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Ink paints differently from tube paint. It is thinner, it flows, and the colors look bright because there is so little binder in the way. But "ink" covers several very different products, and the wrong one for your paper or your plan gives muddy, faded or patchy results.
This guide compares six inks across five types (acrylic, India, sumi, liquid watercolor and alcohol), explains what each is good at and what to watch for, and suggests how to start without buying a big set of the wrong thing.
Quick comparison
Comparison of the products recommended in this guide
Colored ink work that stays permanent and can be layered
A set of six 1 oz (30 ml) bottles of acrylic ink, per the listing; Described on the listing as ultra-fluid permanent acrylic made with lightfast pigments
A set of three bottles in Flamingo, Patina and Amethyst, per the listing; Described as a fast-drying, transparent dye ink for glossy paper, metal, foil, shrink plastic, glass and other slick surfaces
Alcohol inks are dye-based and can fade in light, so seal finished pieces
Pigment-based inks, such as most acrylic inks and carbon-black India ink, hold their color well and are the safer choice for a painting you want to keep. Dye-based inks, such as liquid watercolors and alcohol inks, are often more vivid but can fade in strong light over time.
If you plan to scan or photograph your work, or keep it out of direct sun, dye inks are fine. For a piece that will hang on a bright wall, lean toward pigment inks and check the listing for lightfastness.
Permanent or water-reactivated?
Acrylic ink dries permanent, so you can layer one color over another without lifting the layer below. Many India inks are waterproof once dry, which makes them good for ink-and-wash work. Sumi ink and liquid watercolors are not waterproof, so water can reactivate them, which is useful for soft blending and less useful for stacking layers.
Match the ink to the surface
Water-based inks (acrylic, India, sumi, liquid watercolor) work best on thick watercolor or mixed-media paper that will not buckle when it is wet. Alcohol inks are made for non-porous surfaces such as glossy synthetic paper, glass, metal and other slick surfaces, and they soak into ordinary paper unpredictably.
Most of these inks suit a brush or a dip pen. Do not put India ink or acrylic ink in a fountain pen: they can clog it for good. If you want to fill a refillable pen, use ink made for that purpose and read our guide to fountain pens for sketching first.
Start small
One bottle of black India or sumi ink and a small set of colored acrylic ink is enough to learn how ink behaves on your paper. Add liquid watercolors or alcohol inks later if the look appeals to you. Work in a ventilated space with alcohol inks, and keep all inks away from children.
Ink painting and SVG files
A black ink drawing on white paper has the strong contrast that tracing tools like best. Photograph or scan it, then use Image to SVG to turn it into a clean outline for a cutting machine, a stencil or a printed design. Bold brush lines and solid shapes trace more cleanly than faint washes.
What is the difference between India ink and acrylic ink?
India ink is traditionally a black carbon-based ink that is waterproof once dry. Acrylic ink is a pigment ink in many colors that dries permanent and can be layered. India ink suits fine black lines and washes; acrylic ink suits colored work and layering.
Can I use ink in a fountain pen?
Only ink that is made for fountain pens. India ink and acrylic ink can clog the feed and ruin the pen, so use them with a brush or a dip pen instead.
Is sumi ink the same as India ink?
They are close relatives: both are carbon-based black inks. Sumi ink is made for brush painting and calligraphy and is often not waterproof, while many India inks are waterproof once dry. Check the bottle for which one you are buying.
What paper should I use for ink painting?
Thick watercolor or mixed-media paper for water-based inks, so it does not buckle when wet. Alcohol inks work best on glossy synthetic paper and other slick surfaces such as glass and metal.
Do inks fade?
Dye-based inks, such as liquid watercolors and alcohol inks, can fade in strong light over time. Pigment inks, such as most acrylic inks and carbon-black India ink, generally hold their color better. Check each listing for lightfastness.
What are the best inks for painting?
It depends on the look you want. Acrylic ink is the most versatile for color, India ink is the classic for black lines and washes, sumi ink suits brush painting, liquid watercolor gives vivid washes, and alcohol ink is for glossy non-porous surfaces. The picks above cover each type.
Can I turn an ink painting into an SVG?
Yes. Scan or photograph the ink drawing, then upload it to our Image to SVG tool. High-contrast black ink on white paper traces best.
More from Sketch Studio
Image to SVG — turn an ink drawing into a clean outline for cutting or printing
Panel Mode — split a big painting into real-size stencil panels
Drawing to SVG — turn a scanned or photographed drawing into a clean vector
