Soot ink (lampblack ink) is the most deeply rooted and preferred type of ink in calligraphy. Its origins date back to the first writing inks made by mixing coal dust with gum arabic in the pre-Islamic era; it has reached its present form over time through the improvement of pigment and binder quality.

Being water-based and pigment-based, soot ink leaves a matte and deep black color on paper. The fact that it can be corrected after drying—meaning a faulty line can be adjusted later—is one of the reasons why it is particularly preferred in traditional calligraphy training. Shaking the bottle before use prevents the pigment from settling at the bottom, ensuring you get a homogeneous result.

Karin Sanat offers its own series of soot inks with over 20 color options; in addition to classic black (701), a wide palette is available including white, yellow, saffron, orange, red, plum, purple, magenta, blue, turquoise, shades of green, brown, sepia, and walnut. While the inks are sold in standard 45 ml bottles, the most preferred black shade is also available in a large 1000 ml bottle for intensive use. These inks can be easily used with ruling pens, metal nib pens, wooden or bamboo/reed pens, and brushes.

By producing its own soot ink, Karin Sanat offers both a wide range of colors and consistent quality. The products are available for purchase at our Fatih and Nişantaşı stores as well as via karinsanat.com.

You can examine the soot ink colors below and contact us regarding which pen or brush to use with them.