White Inks Guide
As Herman Melville eloquently writes in Moby Dick, white “is not so much a color as the visible absence of color, and at the same time the concrete of all colors…” No matter how you classify white in the color spectrum, there’s no denying the usefulness of white inks for artists and writers alike. From jazzing up artwork to correcting the occasional mistake, white inks are one of the most versatile tools in our pen case.
Characteristics to Consider
Opacity
Comparison of opacity over paper
An ink’s opacity is determined by how well it covers paper or inks. The more a white ink covers, the more opaque it is. For example, on black paper, opaque inks will appear pure white, while inks with low opacity will come across as gray or streaky. Opaque white inks can also cover other types of inks (ballpoint, gel, marker, etc). However, the opacity of the white ink may be compromised due to a reaction between the two inks. This is called reactivity, which we discuss further below.
Reactivity
Comparison of reactivity between inks (white ink and watercolor)
Reactivity occurs when two inks react with one another, causing unwanted bleeding or lifting. It is important to consider the composition of the white ink and see how the white ink reacts with other inks. For example, water-based white inks may reactivate watercolors, causing the watercolors to bleed. Copic markers are also problematic for many white inks, but there are a few compatible ones that you can see in the recommendations below.
Viscosity
Comparison of viscosity between inks
Viscosity refers to how much a liquid resists flowing. The higher the viscosity of an ink, the thicker it will be. Viscous inks are slightly more difficult to work with as they are paints that need to be stirred before using. They are best applied with a paintbrush and cannot be used with a nib or dip pen straight out of the bottle. On the other hand, thinner inks are ready to use at a shake of the bottle. Their fluidity allows them to be paired with nibs and dip pens. The tools you use will help determine your ink’s ideal viscosity. Keep in mind that viscous inks can usually be diluted with water to help thin it out and make it usable with nibs.
Overwrite-ability
Comparison of inks’ overwrite-ability
An ink’s ability to be written over cleanly and clearly adds versatility to its usage. Inks that resist being written over may lighten marks made on the ink or even cause a pen to stop working. They may also cause other bottled inks layered over the white ink to crack and flake off. It’s important to note a white ink’s overwrite-ability for layering different types of inks or writing over corrected areas.
Uses
Comics
Using white inks in comic spreads.
Comic artists use white inks for a variety of purposes. They are useful for cleaning up mistakes as well as adding in highlights or other details after you’ve finished inking your work. A good white ink for comics should have minimal reactivity with drawing inks and pens and also be easily written over.
Recommendations
Speedball Pigmented Acrylic Calligraphy Ink
Speedball Pigmented Acrylic Calligraphy Ink
Although the name suggests using this ink for calligraphy, we enjoy using the Speedball Pigmented Acrylic Calligraphy ink for comic drawing due to how easy it is to write over the ink. While less opaque than other white inks, it sufficiently covers drawing inks and pens.
Deleter White 2
Deleter White 2
Another favorite is the Deleter White 2. This highly opaque white ink covered our black inks and drawing pens with ease. It cracked slightly when we tried drawing over it, but it is still suitable for correcting mistakes because of its high opacity.
Graphic Art
Bold white ink over black paper creates strong graphic art.
Graphic artists rely on the strong contrast of black and white, and white inks help give graphic art its high-impact look. When choosing a white ink for graphic art, look for one that is extremely opaque and easily drawn over, especially by markers and inks.
Recommendations
Kuretake Comic White Ink
Kuretake Comic White Ink
Perfect for graphic art, this white ink is exceptionally opaque on black paper and won’t reactivate other inks except Copic markers. The ink can be drawn over by many mediums, including Sharpies and Sakura Microns. However, it will crack when used with heavy ink or watercolors.
Copic Opaque White
Copic Opaque White
Where many have failed, the Copic Opaque White Paint is the only ink that succeeds in covering Copic markers in as little as one stroke. It also excels at covering other inks, demonstrating absolutely no show-through. Although it resists being drawn over with other inks, it is still a great choice for graphic artists who frequently use Copic markers.
Fine Art
An elegant white ink splatter adds dimension to watercolor art.
White inks are wonderful tools for fine artists to add details and highlights to works such as watercolor paintings. They’re also great for correcting and cleaning up lines, making them a viable alternative to traditional masking fluid that is often damaging to the paper and ink. For fine art, choose waterproof white inks that demonstrate high opacity over watercolors.
Recommendations
Deleter White 2
Deleter White 2
This waterproof Deleter ink proves its versatility by making another appearance on our recommendations list! It not only covers all inks beautifully, it can also be painted over, allowing for easy and painless touch-ups.
