2012 blue ballpoint ink test
This time I decided not to test lots of different types of ink and I choose blue ballpoint refills on three types of paper: Banana paper, Moleskine and Whitelines.
Test ran from end of July until the end of the year. First section was kept in the dark, second and third were taped to the inside of a window facing out, second kept there two weeks and third five months. Fourth strip was washed in water one hour after writing.
The first paper is an ordinary cheap spiral pad paper. The second paper is banana paper. It's quite rough and doesn't absorb ink as much as most office papers does.
The first column in the images is paper which has been stored dark for 4 months, the fourth column was thoroughly soaked and rinsed in water for 10 minutes. The second and third columns were exposed to light by being taped to the inside of a window for 3 weeks and 3 months. I messed up and their positions are switched between the papers.
No fountain pen ink was used in this round of testing, only ballpoint and rollerball. Inks/pens used:
Another things which doesn't surprise us is that inks marked for document use really are more permanent. One could have thought that the Parker refill from an "Urban" pen, which isn't so marked, could have been the same as the others, but without the marking -- but it's clearly not but something else.
The 19 year old Ballograf refill gives a slightly different colour in use, but regarding fastness it's just as good as a new. As expected, as the documentary standard also specifies a 10 year shelf life of refills.
One surprise of the test is the Slider refills, because the black one is marked "for documents". Even if this isn't a proper long term test I'd expected it to do much better regarding light fastness.
These are the intermediate results. I'll let the light fastness testing continue.
Testing was performed by writing on two different kinds of paper and cutting a strip of each of them and taping on the inside of a window (facing east, I live pretty far north and during the testing period of Jan/Feb to May it's often cloudy here). So while accelerated, the conditions have not included stronger light nor other wavelengths than you can get indoors, it's just that papers don't usually get direct sunlight 3-6 h/day.
There were few differences between the two papers.
The top section was tested from Jan 15:th, the middle from Feb 2:nd and the last from Feb 16:th, all tests stopped on May 11:th. I had planned on running the test longer, but I stopped when the first colours had been totally wiped out.
It can be noted that on the best paper, which was the cheapest and in other respects probably would be considered the worst, all inks left a legible, if sometimes quite fades, result. On the worst paper, seven out of the 17 inks were at least partially completely obliterated. On the four in between, two to five inks were washed out enough that I judge what was left to be hardly legible.
I performed the test by first writing on the papers (in the same order), left the ink to dry a bit more than two hours and then kept the right hand part of the paper under running water until the water didn't remove any more ink (because I didn't want it to flow around and mix with the other inks).
Five of the six different papers. (4 and 5 showed nearly the same result.) The last has not only been flushed, but has had water dropped on the left part.
Test ran from end of July until the end of the year. First section was kept in the dark, second and third were taped to the inside of a window facing out, second kept there two weeks and third five months. Fourth strip was washed in water one hour after writing.
- Ballograf original (archival)
- Ballograf original in plastic refill (archival), from the SA-4000 pen
- Ballograf Friendly (not marked archival, so this I was very curious about)
- Ballograf short plastic
- Ballograf Easyflow
- Schmidt P900 12757-2
- Schmidt P950 air pressure
- Schmidt Easyflow
- Schneider Slider
- Parker 12757-2
- Monteverdi P15
- Mont Blanc
- Pelikan
- Parker 5th (not a ballpoint)
- Fisher
- Fisher turquoise
- Bic M10
- Bic Atlantis
- Uni Jetstream
- Lamy M66 (rollerball)
- Pilot Acroball
- Pilot Nextage
- Lamy M16
- Generic (white plastic)
- Generic (white plastic)
2011 fountain and ballpoint ink test
Inks tested in this round, on three different kinds of paper, one ordinary, one thick and not very absorbing and on Whitelines, none of them certificated as archival paper as far as I know.
