10+ best fountain pen inks for illustrators and literati

By Shirley K. Burnside Last updated Oct 5, 2021

Photo: ERNY TELLEZ archive photos / Shutterstock
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Scholars and illustrators love pens for their objective beauty and their variation of expressive line. And since most fountain pens are refillable, that means you can try out all kinds of different inks, from black to shades of blue to other colors of the rainbow. We have made your search easier by collecting the best fountain inks to try.

Before you start looking at inks, it is important to consider what you want to do and analyze the fountain pen you will be using. If you use your utensil to produce illustrations, for example, you might prefer to have waterproof black ink that will allow you to review your design with water-based media without worrying about bleeding. Likewise, if you are more interested in traditional handwriting, you might be inclined to purchase a variety of colorful inks to create more intricate calligraphy. Another thing to keep in mind is if your fountain pen has a converter built into its design, or if you need to purchase accessories to try out bottled inks.

Our pick for the best overall ink is Platinum Carbon Black ink. Not only is it water and fade resistant, but it also won’t go through regular copy paper, making it an ideal first choice for illustrators and literati alike. Scroll down to see more choices for the best fountain pen inks in black, blue and other colors.