Inktend / Ink library / Black

Pilot

Black

Blacks & greys
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Pilot's own-brand cartridges and bottled ink support its Custom, Metropolitan and Kakuno lines.

Specs

Color familyBlacks & greys
Approx. hex#1E1E1E
SheenNot typically noted
BrandPilot
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About Pilot

Founded in Tokyo in 1918, Pilot is one of the oldest and largest pen makers in the world, and the company behind the Iroshizuku ink line and the Namiki maki-e tradition.

Japan Founded 1918
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Paper & pairing notes

As a near-neutral tone, it reads as professional and safe for anything from journaling to signatures. 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.

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

What color family is Black?
Black falls into Inktend's blacks & greys family based on its typical swatch color.
Does Black have sheen?
Black is not typically noted for sheen. If you want that effect, browse similarly colored inks tagged with sheen in the ink library.
How should I store a bottle of Black?
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.
What paper works best with Black?
As a near-neutral tone, it reads as professional and safe for anything from journaling to signatures. 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.

Similar shades

Onyx Black
Diamine
4001 Brilliant Black
Pelikan
Leipziger Schwarz
Rohrer & Klingner
Intense Black
Waterman
Black
Parker Quink
Pearl Black
Kaweco

Color shown is a close digital approximation of a typical swatch, not a calibrated color match.