Inktend / Ink library / 401
401
Numbered, seasonally released Chinese inks from the PenBBS forum community, spanning hundreds of literary- and nature-themed colors.
Paper & pairing
Browns tend to photograph and scan a little darker than they look in person — worth testing before using one for anything that will be digitized. This ink will behave predictably on most fountain-pen-friendly paper. Cheap, highly absorbent paper (standard copier paper) will dull any ink's saturation and can cause feathering or bleed-through with wetter nibs.
About PenBBS
PenBBS grew out of China's largest online fountain pen forum, which began producing its own pens and inks for the community in the mid-2010s. Its inks are released in numbered seasonal batches, with each color carrying a catalog number and a name drawn from Chinese literature, history, places, and nature. The huge, ever-rotating range spans well-behaved workhorse colors as well as shimmer and sheen formulas at a modest price.
Storing and using the bottle
Bottled fountain pen ink has an effectively long shelf life when kept capped and out of direct sunlight — most inks remain usable for years. The main risk isn't the ink spoiling, it's a pen sitting inked and unused for weeks: that's what causes clogs, not the ink's age.
Frequently asked questions
Similar shades By colour distance
Color shown is a close digital approximation of a typical swatch, not a calibrated color match.