Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Ink 6-Color Primary Set with Empty Marker

In this review of the Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Ink 6-Color Primary Set, the bottom line is simple: this kit is best for artists and students who want intensely colored, permanent acrylic inks that mix cleanly and work across techniques. The set delivers vivid pigment straight from the dropper and also dilutes into reliable washes, making it a versatile addition to a studio or classroom. While opacity can vary and a few users reported leakage, the overall ink quality, lightfastness, and mixing potential make it a useful, affordable choice for mixed-media work.

Key Features

• Intensely Colored Ink: Premium pigments produce rich, bold color that can be used full strength for solid coverage or thinned for translucent washes.
• High Lightfastness: The water-based permanent formula is designed to resist fading when exposed to light, so finished pieces stay vibrant longer.
• Multi-Use Bottle: These inks can be used for airbrushing, as dip pen ink for technical drawing, to paint miniatures, or diluted as watercolor-like washes.
• Intermixable Palette: The FW line is fully intermixable, allowing artists to blend unique tones and expand the set beyond the six primary colors included.
• Made in England: Manufactured by a long-standing art brand, the inks reflect consistent production and accessibility for students and professionals alike.

Who It's For

The set suits art students, hobbyists, and professional illustrators who need a compact starter collection of permanent, highly pigmented acrylic inks for mixed-media workflows. It is particularly handy for those learning color mixing, creating illustrative line work, or combining airbrush and wash techniques.

Artists who require fully opaque coverage in a single pass or who cannot tolerate any package leakage may want to consider larger bottle formats or testing single colors before committing to a set, since opacity reports are mixed and a few users have noted leakage concerns.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Strong color intensity straight from the bottle for vibrant results.
• Good value for money given pigment quality and intermixable range.
• Versatile performance across airbrush, dip pen, miniature painting, and washes.
• Durable lightfastness for artworks intended to last.

Cons

• Opacity can be variable depending on color and dilution, so coverage is not uniformly opaque.
• Some users reported occasional leakage from bottles, so careful handling and storage are advised.

Specifications

Product type	Acrylic drawing ink set
Included items	6 primary ink bottles and empty marker
Color range	Vivid intermixable pigments (FW series)
Bottle sizes available	29.5 ml and 180 ml options (set uses smaller bottles)
Base	Water-based permanent acrylic
Made in	England

Our Verdict

The Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Ink 6-Color Primary Set is a practical, cost-effective choice for creatives who want highly pigmented, permanent inks that adapt to many techniques. It is especially worthwhile for students and mixed-media artists who will benefit from the intermixable colors and dependable lightfastness, while those needing guaranteed opacity or spill-proof packaging should test individual colors first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these inks be diluted for washes?
Yes, the water-based acrylic formula dilutes smoothly for watercolor-like washes while remaining intermixable when concentrated.

Are the colors permanent once dry?
Yes, the inks are water-based permanent acrylics designed with high lightfastness to resist fading over time.

Will these work in technical pens or airbrushes?
They can be used as dip pen ink for technical drawing and are suitable for airbrushing when properly thinned, but test compatibility with specific pen or airbrush models first.