Robert Oster Smokescreen Ink is a 2018 summer ink color released by the Robert Oster Ink Company. As Robert Oster expands their wide array of Australian themed colors we continue to be amazed at the passion and uniqueness each color has to offer. Robert Oster Smokescreen ink is a dark muted purple color that is different than any other purple ink we have reviewed. Many ink companies have been producing black-based colored inks, such as Platinum’s Classic Lavender Black, Cassis Black and Citrus Black or Monteverde’s entire “Noir” series of inks. Other ink companies have offered blue-black as a color option for many years, which has been a main stay color in the ink community. However, whether by design or not,, Robert Oster has produced what we call a black-purple color with the Smokescreen ink. What makes this ink interesting is that the black ink color comes out as a dark black sheen. The combination is truly unique and fun to use and experiment with.
Continuing reading for a chance to win the bottle of Robert Oster Smokescreen ink we used for this review.
Robrt Oster Smokescreen Ink Review
We found the following traits while testing Robert Oster Smokescreen ink that you may find useful:
Testing Factors
For our review of Robert Oster Smokescreen ink we used French made Rhodia dot pad paper and a J. Herbin glass dip pen. The dip pen has a tip that is similar to a fine fountain pen nib.
Bottle Size
Robert Oster Smokescreen ink comes in a standard environmentally friendly 50 ml. plastic ink bottle. The bottle is simple and has a small white label on the cap indicating the color of ink inside as well as a small ink swab of the actual ink to show the color.
Cost
Robert Oster Smokescreen ink retails for $17.00. This makes Robert Oster ink a mid ranged priced ink, which is quite reasonable when you realize each bottle is imported by us directly from Australia.
Dry Time
During our review of Robert Oster Smokescreen ink we found a dry time of approximately 4-5 seconds, which is very quick for a dark non-waterproof ink color. This quick dry time and its dark color, makes Robert Oster Smokescreen ink a viable color for every day use both at home and in the office.
Bleed Through
During normal use we found no bleeding while testing Robert Oster Smokescreen ink. However, during the cotton swab test we some slight bleed through at the wettest point of the cotton swab and some of the dark sheen color showing through.
Feathering
We found no feathering during our review of Robert Oster Smokescreen ink during normal use. However, during the water test, we did find quite a bit of line distortion and feathering.
Water Test
Robert Oster Smokescreen ink is not waterproof. We conducted a water test where we ran a water soaked cotton swab over an ink sample. The test resulted in significant color smearing, which showed an array of colors, significant line distortion and feathering, etc. These results are not uncharacteristic for non-water proof fountain pen ink.
Shading and Sheening
One of the characteristics that make Robert Oster Smokescreen ink such a beautiful ink color is its shading and sheening traits and the colors it can produce. Robert Oster Smokescreen ink does shade quite a bit, producing a dark purple-black color with heavier wet strokes to a light, muted purple color with a lighter dry stroke. There are also variations in between depending on the nib and stroke used including some dark black sheen with the wettest strokes.
Conclusions about Robert Oster Smokescreen ink
Robert Oster Smokescreen ink is not your typical purple color. Although the base color has more of a soft muted purple, the black sheen and dark shading is what defines this ink. It is a fairly quick drying ink, shades wonderfully well and writes dark making it an every day office or home ink option. Robert Oster Inks in general are non-toxic, fountain pen friendly and are reasonably priced. Happy Writing from Australia!
Enter to Win
Enter to win the actual bottle of Robert Oster Thunderstorm ink that we used in this ink review:
