Acrylic Ink

About

Acrylic ink is a fluid, water-based colour that dries permanent and water-resistant. It suits drawing, washes, dip pen illustration and airbrush work. Think of it as sitting between a traditional drawing ink and a fluid acrylic, with enough pigment load to hold its colour over time. How to choose an acrylic ink for your project Start with what you actually want to make. For loose washes on watercolour paper, a pigmented acrylic ink thins beautifully and holds its colour once dry. For fine line work with a dip pen, you want an ink that flows cleanly through the nib without pooling. For airbrush, you need a fluid, pigmented ink that passes through the nozzle without clogging. New to the medium? The Art Spectrum Pigmented Ink 50mL range in this grid is a sensible place to start. It's an artist-grade pigmented ink in a broad colour set, so you can begin with a few and expand as your work develops. Acrylic ink, india ink or alcohol ink Most people landing here are trying to tell these three apart. Here's the short version. Type Colour system and binder Best for Dry result Acrylic ink Pigment in a water-based acrylic binder Drawing, washes, dip pens, airbrush and mixed media Water-resistant when dry India ink Fine black pigment with a shellac-based binder in the current Talens range Dense black line work, calligraphy and tonal washes Waterproof when dry Alcohol ink Dye carried in alcohol Yupo, ceramics, glass and fluid abstract effects Fast-drying, but lightfastness varies Choose acrylic ink when you want colour that stays put once dry. Reach for India ink when you need a dense black for line work, calligraphy or tonal washes. Pick alcohol ink when you want vivid, flowing blends on non-porous surfaces. Using acrylic inks with brushes and dip pens Acrylic ink loads cleanly into most dip pens, though a heavier pigmented ink can feel thicker through a fine nib than traditional drawing ink. Synthetic brushes work well for washes and won't shed into the ink the way soft natura