Inktend / Ink library / Cardinal Red

Levenger

Cardinal Red

Reds & pinks#DA4F53

Levenger is one of the 713 brands in Inktend's built-in ink catalog.

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Specs

Color familyReds & pinks
Approx. hex#DA4F53
SheenNot typically noted

Paper & pairing

Reds and pinks show the most dramatic shading of any color family: expect real variation between the edges and center of each letter. This ink will behave predictably on most fountain-pen-friendly paper. Cheap, highly absorbent paper (standard copier paper) will dull any ink's saturation and can cause feathering or bleed-through with wetter nibs.

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About Levenger

Levenger is an American retailer founded in 1987 by Steve and Lori Leveen and based in Delray Beach, Florida. Marketing "tools for serious readers," it grew from a home business selling reading lamps into a catalog and online company offering fountain pens, its Circa notebook system, leather goods and desk accessories.

United States Founded 1987
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Storing and using the bottle

Bottled fountain pen ink has an effectively long shelf life when kept capped and out of direct sunlight: most inks remain usable for years. The main risk isn't the ink spoiling, it's a pen sitting inked and unused for weeks: that's what causes clogs, not the ink's age.

Frequently asked questions

What color family is Cardinal Red?
Cardinal Red falls into Inktend's reds & pinks family based on its typical swatch color.
Does Cardinal Red have sheen?
Cardinal Red is not typically noted for sheen. If you want that effect, browse similarly colored inks tagged with sheen in the ink library.
How should I store a bottle of Cardinal Red?
Years, easily, as long as it stays capped and out of direct sunlight. The thing that actually shortens an ink's usable life is sitting unused inside a pen, not sitting on a shelf.
What paper works best with Cardinal Red?
It behaves predictably on most fountain-pen-friendly paper. Stick to something reasonably absorbent-resistant, since cheap copier paper dulls saturation and can feather.

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Color shown is a close digital approximation of a typical swatch, not a calibrated color match.