Franklin-Christoph Ink ‘24 Review

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

I recently attended the Philly Pen Show, which is the first pen show of the year and kicks off the pen show season. Scott Franklin, of Franklin-Christoph, is co-owner of the Philly Pen Show and makes an exclusive ink for the show, along with matching pens and accessories. Some of the past years’ colors include Teal (2023), Magenta/Hot Pink (2022), and Red (2019) and this year’s color is Indigo. The 2024 PPS pens are in last week’s recap and here are the limited edition accessories. But let’s talk about the ink!

As in the past, all swatches were done on Col-O-Ring cards using a Kakimori steel dip nib and the non-brush end of a paintbrush, while writing samples were done with a TWSBI Go with a Medium nib and a Lamy Vista with a steel Medium nib. The TWSBI Go is a wetter writer and the Lamy is a drier writer, so these two give me a good idea of how an ink will look from different pens. This time around, I also included a writing sample with the Franklin-Christoph 45XL Indigo with a 1.4 nib. The notebook used for writing samples is from Endless Recorder with 68 gsm Tomoe River paper. Dry times may be a bit slower on 52gsm TR or faster on papers like Rhodia, copy paper, Cosmo Air Light or with drier or finer nibs.

Writing sample on 68 gsm Tomoe River Endless Notebook.

You can really see the shading from the Vista compared to the other two nibs.

Ink ‘24 Indigo, is a dark blue black ink with a greyish undertone. The grey isn’t as noticeable with wet writers like the TWSBI Go or the 1.4 nib on the F-C, but it is much more visible in the drier Lamy Vista, as well as in the chromatography, swatches and “smears”. There isn’t as much shading unless you’re using a drier writer like the Vista, and there is no sheen in writing samples and only a hint of reddish sheen in wetter swatches.

Chromatography of Ink ‘24 shows the blue grey tones but also pink, which I didn’t expect.

Inks similar to Ink ‘24: Franklin-Christoph Noir et Bleu (not surprising that these would be similar but NeB has a greenish tinge vs Indigo’s grey), Maruzen Athena Blue Black, Taccia Hiroshige Ainezu, Sailor Blue Black, Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite, Aurora Blue Black and Montblanc Midnight Blue. I think the Maruzen Athena Blue Black is probably the closest but it doesn’t have as much grey as Ink ‘24.

I was a little surprised that I didn’t have more blue black inks that were similar to Ink ‘24. I think it is the grey component that really makes this a moody BB, which I am enjoying. As with the regular line of Franklin-Christoph inks, this one behaved well and was pleasant to use in the three different pens/nibs. I liked the color the most in the Lamy Vista because the grey really comes through, and it didn’t feel super dry in that pen either. You may prefer the color or writing experience that a wetter or drier pen/nib will produce, and that preference might be different depending on the ink/pen combination too.

The ink, which sells for $8.25 for a 1 ounce bottle (~30 ml) sold out at the Philly Pen show but another batch of ink has been added to their website.

(Disclaimer: All inks and pens (and swatch cards/notebooks) were purchased by me.)

Troublemaker Inks Petrichor Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

There are so many combination black inks available today — blue-black, blue-green, etc. — but gray combination inks are actually more exciting for my preferences. Mixing a gray ink with another color has potential for creating some really interesting shading effects if the formula is right. Today, we're looking at a gray-purple (or gray-green?) ink from Troublemaker Inks, who are based in the Philippines.

Petrichor is from Troublemaker's Shading collection, which features inks with (you guessed it) pronounced shading characteristics. Petrichor is a gray ink with a slight purple or green hue in some light. It's described as a gray-purple, but I don't think there's enough purple in this ink to really do the description justice. In most of my samples, it looks like a dusty gray that leans more toward green than purple. I really enjoy the color of this ink; it just isn't purple.

Since this ink is part of a collection that focuses on shading, it comes as no surprise that this ink has loads of shading. Even in small nibs, this ink shades easily. The color variation goes from a light semi-translucent gray-green to a darker gray with green and purple/blue tones. When it comes to shading, this ink does not disappoint.

Dry time is on the fairly slow side of the scale for this ink. In a medium nib, the ink was dry and smudge-resistant by 30 seconds. It smudges and smears easily under the 30-second mark, so this isn't a good choice for lefties or if you need to write and close your notebook quickly/frequently.

