Rome Burning
Noodler's Ink



     The idea of an ink that changed colour when exposed to water excited me and that is one of the qualities that Rome Burning from Noodler's Ink has. The ink definitely has an ancient look to it but like most Noodler's Inks that I have used, do these interesting qualities come with a catch?

Rome Burning test plate after 3 mL of water.

    Rome Burning is a bronze / olive gold colour that looks as though it has shading qualities when you apply it but dries a solid uniform colour. The ink dries exceptionally fast despite the ink flow being on the wet side. There was feathering and bleed through experienced on cheap paper. The ink is resistant to water but the yellow tone is washed away leaving a purple colour on the page or whatever it was on or contained within. The clean up of Rome Burning was a tad troublesome. This ink left a residual purple mark on the test plate when flushed. A scrub with soap or ammonia did not remove the traces of ink, I had to remove the stain by re-sanding the test plate.

    Again Noodler's has left me with an ink that I am on the fence with, I find Rome Burning has a property unlike an other ink I have experienced but I am not comfortable using it in pens for fear of staining. If that is not an issue for you, Rome Burning is best enjoyed on quality paper and a water wash.

Rome Burning on Clairefontaine Paper

Rome Burning on Hilroy Paper

Ink diagrams prepared using:
1.  Speedball C-4 nib in dip pen
2.  Esterbrook #0 nib in dip pen