Test ran from end of August until the end of the year. First section was kept in the dark, second and third were taped to the inside of a window facing out, second kept there one month and third three months. Fourth strip was washed in water one hour after writing.
- Ballograf blue (DIN 16554-2, so it was almost certainly not new)
Slight colour shift after subjected to light, depending on paper almost unaffected by water. - Ballograf black (ISO 12757-2)
Handles water better than the blue and there's no colour to shift. - Ballograf green
- Fisher blue
- Fisher black
- Uni Jetstream blue
- Ballograf Friendly blue (not marked as archival)
Almost the same as the regular, not quite as environmentally friendly, apart from what happens in water where it's shown to have a red component. - Uni Powertank Eco blue
- Zebra Sarasa black (gel)
- Pilot Permaball (acrylic?)
- Generic cheap blue ballpoint
Almost gone after just one month. I don't know what makes them cheap, but they sure lack something. - Generic cheap red ballpoint
- Lamy M66 rollerball blue
- Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri wild chestnut/dark brown
This whole line is according to the maker light proof. But they don't tell you unless you ask. - Pilot Iroshizuku Ku-jaku peacock/turquoise
- Pilot Iroshizuku Shin-ryoku forest green
- Noodler's red-black
- Lamy fountain pen blue
- Noodler's X-Feather
- Mont Blanc Irish Green
- Mont Bland Royal blue
- Noodler's Blue
- Noodler's Gruene Cactus
- Noodler's Baystate Blue
Takes the prize for the most light sensitive blue fountain pen ink I've encountered. - Pelikan Highligher bright yellow
2010 fountain pen ink test
This test round ran from August 2010 to spring 2011. And as ususal, it's only in order to let myself choose which inks I'll use, but maybe of interest to others too. This test is made on rather thick paper which isn't very absorbing.- Caran d'Ace Saffron
- Noodler's Tanager Orange
- Waterman Havana
- Pelikan Brilliant Brün
- Caran d'Ache Amazon
- Pelikan Brilliant-grün
- Mont Blanc Englishgrün
- Swisher Emerald
- Mont Blanc Irish Green
- Noodler's Midnight
- Noodler's Ottoman Azure
- Waterman Florida Blue
- Swisher Nantucket Blue
- Waterman South Seas Blue
- Caran d'Ache Caribbean
- Platinum Black
- Noodler's Nuke
- Omas Grey
- Noodler's Shah's Rose
- Noodler's Red-black
- Noodler's Stockholm Indigo
- Mont Blanc Bordeaux
- Pelikan Violet
- Mont Blanc Marathon rollerball
- Lamy M66 rollerball
- Zebra Zebroller AX7
- Uni Jetstream
- Caran d'Ache fibre-tip
- Pilot V disposable fountain pen
2009 test round
This isn't a scientific test, partly because I haven't used archival paper -- which I didn't think was important as this isn't a long duration test. So you can't rely on it if you have professional reasons to use archival ink nor if long term storage is an issue. I just made it to guide myself and maybe someone else finds it interesting too.The first paper is an ordinary cheap spiral pad paper. The second paper is banana paper. It's quite rough and doesn't absorb ink as much as most office papers does.
The first column in the images is paper which has been stored dark for 4 months, the fourth column was thoroughly soaked and rinsed in water for 10 minutes. The second and third columns were exposed to light by being taped to the inside of a window for 3 weeks and 3 months. I messed up and their positions are switched between the papers.
No fountain pen ink was used in this round of testing, only ballpoint and rollerball. Inks/pens used:
- Bic M10 and Orange
- Ballograf
- Parker ballpoint and gel
- Schneider Express, Slider and Gelion
- Uni Jetstream and Power Tank
- Fisher
- Pilot BRFN-30 and Permaball
- Lamy M66
- Cheap generic plastic ballpoint refill
Another things which doesn't surprise us is that inks marked for document use really are more permanent. One could have thought that the Parker refill from an "Urban" pen, which isn't so marked, could have been the same as the others, but without the marking -- but it's clearly not but something else.
