The Ink Stone

Throughout my 2 final undergrad years and 3 years as a grad student in Berkeley’s architecture program, The Ink Stone was my go-​to place for large format printing and a variety of supplies. Some people comment on supposed high prices here, but I’ve actually found many items to cost less than other places. Steel «music wire,» for example, (which I’ve bought hundreds of dollars worth of over these 5 years) costs about 25% less per bundle and is consistently better stocked than at other places. Sheets of cardboard, museum board, and pads of drawing paper are all well stocked and competitively priced. I love the fact that they provide the space and the tools to cut large sheets down so they’re easier to carry back to Wurster Hall.
Aside from their good selection of supplies and reasonable prices, I particularly like the staff. The people who work there are smart and articulate, and very helpful. They are also friendly. When they are slammed with massive amounts of orders and high-​maintenance, stressed-​out students, they maintain a firm, professional stance that’s appropriate to the frenzied circumstances. When things are slower and more relaxed, most everyone I’ve encountered there is exceptionally friendly and engaging.
This place embodies the essence of a great quality, local and independent business. I’ll continue to take my business there whenever possible, even now that I’ve graduated.

In and out and got exactly what I wanted. They even have «free» poster tubes sometimes, but also have a selection of nice mailing tubes if you want to pay a bit more or they are out. Friendly staff and later hours make this a go to spot for art supplies near campus, even if they are a bit more spendy than most.

The main reason for giving two stars is the remarkable lack of professionalism. I ordered a particular size poster, which they said was fine. To my confusion, the clerk then wanted me to cut my own poster down from the size that came off the printer. Though later on, he decided that was more in the employee’s job description than the customer’s.
A second employee then made jokes about stealing customers’ credit card information, before accusing me of being rude when he didn’t see me respond to the first employee’s question with a nod. That was weird.
They also didn’t give me a receipt, then when I called to get one, they made sure to tell me not to expect such lavish treatment again. BUT, the poster was relatively cheap, so you get what you pay for, I suppose…

As a former architecture student this place was like a second home to me. Last year I had to come here to buy my supplies for class but now having switched majors I still go here for school and art supplies. The items are reasonably priced I suppose (at that weird price point where you have to contemplate it a bit before making the purchase). They have pretty much anything you need — rulers, portfolio cases, sketchpads, prismacolor pencils… etc. Some of your favorite brands might not be available but that might have to do with the fact that the shop is limited in size. They are open pretty late too and I love how convenient the hours and location is. Definitely come here for art supplies and feel free to splurge a bit because you really can’t put a price restriction on creativity and imagination.

One Bad Move After Another.
I’ve been coming to Ink Stone for over 6 years, and I’ve seen staff come and go. This review is specific to my last three experiences, which were absolutely horrible. In the past, my experience has been absolutely stellar, even considering the ridiculously expensive prices. One 30X40″ print on acetate is $ 30 plus tax? Crazy!
I’m back in school, pursuing my M. Arch and M.L.A. at UC Berkeley. Last week, I bought a bunch of wood dowels and boards for two physical models. I had a general idea of what I was constructing but not necessarily the method. One staff member (I’m assuming a manager) kept offering me assistance even after I repetitively rejected it. He kept talking down to me and offering unwarranted advice. I found this incredibly intrusive and annoyingly didactic.
A week passed and I didn’t use almost half of the materials I purchased, but considering I’ve spent hundreds, maybe almost a thousand dollars at Ink Stone, I had no callous returning them, especially because of the one-​week return policy. I have 3 years of retail experience, and I know return policies are means of protection for the company rather than a hard rule.
Since I come to Ink Stone so often, I misplaced one of the 20 something receipts I’ve accumulated in the past 3 months. The cashier tells me that they will still accept the return even a day passed the return policy date.
I return the next day with the correct receipt and more problems ensue. The same «manager» from the prior week asks an incredibly green cashier-​in-​training to complete my return.
It took half an hour to return what would’ve taken a well-​trained cashier half the time. I stood there asking a higher power, «Why me?» Some of the SKUs didn’t ring up and she tells me that I probably didn’t purchase them there even though I’m 90% positive that I did. She and the manager starts blaming me for trying to return items not purchased from the store. She emphasizes that she is doing me a favor accepting the return one day past the policy date and also blames me for items not scanning in the register. I couldn’t believe she was blaming me for this! I hate being talked down to, and she was treating me like an incompetent.
I told her that I apologized if I was being difficult, but I didn’t need a didactic salesperson to tell me how to shop. I’m going to avoid shopping at Ink Stone whenever possible to avoid the rude customer service (not to mention the overpriced printing service). Here’s a big tip, Ink Stone, don’t hire pompous egotistical know-​it-​alls! If Ink Stone wasn’t so close to the UC Berkeley campus, no one would shop there. Do yourself a favor, buy your materials online.

