Whether you’re drawing with Copic markers, Arteza markers, Prismacolors, or other alcohol markers you need the right paper to work on.
If you don’t use suitable paper you’ll never get the best out of your markers no matter how much you pay for them.
Poor quality paper isn’t able to cope with the liquidity and strength of alcohol markers. If you draw onto bog standard paper, the marker soaks through the paper.
Not only does this stain whatever is beneath the paper, but it also ends up ripping the paper.
Nope, poor paper just won’t do.
Luckily for you, we have some excellent recommendations! We’ve selected some of the best quality paper suitable for alcohol markers.
All of the paper we have chosen is thick enough and absorbent enough to cope with the strain of alcohol markers.
We’ve also put together a buyer’s guide to help you understand what makes paper suitable for use with alcohol markers. That way, if none of our recommendations tickle your fancy, you can search for yourself.
As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve also included some frequently asked questions to clear up any confusion or issues.
Feeling inspired? Here’s our top pick:
Bellofy 100-Sheet Sketchpad Artist Pro, Watercolor, Acrylic Art Pad for Sketching
- 100 sheets of 160gsm paper.
- Does not bleed.
- Acid-free.
- Spiral-bound along the top edge.
- Can use both sides of the paper.
- Excellent blending and layering capabilities.
- Perforated sheets for easy removal.
- Suitable for use with alcohol markers, paints, watercolor pens, and other media.
Contents
Best Paper for Alcohol Markers
1. Bellofy 100-Sheet Sketchpad Artist Pro, Watercolor, Acrylic Art Pad for Sketching
The first thing we love about this product is the amount of paper you get. This sketchpad contains 100 sheets of A4 paper. That’s so much paper compared to the other offerings available!
The price is deliciously low for 100 sheets. Especially when you take into account the fact that the paper is 160gsm.
This is a decent thickness for alcohol markers and shouldn’t bleed through. In fact, a number of reviews attest to this fact.
The sketchpad is spiral bound along the top edge. This means you can keep all your artwork together. The spiral binding along the top edge also means that left-handers won’t be disadvantaged.
If you want to get the most out of this pad you could use both sides of each sheet. This will effectively double your capacity. As we’ve mentioned, this paper doesn’t seem to bleed through but be careful when using the reverse side.
The pages are perforated so you can easily remove them without destroying the spiral binding. This means you could use this sketchpad for finished pieces as well as practice.
The paper is acid-free which will help to preserve your masterpiece for longer. To be honest, we are astonished at the quality of this paper considering the price.
In terms of overall space, this sketchpad is the best out of our recommendations. It’s also the best in terms of value for money.
Pros:
- 100 sheets of 160gsm paper.
- Excellent value for money.
- Spiral-bound along the top edge.
- Perforated sheets.
- Acid-free.
- Bleed proof.
- Suitable for a wide variety of media.
Cons:
- Tape does tear the paper.
- Some reports of the paper piling if too wet.
2. Ohuhu Marker Pads Art Sketchbook, 8.3″×8.3″, Portable Square Size
Beautifully bound in faux leather, this sketchbook from Ohuhu is sleek, stylish, and supremely portable.
At only 8.3 inches square, this sketchbook is easy to carry around in a bag or pocket. The hardcovers also make it much easier to sketch while you’re out and about. They give you a surface to lean on when desks might be in short supply.
At 200gms, this paper is completely bleed proof. At this thickness, it’s closer to cardstock than paper.
The surface of the paper is smooth which means you won’t get any feathering around your colors. It’s also a lot easier to blend on thanks to the reduced friction between pen and paper.
Ohuhu’s paper is acid-free so the colors will stay bright and vibrant for longer. The smooth surface and brilliant white pages allow your markers to show their true colors as you draw.
One of the downsides to notepads is that ripping out a page is a hassle. Often, it ruins the binding and you end up with loose pages.
Ohuhu has thought of this and has created a sketchbook with perforated pages. This means you can give out your sketches or remove mistakes easily.
The size is great for portability but if you prefer to do larger sketches you’ll need a larger sketchpad. There are a few different sizes available from Ohuhu though the price increases as the size increases.