The 19 year old Ballograf refill gives a slightly different colour in use, but regarding fastness it's just as good as a new. As expected, as the documentary standard also specifies a 10 year shelf life of refills.
One surprise of the test is the Slider refills, because the black one is marked "for documents". Even if this isn't a proper long term test I'd expected it to do much better regarding light fastness.
Water resistance and light fastness test of some fountain pen, roller ball, ballpoint and gel inks (2003)
Ballpoint and gel
This test ran from 02-09-15. One strip was rinsed under running water. One strip was taped to the inside of a window facing out until 02-10-20 (5 weeks), one strip until 03-05-17 (8 months) and one strip was 1 m from a window perpendicular to it and subjected to office light until 03-08-18 (11 months). It can be noted that this gave almost the same effect as facing full sunlight one autumn week.- Parker blue bold "new standard" ballpoint
Water: OK.
Light (5 weeks/11 months): Slight fading
Light (8 months): More faded, slightly greenish - Parker blue medium ballpoint
Water: OK.
Light (5 weeks/11 months): Slight fading
Light (8 months): More faded, slightly greenish
Light (11 months): Slight fading - Parker black fine ballpoint
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks/11 months): OK
Light (8 months): Some fading - Parker gel 0.7 blue
Water: Totally washed away
Light (5 weeks/11 months): Faded to faint brownish
Light (8 months): Totally faded - Parker gel 0.7 black
Water: Smudged
Light (5 weeks/11 months): Slight fading
Light (8 months): Faded to brownish - Fisher blue bold ballpoint
Water: Some smudging
Light (5 weeks/11 months): OK
Light (8 months): Fainter greyish - Fisher black bold ballpoint
Water: Slight smudging
Light (5 weeks/11 months): OK
Light (8 months): Barely noticable fading - Rotring blue medium ballpoint
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks/11 months): Some colour change
Light (8 months): Faded to somewhat faint greenish - Zebra Jimnie blue gel
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks/11 months): OK
Light (8 months): OK - Zebra J-roller blue gel
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks/11 months): OK
Light (8 months): OK - Zebra J-roller black gel
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks/11 months): OK
Light (8 months): OK - Pilot G-1 1.0 blue
Water: Some smudging
Light (5 weeks/11 months): Some fading, greyish
Light (8 months): Faded to faint grey - Pilot G-2 0.7 blue
Water: Some smudging
Light (5 weeks/11 months): Some fading
Light (8 months): Faded to faint grey - Pilot G-2 0.7 purple
Water: Illegible
Light (5 weeks/11 months): Barely legible
Light (8 months): Totally faded - Pilot G-2 0.7 red
Water: Barely legible
Light (5 weeks/11 months): Very faint red
Light (8 months): Almost totally faded - Niji J-Clear III black
Water: Some smudging
Light (5 weeks/11 months): OK
Light (8 months): Faded slightly greyish - Sakura Gelly Roll blue
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks/11 months): OK
Light (8 months): OK - Pentel K106 Hybrid Roller
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks/11 months): OK
Light (8 months): OK - Bic Intensity Clic 0.7 gel
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks/11 months): OK
Light (8 months): OK
Ballpoint, rollerball, disposable fountain pens
This test ran from 02-09-22. One strip was rinsed under running water. One strip was taped to the inside of a window facing out until 02-10-31 (5 weeks), one strip until 03-05-17 (8 months).- Parker blue bold ballpoint
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): OK
