Dr. Ph. Martin's Bombay India Ink (Set 1), 1.0 oz, Set of 12 Bottles Review (2026)

Who this ink set is built for

This set suits letterers, illustrators and mixed media artists who want a ready made colored ink palette for dip pen or brush lettering, rather than someone who only writes in black and needs a single bottle. Twelve different colors in one box means you can start colored calligraphy, envelope addressing or illustrated lettering immediately without buying bottles one at a time, which is a real convenience for anyone building a colored ink collection from scratch. Because the ink is genuinely waterproof once dry, it also suits artists who plan to letter first and layer watercolor washes over or around the lettering afterward, a workflow that plain non waterproof inks cannot support without smearing.

What is in the Bombay Set 1 bottles

Each set includes twelve different colors in 1.0 ounce glass bottles, each fitted with a dropper, along with a custom mixing palette included in the box for blending shades before dipping a pen or brush. Dr. Ph. Martin's describes these India inks as highly pigmented, lightfast and permanent, and importantly totally waterproof once they have dried on the page. The inks can be diluted with water and used with brushes in traditional watercolor style techniques, or used more directly in dip pens, technical drawing pens and airbrushes, giving a fair amount of flexibility across different lettering and illustration tools beyond just a single application method.

Using the ink day to day

Because these are pigmented rather than dye based inks, the pigment can settle at the bottom of the bottle between uses, so giving each bottle a shake before a session helps keep the color consistent and prevents pulling mostly clear liquid from the top. Dr. Ph. Martin's states the ink adheres to nearly all surfaces and is non clogging when used in pens, which matters for anyone using a technical or fountain style pen rather than a traditional dip nib. The included dropper in each bottle makes it easy to control how much ink goes onto a palette or directly onto a nib without overloading a brush or pen.

How it compares with other waterproof inks

Against the Handy Art Black Velvet ink and Dr. Ph. Martin's own Black Star Hi-Carb ink, both ranked just behind this set in our data, this Bombay Set 1 offers a genuine color range rather than a single black shade, which is the clear advantage if colored lettering or illustration is the goal. Compared with the Speedball Super Black ink, another black only rival here, the trade off is the same, color variety against the depth and reputation of a dedicated black technical ink. If your work is purely black line lettering or inking, a dedicated black ink may suit better; if colored dip pen or brush lettering is the goal, this twelve color set is a stronger starting point.

Verdict and who should choose a different set

Earning our score of 8.6 out of 10, the Bombay India Ink Set 1 is a strong pick for anyone wanting a genuinely waterproof, colored ink palette for dip pen or brush lettering in one purchase. Choose it if you want to start colored calligraphy or ink illustration without buying bottles individually, and if you plan to layer watercolor over finished lettering. Look elsewhere if you specifically need shades outside the fixed Set 1 lineup, since Dr. Ph. Martin's Set 2 offers a different color spread, or if you only work in black, where a dedicated black technical ink will give more depth for that single color.

Frequently asked questions