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!
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Very interesting black-purple.
This is a great color and it’s hard to beat their inks. Great review and thanks for the opportunity
I have to work hard to see the purple in this. Wonder what it’d be like in person. Bet it looks nice on cream Tomoe River Paper!
Fun to see a review of KWZ- Green Gold #2
Beautiful grey ink! Maybe review more grey inks?
I really like the Montblanc Toffee Brown
It looks more looks more like a brown than a purple in the pictures to me. What is most interesting to me is the almost ethereal array of colors that pop out when it is smeared. With this quality and it not being waterproof, I can see this be a fantastic shading ink for artists. The color is so ‘defined’ yet soft that it would surely be great for regular sketching as well.
I hope you’ll continue to review inks that have more hidden characteristics like this.
Awesome, thanks for the giveaway! Just picked up a sample of Robert Oster Summer Storm, Cobalt Jazz, & Soda Pop Blue and I’m really liking them.
My wife would love this!
Iroshizuku shin-ryoku is one of my favorite inks. Lovely color and very readable!
That color looks great. Thanks for the opportunity!!
Recently I took notes using Monteverde Mulberry Noir in a Monteverde Invincia with a fine nib.
Normally my thinner lines are not very interesting, but this ink just glowed. It was beautiful.
For a while I was only peripherally into Robert Oster inks – what caught my eye was their sheening inks and the few shimmering ones they offered. But as I’ve gotten further down the rabbit hole, I’ve started to appreciate their more subtly unique offerings. This looks like a good example of that: not as flashy as gold flakes, but a real neat, earthy color.
There’s no doubt about it, I really like Robert Oster inks. Please review color palettes such as greens or blues or reds, etc..
Have you reviewed Robert Oster ‘Lipstick Red ‘ yet?
I so love dark inks
I don’t see purple in it at all (until it is smeared). Could be my monitor, though.
I may have to check this out in person.
I am really loving Rover Osters Violet Dreams right now. It is not always as shimmery as I want but I love the smokey purple.
Now this is a colour I would love to try! You really do give us some great information on inks and it is appreciated! Thanks for the chance to win this one.
I have yet to try Robert Oster inks. My favorite at the moment is Diamine Ancient Copper.
While I have given up hope on limiting my pen purchases, I have somewhat managed to restrain my ink purchases! As such, I have never tried any Robert Oster inks. While it may be somewhat pedestrian, I still love Waterman Serenity Blue, and use it as often as possible. Thanks for the opportunity on the giveaway and please keep the informative blog posts coming!
Interesting water test with this ink. I would love to try it!
Looks like a really interesting color!
I haven’t tried this ink yet, and my current favourite inks are the Diamine Shimmering inks
It would make a good work ink.
The writing sample reminds me a lot of Montblanc Mystery Black…
Curious: could you review more of the Noodler’s colors and also offer them in sample vials?
I’d be really interested to see a review of Birmingham Pen Rachel Carson Silent Spring (ink)!
Nice color. Would be good in a flex nib.
Really interesting smear
Interesting Color!
This looks like a very interesting ink. I’ve never used any Robert Oster inks before but hear they are very good.