Noodler's Bulletproof Black with Watercolor Wash

[patv]

Last week I got an email asking what papers would work with Noodler's Bulletproof black ink. The writer said he had just purchased it and, "the ink smears when washed over even several hours later." So, I was prompted to do these tests on papers for artists. Noodler's Bulletproof ink is described as lightfast and waterproof because the ink has a chemical reaction with the cellulose in the paper. It has always worked fine for me except when I have added a heavy black line...one so thick that the top dried before ever coming into contact with the paper.

Because I like brushing wet watercolor washes over dried black lines, I've done tests on ten scraps of various artists papers and labeled each to see the results. The yellow wash smeared a little on the two watercolor papers and just a little red dye bled out of the black line to be faintly visible on the white papers. On a bigger sketch this could present a problem and might be attributable to the gelatin sizing on watercolor papers. The drawing, sketching, and Bristol board papers all worked fine. The last two, the inkjet and Rhodia are not true artists papers but I included them because we sometimes grab them for quick sketches. The ink was totally waterproof on these two, but they are thin and buckled leaving puddles when the wash was added.

 

As you can see, other than lightweight papers or those with gelatin sizing, most artists papers are suitable for Noodler's Bulletproof ink and watercolor wash. If you have a favorite or If you have had problems with a paper, I hope you'll let me know.

Pat

[stevlight]

Noodler's bullet proof has ALWAYS bleed for me on some of those papers you used!!!!!!! I do not understand it except to say that my pens all write VERY wet--8-9 on Richard Binders wetness scale so it has to be the ink drying on top that is smearing. It has been frustrating for me as I like the ease of use of Noodler's over Platinum Carbon Black. I had HOD muddy a yellow wash using the free platinum eyedropper that came with it--that is not a very wet writer!

[psfred]

A wet writing pen could easily cause trouble here, as the ink is only waterproof when the dye reacts with cellulose. If there is ink on the paper that has not reacted, it will re-dissolve, but react when it hits free cellulose, giving you a permanent shadow.

 

You might want to wait a day or so, as I found that Noodler's X-Feather is not particularly waterproof on Staples Bagasse writing papers until it's been there for a couple of days -- I suspect because the paper is heavily sized and it takes a while for the ink to actually penetrate to the cellulose. You may still get bleeding even then, though, on gelatin sized papers.

 

Peter

[dagnypup]

Wow--- I wish I had your success with the Noodler's B.P.B and watercolour wash! I am doing some illustrated journaling and made a journal with 4 different types of paper and had such problems that I decided to go back to my old standby: Pigma Micron.

 

How long are you waiting for the ink to dry?

 

I really wish I could find a fountain pen ink that works as well as the Micro pens do!

[Lloyd]

How long are you waiting for the ink to dry?

 

 

 

Ny guess is that it's less a function of how long is waited but how much ink is put down. Noodlers BPB bonds with the paper's cellulose. If there is more ink than the cellulose can "suck in", the excess ink doesn't bond. Since BPB is a very low featering/bleeding ink, it doesn't continue to get sucked deeper into the page, either. So, you need a drier writing pen or to use blotting paper prior to washing.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Lloyd