Light (8 months): OK - Parker blue gel
Water: Washed away
Light (5 weeks): Faded to brownish
Light (8 months): Faded to almost illegibility - Parker blue rollerball
Water: Almost washed away, illegible
Light (5 weeks): Faded to dark purple
Light (8 months): Faded to almost illegibility - Zeb-Roller DX-7 blue
Water: Faint light blue, legible
Light (5 weeks): Faded to dark purple
Light (8 months): Faded to faint brownish - Zeb-Roller DX-7 black
Water: Faint grey, legible
Light (5 weeks): Slight fading
Light (8 months): Noticable fading - Bic Orange blue
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): Faded dark blue
Light (8 months): Faded greenish - Bic Cristal black
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): OK
Light (8 months): Some fading and colour change to brownish - Bic Atlantic blue
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): Faded dark blue
Light (8 months): Faded greenish - Pilot BPS-GP extra broad blue
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): Darker
Light (8 months): Faint greyish - G-1 Metallic blue
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): OK
Light (8 months): OK - G-2 purple
Water: Smudged
Light (5 weeks): Only faint remains
Light (8 months): Illegible - Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pen blue
Water: Illegible
Light (5 weeks): Faded to purple
Light (8 months): Faint reddish remains - Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pen black
Water: Almost washed away, barely legible
Light (5 weeks): OK
Light (8 months): Slight fading - Ballograf blue ballpoint
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): Faded, darker
Light (8 months): Faded, faint greenish - Penac Sleek Touch ballpoint
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): Faded, darker
Light (8 months): Faded, faint greenish - Pilot P-700 blue rollerball
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): OK
Light (8 months): OK - Pilot V7 rollerball blue
Water: Smudged, legible
Light (5 weeks): Slight fading
Light (8 months): Faded to faint blue-grey - Pilot V-2000/5 black rollerball
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): OK
Light (8 months): Greyish - Pilot V5 turqouise rollerball
Water: Faint remains
Light (5 weeks): OK
Light (8 months): Some fading - Pilot V7 red rollerball
Water: Smudged
Light (5 weeks): Faint remains
Light (8 months): Faded to illegibility - Pentel Hybrid black
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): OK
Light (8 months): OK - Sakura Gelly Roll blue
Water: OK
Light (5 weeks): OK
Light (8 months): OK
Fountain pen inks
One strip was rinsed under running water, one was taped to the inside of a window between 03-01-07 and 03-05-17.- Parker Penman Emerald
Water: Faint, but legible
Light: OK - Pelikan Brilliant Green
Water: Faint remains
Light: Faint remains - Mont Blanc green
Water: Washed away
Light: Very faint remains - Waterman green
Water: Smudged, hardly legible
Light: Faint grey - Shaeffer green
Water: Washed away
Light: Faded - Pelikan turquoise
Water: Washed away
Light: Faint remains - Parker turquoise
Water: Smudged but legible
Light: Faded - Pelikan purple
Water: Very faint remains
Light: Faded remains - Mont Blanc blue
Water: Very faint remains
Light: Faded to grey - Waterman Florida blue
Water: Washed away
Light: Dark grey - Parker Quink blue
Water: Washed away
Light: Dark grey - Pelikan blue
Water: Washed away
Light: Faint dark grey - Caran d'Ache blue
Water: Almost washed away, barely legible
Light: Faint dark grey - Shaeffer blue
Water: Almost washed away, barely legible
Light: Faint dark grey - Pelikan blue-black
Water: Faint grey
