FAQ

1. Are inks as lightfast as water colour?

Drawing Inks are made from dyes which makes them very bright and transparent but unfortunately not lightfast. Ninety-eight per cent of Artists’ Water Colour (88 colours) are classed as permanent for artists’ use but they do not give the same type of brightness. Choosing the colours rated T for transparency on the colour chart will maximise brilliance and transparency. An alternative range of greater permanence as they are pigmented is Winsor & Newton Calligraphy Ink.

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2. How can inks be stopped form from sinking into paper?

'Sinking’ is really the settlement of the fluid ink into the hollows of a rough texture, leaving the high spots more sparsely covered by ink. As ink is transparent, thicker films show as a darker colour. Blotting wet washes to soak up the excess colour in the hollows or airbrushing a finer layer of colour onto the paper will minimise this. Alternatively Designers Gouache will not show this type of settlement because it is opaque.

3. Are coloured drawing inks water resistant?

Winsor & Newton Drawing Inks are all water resistant except Liquid Indian Ink, Gold and Silver. However the coloured ones are made from dyes which, can bleed out into subsequent washes. This varies from colour to colour and with the amount of water used. It is recommended to test chosen colour[s] before embarking on a piece of work.

4. Are all Drawing Inks colours intermixable?

All colours are intermixable. Gold and Silver should be added to other inks in small quantities to avoid thickening. Mixtures of Gold and Silver together should not be stored due to adverse chemical reaction.