An ink composition for writing on an absorbent or pervious writing surface to form thereon a writing or marking composed of an inner portion of a metallic color with outer contour portions therearound of a dyestuff-based color, which composition comprises:a nonleafing metal powder pigment as a first pigment,an inorganic or organic pigment as a second pigment,a dyestuff, anda solvent,the nonleafing metal powder pigment being dispersed in the solvent and having a particle size sufficiently large so as to substantially not permeate or be absorbed into the writing surface, andthe second pigment being dispersed in the solvent and either having a particle size sufficiently large so as to substantially not permeate or be absorbed into the writing surface, or having a particle size sufficiently large so as to substantially be adsorbed on the nonleafing metal powder pigment,the dyestuff being dissolved in the solvent, being capable of substantially permeating or being absorbed into the writing surface and diffusing into the area on the writing surface proximate to the writing,whereby the nonleafing metal powder pigment forms in conjunction with the second pigment the inner portion of the metallic color, and the dyestuff forms the outer contour portions of the dyestuff-based color around the inner portion.