Another thing to consider is that this book does not open flat. This can be annoying for some people. If you can get past it, this sketchpad is a wonderful choice for your alcohol markers.
Pros:
- 78 sheets of 200gsm paper.
- Acid-free.
- Bleed proof.
- Perforated edges.
- Smooth drawing surface.
- Portable
Cons:
- Doesn’t open flat.
- Small paper size.
3. Marker Pads Art Sketchbook, Ohuhu 8.9″×8.3″ Portable Square Size
This is another offering from Ohuhu this time it’s spiral bound.
Similar in size to the other Ohuhu sketchpad, this is a portable option that fits in a bag or a pocket.
The paper is 200gsm making it wonderfully thick and completely bleed proof. The paper feels wonderful under the hand.
It is smooth and ideal for blending colors and layering. The smooth paper also helps prevent feathering.
Colors put onto this paper are vibrant, true to life, and long-lasting. The acid-free nature of the paper helps to preserve the marker ink for years to come.
The spiral bind is down the left-hand side which might cause some issues for left-handed users. However, the paper is perforated so that it can be removed easily. This will make it much easier to work right up to the edges.
The paper is smoothed and treated on both sides meaning you can use both sides of the paper. It’s ideal for doubling your capacity.
The thickness of the paper means that you won’t have to draw on top of the shadow of your other page’s work.
Pros:
- Portable size.
- Acid-free paper.
- Smooth texture on both sides of the paper.
- 200gsm.
- 60 sheets of paper or 120 pages.
- Bleed proof.
Cons:
- Spiral-bound on the left-hand side.
- Fairly small drawing space.
4. Alcohol Ink Paper 25 Sheets Pixiss Heavy Weight Paper
This is probably the most expensive sketchpad according to the cost per page. The pad only has 25 sheets though you are able to buy multiple pads in one go.
The paper is 300gsm making it the thickest paper in our selection. This stuff is thick, sturdy, and of excellent quality.
Interestingly this paper is synthetic meaning it is made of polypropylene rather than wood pulp. This change makes the paper excellently smooth and ideal for blending with your markers.
The smoothness prevents feathering and smudging which is always appreciated. The smoothness appears to be only one side. This means you really are limited to just those 25 sheets.
The paper is acid-free meaning your artwork will last for much longer than normal. The smooth paper also allows your colors to shine brightly and vibrantly as they are intended to be.
Pros:
- A4 size gives you plenty of drawing space.
- Synthetic paper is incredibly smooth.
- Blends and layers well.
- Bleed proof.
- Acid-free.
- The synthetic manufacturing process prevents pulping.
Cons:
- Only 25 sheets a pack.
- Quite expensive.
5. Canson XL Series Watercolor Textured Paper Pad
This is a hefty pad. It’s 18 x 24 inches giving you plenty of room to sketch, draw, and color. This pad is excellent if you do larger, or oversized artwork.
The price is a little higher than the others but it’s to be expected considering the size. The thickness is not as good as some other pads on this list.
It comes in at 140gsm. It’s thick enough to prevent bleed-through but probably not good enough for final pieces.
The pad is a fold-over design. This is great if you want to remove your sheets after you’ve finished drawing. However, these pads tend to fall apart after a few pages are removed.
Customers are overall very pleased with this sketchpad. Many use it for watercolor painting but it works just as well for alcohol markers.
The texture of the paper does encourage slight feathering of inks but it is not so noticeable that it will ruin your work.
The paper is acid-free and reflects colors accurately and vibrantly. You can purchase this pad in smaller sizes and with various binding options.
Pros:
- Large surface area.
- 140gsm.
- Bleed proof.
- Acid-free.
- Easily removable pages.
- Perfect for oversized work.
Cons:
- Fairly fragile binding.
- Some feathering.
Best Paper for Alcohol Markers Buyer’s Guide
There are several issues with poor quality paper. We’ve already mentioned the fact that alcohol markers tend to bleed through thin paper but there are other things to consider.
One of the great things about alcohol markers is that you can blend and layer colors. However, thin or poor quality paper causes the ink to dry too quickly. This prevents you from blending and layering.
Let’s take a look at the features and factors you should consider when buying paper for alcohol markers.
Thickness
The truth of the matter is that paper isn’t really the best surface for using alcohol markers. Your best bet is to use card stock.