Light: Some fading to grey - Mont Blanc blue-black
Water: Slight smudging, good legibility
Light: OK, barely noticable fading - Shaeffer blue-black
Water: Faint grey
Light: Faded - Parker blue-black
Water: Faint blueish
Light: Very faint grey - Pelikan black
Water: Smudging
Light: OK - Shaeffer black
Water: Smudging
Light: OK - Waterman black
Water: Faint blue
Light: Some fading - Mont Blanc black
Water: Washed away
Light: Brownish - Parker black
Water: Faint blueish
Light: Some fading - Pelikan brilliant brown
Water: Very faint blueish
Light: Slight fading - Waterman Havana
Water: Washed away
Light: Some fading - Shaeffer red
Water: Faint red
Light: Faint red - Pelikan red
Water: Very faint
Light: Faint dark red
Rollerball, ballpoint, gel
One strip was rinsed under running water, one was taped to the inside of a window from 03-01-05 until 03-02-22 (6 weeks) and one until 03-05-17 (18 weeks).- Parker blue rollerball
Water: Almost illegible
Light (6 weeks): Darker
Light (18 weeks): Faint reddish - Pelikan black rollerball fine
Water: Slightly smudged
Light (6 weeks): OK
Light (18 weeks): Some fading - Pelikan blue rollerball medium
Water: Almost illegible
Light (6 weeks): Darker
Light (18 weeks): Faint brownish - Mont Blanc green rollerball
Water: Smudged, almost washed away
Light (6 weeks): Darker
Light (18 weeks): Very faint, barely legible - Parker blue gel
Water: Almost illegible
Light (6 weeks): Purple
Light (18 weeks): Very faint red - Parker black gel
Water: Smudged
Light (6 weeks): OK
Light (18 weeks): Slightly brownish - Zebra blue retractible gel
Water: OK
Light (6 weeks): OK
Light (18 weeks): OK - Pilot G-2 purple
Water: Smudged
Light (6 weeks): Faint
Light (18 weeks): Illegible - Pilot G-2 blue
Water: Some smudging
Light (6 weeks): OK
Light (18 weeks): Faint black - Pilot G-2 black
Water: Some smudging
Light (6 weeks): OK
Light (18 weeks): Some fading - Pilog G-2 green
Water: Very smudged
Light (6 weeks): Dark green
Light (18 weeks): Faint brownish - Pilot BPS-GP blue ballpoint
Water: OK
Light (6 weeks): Darker
Light (18 weeks): Faint remains - Pilot BPS-GP black ballpoint
Water: OK
Light (6 weeks): Slight fading
Light (18 weeks): Faded - Pilot BPS-GP green ballpoint
Water: OK
Light (6 weeks): OK
Light (18 weeks): Slight fading - Rotring blue ballpoint
Water: OK
Light (6 weeks): Darker
Light (18 weeks): Faint greenish - Ballograf green ballpoint
Water: Some smudging
Light (6 weeks): OK
Light (18 weeks): OK - Ballograf blue ballpoint
Water: OK
Light (6 weeks): Darker
Light (18 weeks): Faint greenish - Parker blue ballpoint
Water: Slight smudging
Light (6 weeks): Darker
Light (18 weeks): Slightly greyish - Parker black ballpoint
Water: OK
Light (6 weeks): OK
Light (18 weeks): Slight fading - Parker blue broad ballpoint
Water: Slight smudging
Light (6 weeks): Darker
Light (18 weeks): Slightly greyish - Fisher black ballpoint
Water: Some smudging
Light (6 weeks): OK
Light (18 weeks): Slight fading - Fisher blue ballpoint
Water: Some smudging
Light (6 weeks): OK
Light (18 weeks): Darker - Fisher green ballpoint
Water: Some smudging
Light (6 weeks): OK
Light (18 weeks): Fait remains - Fisher blue Spaceball ballpoint
Water: Slight smudging
Light (6 weeks): Darker
Light (18 weeks): Slightly greyish
Water resistance and light fastness test of some fountain pen, ballpoint and gel inks (2002)
Water resistance testing was by letting the ink dry for a day and then rinse under running water. Light fastness testing is done by taping the paper to the inside of a window. (This test was started in the summer.)These are the intermediate results. I'll let the light fastness testing continue.
