Types of inks II　墨水種類（二）

In this lesson, we build on Types of Inks I. You will learn about permanence and water resistance, what fountain-pen-safe really means, high-level notes on iron gall, pigment, and shimmer/specialty inks, why some inks raise clogging risk, and when to choose each category. The goal is practical judgement for writing, calligraphy practice, and sketching — not laboratory chemistry.

本課建基於《墨水種類 I》。您將了解耐用性與防水性、適合鋼筆真正意味甚麼、鐵膽／顏料／閃粉與特效墨的概要說明，以及堵塞風險與健康使用習慣。

Permanence and Water Resistance　耐用性與防水性

These two ideas are related but not identical:

這兩個概念相關，但並不完全相同：

• Water resistance: Once dry, does the ink hold when exposed to water, sweat, or a watercolour wash?
• Permanence / lightfastness: Does the colour stay stable over time under light and normal storage?

• 防水性：乾透後，遇水、汗或水彩渲染時墨跡能否站住？
• 耐用性／耐光性：在光線與一般存放下，顏色能否長期穩定？

A bright dye ink can look spectacular yet run under a wash. A pigment or specially treated ink may survive water better but need more pen care. For urban sketchers who add watercolour, water resistance of the outline ink matters. For archival notes, certificates, or keepsake letters, permanence matters. For daily practice pages, beauty and easy cleaning may matter more than either.

鮮艷的染料墨可以非常奪目，卻可能在水渲染下暈開。顏料墨或經特別處理的墨較能抵禦水分，但往往需要更多筆具護理。對會加水彩的城市速寫者而言，防水性尤其重要。

Always test: write a sample, let it dry fully, then brush a little water across part of the line on scrap paper.

務必測試：先寫樣本、待完全乾透，再在廢紙上用少許水刷過部分線條。

Fountain-Pen-Safe Inks　適合鋼筆的墨水

Fountain-pen-safe generally means an ink formulated to flow through a nib and feed without aggressive chemistry or particle behaviour that commonly damages or hopelessly clogs that system.

「適合鋼筆」一般指墨水配方能通過筆尖與進墨系統流動，而不含常會損壞或嚴重堵塞該系統的侵蝕性化學成分或粒子行為。

Typical fountain-pen-friendly traits:

典型適合鋼筆的特質：

• Dye-based or carefully milled pigment formulas marked for fountain pens
• pH and additives chosen for metal nibs and plastic/ebonite feeds
• Reasonable cleaning with water (or maker-recommended flush)

• 染料配方，或清楚標明適合鋼筆、經仔細研磨的顏料配方
• 酸鹼與添加劑顧及金屬筆尖與塑膠／硬橡膠進墨芯
• 用水（或廠方建議的沖洗液）即可合理清潔

What to watch for:

需要留意：

• Inks labelled for dip pens only, India ink, or acrylic ink — usually not for fountain pens
• Heavy calligraphy inks meant for broad-edge dip nibs
• Unknown craft inks with no fountain-pen guidance

• 僅標明沾水筆用、印度墨或壓克力墨——通常不適合鋼筆
• 為闊邊沾水筆尖而設的濃稠書法墨
• 沒有鋼筆指引的不明手工藝墨

When in doubt for a valued fountain pen: use inks clearly marketed for fountain pens, and clean the pen regularly — especially before long storage.

若對心愛鋼筆有疑慮：選用清楚標明適合鋼筆的墨，並定期清洗——尤其在長期存放之前。

Iron Gall Inks (High-Level)　鐵膽墨（概要）

Traditional iron gall inks use iron salts and tannins. Modern fountain-pen iron gall formulas are usually gentler than historic recipes, but the category still deserves respect:

傳統鐵膽墨使用鐵鹽與單寧。現代鋼筆用鐵膽配方通常比古法溫和，但這類墨仍值得敬重：

• Often excellent for crisp lines and improved water resistance as the ink “galls” on paper
• May be more demanding on pens — rinse more often than with simple dye inks
• Not ideal for pens you leave inked and forgotten for months

• 線條往往清晰，並隨墨在紙上「鞣化」而提升防水性
• 對筆具要求較高——需比簡單染料墨更常沖洗
• 不宜長期灌墨擱置的筆

Academy guidance: Treat iron gall as an intermediate choice. Beautiful for certain writing and archival-leaning notes; pair with diligent cleaning. Prefer clearly fountain-pen-labelled iron gall products if you use a fountain pen.

