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Moon Palace Sumi Ink

Item Code: I70

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I70. Moon Palace Sumi Ink.

While the packaging is a bit different, this is the highly sought after and highly recommended Japanese Sumi Ink. For both broad edge and pointed pen work. Dries waterproof. A great calligraphy ink. The ink is now in a bottle with a gold label.

"I like Moon Palace better, but both Moon Palace and Best Bottle are beautiful inks. The Moon Palace has a slight sheen to it, which I like. Michael suggested this ink to me so please tell him I said, "thank you". I just finished a job of 200 invitations with Moon Palace and the ink is beautiful. I did not dilute the ink.
A client just brought me invitations (slick paper) to address. This bride knew going into this that I probably couldn't do pointed pen. However, for fun, I tried the Sumi inks and to my surprise they worked pretty darn good. I usually have to use a sharpie on slick envelopes, yikes!!!"
--Clair F., Jan 2011.

Four sizes available:
2.0 oz (widemouthed jar)
6.0 oz (180ml)
15 oz
60 oz

Q and A

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Reviews

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not so waterproof

May 3, 2012 | By Angela Fehr

I love the rich black hue of this ink and the slight gloss of the finish, but it's not waterproof. A damp finger will smear the ink and I wouldn't even attempt putting a watercolour wash across it like I'd originally intended.

My Favorite Sumi Ink

Sep 24, 2012 | By L.A. Carr

I began using this for my pointed pen calligraphy and have been delighted!! I am careful about cleaning my nibs after working so I've had no problems... even my best vintage nibs are still fine. Nice scent, love the sheen.

Favorite Sumi Ink

Sep 25, 2012 | By Lori C.

I use this for nearly all my pointed pen work super fine hairlines and solid broad strokes. I love the the sheen, but that's me. I clean my nibs carefully when I'm through and my good vintage nibs are still doing just fine. Love this stuff!!!

Moon Palace Ink

Jan 30, 2013 | By Deborah Kaplan

I love this ink! Moon Palace Ink is my new choice, after decades of dealing with Higgens Eternal's leaky bottles and greyish ink. Moon Palace ink is black-black, doesn't easily smear, and writes beautifully, whether for copperplate or broad pen.

Excellent

Mar 20, 2016 | By Randy

This is my go to and it's a dream. Not even close to as corrosive as iron gull. Clean with water and wipe. Dark black very thin or thick lines and behaves on all the papers my other inks work on. Try it!

Smooth

Jun 2, 2017 | By Michelle

This ink is a dream to write with! I've used it with the Leonardt PrincipalEF, Blue Pumpkin, and Brause 66EF nibs and the ink glides silky smooth across my paper. As others have mentioned, it's a dark, rich black, and there's a satin sheen on it when it dries. I don't care for the bit of chemical smell, but it's not unbearable. Unfortunately, it's not waterproof. I ran a clean, wet brush over some writing I had done a couple of weeks prior and it carried a bit of the ink across the white paper.

WATERPROOF

Sep 17, 2020 | By Bane Valentine

I have been using this sumi ink for years now and it has only grown on me over time. Contrary to other comments, Moon Palace is indeed waterproof. I have been wet mounting my artworks in as little as 24 hours after painting, perfectly, without even the hint of runny ink. However, that doesn't mean that you can run a brush over the wet ink or smear it with your finger, at least not until the ink has fully cured over the space of several months.

My Go-To Ink

Aug 25, 2021 | By Jan Hurst

Reliable. Moon Palace Sumi is my go-to ink. After several jobs that require mixed gouache, I always love 'coming home' to Moon Palace.

Moon Palace Good/Bad Lists

Aug 25, 2021 | By Brecken Reasor Cook

On the good list: Moon Palace Sumi is black even after diluting for better flow. On the bad list: Constant need to clean nib--I only use it with pointed and Mitchell nibs now (easier to clean). Good list: what it does with sink art and suminigashi. Bad list: strong smell in enclosed spaces. Good list: how permanent it is (unless you scrape it off). Bad list: how permanent it is (spilled on my desk.)

Moon Palace in Parallel Pens

Aug 25, 2021 | By Teri Kruger

Love that I can use Moon Palace Sumi in Pilot Parallel Pens, and it isn't corrosive! I really love this ink.

Need to add a few drops of water

Aug 26, 2021 | By Barry Morentz

I find this ink a bit too heavy when using it straight, so I always add a few drops of water, and it then works just fine. It is also relatively forgiving, so if you make a small mistake you can usually remove it with a sharp blade.

Gouache & Moon Palace

Aug 26, 2021 | By Shirlee DiBacco

If not using gouache, Moon Palace Sumi my go to ink.

Great for Pointed Pen

Aug 26, 2021 | By Sally Smith

I don't love Moon Palace for broad pen; it's too thick. I prefer Kuretake Sumi. For pointed, however, Moon Palace is great.

Mistakes

Aug 26, 2021 | By SS

With Moon Palace, I am able to scrape off small mistakes easily.

Moon Palace Sumi Ink

Oct 10, 2021 | By Cindy

Moon Palace is my favorite of all the sumi inks that I have tried.

Moon Palace Sumi Ink

Oct 28, 2021 | By Diane

I like Moon Palace Sumi because it dries waterproof which is a plus for envelope address. I also like that it dries with a slight sheen. The 6 oz bottle has a spout, which makes transferring ink from bottle to dappen dish easy. The smaller sizes John Neal sells already come in wide mouth jars.

Best Sumi

Nov 24, 2021 | By Patty Peters

This is the best of the sumi inks. Some people don't like its fragrance, but I find it pleasant.

Waterproof on coated envelopes ?

Mar 16, 2022 | By Melissa Smith

I have been using Sumi Ink for years for my calligraphy. ( I do only a handful of weddings a year). For the second time a bride has sent envelopes with a pearlized sheen. When erasing my lines a slight bit of moisture from somewhere drug across a letter leaving an impressive smear. I was startled because it had dried for a day. I went back and tested several other envelopes on my stack of boo boos. They all smeared! Yikes. I raced here for product info as John Neal has always been my supplier. Waterproof. I then pulled out old samples (5 to 1 year old) of older weddings. The not coated envelopes did not smudge but I was shocked to see that a giant wedding I did in 2015 for former President G. W. Bush's niece was on these pearlized envelopes and smudged 5 years later!! Fortunately I had no complaints and must have been graced by dry delivery days. I still love the ink in general but will now attempt a quick fixative spray over this job. Does everyone know this about envelopes like this but me? The ink goes on beautifully all the same.

Owner Response: Envelopes with a plasticized slick coating are challenging. Most inks have nothing to hold onto. You could try an acrylic ink like Spectralite. Acrylics stick better to such surfaces than other inks. Your spray fixative should fix the current problem, but it is a hassle.

Love it!

Jul 20, 2022 | By Barbara

Wonderful ink! Smooth as silk.