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Ziller inks are high-quality, pigmented acrylic inks that are known for their unique selection of hues and smooth color consistency. Ziller's history begins with Frederick W. Tamblyn, who founded the Tamblyn School of Penmanship in 1894, a mail-order correspondence course that enrolled an estimated 40,000 students worldwide. In 1933, Stephen Ziller, an engrosser and graduate of the Zanerian College, began working at Tamblyn Studios in Kansas City. After Tamblyn's retirement in 1944, Ziller took over the company and expanded the business beyond engrossing diplomas, making penmanship copy books for universities, and personally inscribing eulogy parchments. Ziller produced a series of handwriting textbooks and was capable of high-quality reproduction work, allowing the business to grow substantially.

Vivian and Richard Mungall partnered with Ziller in 1985, after Vivian completed an engrossing apprenticeship with Stephen Ziller himself. This brought industrial manufacturing experience to the company, and allowed Ziller to retire in 1993, passing the company along to its third caretakers. Additional customer services were added, such as custom framing, plaques, and promotional Ziller merchandise. Vivian and Richard also developed new ink colors and re-introduced Tamblyn's out-of-print books into publication. In 2002, Vivian Mungall became a Master Penman through the International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers & Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH) and served as the organization's president from 2009-2010. The Mungalls's son-in-law, Sebastien, joined the business in 2013 and is dedicated to preserving Ziller's long-standing history of quality calligraphy supplies, while modernizing the operation's facilities and website for our technological age.

Color Charts from Ziller's website.

Ziller's collection of inks features 32 beautiful colors, including two metallic shades. These inks can be used for a variety of mediums: pointed pens, broad-edge nibs, and brushes. Ziller inks feature the following qualities:

• Lightfast
• Created with sub-micron sized pigments that allow smooth, beautiful flow on every stroke
• Ph Balanced
• Waterproof once dry
• Fantastic line variation, from delicate hairlines to juicy swells
• Color consistency
• Show up great on both dark and light papers
• Pre-mixed and bottled in a wide-mouth jar, making them convenient and easy-to-use straight out of the container
• Similar in appearance to gouache, but with less hassle
• Easy to dilute with distilled water
• Non-toxic

Ziller Ink in Azure by @peonyandplumecalligraphy

Besides Aspen Gold, Sterling Silver and Glossy Black, all Ziller inks have a matte finish with a slightly raised appearance. These inks also dry quickly and are exceptionally waterproof, making them a great choice for addressing envelopes and other calligraphy projects that may be exposed to the elements. Try using Ziller inks for more than just calligraphy! Because they are indestructibly waterproof, Ziller inks are great for drawing outlines that you intend to fill in with watercolor afterwards. No matter how hard you try, Ziller inks will not move or smudge.

Artists are as follows, clockwise from top: Ziller Ink in Periwinkle Blue by @veverka83 | Ziller Ink in Cranberry by @spaghetti_bolognese | Ziller Ink in Periwinkle Blue by @tmtcalligraphy | Ziller Ink in Aqua Blue Green by @flourishanddotpaperco

There are a few tips calligraphers should know before using Ziller ink. Those who have used acrylic inks for calligraphy will be somewhat familiar with the way Ziller ink behaves, but following these guidelines may prevent annoyances and frustrations. When it comes to viscosity, Ziller inks are more similar to paint than typical calligraphy inks. Whether or not you choose to thin the inks with distilled water depends on personal preference and skill level. Many calligraphers use these inks straight out of the bottle, without diluting or thickening them at all. A common problem some users encounter when doing this is unwanted globs of ink falling from the nib. Although diluting your ink with water is an easy fix for this, adding water reduces the opacity and color consistency, and produces hairlines that are thicker than Ziller inks are typically capable of. Before you reach for a pipette, try the following steps:

• Develop a lighter touch. Heavy-handed calligraphers will have trouble achieving a consistent flow with Ziller inks, and will produce thicker hairlines. This is especially important if using Ziller inks with extra fine nibs.
• Make sure you haven't loaded your nib with more ink than you need. When dipping your nib into the bottle, allow the ink to cover no higher than just above the reservoir. Make sure there is no excess ink by lightly tapping the nib against a water container before writing.
• Using an old nib? Switch it out for a cleaner one, or a brand new nib.
• Practice, practice, practice! Like most aspects of calligraphy, it may take time and effort before writing with Ziller comes smoothly. This is especially true for beginners; most calligraphers learn using inks like sumi and McCaffery's, which are much different in viscosity and performance.

Ziller Ink in Wisteria by @suzcunningham

If you still have trouble with ink globs after following all of these steps, go ahead and add some water! Ziller inks still perform beautifully when diluted, and their colors remain brilliant. If you accidentally thin your bottle too much, Ziller also sells a clear Thickener that'll put your ink right back to normal. Our last tip is how to properly clean Ziller ink off your tools. It can be difficult to remove dried ink from your nibs and penholders, so keep a water container and paper towels (or nib wipes) close at hand while writing with Ziller. Clean your nib off frequently, and perhaps use a penholder that you don't mind getting stained. Accidentally let the ink dry on a brand new nib? Ziller's Pen Cleaner was specifically formulated with their super-pigmented acrylic inks in mind, and is great for removing unwanted ink.

Ziller Ink in North Wind White with a round brush by @spaghetti_bolognese

Want to know more? Visit Ziller's website for a full history.

You can find all 32 colors of Ziller Ink here. Ziller Thickener can be found here.

Ziller Pen Cleaner can be found here.

Cover image by @melissapher