Ballpoint and gel inks
This time around I didn't bother to test and roller ball inks.- Pilot G-2 blue, 0.7 mm
Water: Some smudging
Light (4 weeks): Some fading
Light (8 weeks): Faint grey-black remains - Pilot G-2 black, 0.7 mm
Water: Some smudging
Light (4 weeks): Hardly noticable fading
Light (8 weeks): Slight fading - Pilot G-2 purple, 0.7 m
Water: Almost washed away
Light (4 weeks): Completely faded (took 2 weeks to fade to illegibility) - Zebra gel blue, 0.7 mm
Water: Very good
Light (4 weeks): Very good
Light (8 weeks): No noticable fading - Niji Gel black, 0.7 mm
Water: Good
Light (4 weeks): Good
Light (8 weeks): Slight further fading - Parker gel blue, 0.7 mm
Water: Totally washed away
Light (4 weeks): Faded to a faint reddish brown (already after two weeks)
Light (8 weeks): Almost completely faded - Parker gel black, 0.7 mm
Water: Slight smudging, greyish
Light (4 weeks): Good
Light (8 weeks): Slight further fading - Parker ballpoint blue, medium
Water: Very good
Light (4 weeks): OK
Light (8 weeks): Hardly any further fading - Parker ballpoint black, fine
Water: Very good
Light (4 weeks): Very good
Light (8 weeks): No noticable further fading - Rotring ballpoint blue
Water: Very good
Light (4 weeks): Noticable fading
Light (8 weeks): Very slight further fading - Fisher ballpoint black, bold
Water: Some smudging
Light (4 weeks): Good
Light (8 weeks): No noticable further fading - Fisher ballpoint blue, bold
Water: Some smudging
Light (4 weeks): OK
Light (8 weeks): Some further colour change
Fountain pen inks
- Shaeffer Skrip blue-black
Water: Some fading
Light (3 weeks): Slight fading to a grey-black
Light (7 weeks): Faded to grey-brown - Shaeffer Skrip blue
Water: Faded
Light (3 weeks): Very faded to a greenish grey
Light (7 weeks): Much further fading - Shaeffer blue
Water: Faded
Light (3 weeks): Very faded to a greenish grey
Light (7 weeks): Much further fading - Shaeffer peacock blue
Water: Very faded
Light (3 weeks): Faded to a darker blue grey
Light (7 weeks): Much further fading - Parker black
Water: Blueish, some smudging
Light (3 weeks): Faded to a dark brown
Light (7 weeks): Faded to light brown - Parker blue
Water: Practically totally washed away
Light (3 weeks): Faint greyish blue
Light (7 weeks): Very faded - Parker turquoise
Water: Very faded
Light (3 weeks): Faded to a darker blue grey
Light (7 weeks): Some further fading - Waterman black
Water: Blueish, some smudging
Light (3 weeks): Faded to a dark brown
Light (7 weeks): Faded to light brown - Waterman florida blue
Water: Practically totally washed away
Light (3 weeks): Faint greyish blue
Light (7 weeks): Faded to very light faint grey - Mont Blanc black
Water: Practically totally washed away
Light (3 weeks): Faded to a purplish colour
Light (7 weeks): Faint reddish brown - Mont Blanc blue-black
Water: Almost no fading
Light (3 weeks): Some fading, more greyish
Light (7 weeks): Some further fading - Mont Blanc blue
Water: Faded to a faint colour
Light (3 weeks): Faded
Light (7 weeks): Almost totally faded - Pelikan brilliant black
Water: Some smudging
Light (3 weeks): Slight colour change
Light (7 weeks): Very slight fading to brown - Pelikan royal blue
Water: Almost washed away
Light (3 weeks): Faded
Light (7 weeks): Almost totally faded - Pelikan blue-black
Water: Faded
Light (3 weeks): Slight colour change
Light (7 weeks): Faded to light grey-brown - Pelikan purple
Water: Practically washed away
Light (3 weeks): Faint reddish
Light (7 weeks): Hardly any remains
An ink light fastness test (2002)
This test was made under realistic but accelerated conditions, it's not comprehensive, I've just used most of the inks I had at hand earlier this year.Testing was performed by writing on two different kinds of paper and cutting a strip of each of them and taping on the inside of a window (facing east, I live pretty far north and during the testing period of Jan/Feb to May it's often cloudy here). So while accelerated, the conditions have not included stronger light nor other wavelengths than you can get indoors, it's just that papers don't usually get direct sunlight 3-6 h/day.
