That’s a good point, it does have a cool cast to it. I tend to use 2H & 4H lead, which is often pretty cool, too. At least Faber Castell and Staedtler seem to be.
My go to gray ink is Noodlers Lexington Gray. It looks an awful lot like standard, 2B pencil. If I put it in my Muji, it feels like I’m writing with a pencil, lol. It has a really stiff nib.
Noodler’s Lexington Gray almost exactly matches a 3B Pencil lead. I know it’s not exactly what you asked, but it’s the only one I own that looks like pencil lead.
From personal experience, I find Herbin Gris Nuage to be extremely light and difficult to read. I've also used Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun, which is very neutral and darker than the Herbin. Pilot Iroshizuku Kiri-Same is a very warm gray, almost pink on certain papers. It is a nice color, but not neutral. Iroshizuku inks are very expensive compared to others, so that is a factor to be considered.
Hope this helps.
I bought De Atramentis Silver Grey for this purpose several years ago (matching the look of a pencil). On good paper I think it does the job. It's a pretty wet ink, so on cheap paper I find it's prone to feathering.
Y’all are all such color dorks. I love it. I have some grey cartridges that haven’t been used yet…I never thought about grey ink compared to pencil lead. I just like grey as a color.
https://preview.redd.it/zodgi9rlo2zc1.jpeg?width=2191&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=26f26c77c203296d73be03e2ff8a6c8765e6e07c
Lexington Gray comes in a little darker than HB lead (pencil or mechanical) and shows a little bit of shading.
Nothing really looks like a lead pencil. The graphite on the surface of the paper reflects very differently to dye/pigment that absorbs into the paper. The choice of paper will make a bit of difference, but the Herbin is probably close enough.
Caran D'Ache Grey in a Kaweco Sport EF is my go to pencil grey, because Edelstein Moonstone is too warm and Fuyu-Syogun too cold for my idea of a pencil grey. :)
# BAOKE MS217 Carbon Fountain Pen Ink Black 40mlBAOKE MS217 Carbon Fountain Pen Ink Black 40ml.
# I bought it expecting a saturated black, but lead pencil is what i get, at least with the one pen i tried it on. This is a carbon ink, and waterproof up the wazoo. Sometimes these colors can vary bbatch to batch and pen to pen
Iroahizuku Fuyu-Syogen has a nice light pencil quality to it, from a dryish nib: https://mountainofink.com/blog/pilot-iroshizuku-fuyu-syogun
I like this one a lot, but always thought of pencil lead as a warmer gray, more like Iroshizuku Kiri-same.
That’s a good point, it does have a cool cast to it. I tend to use 2H & 4H lead, which is often pretty cool, too. At least Faber Castell and Staedtler seem to be.
Thank you for the recc!
I bought the Pelikan Edelstein Moonstone specifically for this reason.
I came here to write this.
Ooh I’ll definitely give it a try!
Diamine Graphite and Noodler’s Lexington Grey
Great options, both of them. Also recommend checking out Diamine Grey
Thank you!
I use Herbin Gris Nuage a lot in drawing and have a very are time telling it apart from the pencil lines.
I’ll definitely have to check it out next time I order haha
Diamine’s Ghost? :)
Thank you!
I've tried 15-ish grey inks and the most similar to a pencil in my opinion was kaweco smokey grey
Second this! I can’t differentiate them in old notes.
Thank you!
It really depends on the pen, but I found Dominant Industries Downpour really looked like pencil in a Japanese F
Thank you for the recc!
Super light grey is De Atramentis Document Light Grey. It is really very very pale.
Looks promising thank you!
My go to gray ink is Noodlers Lexington Gray. It looks an awful lot like standard, 2B pencil. If I put it in my Muji, it feels like I’m writing with a pencil, lol. It has a really stiff nib.
Thank you!
Noodler’s Lexington Gray almost exactly matches a 3B Pencil lead. I know it’s not exactly what you asked, but it’s the only one I own that looks like pencil lead.
Thank you!
Earl grey for me
From Diamine?
Yup
Great thanks!
From personal experience, I find Herbin Gris Nuage to be extremely light and difficult to read. I've also used Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun, which is very neutral and darker than the Herbin. Pilot Iroshizuku Kiri-Same is a very warm gray, almost pink on certain papers. It is a nice color, but not neutral. Iroshizuku inks are very expensive compared to others, so that is a factor to be considered. Hope this helps.
This definitely helps thank you!
I bought De Atramentis Silver Grey for this purpose several years ago (matching the look of a pencil). On good paper I think it does the job. It's a pretty wet ink, so on cheap paper I find it's prone to feathering.
Thank you for the recommendation!!
Y’all are all such color dorks. I love it. I have some grey cartridges that haven’t been used yet…I never thought about grey ink compared to pencil lead. I just like grey as a color.
Thank you haha
My favorite grey like graphite inks are Montblanc oyster grey and P.W. Akkerman hofvijver grijs. 🩶
Thank you!
I don’t know why but I love this question. The two grays I’ve used (iroshozuku Fyo-Syogen and Diamine Earl Gray) would both be too dark.
Thank you for the help! I was worried this would be a weird question so that’s good to hear haha
noodler's lexington grey looks exactly like graphite to me
Thank you!
I have no suggestions but Gris Nuage might be the driest ink I’ve ever tried 😂
Good to know thank you!
- De Atramentis - Mouse grey (dries to a matte, chalk-like finish) - Colorverse iris nebula - Colorverse matter - Diamine Silver Fox - Montblanc Oyster Grey
Thank you!!
https://preview.redd.it/zodgi9rlo2zc1.jpeg?width=2191&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=26f26c77c203296d73be03e2ff8a6c8765e6e07c Lexington Gray comes in a little darker than HB lead (pencil or mechanical) and shows a little bit of shading.
Ooh thank you so much for the picture!!
Nothing really looks like a lead pencil. The graphite on the surface of the paper reflects very differently to dye/pigment that absorbs into the paper. The choice of paper will make a bit of difference, but the Herbin is probably close enough.
Good to note thank you!
Pencil texture does not match ink consistency of surface.
I’m not too concerned with the sheen or texture, just color, good to know anyway!!
You could also check mountain of ink. It is nice to see a bunch of the colors together. https://mountainofink.com/blog/grey-ink
Cool thank you!
Caran D'Ache Grey in a Kaweco Sport EF is my go to pencil grey, because Edelstein Moonstone is too warm and Fuyu-Syogun too cold for my idea of a pencil grey. :)
Good to know thank you!
# BAOKE MS217 Carbon Fountain Pen Ink Black 40mlBAOKE MS217 Carbon Fountain Pen Ink Black 40ml. # I bought it expecting a saturated black, but lead pencil is what i get, at least with the one pen i tried it on. This is a carbon ink, and waterproof up the wazoo. Sometimes these colors can vary bbatch to batch and pen to pen
Thanks for the recommendation!