Dominant Industry Standard 100 Base Black — Deep Black, Black Sheen Fountain Pen Ink (25ml)

Dominant Industry Standard 100 Base Black — Deep Black, Black Sheen Fountain Pen Ink (25ml)

Dominant Industry Standard 100 Base Black is a 25ml fountain pen ink and the defining entry in Dominant Industry's Standard Series — a line of richly formulated, non-shimmer inks built for writers who prioritise colour depth, ink quality, and expressive character over decorative effects. Base Black delivers exactly what its name promises: a deep, saturated, pure black that is among the darkest and most fully chromatic black fountain pen inks available. It is a black without meaningful colour bias — no blue, no red, no warm or cool tint — paired with a notable high black sheen that adds a sophisticated reflective quality to the written page under directional light.

The Standard Series is Dominant Industry's non-shimmer line, distinct from the Pearl Collection and the Painter Series. Where the Pearl Collection focuses on metallic shimmer particle suspension, the Standard Series delivers pure colour depth, expressive shading, and in some entries — including Base Black — a strong, well-developed sheen. Base Black is the foundational ink of the series: a pure, deep, high-quality black for everyday writing, journaling, correspondence, and any context where a reliable, beautiful black ink is the requirement. The bottle is 25ml glass.

Available at Shosai (shosai.ca) in Gatineau / Ottawa — with in-store pickup (J9J 0K6) and Canada-wide shipping.

What Makes Standard 100 Base Black Different

Most black fountain pen inks make compromises: they shade toward grey, tip toward blue or brown, or produce a flat, unremarkable page. Base Black does not. It is a pure, deeply saturated black that reads as black across all nib sizes and flow conditions, with no perceptible colour bias and no shading variation to dilute its intensity. The result is a black ink that is fully committed to being black — and that is rarer than it sounds.

The high black sheen is the ink's most distinctive characteristic. A black ink that sheens black — rather than the conventional red, green, or bronze — produces a sophisticated, monochromatic reflective quality that adds depth and visual interest to the written page without introducing colour. Under raking or directional light on smooth papers, the black sheen of Base Black produces a page quality that is genuinely distinctive: a deep, reflective black that rewards close attention. For writers who find coloured sheens distracting or who prefer a pure black aesthetic, Base Black offers a sheen effect that is entirely consistent with the ink's chromatic identity.

Colour Profile

Colour

Standard 100 Base Black is a deep, saturated, neutral black — a pure black with no meaningful bias toward blue, brown, or any other secondary hue. In the bottle, it presents as a dense, rich black with visible depth. On the page, it dries to a confident, fully saturated black that is highly legible and richly chromatic across all nib sizes. At fine nib sizes, it reads as a clear, precise black line; at medium to broad nib sizes, the full depth and saturation of the ink are most apparent. Some descriptions note a very subtle grey undertone in diluted or wet areas, but under normal writing conditions the ink reads as a pure, deep black.

Shading

None to minimal. Base Black exhibits no meaningful tonal variation between lighter and denser areas of each stroke — the colour reads as a consistent, even black across the full range of nib sizes and flow levels. Writers seeking an ink with tonal variation or colour layering will find Base Black focused elsewhere; the ink is optimised for chromatic consistency and depth rather than expressive shading.

Sheen

High black sheen. The black sheen of Base Black is its most visually distinctive characteristic — a reflective surface quality that becomes clearly apparent on smooth papers under directional or raking light. Unlike the conventional coloured sheens of many fountain pen inks, the sheen of Base Black is black on black: a deep, monochromatic reflective quality that adds sophistication and depth to the written page without introducing any secondary colour. The sheen is most visible on Tomoe River, Rhodia, and other slow-absorbing smooth papers, and is most apparent at heavier ink deposits — broad nibs, stub nibs, and dip pen application. Some users on more absorbent papers report minimal sheen; the effect is most reliable and most dramatic on premium fountain pen papers.

Ink Properties at a Glance

Flow

Wet. Standard 100 Base Black has a noticeably wet flow — smooth, generous, and well-lubricated across a range of pen and nib combinations. The wet flow contributes to the ink's full colour saturation on the page and makes it particularly comfortable for extended writing sessions. Writers who prefer drier inks may wish to pair Base Black with a drier-flowing pen.

Dry Time

Approximately 80 seconds on quality paper under normal conditions (medium nib on Rhodia) — notably longer than most fountain pen inks, a consequence of the wet flow and high ink saturation. Writers who work quickly or who handle pages immediately after writing should allow additional drying time. On more absorbent papers, dry time will be shorter.

Water Resistance

Low. Standard 100 Base Black is a water-based dye ink with no meaningful water resistance. It will run or fade when exposed to moisture and is not suitable for documents requiring archival longevity. For archival applications, a pigment-based ink is recommended.

Feathering and Bleed-Through

Minimal feathering on quality papers (Rhodia, Tomoe River, Clairefontaine, Midori MD). Some feathering and light bleed-through may occur on standard 20lb copy paper, consistent with the ink's wet flow. Show-through is moderate on thinner papers.

