Easyou Shanghai Xiling Ink Paste Chinese Seal Red Ink Pad Meili Cinnabar 60g/Box)

I ordered this ink paste for a stone seal I had carved myself for my artwork, and let me tell you it was the best purchase I could have made. I was surprised at how thick the paste actually was once I got it in my hands, but it was far from dried out. Touching my finger to it left a very bright fingerprint on some paper the first time, and mixing it before the first time I used it was certainly a learning experience that almost wound up being as addicting as drawing and painting itself! It's just so much fun to play with because of how it sticks to the stirring stick. In the end it works perfectly. It's SUPER tacky, and sticks to the seal I made like glue until I put it on the paper, and it leaves a bright, vibrant crimson-orange stamp that I couldn't be happier with for my first batch. Well worth the extra money for a starter kit without going straight to ordering high quality paste at a dollar a gram by itself. The dish itself is a bit small, probably too small for larger seals, but that's easily remedied by mixing the paste into a little dome or mound in the center. The paste holds its shape well when you do play with it, and the color is just incredible. Perfect for adding a sudden splash of vivid color in a black and white painting, it likes to fight and win when stamped on top of graphite and charcoal, and I was able to successfully stamp my seal over top of thoroughly burnished Prismacolor Premier colored pencil. If you are looking to play around with Chinese seals for your artwork this is as great a place as any to start.

Must've been sitting in the warehouse for years. The ink looks kinda dry. Had to replenish some castor oil to it.

I cannot be happier with this seal paste. I've had it for over three years, and there's been absolutely no deterioration. The oil has not separated, gone rancid, or dried out. (I live in a cold place and it is kept closed in its original packaging).The color is extremely saturated, absorbed beautify by xuan paper with excellent contrast, and gives a professional looking result even with my poorly carved seals. No oil spots or discoloration around the seal either.For those having trouble: The paste cannot be used when it is very cold. Warm it up to a reasonable temperature first, stir it well, then use. It will be very stiff, cannot be stirred, and won't adhere to the stone if it's cold. It's castor oil, cold oil is basically solid.Conversely, if you live in a warm place, make sure to stir the paste at least once every three months to avoid separation (which results in the oil getting rancid), and keep the box sealed to avoid drying out.Finally, the pigment is natural cinnabar. That means the color is variable (my batch was a bit on the orange side). That also means it's toxic. Don't work with it on food surfaces, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards. Don't overheat it when warming it either, mercury vapor is not good for you. On the flip side, there's a reason cinnabar is still used. You cannot get the right color and saturation any other way, it tolerates wet-mounting after its dried, and it is 100% archival: cinnabar red and carbon black are dyes that will last longer than any archival paper you put them on.

The package is poor, and the pad is too dry to make a good print.I am surprised why the famous ink pad maker, sells such a low quality product.

I like this a paste. I recommend it.

I misplaced my good chop ink that I bought in Beijing in 1993 (somehow it remained completely usable for decades), and needed a replacement. At first I tried some more expensive "antique style" ink and was very disappointed -- it was sticky and muddy, and I could not get a good impression. I tried this next, and was pleased to see that worked well directly out of the package. The ink is a nice firm consistency that sits well in its tray -- there was no sign that it had moved the least bit during shipping. The color is a bit too orangey for my tastes, rather than the satisfying deep red of my old ink, but the impressions are clean, which I suppose is what counts.

Comes in a good container with lid so does not dry out, cleaning chop before each application, works really well.Thx for a very good chop seal ink.Jimmy Springett wildlife painter

I absolutely love it! Works great! So hard to find good ink paste. This is the good stuff!

I can’t say I know much about seal paste but this seemed to do what it says in the description and was not too oily. I mixed it with the included paddle and used it on my art. Worked fine.

Perfetto tutto! Eccellente, bellissima confezione. Cura nell' imballo.

has a great colour!!!!

Wow this is really red!!! It's amazing and it does look amazing on paper just like the Chinese paintings the name just so pleasing to look at!!! Thank you and I would recommend this product to anyone.

Good, good,good!