Sheening vs Shimmering Inks: What’s the Difference?
Introduction
When you dip your fountain pen into a rich bottle of ink, part of the joy is watching how the ink behaves on paper. Some inks shimmer like stardust, others sparkle with metallic shine, and some look plain at first — but later reveal a hidden glow when the light hits just right. Those effects usually fall into two categories: sheen and shimmer.
Let’s explore what each means, how they behave, and how to choose inks (and care for your pens) when you love effects just as much as you love colour.
What Is Sheen?
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Sheen is a visual effect caused by dye saturation and the way light reflects off a thin film of ink on the paper.
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It shows up when an area of ink dries thickly, creating contrast between the base colour and a secondary shining hue.
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For example: a deep blue ink might show a red or burgundy shine along the edges or in pooled areas.
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Sheen is part of the dye’s behaviour, not from particles or glitter.
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It tends to be easier to clean than shimmering inks because you’re not dealing with physical particles.
Also, many ink-enthusiasts note that shimmering inks can be harder to flush out of pens (especially fine feeds), while sheen usually stays in the dye itself and is less troublesome.
What Is Shimmer?
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Shimmer (sometimes called “glitter” or “sparkle”) comes from tiny metallic or mica particles suspended in the ink liquid.
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As you write, those particles scatter light and give a twinkling effect on the page — think golden flecks, silver sparkles, or coloured glitter bits.
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Shimmering inks require shaking before use to help distribute the particles evenly (they tend to settle).
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Because of the particulate matter, shimmer inks can clog pens or feeds if left for too long without cleaning.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Sheen | Shimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Dye-based effect, no solid particles | Metallic/mica particles mixed into ink |
| Appearance | A glossy secondary hue (e.g. red on blue) | Tiny sparkles or glitter spots |
| Cleaning ease | Easier — just the dye to flush | More difficult — particles may lodge in feed or converter |
| Maintenance | Moderate (flush every few weeks) | Higher demand — clean more often, especially when not in use |
| Best nibs / paper | Wider nibs, ink-resistant papers | Broad or stub nibs (to carry particles) |
| Behaviour | Consistent over large areas, depending on ink saturation | Sparkles might cluster or settle; effect varies across strokes |
How to Use Sheening & Shimmering Inks Well
1. Choose the right pen & nib
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Sheen and shimmer show best with wetter pens and broader nibs, which deposit more ink.
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Fine nibs may under-deliver the effect, especially for shimmer.
2. Pick the right paper
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For sheen: use paper with some ink resistance, so the ink pools and allows the light effect to form.
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For shimmer: any fountain-pen-friendly paper works — the sparkle doesn’t depend on pooling, as it’s from particles.
3. Shake shimmer inks before writing
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Give your shimmer bottle a gentle shake (or roll between palms) so the particles are evenly distributed.
4. Clean more often
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With shimmering inks, flush your pen every 1–2 weeks (or sooner) to minimize clogging.
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With sheening inks, a regular flushing schedule (2–4 weeks) is usually enough.
5. Layering & ink combos
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Be cautious combining shimmer inks with other inks — residue from particles may affect the next ink’s flow.
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Sheen inks tend to play more nicely with mixes, because there’s no solid matter to interfere.