How to Get the Most Out of Standard 100 Base Black

Recommended Paper

Standard 100 Base Black rewards smooth, slow-absorbing papers that allow the deep black saturation and black sheen to develop fully:

• Tomoe River (52gsm or 68gsm) — the best paper for showcasing Base Black's full depth and sheen; slow absorption allows the high saturation to develop fully on the surface; black sheen most dramatic and most visible here; the deep black base reads at maximum chromatic intensity
• Rhodia / Clairefontaine — consistent, reliable results; full black saturation clearly expressed; black sheen visible under directional light; a practical everyday option despite the 80-second dry time
• Midori MD Paper — smooth surface supports full colour development; reliable everyday pairing that brings out the ink's depth without the extreme slow-dry of Tomoe River
• Leuchtturm1917 — good overall performance; full black saturation; sheen visible on cream-toned pages

Avoid highly absorbent papers (standard copy paper). Feathering and light bleed-through may occur, and the black sheen will be suppressed entirely on fast-absorbing surfaces.

Recommended Nibs

• Medium to Broad nibs — the primary recommendation for showcasing the black sheen; more ink on the page allows the sheen to develop at its most visible and most dramatic; the full depth of the black base is most apparent at broader sizes
• Stub or Italic nibs — the variation between thick and thin strokes showcases the black sheen dynamically; the broad strokes carry the sheen most visibly while the thin strokes demonstrate the ink's clean, pure black line quality
• Fine nibs — the deep black base reads with excellent clarity and legibility at fine sizes; a very practical everyday pairing for writers who prioritise readability; sheen less visible but ink performs cleanly
• Extra-fine nibs — fully functional; the deep black base remains legible and precise; sheen largely absent at this nib size; a good choice for writers who want a pure, clean black line without the sheen effect
• Eyedropper pens — an excellent pairing for maximising sheen expression; high ink volume and wet flow ensure full saturation and consistent sheen development throughout long writing sessions
• Dip pens — well-suited to Base Black's wet flow and high saturation; the sheen is most spectacular in dip pen applications where ink loads are generous

Pen Maintenance

Standard 100 Base Black is pH neutral and safe for resin and celluloid pens. The wet flow makes regular pen cleaning advisable — flush every 4–6 weeks under normal use, or more frequently if the pen is left unused for extended periods. As a non-shimmer ink, Base Black does not carry the particle clogging risk of the Pearl Collection inks, and is generally low-maintenance.

Recommended Uses

• Everyday writing and correspondence — the deep, pure black and wet, smooth flow make Base Black an exceptional everyday ink for writers who want a reliable, richly chromatic black for all writing contexts
• Journaling — the full black saturation and black sheen add visual richness to journal pages; particularly effective on smooth paper where the sheen develops under reading light
• Calligraphy and expressive lettering — the wet flow and high saturation make Base Black well-suited to broad-stroke calligraphic work; stub and italic nibs showcase the black sheen at its most dramatic
• Professional and business correspondence — the pure, neutral black reads as clean, formal, and professional across all paper types; a reliable choice for signatures, formal documents, and business writing
• Art and illustration — compatible with dip pens and brush application; the wet flow and high saturation make Base Black well-suited to linework, illustration, and any artistic application where a deep, pure black is required
• Note-taking and study — the high legibility and consistent black line make Base Black a reliable choice for note-taking across all nib sizes; the wet flow rewards writers who cover large amounts of paper quickly

About the Standard Series

The Standard Series is Dominant Industry's non-shimmer ink line — a range of richly formulated dye-based inks focused on colour depth, expressive character, and ink quality without metallic particle suspension. Where the Pearl Collection and Painter Series deliver shimmer and sheen through metallic particles, the Standard Series delivers pure colour — vivid, deep, and expressive. Standard 100 Base Black is the foundational entry in the series: a pure, deep black with a high black sheen and a wet, smooth flow that sets the quality standard for the line.

About Dominant Industry

Dominant Industry is a South Korean fountain pen ink brand known for its Pearl Collection shimmer inks and a broad catalogue of richly formulated colours. Founded on a commitment to high-quality ink production, Dominant Industry has built a strong international following among fountain pen enthusiasts, calligraphers, and stationery collectors. Their inks are manufactured in South Korea and distributed through curated stationery retailers worldwide.

Product Specifications

Available at Shosai — Ottawa–Gatineau

Shosai (shosai.ca) is a fine stationery boutique serving the Ottawa–Gatineau National Capital Region. We carry a curated selection of premium fountain pen inks, papers, and writing instruments from the world's most respected stationery brands.

• 📍 In-store pickup: Gatineau, QC — J9J 0K6
• 🛵 Local delivery: Available in the Ottawa–Gatineau area
• 🚚 Canada-wide shipping available
• 🇫🇷 Service bilingue — français et anglais

Whether you are new to fountain pens or a seasoned collector, Shosai is your local destination for inks that go beyond the ordinary.