Ink on Cheap Paper #55, Diamine Indigo

Diamine Indigo is a dark but unsaturated blue from the standard ink series. Reviews can be found at Mountain of Ink and Wondernaut. These samples were written with a Jinhao 82 with a fine nib.

AMPAD Legal Pad with Post-It-Note - Front

 AMPAD Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Front

 AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Steno Pad - Front

AMPAD Steno Pad - Reverse

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Front

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Reverse

AMPAD Scratchpad - Front

AMPAD Scratchpad - Reverse

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Front

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Reverse

 

Best One-Sided Performer: Legal Pad

Best Two-Sided Performer: Staples Copy Paper

The Post-It-Note Test: Good for quick notes.

TLDR [Drying Time, (B)leed, (G)host]: Legal Pad - 0, G; small Legal Pad - 0, B, G; Steno Pad - 5; Copy Paper 20lb - 0; Scratchpad - 0, G; p&G Notebook - 5. 

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and is not sponsored in any way. This ink came from my own collection. 

Ink on Cheap Paper #54, Pilot Namiki Black Cartridge

Pilot Namiki Black is the ink that comes in Pilot Black cartridges. While this may be the same ink as Pilot Black from a bottle, which is tested later, we'll still test it since it comes in a cartridge. Reviews for this ink can be found at Mountain of Ink and on An Ink Guy. These samples were written with a Pilot Metropolitan with a 1.0 mm stub nib. This nib is still a fine to medium in line width, and will mimic those line widths.

AMPAD Legal Pad with Post-It-Note - Front

AMPAD Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Front

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Steno Pad - Front

AMPAD Steno Pad - Reverse

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Front

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Reverse

AMPAD Scratchpad - Front

AMPAD Scratchpad - Reverse

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Front

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Reverse

 

Best One-Sided Performer: Legal Pad

Best Two-Sided Performer: Staples Copy Paper, though the others were close.

The Post-It-Note Test: Great for quick notes.

TLDR [Drying Time, (B)leed, (G)host]: Legal Pad - 0, G; small Legal Pad - 0, B, G; Steno Pad - 5; Copy Paper 20lb - 0, G; Scratchpad - 0, B, G; p&G Notebook - 5, G. 

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and is not sponsored in any way. This ink came from my own collection. 

Ink on Cheap Paper #53, Diamine Green/Black

Diamine Green/Black is a dark green in the standard Diamine ink series. Reviews can be found at Mountain of Ink, Duck's Doodles, the Pen Company, and the Fountain Pen Network. These samples were written with a Kaweco Sport with a double broad nib. Due to the large nib size, be aware that dry times and bleeding could be further mitigated with a finer nib.

AMPAD Legal Pad with Post-It-Note - Front

AMPAD Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Front

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Steno Pad - Front

AMPAD Steno Pad - Reverse

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Front

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Reverse

AMPAD Scratchpad - Front

AMPAD Scratchpad - Reverse

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Front

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Reverse

 

Best One-Sided Performer: All tied.

Best Two-Sided Performer: Staples Copy Paper and pen & GEAR Notebook for drying time.

The Post-It-Note Test: Good for notes.

TLDR [Drying Time, (B)leed, (G)host]: Legal Pad - 5, B, G; small Legal Pad - 5, B, G; Steno Pad - 10; Copy Paper 20lb - 5, G; Scratchpad - 5, B, G; p&G Notebook - 5, G. 

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and is not sponsored in any way. This ink came from my own collection. 

Ink on Cheap Paper #52, Diamine Jack Frost

Diamine Jack Frost is a dark turquoise ink with a lot of sheen and shimmer. It was first released as part of the 2019 Inkvent Calendar but is now a part of the Blue Collection. Reviews for this ink can be found at Mountain of Ink, Pen Addict, Inky Inspirations, and Fountain Pen Pharmacist. These tests were written with a WingSung 698 with a fine nib.

AMPAD Legal Pad with Post-It-Note - Front

 AMPAD Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Front

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Steno Pad - Front

 AMPAD Steno Pad - Reverse

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Front

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Reverse

AMPAD Scratchpad - Front

AMPAD Scratchpad - Reverse

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Front

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Reverse

 

Best One-Sided Performer: Legal Pad for writing area.

Best Two-Sided Performer: Staples Copy Paper and pen & GEAR tied.

The Post-It-Note Test: Good for notes, but could smudge due to it being a sheening ink.

TLDR [Drying Time, (B)leed, (G)host]: Legal Pad - 5, G; small Legal Pad - 5, G; Steno Pad - 10; Copy Paper 20lb - 5; Scratchpad - 0, B, G; p&G Notebook - 5. 

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and is not sponsored in any way. This ink came from my own collection. 

Ink on Cheap Paper #51, Monarca Cardona

Monarca Cardona is a red ink with a hint of shimmer. Reviews can be found at Mountain of Ink and Well Appointed Desk. These tests were written with a Jinhao 82 with a fine nib. The shimmer is very subtle with a fine nib, but would be more apparent with a medium or broad nib. 

Note: AMPAD Scratchpad was unknowingly skipped for this ink.

AMPAD Legal Pad with Post-It-Note - Front

AMPAD Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Front

AMPAD Small Legal Pad - Reverse

AMPAD Steno Pad - Front

AMPAD Steno Pad - Reverse

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Front

Staples Copy Paper 20 lb - Reverse

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Front

pen & GEAR Notebook, Front & Back and Overlapping Line Tests - Reverse

 

Best One-Sided Performer: Legal Pad

Best Two-Sided Performer: Staples Copy Paper

The Post-It-Note Test: Good for quick notes.

TLDR [Drying Time, (B)leed, (G)host]: Legal Pad - 5; small Legal Pad - 5,G; Steno Pad - 5; Copy Paper 20lb - 0; p&G Notebook - 5. 

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and is not sponsored in any way. This ink came from my own collection.