(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)
I keep telling myself to stop falling for pale inks, because my aging eyes struggle to see them written on the page. I'm not listening, though, because look at this green! iPaper Nantou Tree Frog Ink is the brightest, prettiest, baby leaf green in my ink family. Can I read what I wrote with it? No. Do I have two pens inked with it anyway? Yes. Sometimes this hobby is more about passion than practicality.
Okay, first stop is that wee frog's face. That expression is just daring us to be bold. The Nantou Tree Frog ink is part of the “Natural Wonders of Taiwan” series, and it's plain to see why this wee charmer was honored with his own color in the lineup, which currently has six total inks. I want them all. The ink comes in a slightly pyramid-shaped 30ml glass bottle (pro tip: open the box from the bottom).
This is a very wet ink with excellent flow, which helps show off the shading properties. It's difficult to see the shading in photos, because the ink is so pale. But there is nice shading, which takes it from new grass to highlighter green. In fact, this ink in a wide stub would make an excellent highlighter. It isn't ideal for everyday writing, but it is gorgeous and fun to play with. It isn't similar to any inks I own, despite my love of green ink.
All trace of this ink is fully annihilated by the lightest touch of water. Don't even sneeze on your notebook. Even when I quickly dabbed away a drop of water, it had washed away the line, and where it sat for a few seconds, there is no color left.
This is one of the longer dry times I've seen in a while. It takes a full 30 seconds to stop smearing, and the 5-second test almost completely wiped away the ink.
Color-wise, this ink split into the expected yellow with a trace of blue. Even though it's a pale color, it has good depth to it.
This line of inks retails for about $22, which is a little on the pricey side for 30ml. It's in line with other high-end limited-edition inks, but it does mean I can't have them all. It's the first iPaper ink that I've used, though, and I'm impressed. It definitely won't be the last, even if the rest don't have cute frogs on them.
(The Pen Addict purchased this ink from Shigure Inks at full retail price.)
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