A warm, pre-mixed light grey ink from Intenze's Sumi range, supplied in a large 360 ml format. It reproduces the tone of traditional Japanese Sumi ink — a grey with subtle warmth, different from the neutral or cool greys obtained by manually diluting black — and comes ready to use, no mixing required. Its official purpose is drawing and artistic practice, making it suitable for those who want to work on washes, shadows, and fine transitions in Japanese style with an identical shade every time the bottle is opened.
Can I use this ink for tattoos?▾
Its declared purpose is drawing and artistic practice, not tattooing. The manufacturer and seller explicitly state that use for any purpose other than that indicated is strictly the consumer's responsibility and is not covered by any liability assumption. If you need a product for working on skin, choose an item explicitly intended for that purpose.
What exact shade is it and how does it differ from a manually diluted black?▾
It is a warm light grey, approximately equivalent to a 1:5–1:6 dilution of Black Sumi with Special Shading Solution, but industrially pre-mixed. It has a slightly brownish-grey tone with subtle warmth — different from the neutral or cool greys you get by diluting a standard black. The advantage over manual dilution is consistency: every bottle delivers exactly the same shade, and the pigment is more evenly dispersed than when mixing in an ink cap.
What other inks does it combine well with?▾
It combines naturally with the rest of the Sumi range — primarily with Black Sumi for dark-to-light transitions in a palette of warm greys. For a quick medium grey, you can add a deep black (such as True Black or Zuper Black) directly into the ink cap with Light Grey Sumi. It can also work as a subtle wash under colors to add depth to the composition. In Japanese-style projects, light grey is usually the tone with which you start the background.
How do I keep the bottle hygienic and how long can I use it after opening?▾
Basic rules: shake before use, pour only into disposable ink caps, do not touch the nozzle to gloves or work surfaces, and never pour leftovers back into the bottle. Close the cap immediately after pouring and store the bottle in a cool place away from direct light. Write the opening date on the label and visually check the ink before each use — if the smell, consistency, or color visibly changes, stop using it.
Is the 360 ml format worth it or is it too much?▾
It depends on your work pace. According to the manufacturer's description, the large format brings a 40-50% saving compared to small bottles and ensures you have stock for extensive projects, with the same shade from start to finish. However, if you only use light grey occasionally, a smaller bottle is the more practical choice — a large volume opened and consumed slowly is exposed to contamination risk for longer.
What needles or cartridges are suitable for wash exercises with this grey?▾
For subtle washes and backgrounds, Round Magnum configurations (9RM–15RM) give soft, natural transitions, and Magnum flat (11M1–15M1) more even coverage. For fine smoke or mist details, Round Shader 7RS–11RS. For needle thickness, gauge #10 (0.30 mm) is suitable for delicate applications and subtle effects, and #12 for denser coverage. Long taper cartridges help the smooth flow needed for wash techniques.