Cardstock is much less common than paper, especially if you’re looking for a notepad rather than loose sheets.
If you must use paper you want it to be as thick as possible. But how do you know how thick paper is?
Paper thickness is measured in GSM which stands for grams per square meter. It is a measure of how much paper pulp is present per square meter. The more pulp the thicker the paper.
Anything over 200gsm is counted as cardstock. As I mentioned it’s more difficult to find this in a sketchbook or drawing pad form. What you could do is use cardstock for finished pieces and thinner paper to practice on.
If you are going to get a practice pad, or you want to stick with paper rather than cardstock, look for paper with a minimum thickness of 120gsm. Anything thinner will cause bleeding.
Size
The size of your paper will depend on the size of your finished work but there are a few things to consider.
If you want a sketchbook to carry around with you, we suggest going for an A5 or A6 sketchpad. These are small enough to slip into a pocket or bag but still give you enough room to sketch freely.
For work that is going to be completed at home or work, A4 sketchbooks are ideal. They’ll allow you to do bigger pieces without taking up all of your desk space.
A4, A5, and A6 sketchbooks are commonly available in many shops or online retailers.
Larger paper is less likely to be in sketchbook form. You can find A3 sketchbooks fairly easily in art or craft shops but they might not be carried by general retailers.
If you are doing an oversized drawing, you’ll need to buy individual sheets of paper or cardstock. You can find oversized paper or card online or in craft shops.
Features
Not all paper is created equal. Some paper is treated to give it extra features that can improve your drawing experience and even help to preserve the finished product.
With alcohol markers, an important thing to look out for is bleed proofing. Bleed proof paper contains more chalk than regular paper. The chalk helps to absorb some of the ink and prevent it from going through.
Another thing you want to consider is acid-free paper. Acid is used in the manufacture of paper, usually, to bleach it to the white color we are all used to.
Over time this acid can degrade and destroy the paper and any ink on the paper. Acid-free paper prevents this degradation. It is often used for important documents that need to be preserved.
The next step up is archival paper. This is often called permanent paper. While it is usually free from acid, the manufacturing process is different.
Archival paper is much more expensive and less widely available. However, if you want your work to last for posterity, it’s a good shout.
Sheets
The number of sheets per pad or packet is essential to consider. You don’t want to spend lots of money on a sketchpad or pack of paper to find out that you’ve actually just dropped $50 on two sheets of paper.
The thicker the paper the fewer sheets in a pack or pad. It makes sense when you think about it. If you have 100 sheets of 200gsm paper it is going to be thick and heavy. 100 sheets of 100gsm are going to be half as heavy and half as thick.
Ultimately, you need to make a choice between paper quality and the number of sheets.
As we’ve mentioned previously, you might want to consider having a practice sketchpad that has thinner paper and a final sketchpad with high-quality, thicker sheets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use alcohol markers on Bristol paper?
Bristol paper is not a single piece of paper. It is a collection of glued-together paper and felt that form a sturdy board.
Bristol paper has two different sides. One is paper and one is felt. You can use alcohol markers on the paper side. If you try to use the felt side the ink will be soaked up and won’t let you blend or layer.
Do alcohol markers fade?
Alcohol markers tend to use dye rather than pigments to create the colors. Dyes are not truly permanent. This is because they are artificial creations that are photosensitive.
In essence, alcohol markers tend to fade when exposed to sunlight or fluorescent light. Unless you preserve your finished artwork in a dark drawer, you’ll notice that the colors begin to fade. Within a year the quality will be significantly different.
You can purchase alcohol markers that use pigment rather than dye. These tend to be more expensive but they do not fade as much as dye-based markers. This is because they are not photosensitive.
Can you use water-based markers with alcohol markers?
You can use water-based and alcohol-based markers together but you should do so in a specific order.
Use the alcohol markers first then use the water-based markers. Water-based markers can be dissolved by the alcohol. However, if you use water markers over dry alcohol markers the water won’t break down the alcohol.
You want to try to layer the two different markers when there is a balance between dry and wet. If the alcohol ink is too wet it will break down the water ink. If the alcohol ink is too dry the water ink will not be able to blend well.
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