Difference between shimmer sheen fountain pen ink

What Is The Difference Between Sheen and Shimmer In Fountain Pen Ink?

John Bosley Fountain Pen Ink 20 Comments

As a fountain pen user, you might be looking for a way to add just a bit more character to your writing. While you have different types of nibs and many different colors of ink to choose from, there are two more things you might want to consider… sheen and shimmer. Fountain pen inks can have sheen, shimmer, neither or even both. In this article I want to explain what they are and talk about the difference between sheen and shimmer in fountain pen ink.

Choosing and ink that has sheen or shimmer is a very personal decision.

What is sheen?

Sheen is currently one of the most desirable aspects an ink can have. People go crazy over new inks that have huge amounts of sheen that shows itself easily. So what’s the fuss all about?

what is sheen iroshizuku yama-budo fountain pen ink

Iroshizuku yama-budo – purple ink with gold sheen

Sheen is a property of ink. It occurs when ink is not absorbed into paper very quickly and has time to dry on the surface. When this happens, an ink with sheen will appear to have different colors. While some parts of the writing might be the original color of the ink (say purple for example), other parts might have a completely different color (maybe gold). I’m not going to go into much more detail than this, but please read this article about what sheen is for more info.

For this discussion, the most important thing to know about sheen is that it is a chemical property of ink. It occurs when chemical compounds in ink dyes are not absorbed into paper and remain on the surface. Sheen will be the most intense where the ink was the thickest on the paper. This means that wet pens and slow-absorbing paper are very important in getting the most (or any) sheen out of an ink.

What is shimmer?

Shimmer is another property of ink. While sheen is a chemical property of ink that is related to the dyes, shimmer is pigment that has been added to the ink… basically glitter. This shimmer makes inks sparkle once they dry on paper. While sheen requires specific pens and paper to appear, shimmer will appear regardless of which pen or paper is used.

Difference between shimmer sheen fountain pen ink diamine lilac satin shimmer ink

Diamine Lilac Satin Shimmer Ink – Notice the sparkle in the ink

One concern that many people have about shimmer is that it has the potential to clog pens. Since there are actually particles in the ink, there is a chance that they can eventually clog a pen’s feed. Because of this, it is usually recommended that shimmer inks not be continuously used in pens. Instead, best practice would be to fully flush a pen after using shimmer ink and not let it sit for days inside of a pen.

Now that you know the difference between sheen and shimmer, which is better?

Which is the better ink property between sheen and shimmer? It really depends on how you want your writing to look. Sheen is unpredictable, only appears with particular inks, pens and papers and isn’t always very obvious. In spite of all that, sheen has enchanted the world of fountain pen users who seem to love the mystery and challenge that sheen can present. On the other hand, shimmer always works and can look really neat, but sparkly words aren’t for everyone. I have used sheening inks that look amazing, and I’ve used some that you can’t see any sheen in. I’ve used shimmer inks and like the look, but don’t want to use them on a regular basis. Also, I should add that I have kept shimmer inks in a few pens for days at a time and have not experienced any clogging or other ill effects.

Difference between shimmer sheen fountain pen ink iroshizuku tsutsuji

Iroshizuku tsutsuji ink – Pink ink with gold sheen

Difference between shimmer sheen fountain pen ink diamine blue flame shimmer ink

Diamine Blue Flame shimmer ink – Blue ink with gold shimmer

Of course, you don’t always have to choose one or the other. Some shimmer inks will actually sheen and some inks with a strong sheen have a bit of added shimmer. For example, J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor 1670 is widely regarded as an ink with beautiful sheen, but it also includes just a bit of shimmer (even though it’s not sold as a shimmer ink). If you’re not interested in either of these, you can always use inks that have neither sheen or shimmer.

what is sheen j herbin emerald of chivor sheen fine nib

J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor 1670 – Green ink with red sheen and gold shimmer

Comments 20

  1. I had no idea that there was a difference between sheen and shimmer but after reading your post, I think that I prefer shimmer. My husband also collects fountain pens 🙂

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  2. I think the current trend is brush lettering pens but fountain pens can never really go out of style! I mean they are simply so beautiful and elegant. I thin I really like the sheen effect.
    Thanks for the info!

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  3. I have to admit, I’m particular about my pens! Probably because I’m particular about my writing 😉 I love the shimmer.

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  4. I am in love with that J Herbin Emerald sheen & shimmer mix. I love the holographic look it lends. I’ve been getting more and more into hand-writing (a refreshing change from this digital era!) & that holographic look is right up my alley. I’ll def look into this & this is something I would of never have even known of if it wasn’t for your blog! xx Shannon || http://www.champagneatshannons.com

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  5. I much prefer sheen, although give me a saturated ink with some shading any day. Thanks for the info on the difference between the two.

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  6. Thanks for the detailed information. I haven’t tried any shimmering inks yet, and am a bit concerned as to which pens to put them in. I have ordered some from a place and will finally get to try Diamine Golden Sands.

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      The Golden Sands looks like a great ink. I have used shimmer inks in my Lamys with no issues. I specifically used those pens because I could see how much shimmer was left behind and remove the nib if I needed to clean the feed. If you use them in a pen that you can clean with a bulb filler so you can force water through everything, I think you should be fine.

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  7. Pingback: Fountain pen ink properties - Cr;Lf;

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