Like many of the reviewers here, I hail from UCB’s architecture school & am a frequent customer at Inkstone.
The people here are really nice and extremely helpful. Prices are a bit steep, but b&w large format prints here are cheaper than at the copy central around the corner. On mornings that projects are due, the store’s printing service is quite crowded and people are served in a first come first serve basis. Unfortunately, there usually only 2 people working on printing at a time, so on these mornings the wait can be quite long.
All in all, if there’s one thing I’ve taken away from my time at the Inkstone, it’s that I should really open up my own art/​printing shop right outside Wurster Hall & dub it The Jstone.

I’m not an architecture student like many of the other customers/​reviewers here, but I came in to buy a mechanical pencil and some thin pens (think 0.1mm). The guy working here was really helpful, letting me see different pencils from the case and letting me know which ones were 0.7mm (my preferred width for pencils), and which ones he had first-​hand experience with.
Several months later, I still love both the pencil and the pens I purchased.

This is an amazing place! A little hard to find if its your first time, so watch for their sign!
I needed to get a poster printed at 4PM the day before a conference, so I called them up. They told me that it would only take 20 minutes to process the whole thing. When I went there, they were very nice, knowledgeable, and quick. They treated me very well, had great prices, and the poster they gave me looks amazing! Needless to say, I will now go here for all my printing needs! Worth the 20 minute walk.

A great convenient place for an art/​arch/​studio student in Berkeley. The place is located behind urban outfitters and up a lot of stairs. They are my go to place for any art supplies that I need.
I have done a few plots here and its on the expensive side. Their service is great, they will try their best to get your plots done on time. But around final projects time, it will get harder to get plots done.
Note: they sell blue books when its sold out every where else.

Really cute business and good for poster/​sign needs. I don’t come here for art supplies, but I had to make a signboard and they had all the material and they helped me with printing (large prints!) and also choosing a board. Really helpful people. Things are a tad expensive, but it’s convenient

I never knew about this place though I’ve walked past it at least a dozen times before, and it’s very easy to miss up above the streets. Inkstone is deceptively small, as they carry a ton of great things, at pretty average/​reasonable prices. The staff is very laid-​back and never in-​your-​face about selling you products or has gimmicky crap around to confuse you.
I love the weird prints they have in the back of the store — found a human body circulation chart for a few dollars and I was thrilled the other day. They also sell loose-​leaf sheets of bristol, illustration board, watercolor paper, etc. which a lot of places surprisingly don’t do. Good selection of pens for the ink enthusiasts like me who can’t stand their Bic’s, and some good sets in the front (glass case) as well.
I also came in here to print a report for a class and it literally took something like 10 seconds to print.
Overall a gem. I’m coming back.

It was a lucky day when someone told me Ink Stone was up that skinny stairwell on Bowditch. A place I can buy supplies and not have the lug them for miles or on the bus? I found the best sturdy flip notebook here, too, that’s made my job more comfortable. If I randomly need industrial glue or Velcro, it’s here, a block and a half from home, and they stay open pretty late. The employees have also been helpful and given me good advice on projects even if it meant not buying something they sell. And I have to say, the prices have been great. For what I buy here, I can’t remember paying more than $ 15 for a bag of items. I know you can find cheaper art supplies elsewhere by bargain hunting or going to Blick, but the prices here are comparable to what I’ve seen at most shops.

I have to say Inkstone should get 3.5 stars. It’s really really convenient for any art/​architecture students because you get a supply store right down the street from Wurster and it has pretty much the essentials.
Given, the prices are definitely more costly than arts and supplies stores down University, but time is money in the archy world!
if you want to plot something, this place is great for black and white. However ink prints can get really expensive. At the same time, you always want the good quality that Inkstone provides with their prints.

The Ink Stone is located between Bancroft and Durant and you have to go up a long flight of stairs and over a parking lot entrance to get here And when I’m wandering around Telegraph Avenue, I’ll make make sure that I end up here before I go.
The Ink Stone is a fun office supplies/​graphic arts store that is plain and no-​nonsense in its layout. Over the years, I have purchased this and that and have always enjoyed the chill service, unique selection, competitive pricing, and shopping adventure. Of course the fact that I really didn’t need some of this stuff is entirely besides the point!

