Best Drawing Paper for Copic Markers

Did you ever ruin a drawing because your marker suddenly started bleeding or feathering?

If the answer is yes, then welcome to the club. I know the awful feeling.

You might think that there is something wrong with your markers. But actually the problem is in the paper.

Both bleeding and feathering is the result of using paper that is too thin.

If you are using the right paper for Copics or alcohol markers you can apply several layers without having to worry about any of this.

I have carefully selected the most popular 5 options and reviewed which is the best paper for Copic markers.

I also included what you need to know before buying marker paper and answer some of the most frequent questions.

Note: even though I focus on Copic markers, the recommended papers in this article also work great for other alcohol-based markers.

250 GSM | 125 Sheets | 8.5″ x 11″

My favorite paper.

Thicker than most other options.

Can absorb a lot of ink without bleeding.

157 GSM | 32 Sheets | 9″ x 12″

Copic markers blend very well on this paper.

The size is a little awkward and it's quite expensive.

Bee Paper Bleedproof Marker Pad

180 GSM | 30 Sheets | 11″ x 14″

Can handle a fair bit of ink.

Works great with most colors but saturated colors can lead to problems.

Best Copic Marker Paper

1. X-Press It Blending Card

This blending card by X-Press is my favorite paper to use with Copic markers.

It is made by a Japanese paper brand and works well with any alcohol-based markers. Although this paper is a little on the pricey side, it will really bring your colors to life. So it's worth the paying a little extra for.

Weighing 250 GSM, it's the thickest paper on my list and it works great if you have coloring style that involves lots of blending and several layers.

I personally don't have all the Copic markers that I would like to have. So to get the colors that I want, I have to blend quite a lot. That means you need pretty thick paper. Fortunately, with this thick card stock I never had to worry about bleeding through the page.

With every consecutive layer of ink you can see a darkening of the color, which makes it great for shading as well.

The paper is very smooth, so the tip of your Copic marker will slide over the surface with little to no friction. The colors also look very vibrant on this paper and blending is also a breeze.

Moreover, since the paper is very close to a true white, it's very easy to scan and import any drawing into your computer. So you won't have to use editing software to color balance your scanned image.

The only downside is that thick paper such as this blending card can absorb more ink than thinner paper. As a result, your Copic marker might run dry earlier.

Best Copic marker paper for: anyone that uses a lot of ink while blending or likes to work with many layers of ink.

2. Copic Sketchbook

If you are looking for good paper to use with Copic markers, why not go straight to the source?

That's right!

This sketchbook designed and made by Copic themselves. However, that doesn't mean it's perfect in every single way.

On the one hand, the surface of the paper is very smooth and is nice to work with.

This sketchbook is also great for blending and the colors like very vibrant.

However, this Copic sketchbook is quite expensive considering the size and thickness of this paper.

Moreover, since so many Copic marker beginners will lean towards the Copic sketchbook when they first start out, it can be pretty difficult to actually buy one because they are always sold out.

Best Copic marker paper for: anyone looking for a high quality sketchbook for their Copic markers and doesn't apply too much ink on the page.

3. Bee Paper Bleedproof Marker pad

This bleedproof marker pad works great for Copic markers and other alcohol markers.

The paper is quite thick and performs similar to cardstock.

It can handle a fair amount of ink but at the same time it doesn't suck your Copic markers dry like some thicker papers do.

This paper has a very smooth grain and you feel next to no friction between the paper and the Copic markers.

As long as you are using bright and/or unsaturated colors this paper works great and blending is easy as well.

However, when you use more saturated colors the paper can get blotchy and muddy with just a few layers.

So this marker paper works best if you mainly use light colors or if you only use a few layers.

This marker pad is available in the sizes 8.5″ x 11″, 11″ x 14″, and 11″ x 17″.

Best Copic marker paper for: Artist working with light and unsaturated colors or artists that keep the number of layers to a minimum.

4. Strathmore Marker Pad

If you are new to using alcohol markers like Copics then the Strathmore marker pad is a good option for.

This paper has a super smooth surface. More so than any of the other recommended types of paper on this list.

As a result the Copic ink will stay on the surface a little longer before it's completely absorbed.

