PenBBS - 337 Macau

PenBBS - 337 Macau - Ink drop

This is Macao from PenBBS. It’s number 337 in their extensive collection. I’m not sure how they connect the city with the color, but it’s a delicate, attractive ink. This is very unusual, complex ink, but I find it extremely likable!

At first glance, it's pretty, but quite mild, and I wondered if it would be too soft and muted for use as a writing ink. The moment it hit the paper, it was obvious that there was a lot more going on with 337 Macau. This ink is like a pretty caterpillar that changes into an ugly pupa, only to finally emerge as a beautiful butterfly in the end.

PenBBS - 337 Macau - Ink swatch card and drying

It starts as that beautiful soft pink that can be seen in the lighter side of the swatch card. This is a very wet ink, and in the wetter areas the ink almost immediately turns a dirty greenish-brown (this is somewhat visible above). The dirty green slowly turns to the deeper scarlet-pink shade that is visible in the writing on the swatch card. The text develops a dark edging that make it extremely clear and crisp, and there’s lots of beautiful shading.

PenBBS - 337 Macau - Ink swatch card

I have quite a number of pinks and light reds, but some of them can be overly garish and unsuited to be read comfortably. PenBBS 337 Macau is different. I think it’s a very usable ink, comfortable on the eye for reading, and beautiful on the page!