Ink swatching is one of the great pleasures of the fountain pen hobby. Creating a swatch lets you see the true colour, shading, sheen, and shimmer of an ink on paper, and building a swatch collection is a wonderful way to catalogue your inks and compare them at a glance. Here is how to do it well.
What is an Ink Swatch?
An ink swatch is a sample of ink applied to paper in a consistent way so you can see its properties clearly. A good swatch shows the ink's colour, how much it shades (varies from light to dark), whether it has sheen (a secondary colour that appears at certain angles), and whether it contains shimmer (metallic particles).
What You Will Need
- The ink you want to swatch
- Good quality paper (Rhodia, Clairefontaine, or Tomoe River are popular choices for swatching)
- A broad nib pen, a brush, or a cotton bud/swab for applying the ink
- A pen or fine liner for writing the ink name and date
- A swatch card, notebook, or dedicated swatch book
Methods for Swatching
The Brush Method
Dip a small paintbrush into the ink and paint a swatch onto the paper. This gives you a large, even area of colour that shows shading and sheen beautifully. Use a flat brush for a clean rectangular swatch. This is the most popular method among serious ink collectors.
The Cotton Bud Method
Dip a cotton bud (cotton swab) into the ink and dab or stroke it onto the paper. Quick, easy, and requires no brush cleaning. The result is slightly less even than a brush swatch but perfectly adequate for a reference collection.
The Pen Method
Write with a broad or stub nib pen to create a writing sample. This shows how the ink actually looks in use, including line variation and shading. Many collectors combine a brush swatch with a written sample for a complete picture of the ink.
What to Include on Your Swatch
A useful swatch card should include:
- The ink name and brand
- The date you swatched it
- The paper type used
- A wet swatch (brush or cotton bud) to show colour and sheen
- A dry writing sample to show how it looks in use
- Any notes on properties (shimmer, sheen, water resistance, dry time)
Seeing Sheen
Sheen is a secondary colour that appears on the surface of some inks when light hits them at an angle. To see sheen, apply a generous wet swatch and let it dry fully, then tilt the paper under a light source. Sheening inks from brands like Diamine and J. Herbin can show spectacular red, gold, or green sheen over a completely different base colour.
Seeing Shimmer
Shimmer inks contain metallic particles that catch the light. These are easy to see in a wet swatch. Shake or stir the ink before swatching to ensure the particles are evenly distributed. See our guide on using shimmer inks for more tips.
Building a Swatch Collection
Many ink enthusiasts keep a dedicated swatch book or card file. Pre-printed swatch cards are available from various stationery brands, or you can create your own template. Organising by colour family, brand, or property (sheen, shimmer, iron gall) makes it easy to find the right ink for any occasion.
Explore Our Ink Range
We stock inks from over 20 brands at Pure Pens, from the classic Diamine and J. Herbin to the adventurous KWZ and De Atramentis. Browse our full fountain pen ink range to find your next swatch subject.