This means you have more time to blend and push the ink around.

So if you are a beginner or like to take your time, then this paper might be a good choice.

Since it's 190 GSM, you can apply several layers of ink without having to worry about feathering. But if you push it too much there might be a little bleeding.

A clear downside is that most marker pads by Strathmore (including this one) only includes 24 sheets of paper.

So you will probably have to buy new paper on a regular basis, even if you only use your Copic markers once or twice a week.

Best Copic marker paper for: beginners that want to practice with their Copic markers or artists that like to work slowly.

5. Canson Pro Layout Marker Pad

The paper in this Canson marker pad is only 70 GSM and is hardly heavier than regular printer paper.

You shouldn't expect this paper to be able to handle too much ink. Maybe you can pull off 2 or 3 layers before you start to see some bleeding.

As such, I wouldn't recommend using this Canson marker pad for serious pieces of art.

However, this paper is quite cheap and is great if you are looking to jot down some quick sketches when inspiration strikes.

Moreover, this paper is thin enough to be translucent, which makes it easy to transfer sketches.

The paper does absorb the ink a little slower than average. Which gives you some extra time to blend but can also lead to accidental smudging.

Best Copic marker paper for: artists on a small budget and people that want to make quick sketches.

Do you need special paper for Copic markers?

You can use Copic markers on lots of types of paper. But you can't use Copic markers on any type of paper. You definitely need to pay some attention to which paper you are using with your Copic markers or any other alcohol-based markers.

If you are having a difficult time getting the results you want with your markers, you are probably using the wrong markers. Let's look at some of the benefits of using good Copic paper.

First of all, the most common complaint that new Copic marker users have is that the ink bleeds through the page or start feathering. Not only does this mess up the drawing you were working on, it also ruins the sheet of paper underneath.

Most paper for markers are thicker and/or have a bleedproof coating. This makes it possible to work with multiple layers of marker ink. However, no matter which paper you are working with, there is always a limit to how much ink the paper can handle.

With the right paper, you will be able to color 3~5 layers of ink without any problems.

Secondly, the nibs of Copic markers are very soft, and you will get the best results with paper that has a smooth surface with a fine grain. If you are using paper with a rough texture, you might find it difficult to draw straight lines with your markers.

However, keep in mind that very smooth paper also takes longer to absorb the ink. This can give beginners some extra time to blend colors, but it can slow down the workflow or more experienced users.

Finally, using the right paper will make your drawings last a lot longer. If the paper is thick enough it will prevent your paper from curling when wet. Moreover, the paper needs to be acid-free to make sure that the paper doesn't deteriorate or discolor over time. And good marker paper will also prevent any blotching even when you are working with several layers.

What paper is best for alcohol markers?

Despite their similar appearance, not all paper is the same. Different types of paper can perform quite differently with alcohol markers. This difference is especially noticeable when applying multiple layers of ink.

The most important thing to look at is the paper weight, also known as the paper thickness.

The weight indicated in terms of grams per square meter (GSM). Heavier paper can normally absorb more ink than lighter paper, so the chance of bleeding and feather is smaller.

You normally want to look at paper that is at least 100 GSM when working with Copic markers or other alcohol-based markers. (For reference, standard printer paper weighs around 80 GSM.)

However, working on heavy paper also has one important downside. Since thick paper absorbs ink more quickly you will have to refill your markers more frequently.

Additionally, the roughness and texture can vary a lot from paper to paper. Smooth paper is more comfortable to work on. You will experience minimal friction and the marker ink is absorbed relatively slow. This give you plenty of time to blend colors.

Rough paper can absorb ink faster. This lets you work faster since you don't have to wait for the ink to dry for very long. But it also gives you less time to blend or fix small mistakes.

Normally, I would recommend beginners to go with smooth marker paper. But if you are particularly font of the way rough textured paper looks, there is no harm in trying it out.

What type of paper is best for alcohol based markers?

Cardstock is a type of paper that works great with alcohol based markers. Cardstock is thicker than most other types of paper, which makes it more resistant to bleeding and feathering. It is also more sturdy and durable than thinner papers. However, cardstock is one of the more expensive types of paper.

