『StarryInk Lab Archives』 Vol.3 ｜春光 Radiance of Spring
It’s been a while, but we’re back with another chapter of our StarryInk Lab Archives. Each entry in this series introduces one of the thousands of custom inks we’ve created over the past nine years—not only as colors, but as intimate translations of inspiration and memory. Some shades arrive in vibrant bursts, others in softer whispers; together they form a language of hues that reflect both emotion and imagination.
In this chapter, we bring you 春光(chūn guāng), or in English Radiance of Spring, an ink steeped in poetic romance and affection, echoing Neruda’s timeless line: “I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.”
StarryInk Lab Ink-Report
Radiance of Spring is a luminous red ink with delicate chromatographic depth. On Tomoe River paper, it leans toward a warm red, revealing gentle layers of soft pink. With finer nibs, the strokes deepen into a rich tone—beginning as a bright orange-red, then settling into a vivid crimson, like blossoms carried downstream by spring winds. On watercolor paper, the shade drifts toward purple, unveiling subtle pink undertones. On tracing paper, the color shines with remarkable clarity and brightness.
The ink’s shifting hues evoke the sensation of flowers unfurling in light and water, transforming with each surface. From orange to crimson, from pink to purple, every page becomes a reflection of spring’s fleeting radiance.
Inspiration
The inspiration for Radiance of Spring was shared by its commissioner:
订制春光的灵感来自于聂鲁达的“你每天都同宇宙之光嬉戏”，这首诗读起来又纯又欲，当时就想到了汁水迸溅的樱桃，所以想用艳丽的深红色。
It was inspired by Pablo Neruda’s “Every day you play with the light of the universe.” The poem feels at once pure and full of desire, and it immediately brought to mind the image of cherries bursting with juice—hence the choice of a vivid, deep red.
Swatches and Works
Swipe to explore how Radiance of Spring reveals different characters on different papers.
✒️ Disclaimer: The Magic of Ink
Please note that the colors shown in photos may vary slightly depending on lighting, camera settings, screen displays, and editing. More importantly, this ink—like all our creations—is deeply responsive to its environment.
Different types of paper, coating, fiber density, and absorbency will bring out unique aspects of the ink’s color, sheen, and chromatography. The same ink may lean cooler on Tomoe River, warmer on watercolor paper, or reveal hidden undertones on tracing paper. We call this “Color Variance Across Papers” — or as we like to say: one ink, many voices
We wholeheartedly encourage you to try it on different papers, in different pens, under different skies. Let it surprise you. Let it become part of your story.
We can’t wait to see what colors come alive under your pen!