學院指引：把鐵膽視為中階選擇。適合某些書寫與偏檔案用途的筆記，並配以勤勉清洗。請優先選用清楚標明適合鋼筆的鐵膽產品。

Pigment Inks — Caveats　顏料墨——注意事項

From Types of Inks I you know pigments can improve water resistance. Caveats for pens with fine channels (especially fountain pens):

您從《墨水種類 I》已知顏料可提升防水性。對細通道筆具（尤其鋼筆）的注意事項：

• Particles may settle in the bottle — gently roll (do not shake into foam) if the maker advises
• Higher clogging risk if the ink is not fountain-safe or if the pen sits unused
• Some pigment fineliners and drawing pens are designed around pigment and work excellently for ink-and-wash — that does not automatically make the same chemistry safe inside every fountain pen

• 粒子可能在瓶內沉澱——若廠方建議，請輕柔滾動（勿搖至起泡）
• 若非鋼筆安全配方，或筆久置不用，堵塞風險較高
• 部分顏料針筆與繪畫墨本來就不是為鋼筆進墨系統而設

Use pigment where the tool expects it: pigment fineliners for wash-proof outlines; fountain-safe pigment inks only when labelled for fountain pens; dip tools (glass pens, dip nibs) for many drawing pigments.

在工具預期之處使用顏料：顏料針筆用於防水輪廓；僅在標明適合鋼筆時使用鋼筆用顏料墨；許多繪畫顏料則交給沾水工具（玻璃筆、沾水筆尖）。

Shimmer and Specialty Inks (High-Level)　閃粉與特效墨（概要）

Shimmer inks mix colour with fine reflective particles for sparkle on the page. Other specialty inks may sheen (secondary highlight colour in good lighting) or offer unusual shading.

閃粉墨在顏色中混入細反光粒子，令紙面閃爍。其他特效墨可能呈現虹光（良好光線下的第二層高光色）或特殊漸層。

High-level practice tips:

概要練習提示：

• Gorgeous for headings, short quotes, and showpiece lines on quality paper
• Particles can collect in feeds — prefer pens that are easy to clean; flush more often
• Glass pens and dip nibs are forgiving playgrounds for shimmer sampling
• Not the first choice for a fountain pen you need to be ultra-reliable at work every day unless you accept extra maintenance

• 極適合標題、短句與優質紙上的展示線條
• 粒子可積聚於進墨系統——宜選易清洗的筆，並更常沖洗
• 玻璃筆與沾水筆尖是較寬容的試玩工具

Specialty inks reward curiosity; they also reward discipline in cleaning.

特效墨獎勵好奇心；也獎勵清潔上的紀律。

Clogging Risk — Causes and Habits　堵塞風險——成因與習慣

Clogging risk rises when:

堵塞風險在下列情況上升：

• Ink contains particles (pigment, shimmer) or reactive chemistry (some iron gall)
• Pens sit unused with ink drying in the nib/feed/tip
• Pens are stored poorly (extreme heat, tip dried out)
• Users switch colours without flushing

• 墨含水粒子（顏料、閃粉）或反應性化學成分（部分鐵膽）
• 筆久置不用，墨在筆尖／進墨芯乾涸
• 存放不當（過熱、筆尖乾透）
• 換色時未沖洗乾淨

Healthy habits:

健康習慣：

• Write or flush pens regularly
• Cap tightly
• Clean before holidays or long storage
• Change ink colour via a water flush, not by simply refilling over residue
• Match ambitious inks to tools you are willing to maintain

• 定期書寫或沖洗
• 蓋緊筆蓋
• 假期或長期存放前清洗
• 換色時先水沖，勿直接在殘墨上再灌
• 把「野心較大」的墨配給您願意多保養的工具

Roller and brush tips can also dry and “clog” at the point — capping is still your first defence.

走珠與毛刷尖也可能在筆尖處乾涸「堵塞」——蓋好筆蓋仍是第一道防線。

When to Choose Each (Practical Scenarios)　何時選用哪一種（實用情境）

Conclusion　結語

Types of Inks II is about consequences: permanence, water resistance, pen safety, specialty beauty, and clogging risk. Choose inks for the job and the tool, test on your paper, and clean with intention. That combination protects both your writing instruments and your finished work.

《墨水種類 II》關乎後果：耐用性、防水性、筆具安全、特效之美與堵塞風險。為任務與工具選墨、在您的紙上測試，並有意識地清洗。

In our next lesson, Choosing the Right Ink, we turn these categories into a clear decision checklist — matching ink to pen type, paper, and purpose.

下一課《選擇合適墨水》我們會把這些分類變成清晰決策清單——按筆種、紙張與用途配墨。