There are many alternatives out there if you are looking for a cheaper type of paper to practice with.

Moreover, each artist has their own preference. I personally like cardstock because it can handle a lot of ink. But I know lots of people that prefer using other types of paper. So let's take a look at some of the most popular ones.

Is mixed media paper good for alcohol markers?

Mixed media paper is not good for alcohol markers. Mixed media paper absorbs the marker ink very fast, which causes extreme feathering and makes blending very challenging. Moreover, since you will have to use a lot of ink on mixed media paper you are likely to experience some blotching.

So working on mixed media paper feel pretty similar to using Copic markers on watercolor paper. I would recommend staying away from both and following one of the suggestions mentioned above.

Is Bristol paper good for alcohol markers?

Bristol paper is a good option when using alcohol markers. You can normally find Bristol paper that is heavy enough to handle several layers of ink and it's relatively cheap to other paper types. The ink stays close to the surface, which makes blending easier.

Is watercolor paper good for alcohol markers?

Watercolor paper is not a good option for alcohol markers. Watercolor paper can absorb a lot of ink and does so very quickly. As a result, blending will be difficult and your markers will quickly run out of ink. Moreover, most watercolor papers have a rough texture which can wear down the nib of your markers.

You will also experience lots of feathering with this type of paper, which makes drawing small details next to impossible. For more details, read my post on drawing on watercolor paper with Copic markers.

Is printer paper good for alcohol markers?

Printer paper is a bad option for alcohol markers. Since printer paper is very thin and doesn't contain any special surface layer, your alcohol markers will quickly bleed through the page. Additionally, printer paper might start to wrinkle after just a single layer of ink.

In my experience, it's pretty much impossible to get good results with printer paper. So stay away from this option as far as possible

Is sketch paper good for alcohol markers?

Normally sketch paper is not good for alcohol markers. Most paper that is used for sketching with pencils is too thin and can't handle ink very well. However, nowadays you can also find marker sketchpads that has a small coating on the paper to prevent bleeding.

So whenever you are buying sketch paper or a sketchbook for your markers, make sure that it contains marker paper and not regular sketch paper.

Do Copic markers bleed through paper?

Copic markers can bleed through paper. This happens particularly fast if you are using your Copic markers on very thin paper, such as printer paper. To prevent your Copic markers from bleeding, you can use thicker paper that is at least 100 GSM or more.

On normal marker paper you should be able to draw at least 3 layers before you notice any bleeding. The thicker the paper, the more layers you will be able to pull off. But keep in mind that even the thickest paper has a limit on how much ink it can absorb

Tips for using Copic paper

Now that you have the right paper for your Copic markers, let's take a look at some basic tips that can help you make the most out of your markers and paper.

Reference sheet: when you buy a new set of Copic markers make a reference sheet of all the blended colors. This way you know exactly which colors you will get when blending and you know which colors do and don't blend well.
Scrap paper: bleeding can happen when you expect it the least. Place a piece of scrap paper underneath the sheet of paper you are working on just in case.
Front & Back: marker paper often has a frontside and backside. The bleedproof coating is normally only coated on the front. So make sure you are working on the right side of the paper.
Different type of paper: consider buying different types of paper for your Copic markers. I personally like to have both high-quality paper and cheaper sketching paper at hand.
Refill: don't wait until your markers completely run out of ink. For smooth blending you will need plenty of liquid so don't wait until your markers run dry.
Colorless blender: don't overuse the colorless blender. If you constantly use the colorless blender for blending or correcting mistakes you will quickly ruin your paper.

Conclusion

For me personally, the X-press It blending card is the best paper for Copic markers since it can handle a very large amount of ink and I rarely notice bleeding.

For quick sketches with your Copic markers I recommend using the Canson marker pad. It isn't completely bleedproof but it works well enough as a cheap alternative.

However, depending on your personal art style and preferences, you might want to try one of the other papers as well.

If you didn't buy your Copics yet, you might also want to read our article on the best Copic markers to start with. Or if you already have them, you might want to check our article on easy things to draw with Copic markers or Copic marker tutorials.

Ezoic

Best Drawing Paper for Copic Markers

Source: https://www.thebeginningartist.com/copic-marker-paper/