a dense black and It brushes out beautifully to an even, matt finish. It is waterproof once dry - I made a drawing, then applied suminagashi marbling which involves dunking the page in a tray of water and it was just fine, so I don't know what the one star reviewers were complaining about. However, if you rub it really hard when re-wetted you might get a bit of faint smearing. It is reasonably quick to dry and can be erased over in minutes. However, it doesn't bloom quite as beautifully as Dr PH Martin Black Star when brushed on to wet paper and when diluted has a distinct brown tint.

honestly this product is worth five stars, the ink is lightfast and adheres well no matter what paper you use it with. it flows nicely with all the pens i've tried it with [kuretake zig cartoonist dip pen, handmade glass pen, speedball pen) and it's very opaque.the ink itself is amazing. what is not amazing is the bottle. after about a month or two of semi-regular use, the lid just locked up, and several people stronger than me [for i am not the strongest of men] couldn't even get it to budge. i managed to prise it open with a scalpel but last night it seized up again and i had to cut open the side of the bottle and pour the ink into a spare medicine bottle. IF YOU BUY THIS INK, TRANSFER IT INTO ANOTHER CONTAINER THE SECOND IT ARRIVES.

Beautiful, dense, warm-toned, expressive black ink. I'm using with both Kuretake and Pilot brush pens, with stunning results.Absolutely gorgeous - flows like liquid darkness ;)

AMAZING product, it dries very quickly and doesn’t smudge at all. It took about 15 minutes to dry.It is copic proof and water proof.

love the quality

very good ink, works well with my dip pens, dries fast, works with promarkers and is very dark. The only downfall is that it is not waterproof even though it says in the packaging that it is.

This ink dries super fast and is the deepest black I have ever used. In comparison my other inks just look grey! I have used this with alcohol markers as well as liquid inks and have had no issues with it bleeding out as long as it is dry.

Thank you Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Ink. You have allowed me to color my illustrations without watching the ink line smear like all the other inks I have tried. Anyone wanting to use alcohol based markers to color their work will be happy to know this is the real deal.

Beau également dilué

Ottimo inchiostro di un bel nero intenso, non sbiadisce passando sopra la gomma da cancellare (come invece fanno altri inchiostri). L'unico appunto che posso fare è che se lo usate per delle illustrazioni da colorare con i pennarelli a base alcolica, è meglio farlo asciugare per più di 24 ore (io ho aspettato 48 ore) perché mi è capitato che aspettando meno, il pennarello alcolico abbia "sciolto" l'inchiostro.

Quede contenta con la compra, llegó antes de lo esperado y tiene buena calidad. Apenas estoy probando materiales pero me gusto el tono de negro que da. Hice la prueba en un moleskine y resistió bastante bien el coloreado con acuarela.

La mejor tinta para dibujo que he probado. Tintas como PI LOT son demasiado aguadas y al borrar el lápiz se borran. Esta tinta resiste bastante bien el borrado de goma, además a la hora de entintar es consistente y puedes hacer muchas líneas después de mojar la plumilla, se nota que es de calidad. Seca bastante rápido también.Yo la uso para hacer ilustraciones y dibujos tipo cómic en blanco y negro. También puedes darles color después de entintarlos.