Complete guide: Panthera Ink Reach Dark sumi 150ml
Panthera Reach Dark Sumi 150ml is a dark gray tattoo ink from the Panthera Ink Reach line, specially designed for shading — darker than Light Sumi and positioned between it and pure black Tribal Black. It is the choice of artists working on deep shadows, transitions, and realism or black and grey, where fine control over gray gradations is needed. The 150ml format is geared towards intensive professional use, not occasional trials.
How to use
- Shake the bottle well before each session to homogenize the pigment — Dark Sumi tends to settle slightly over time.
- Prepare the workstation with protective barriers on all touched surfaces and check the integrity of sterile, disposable needles before opening them.
- Pour into the disposable cup only the amount of ink estimated for that session — do not work directly from the bottle.
- For lighter gray tones, progressively dilute with distilled water directly in the cup, testing the intensity before application.
- Choose the needle configuration based on the area being worked: magnums or curved magnums for surfaces and smooth transitions, round shaders for finer shadow areas (Dark Sumi works on configurations from 7M1 to 13M1).
- Work gradually, with repeated light passes, for smooth transitions — the ink consistency allows control over gray intensity without sudden tone jumps.
- At the end of the session, discard any remaining ink in the cup and never reintroduce it into the bottle.
- Close the bottle cap tightly and store it at room temperature, away from direct light and heat; do not freeze.
Tips from us
- Do not mix the remaining ink from the cup back into the bottle, even if it seems unchanged — you risk contaminating the entire batch.
- Dilute in small steps if you want a precise intermediate gray; it's easier to add water than to correct a tone that's too light.
- For a complete shadow specturm, keep Light Sumi on hand — Dark Sumi covers darker tones, Light Sumi covers the medium ones.
- The 150ml format is more cost-effective per ml than small bottles, but it makes sense especially if you work frequently in shading or realism.
- Write the opening date on the bottle label to easily track how much time has passed since first use.
Warning: Use exclusively sterile, disposable needles and cups for each client and each session. Never reintroduce used ink back into the bottle — it is a direct source of contaminational. Check before the session if the client has sensitivities or a history of allergic reactions to pigments. Keep the bottle tightly closed, away from heat and direct light, without freezing, and stop use if you notice changes in color, consistency, or smell compared to normal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Dark Sumi and Light Sumi?▾
Dark Sumi is the darker version of Panthera's Sumi pair — it gives stronger gray shades, closer to black, while Light Sumi covers medium tones. The two are often used together to cover the entire shadow spectrum in a black and grey work.
Can I dilute Dark Sumi to get lighter tones?▾
Yes, the ink can be diluted with distilled water directly in the work cup, which gives you control over the gray intensity without needing multiple separate bottles for each shade.
With what needles is it best used?▾
It works on shading configurations from 7M1 to 13M1 — magnums and curved magnums for surfaces and smoother transitions, round shaders for finer shadow areas. The exact choice depends on the size and type of work.
How long does a 150ml bottle last?▾
It depents on the work pace: for an artist who does daily shading or realism sessions, one bottle can last about 2-4 months; with moderate use, it can reach 4-6 months or even more.
How do I store it properly between sessions to prevent spoilage?▾
Keep the bottle at room temperature, away from direct light and heat, with the cap tightly closed, and never freeze it. Shake it well before each use, because the pigment can settle slightly, and always work from a separate cup, not directly from the bottle.
Is it suitable for someone just starting with shading?▾
It is an ink oriented towards professional use, designed for artists who work consistently in black and grey and realism. It can be used by someone at the beginning of their shading journey, but it makes sense especially if you work often enough to justify the large 150ml format.
