Review on Deleter Manga Ink, Black 1, High-Quality Black Ink for Dip Pen & Brush, Semi-Gloss Finish, 30ml Bottle, 1 Bottle (341-0001) by Summer Hendricks

I really love this thing, but there are a few things to keep in mind when using it. First, the packaging is deceptively illogical. Make sure to leave a small foam seal between the product and the cap. Actually glue it in place. You must keep the seal sealed or the ink will dry out over time and turn into a nasty brick. Second, add some water to the ink. A little, maybe enough to add a millimeter or so of height. Don't mix it with one or the other. Just leave it on the ink. The difference in density keeps the layers separate provided you don't shake them, and all of this serves a dual purpose. First, the water forms a protective layer that protects it from the air, which prolongs the life of the ink, and second, it dilutes it when you want to use it with a dip pen. If you need more opaque ink, simply use a toothpick or similar tool (not a brush unless you plan to keep buying brushes) to scoop out some of the thicker ink from beneath the surface to apply to your palette or similar . . Also, the ink is non-volatile, but I personally prefer to keep the jar sealed as much as possible. Be sure to add ink with a few drops of water to keep the layer even. You don't want it to be too thick or too watery. It's nice to use with one of those palettes that leave the surface wet. This goes double, so if you're clumsy you don't want accidents. The fact that it is water soluble doesn't make it any less of a problem to produce hardwood. Luckily, no matter how dry, this material will never really "spoil". If you want to get the hang of it, you can use up every hard, cracked pebble of this ink. However, it is much easier and more pleasant to prevent drying out in the first place than to get it ready for use again, so keep an eye on it. Resist the urge to shake the bottle after pouring that small layer of water. Not only can this make drying worse, but it can also destroy the two separate layers you would have. I mean, there are definitely worse problems on the planet, but you might want to keep that level of control over your opacity. Also, I find that if you shake it frequently, it dries out faster. When I first used this stuff I shook it before each use and after a few months this hard lump started to form at the bottom of the bottle. I have no idea what actually caused this, but I'll bet the shaking as I've seen similar things with liquid frisket. But you do what you want. This is your ink eraser. Sorry if my review sounds like a fickle ink dragon. It's much easier to use and really high-quality, versatile art material.