There were few differences between the two papers.
- Paker Quink Black
Faded brownish. - Pelikan Brilliand Black
Faded very slightly to brownish, best of the fountain pen inks in this trial. - Mont Blanc Black
Faded to faint or very faint reddish brown. - Waterman Black
Faded brownish. - Pelikan Royal Blue
Very faint. - Waterman Florida Blue
Faint. - Parker Quink Turqoise
Faded. - Shaeffer Peacock Blue
Totally faded. - Waterman Havana
Slightly faded. - Parker Penman Mocha
Very faded. - Parker Penman Ruby
Very faded, nearly illegible. - Shaeffer Red
Very faded, nearly illegible. - Pilot G-2 Black
Slightly faded. - Rotring rollerball black
Has turned brownish, very little fading. - Pilot G-2 Blue
Faded noticably. - Rotring rollerball blue
Totally faded, slight reddish remains. - Fisher ballpoint black
Hardly noticable fading. - Parker rollerball blue
Very faded, faint reddish remains. - Cross Ion Midnight Blue
Faded to grey-black. - Parker Gel Blue
Very faded, faint reddish remains.
The top section was tested from Jan 15:th, the middle from Feb 2:nd and the last from Feb 16:th, all tests stopped on May 11:th. I had planned on running the test longer, but I stopped when the first colours had been totally wiped out.
An ink water resistance test (2002)
The other day I made the discovery that restistance to smudging isn't directly tied into an inks water resistance when soaked or rinsed after being put on paper. So I performed a brief test of some of the inks I use, bottled inks, some roller ball inks and one fountain pen ink.It can be noted that on the best paper, which was the cheapest and in other respects probably would be considered the worst, all inks left a legible, if sometimes quite fades, result. On the worst paper, seven out of the 17 inks were at least partially completely obliterated. On the four in between, two to five inks were washed out enough that I judge what was left to be hardly legible.
I performed the test by first writing on the papers (in the same order), left the ink to dry a bit more than two hours and then kept the right hand part of the paper under running water until the water didn't remove any more ink (because I didn't want it to flow around and mix with the other inks).
- Parker Quink Black
Left a blue remain on all papers, feathers out to yellow if water is left on it. - Pelikan Brilliant Black
Left faint black remains on all papers. - Mont Blanc Black
Left a faint purplish or blue remain, or was washed away. - Waterman Black
Blue or blue-black remains on all papers. Also feathers to yellow and blue. Very similar in resistance to Parker's black. - Pelikan Royal Blue
Blue or washed away. - Waterman Florida Blue
Blue remains or washed away. Least resistant blue. Surprised me, as this is one of the more smudge resistant inks I've got. - Parker Quink Turquoise
Turquoise or practically washed away. - Shaeffer Peacock Blue
Turquoise or practically washed away. Less resistant than Parker's turquoise. - Waterman Havana
Easily washed away. Can leave a faint blue or brown remain, feathers to different colours if left wet. - Parker Penman Mocha
Leaves a faint grey-black remain. - Parker Penman Ruby
Can leave purplish remains. - Shaeffer Red
Faint red. Doesn't flow out on the surrounding paper in relation to how much it's faded. - Pilot G-2 black (RB)
Good water resistance even on the worst paper. - Rotring black (RB)
Another surprise, almost smudge free when writing. Fades or smudges when wet. - Pilot G-2 blue (RB)
Good water resistance on most papers. - Rotring blue (RB)
Can be completely washed away. Separates into blue and red. - Fisher black bold (BP)
Good water resistance.
Five of the six different papers. (4 and 5 showed nearly the same result.) The last has not only been flushed, but has had water dropped on the left part.