Diamine Inkvent 2023: Day 9 — Moon Beam
Day 9!
It’s the ninth day of Inkvent and today’s ink is Moon Beam.
The color/properties:
Moon Beam is another chameleon ink. Depending on the lighting and viewing angle, the color of the particulates can appear differently. Unlike the previous chameleon colors in this year’s calendar, it was much easier to see the color shifts between not just blue and green, but also pink and yellow. The latter did vary widely and often required awkward viewing angles or unconventional lighting conditions, but the effect works.
The base color is a pale slate grey. I notice a lot of green where the ink lays down lighter on the paper. Moon Beam shades with a crisp contrast between its lighter and deeper tones.
*Please note that the scan is the accurate representation of this color.
How did it perform?
Moon Beam’s performance was okay. I didn’t run into any clogs or hard starts while testing this ink. The ink flowed with a medium wetness, but I was never able to get the particulates to flow consistently to the paper, and the shimmer distribution was poor overall. Moon Beam was also lacking in consistent lubrication. It was never to the point of being unpleasant, but it did become especially noticeable during longer writing sessions, and it’s something to consider if you want to enjoy this ink.
Moon Beam didn’t bleed or feather through either of the test papers, and it cleaned out well for a shimmering ink. It didn’t leave any particulates behind, and the color washed out with a basic flush.
Ink splat
Ink droplets
My personal thoughts…
When I opened the calendar door and swatched the ink, I was instantly a fan. The chameleon effect is far more evident when compared to the calendar’s previous chameleon inks, and I particularly enjoy how the color presents itself in writing. The inconsistent shimmer flow and the dry feeling might be a deal breaker for me, though. It’s not completely intolerable, but I did find it fatiguing. In the right pen, it might be a winner, but for now, I’m still undecided if I want a personal bottle. I’m also not sure how this one fits into the Inkvent theme. Maybe I’m missing something, but it doesn’t feel particularly wintry or festive to me.
Written in a Leuchtturm1917 notebook
More Images/Info:
Tools and materials used in the writing samples:
A TWSBI Diamond 580 AL with 3 nib units including a Fine, Medium, and Broad. All nibs are tuned to perform at the same wetness.
A Rhodia No16 A5 DotPad
A Leuchtturm1917 A5 Notebook
Scan of the writing sample