One of the great joys of fountain pen inks is the way they behave on paper. Unlike ballpoint or rollerball inks, which lay down a flat, uniform line, fountain pen inks can shade, sheen, and shimmer in ways that make every page feel alive.
Here is what those terms mean and which inks do it best.
What Is Shading?
Shading is the variation in colour intensity within a single stroke. As the nib lays down ink, areas where more ink pools (at the start and end of strokes, or in the curves of letters) appear darker, while areas of lighter flow appear lighter. The result is a line that has depth and character.
Shading is most visible with inks that have a wide range of tonal variation and on smooth, high-quality paper. Wetter pens and broader nibs tend to show more shading.
What Is Sheen?
Sheen is the secondary colour that appears when light catches the ink at a certain angle. A blue ink might sheen red. A green ink might sheen gold. It is caused by the way certain dye molecules reflect light differently depending on the angle of view.
Sheen is most visible in areas where ink pools heavily, such as the edges of letters or at the end of strokes. It is best seen on smooth paper like Rhodia or Clairefontaine, and it disappears on absorbent paper.
What Is Shimmer?
Shimmer (sometimes called glitter) is different from sheen. Shimmer inks contain fine metallic particles that catch the light and sparkle on the page. They are visually striking and popular for creative writing, journalling, and correspondence.
Shimmer inks require more maintenance than standard inks. The particles can settle in the pen, so regular use and occasional flushing is recommended.
Our Top Picks
For Shading
The Pilot Iroshizuku range (£30.00 per bottle) is the gold standard for shading inks. Every colour in the range shades beautifully, with a depth and complexity that is difficult to match. Standouts include Kon-Peki (a rich cerulean blue), Momiji (a warm autumn red), Shin-Ryoku (a deep forest green), and Chiku-Rin (a soft bamboo green). These are inks that make you want to write more.
Diamine inks also shade well across the range, particularly the deeper colours. Diamine Indigo, Diamine Eclipse, and Diamine Prussian Blue all show excellent shading on good paper.
For Sheen
Many Diamine inks sheen on smooth paper, particularly the darker shades. Diamine Eclipse (a near-black blue) sheens a striking red-purple. Diamine Twilight sheens gold. These are inks that reward close attention and good paper.
The Pilot Iroshizuku range also sheens, with many colours showing a complementary secondary colour in pooled areas.
For Shimmer
The Diamine Shimmertastic range brings shimmer to a wide variety of colours, from subtle gold shimmer in dark inks to bold glitter effects in lighter shades. They are particularly popular for journalling and creative writing.
Getting the Most from Shading and Sheen Inks
- Use smooth paper. Rhodia, Clairefontaine, or Tomoe River will show shading and sheen at their best. Rough or absorbent paper kills both effects.
- Use a wetter pen or a broader nib. More ink on the page means more shading and more pooling for sheen to develop.
- Hold the page at an angle to the light to see sheen. It is often invisible when viewed straight on.
- For shimmer inks, shake the bottle gently before filling and use the pen regularly to keep the particles in suspension.
Browse our full fountain pen ink collection to explore the full range.