Product description
Panthera Dark Sumy is a special pigment formulation created specifically to blend. The Dark Sumy is used for stronger shades and is darker than the Panthera Light Sumy. After a long period dedicated to research and development that has seen us committed to the reformulation of our products, we are ready to launch our new line. These newly formulated products take advantage of the research done more recently and combines the tradition of our products with new innovation in materials. We have eliminated isopropyl alcohol as an ingredient and made it compliant with the new REACH regulation. In this way we have obtained a less irritating product for the skin, with a marked reduction of redness, less burning sensation for the client, and up to halved healing times. Panthera Ink is:- Sterilized by irradiation- Without carcinogenic substances- Vegan friendly- Not tested on animals- Microbiologically analyzed at each single LOT- Made in Italy
Panthera Reach Dark Sumi 150ml is a professional dark gray tattoo ink inspired by traditional Japanese Sumi inks, designed for deep shadows and dramatic transitions in realistic and black and grey tattoos. Produced in Europe, REACH compliant, and 100% vegan, this large-volume ink offers a rich dark gray, close to black, but with a distinct tonal quality enabling superior gradations. Dark Sumi is the foundational ink for deep shadows in the Panthera system, positioned between Tribal Black's pure black and Light Sumi's medium tones. Its consistency allows controlled dilution for achieving the entire dark gray spectrum. Premium carbon pigments ensure a stable tone that heals predictably without shifting. The 150ml format is economical for professional artists who work extensively in black and grey or realism. The ink is compatible with all machines and all shading needle configurations. Together with Light Sumi, Smooth Blending, and Smooth Finish, Dark Sumi completes the comprehensive system for world-class gray tattoos. Panthera Dark Sumi is the established choice of realism artists. Panthera is a prestigious European brand in the tattoo ink industry, associated with Kwadron, a world leader in tattoo needle manufacturing. Panthera inks are produced in modern European facilities under the strictest quality and safety standards. Each batch is individually tested for consistency, sterility, and compliance with European regulations. The brand is chosen by professional artists worldwide for its consistent performance, predictable healing, and full compliance with European Union REACH standards.
Frequently Asked Questions What is Dark Sumi and how does it differ from Tribal Black? Dark Sumi is a deep dark gray inspired by Japanese inks, positioned between Tribal Black's absolute black and medium gray. It differs from Tribal Black through its tonal quality enabling superior gradations. Tribal Black is for solid black, Dark Sumi for deep shadows with transitions. Why is it called Sumi? The name Sumi comes from traditional Japanese inks used in calligraphy and ink painting. These inks are renowned for their subtle gray range and smooth transitions between tones. Panthera adopted this concept to create tattoo inks offering the same finesse in gray gradations. Can Dark Sumi be diluted? Yes, Dark Sumi can be diluted with distilled water to achieve various gray tones, from dark gray to medium gray. This property makes it extremely versatile, allowing the artist to work with a single ink for the entire spectrum of deep and medium shadows. What needles does it work best with? Dark Sumi works excellently with shading needles: magnums, curved magnums, and round shaders. Configurations from 7M1 to 13M1 are most popular. Curved magnum needles provide the best ink distribution for smooth and uniform gradations in realistic work. How does Dark Sumi heal? Dark Sumi heals stably, maintaining the dark gray tone without significant shifting. Gradations achieved during the session retain their subtlety after healing. Like all Panthera inks, healing is predictable, allowing the artist to accurately anticipate the final result. Is it REACH compliant and vegan? Yes, Panthera Reach Dark Sumi 150ml is 100% REACH compliant and vegan. The formula meets all EU regulations and contains no animal-derived ingredients. It is safe and legal for use in any salon within the European space. How long does the 150ml format last? A 150ml bottle of Dark Sumi lasts depending on shading work frequency. For an artist working daily in realism or black and grey, it can last 2-4 months. For moderate use, it can last 4-6 months or longer. How to store Dark Sumi? Store Dark Sumi at room temperature, away from direct light and heat. Shake well before use for pigment homogenization. Seal the cap tightly after each session. Do not freeze. Respect the expiration date on the packaging. Is it available in 30ml format too? Yes, Panthera Dark Sumi is also available in 30ml format, ideal for testing or moderate consumption. Both formats contain the same premium formula. The 150ml format offers a more advantageous price per milliliter for high-consumption artists. What position does Dark Sumi have in the Panthera system? Dark Sumi is the foundational ink for deep shadows in the Panthera system. It positions between Tribal Black (solid black) and Light Sumi (light gray). Together with Smooth Blending and Smooth Finish, it forms a complete system for world-class gray tattoos.
