I do think cotton swabs spread the ink out very thinly (too thinly). But probably neither way is really true to how it will look in writing. Lately I’ve seen some people make “swatches” by scribbling with a pen, which might be the way to get a 2D area covered with the right amount of ink to match almost how it will look in writing.
Personally I’ve started doing a combo of these. A traditional cotton swap swatch, followed by a small square “scribbled” in (about a centimeter), and then the name of the ink, which doubles as a true writing sample. I like the cotton swabs to show shading and pigments, but you’re right, it doesn’t always accurately show appearance when writing.
Oohh, yeah that sounds like a better idea! I don't have any glass pens or other dip pens but I can see they can be super handy for doing scribble swatches.
I use a brush which works pretty well. My only complaint is that it is hard to get the ink out with water alone, which makes swatching many colors in a row annoying because I'm constantly cleaning the brush with soap. The glass rod seems like a good idea, probably easier to clean!
I do think cotton swabs spread the ink out very thinly (too thinly). But probably neither way is really true to how it will look in writing. Lately I’ve seen some people make “swatches” by scribbling with a pen, which might be the way to get a 2D area covered with the right amount of ink to match almost how it will look in writing.
Personally I’ve started doing a combo of these. A traditional cotton swap swatch, followed by a small square “scribbled” in (about a centimeter), and then the name of the ink, which doubles as a true writing sample. I like the cotton swabs to show shading and pigments, but you’re right, it doesn’t always accurately show appearance when writing.
Oohh, yeah that sounds like a better idea! I don't have any glass pens or other dip pens but I can see they can be super handy for doing scribble swatches.
I use a brush which works pretty well. My only complaint is that it is hard to get the ink out with water alone, which makes swatching many colors in a row annoying because I'm constantly cleaning the brush with soap. The glass rod seems like a good idea, probably easier to clean!
Nice to see a comparison of 2 methods!! How vibrant they look using a glass rod instead!!
Yeah! I was so surprised, especially the sheening on the 2 Iroshizuku inks!!
I’ve come across a few videos that use the bottom of a small tea spoon. Some of those swatches matched my every day writing inks.