What are the best markers for colouring & bleed?

Buy my Colouring eBook

Decisions, decisions…what an array to chose from! I will share with you what are the best markers to use for colouring and NOT to use. This view is based only on what I have purchased. I am sure there are more options and limitation out there but this will start you off.

Let’s start with what markers NOT to use…

I hate to say it, but you know those gorgeously juicy Copic Markers you paid a fortune for? Unfortunately, those bad boys will bleed through most books but are fantastic on cardstock. I have the Copic Marker 72-Piece Sketch Set which I LOVE but they bleed right through most papers.

Most (if not all) book papers will drink those puppies up like a kid slurping their first milkshake! Sad I know. You’ll need to save them for your artwork or scrapping on card stock instead. If you are fortunate enough to own a set that is.

Alcohol markers can be a beautifully vibrant medium to colour art but they easily bleed through papers. If you are using this type of marker, there are special thick bonded papers you can buy. Blending stock papers for markers are fantastic but not found in colouring books. The reason being manufacturing cost, weight – which can affect shipping costs on books – and application. Cardstock is not the best choice for pencil work. They are often extremely smooth and do not hold a pencil well.

However, if you want to work with markers that bleed easily, like Copics, Bic and Sharpies, then I would recommend a good smooth blending stock like Noir Ultra Smooth Premium Cardstock. If it is smooth enough, you are less likely to get bleeding outside your lines.

BUFFER CARD

If like me, you want to keep your book bound, use a thick piece of cardboard in between pages to catch bleed. It is for this reason I had Positively Quote Colouring Book manufactured with a pretty 300gsm gatefold. This can be folded or cut to place in between the pages for safer marker work. If you are determined to use bleeders this will prevent the bleed leaking through more than one page. My pages are almost twice as thick as many colouring books but some persistent markers may still bleed through. But I also made sure you had 2 copies of each page design if you want to use any markers. Handy if you have some and don’t want to race out and buy more right? Cha-ching!

What markers are safe to use in colouring books?

There are many best markers to use in my mind. I have a gluttonous hoard of markers and fine liners but rarely use them in colouring books. I do use them for art and my bullet journal. I prefer pencils for colouring books.

The best advice I will give here is this. I would recommend you test ALL markers on your back page or on a redundant page to see if they will bleed. There is nothing more disappointing than bleeding through to an already finished masterpiece in your colouring book – yikes!

The friendly variety of markers usually don’t have a strong smell. Some I like to use is pictured here but I strongly encourage you to test, test, TEST!

The markers I have tested in my book that didn’t bleed were as follows:

• Nikko Overhead projection markers
• Scholar Fineliner
• Stay anywhere permanent pen
• Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens
• Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Black 0.3mm  (I used for extra line drawing)
• FABER CASTELL PITT Artist Pens

The next best is that if you want to work in marker why not cut out the pages of your book? Remember – in Positively Quote Colouring Book you have 2 copies of each design. You won’t miss out on one page!

Now to get cracking on that colouring page!

But before you do please subscribe to all my updates here: E-NEWS & TIPS

AND

Email me your biggest challenge or best celebration in this area if you want to see any video tutorials.