Six colours, six small bottles, and a surprisingly broad creative range — the Koh-I-Noor Drawing Ink Set is a compact, practical introduction to coloured drawing inks that gives everything needed to get started with ink work straight from the box. Made by Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth — a Czech manufacturer with a history stretching back to 1790 and one of the most respected names in technical and artistic drawing materials — these are genuine quality inks at an accessible entry price.
The inks are formulated from soluble dyes, giving them the characteristic translucency and intensity of colour that makes drawing inks so appealing for illustrative and expressive work. Dye-based inks produce vivid, saturated colour with a luminous quality that pigment-based inks approach but rarely match — the colours are bright and clear, and when diluted with water they retain that clarity through a full range of tints from near-full strength through to the palest wash. They can be used directly from the bottle at full intensity or diluted with water for lighter, more atmospheric marks.
Once dry, the inks are permanent and waterproof — subsequent washes of water or diluted ink can be applied over dried marks without lifting or smearing, making them well suited to layered working and mixed media. They are suitable for use with dip pens, technical pens, brushes, and airbrushes, and work on paper, card, and most standard drawing surfaces. All six colours are fully intermixable, allowing custom shades to be created by blending directly in a palette or on the surface.
The set contains six 20ml bottles in Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Brown, and Black — a core palette covering the primary colours, a secondary green, a warm earth tone, and black for line work and tonal deepening.
Are the inks permanent once dry? Yes — once fully dry the inks are permanent and waterproof. Subsequent water-based washes can be applied over dried ink without lifting or disturbing the marks beneath, making them suitable for layered and mixed media work.
Can they be diluted? Yes — all six colours can be diluted with water to produce a full range of tints from near-full strength through to very pale washes. Use distilled or boiled water for best results, particularly when using in technical pens, as tap water can affect ink flow.
What tools can they be used with? Dip pens, technical pens, brushes, and airbrushes. They are suitable for use on paper and card. When using in technical pens, ensure the pen is cleaned thoroughly after use to prevent the ink drying in the mechanism.
Can the colours be mixed together? Yes — all six colours are fully intermixable. Mix in a palette to create custom shades before applying, or blend wet colours on the surface for more expressive, less controlled effects.
Are they lightfast? Dye-based inks are generally less lightfast than pigment-based inks — the colours may fade over time if exposed to prolonged direct sunlight. For finished work intended for display, framing behind UV-protective glass is recommended to preserve colour accuracy over time.