The Ink Stone plain and simple has graphic «hands one» supplies such as templates, paper, eraser, ink pens, scales, architectural and engineering tools that need to be available. Head off to other similar places and you are not going to find the professional level tools. You will only find student/​hobby selection, that are cheap imitations that are far MORE of a ripoff to students/​professionals/​artists than «so-​called» higher prices. Proximity to campus is not an excuse to cater to just students, its to cater to those that need useful items –near campus.
The Ink Stone will do large sized printings and scale printings suitable for blueprints with ACCURATE scaling. The people behind the counter understand how to plot and number printed sheets so that all of the correlated correctly. You won’t be missing a page or find one upside down or in the wrong order. They know the difference between a engineering scale and flat scale or what is a Rapid-​o-​graphic Pen tip sized 3 vs .03.
Validated Parking is available if you purchase a minimum amount, but if you can show up between 6 and 7, you’ll find a pretty good amount of street parking.
You will competitive printing, supply prices. Service will require patience, but when it is your turn, you treated in a personal level, like a real life customer. I don’t think The Ink Stone wants or should treat you in the same way as those thankless drones you see at Walmart.

I starting going into this little place back in 1978 when I began college at UCB. Let’s not mention the year that I finally graduated but there were many trips to the ink stone to get just the «right» pen.
They have a wonderful array of drawing and drafting materials in an old-​school atmosphere.
If I were in the area more I’d visit much more often.

I needed a paper banner printed immediately so I went on Unilocal to look for a nearby printer who would do it for cheap. Copy Central and ZeeZee were too expensive and University said they didn’t do paper banners.
Ink Stone saved the day! Cheap price ($ 18 pre-​tax for a 24×36 print) and they did fast work (took about 15 minutes, mainly because we had to wait for the guy to get back from his coffee break), and the banner turned out beautifully.
Less one star because the employees there seem to be specialized and don’t necessarily know how a particular thing works or is priced. When I first called, the guy who answered the phone had to ask someone else all of the questions I was asking him, and when I got there the employee in the store said to please wait for the other guy to get back since he knew the print process much better. He said it politely though!

It gets a ding because of course it’s not going to be as cheap as online, but boy, this place crams a lot into a small space! Get your t-​squares, drafting pencils, Moleskines, erasers, vellum, and whatever else art/​drafting/​stationery related stuff you can think of here.
This place has saved me with their printing services too — more accomodating than Kinko’s, which is ok but too restrictive in what/​how/​format they will print for you.
Plus, I love it’s location nestled away above the parking garage on Bowditch =)
Great art and architecture supply store. And pretty much your only option near campus, but luckily the workers are friendly and knowledgeable, and prices aren’t too bad. Excellent selection.

Ink Stone is literally in some sort of attick above a public parking garage, which is really weird!!! However, besides the crazy-​tall narrow staircase leading up, it’s actually a really good art store to get art and drafting supplies. Everything is a bit more expensive than other stores [b/​c it is right by campus], but you will find all the essentials for any imaginable project. What irritates me about other stores is that they ALWAYS RUN OUT of the ONE thing you need when you absolutely have to have it, and then you’re running around from store to store trying to find that right thickness of Bristol board. Well, your quest is over.
My last trip to InkStone was to get a portfolio for my midterm review and of course I bought the damn thing about 10 minutes before the review started and everything worked out. Thank you Ink Stone for always having what I need when I need it!
…
UPDATE:
I have developed a new level of gratitude and appreciation for Ink Stone. They can scan and plot [large format printing] just about anything, their quality is pretty good, and they can usually get this stuff done FAST. When working against deadlines this is INCREDIBLY useful. They still get four stars, because plotting and scanning is expensive.
Architecture students — you know Ink Stone is always there for you!

Dear Ink Stone,
Given your convenient location to UCB’s architecture school, you believe this entitles you to grotesquely monstrous prices on art supplies.
Although I do appreciate your late hours and supply of e-​flute (only place in the East Bay), I find what your hearty profits from the sleepless, caffeine-​addicted architecture students atrocious and immoral. When ever other art store provides a student discount and beginning of the year sale… Where are you? You think you are safe huddled behind and above the walls of Urban Outfitters. Think again, your reign will end someday.
Sincerely,
A Starving Student