The Authentic NYC Story of Craig “KR” Costello and Krink’s Rise from DIY to an Iconic Brand
Krink was born out of pure necessity. In the 1990s, writer Craig "KR" Costello, dissatisfied with the available tools, began creating his own inks and markers. His formula for an opaque, perfectly dripping silver soon became legendary on the streets of San Francisco and New York. What started as a DIY project to solve a technical problem—the poor quality of inks at the time—evolved into a global brand. In 1998, KR returned to NYC and, in collaboration with Alife, began bottling and selling his Krink ink, officially launching a writing icon.
The Krink K-60 Squeeze Marker: Mastering the Iconic New York Drip
The Krink K-60 is the marker that defined the aesthetic of Krink drippy tags. Launched in 2007, it entered the squeeze marker game after its Italian rival, the Grog Squeezer – on the market since 2005 – but still managed to carve out a central place in the world of squeeze markers. It is a squeeze marker with a soft, squeezable body and a high-flow round nib. Its technical architecture allows the writer to control the paint output through manual pressure: a harder squeeze forces more paint into the tip, creating long, saturated drips. Its Krink paint formula is optimized for this system, ensuring perfect fluidity for drips. It is the quintessential tool for those seeking a powerful stroke and the iconic New York style.
The Krink K-75 Chisel Tip: Engineered for Clean Lines and Handstyle Control
In contrast to the K-60, the Krink K-75 is a permanent Krink marker designed for precision. This marker utilizes a pump-action valve system and a 7mm chisel tip. The valve allows for granular flow control, while the chisel tip enables the modulation of stroke width by simply rotating the wrist, moving from thick lines to fine details. It is the ideal tool for clean handstyles and calligraphic work. Its permanent paint formula ensures an opaque and sharp line on almost any surface, making it an extremely versatile tool.
The Krink Formula: High-Quality, Permanent, Alcohol-Based Paint
The heart of Krink markers is their paint formula. Most Krink paint markers use a permanent, alcohol-based paint formulated for maximum coverage and durability. The Silver Krink, in particular, became legendary for its brilliance and its ability to create thick, opaque drips. Unlike inks, Krink's pigmented paint forms a solid film on the surface, ensuring excellent performance even on dark backgrounds. Although not sold separately, the quality of the Krink refill ink is designed to maintain the same performance as the pre-filled markers.
The Krink Compact Sprayer: Transform Any Bottle into a High-Pressure Tool
Beyond markers, Krink has also innovated in the field of spray tools. The Krink Compact Sprayer is a manual atomizing system that screws onto most standard one-liter plastic bottles. This tool transforms any liquid ink or paint into a high-pressure spray, controlled by a hand pump. It allows for creating effects similar to those of a fire extinguisher or a garden sprayer, but with the ability to use one's own custom mixes. It is a unique tool for large-scale work and for experimenting with unconventional paint applications.
From the Streets of NYC to Collaborations with Global Brands
Starting from the DIY culture of the streets of New York, Krink has become a globally recognized brand while always maintaining its authenticity. The focus on quality and design has led to numerous collaborations outside the world of writing, with brands like Nike and Casio. Despite this, the brand's focus remains on producing professional tools for writers. From paints for Graffiti Markers to limited editions like the Krink K-750 Matt Red Limited Edition, every product reflects a heritage that combines street culture with high-quality engineering.