The characteristic of this ink that makes me hesitate the most when picking it up to use is the ink flow and lubrication. More than 90% of the inks I use are either in the middle of the scale for flow and lubrication, and I tend to like inks better if they are well-lubricated and flow easily. With Petrichor, it feels like ink supply is constricted even on pens that usually have no problem delivering lots of ink to the page. This also makes the nib feel a little dry when writing, which constantly makes me stop and think that I might have an ink flow problem. No, the ink is flowing just fine; it's just the ink formula is on the dry side and doesn't provide the amount of lubrication I like for writing. That's not to say it's a bad characteristic, but it is one that you should be aware of. If you want a dry ink with very controlled flow, this is great. If you want easy flow and a glossy feel when writing, this isn't for you.

The ink behaves well on paper. I haven't noticed any feathering or bleeding, and it starts right away. It's also easy to clean out of pens with just a water flush. I haven't experienced any weirdness with long-term storage in a pen either (meaning, no weird crusty build-up or other residue on the nib after it isn't used for a few days).

I've enjoyed the inks I've tried from Troublemaker Inks so far. This isn't my favorite by any stretch, but I still enjoy the color and shading that it offers. The dry flow takes some getting used to, but once I dialed in my writing speed and expectations, it keeps up just fine.

Petrichor is available in a 60ml bottle for $16.50, or as a 4ml sample vial for just $4. This is one of those inks where I'd really recommend going for the sample first. Given the color variation and dry flow, you need to be sure you like it before committing to such a large bottle. But, if you want the bottle, it's a great deal! Looking forward to trying more inks from Troublemaker Inks in the future.

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

---

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Currently Inked Christmas

(Kimberly (she/her) took the express train down the fountain pen/stationery rabbit hole and doesn't want to be rescued. She can be found on Instagram @allthehobbies because there really are many, many hobbies!.)

Thought I’d keep it simple and (relatively) short for this Christmas week post and write out the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas”, more commonly known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore. I used my 48 currently inked pens to write out the 56 lines on 52gsm Thin Paper by Kokuyo.

A Visit from St. Nicholas, by Clement Clarke Moore

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Here are all the inks that were used to write out this poem:

— Montblanc Antoine de Saint-Exupery Encre du Desert

— Diamine, Flowers, Burgundy Rose

— Diamine Matador

— KWZ x UK Pen Shows, Beefeater Red

— Robert Oster x Endless Pens, New Year New Hue

— Pelikan Edelstein Turmaline

— Vanness Pens Hissy Fit

— Pelikan Edelstein Rose Quartz

— Wearingeul x Atlas Stationers Twelfth Night

— J Herbin Rouille d’Ancre

— Sailor Ink Studio 273

— Iroshizuku Yu-yake

— Pelikan Edelstein Mandarin Orange

— TWSBI Tangerine

— Robert Oster x Pen Chalet Antelope Canyon

— KWZ x Fontoplumo, Monarch

— Bungubox Mikkabi Mandarin Orange

— Robert Oster 1980s Honey Bee

— Wearingeul Stonecutter’s Song

— Robert Oster Caffe Crema

— Sailor 50 States, Texas

— Robert Oster x Cult Pens Dartmoor Brown

— Papier Plume Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

— Robert Oster x Vanness Pens Venom

— J Herbin Vert Olive

— Wearingeul The Secret Garden

— Anderillium Cephalopod, Spirula Green

— Diamine Music, Beethoven

— Kobe #34 Sorakuen Tea Green

— Pelikan Edelstein Apatite

— Bungubox June Bridge Something Blue

— Robert Oster Australis Hydra

— KWZ Walk Over Vistula

— Robert Oster Lake of Fire

— Kobe #50 Kyomachi Legend Blue

— Diamine 150th Anniversary, Blue Velvet

— Sailor 50 States, Illinois

— Pelikan Edelstein Tanzanite

— Robert Oster Aussie Cities in Colour, Adelaide

— Vinta Inks x Enigma Stationery, Tabuan Purple Sea Star

— Wearingeul Grape-colored Night

— Vinta Inks Lavender Payapa

— Monteverde Purple Reign

— Montblanc Lavender Purple

— Franklin-Christoph Black Cherry

— Diamine Amazing Amethyst

— Pelikan Edelstein Amethyst

— Platinum Chou-kuro

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I wish you a very happy holiday season!!