IC Comic Art White
IC Comic Art White
Fine artists need to be aware of an ink’s composition, especially when working with watercolors. This viscous, paint-like ink won’t smudge on watercolors and is waterproof once dry.
Calligraphy
White calligraphy on black paper is an artform in itself.
There’s nothing quite as elegant as white calligraphy on black paper. White calligraphy on other dark and colored paper is also stunning. For calligraphers, a white calligraphy ink needs to be thin enough to be used with a nib, but pigmented enough to be legible.
Recommendations
J. Herbin Dip Pen Calligraphy Ink
J. Herbin Dip Pen Calligraphy Ink
The J. Herbin dip pen ink has a smooth flow with a good start, providing an excellent writing experience. While it doesn’t cover other inks well, it has a classy appearance on black paper that calligraphers will love.
Dr. Ph. Martin’s Pen-White Ink
Dr. Ph. Martin’s Pen-White Ink
This unique ink is too thick out of the bottle to properly use. However, by adding just a bit of water, it transforms into an unbelievable calligraphy ink. The little bit of water makes it thin enough to work with easily and keeps it opaque enough to show up distinctly on black paper.
Correction Fluid
Writing over areas corrected by white ink.
Bottled white inks are also nice to use as correction fluid. In order to use a white ink as correction liquid, it must be highly opaque. Of course, choosing an overwrite-able ink is a must if you want your corrections to be legible!
Recommendations
Deleter White 1
Deleter White 1
The brother of our favorite Deleter White 2, Deleter White 1 is also incredible at covering inks with only minor show-through from ballpoint and Copic ink. After it is completely dry, it is easily written over with most types of inks.
IC Comic Art White
IC Comic Art White
The slight yellow tinge of this opaque ink is what makes it stand out from the rest–it is closer to the warm tone of paper white than the Deleter inks, making it less obvious on paper when masking errors. You can also write over the the ink effortlessly with most inks.
Tests
The tables below demonstrate the general properties, opacity, and over-writeability levels of our white inks.
General Properties
- Opacity over black paper: Inks were swatched over black paper to test opacity (based on how much of the black paper showed through).
- Waterproof: A wet cotton swab was run over the inks to test water resistance.
- Viscosity: The thickness of the inks were compared with each other to determine its viscosity.
- Nib Compatibiliy: Inks were tested with nibs to see which of them were usable.
| Ink | Opacity | Viscosity | Waterproof | Nib Compatibiliy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copic Opaque White Paint with Brush |  |
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| Deleter Manga Ink – White 1 |  |
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| Deleter Manga Ink – White 2 | |
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| Dr.Ph. Martin’s Pen-White Ink | |
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| IC Comic Art White Ink | |
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| IC Comic Super White Ink | |
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| J. Herbin Dip Pen Calligraphy Ink – White |  |
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| J. Herbin Dip Pen Pigmented Ink – White | |
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| Kaimei Manga Pen Ink – White | |
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| Kuretake Comic White Ink 30 | |
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| Speedball Calligraphy Ink – White | |
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Opacity and Waterproof Image Samples
| Ink | Opacity (Black Paper) | Waterproof |
|---|---|---|
| Copic Opaque White Paint with Brush |  |
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| Deleter Manga Ink – White 1 |  |
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| Deleter Manga Ink – White 2 |  |
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| Dr.Ph. Martin’s Pen-White Ink |  |
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| IC Comic Art White Ink |  |
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| IC Comic Super White Ink |  |
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| J. Herbin Dip Pen Calligraphy Ink – White |  |
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| J. Herbin Dip Pen Pigmented Ink – White |  |
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| Kaimei Manga Pen Ink – White |  |
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| Kuretake Comic White Ink 30 |  |
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| Speedball Calligraphy Ink – White |  |
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Opacity Over Other Inks
Inks were tested over ballpoint ink (Jetstream), gel ink (Signo), permanent marker (Sharpie), drawing pen (Micron), drawing ink (Deleter Black 1), Copic marker, and watercolor (Kuretake Gansai Tambi No. 20) to determine opacity over different types of inks. Click on the image samples below to magnify.
Legend
| Low | Moderate | High | Full |
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| Ink | Ballpoint | Gel | Drawing Pen | Drawing Ink | Perm. Marker | Copic Marker | Water- color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copic White | |
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| Deleter White 1 | |
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| Deleter White 2 | |
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| Dr. Ph. Martin’s | |
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| IC Comic Art | |
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| IC Comic Super | |
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| J. Herbin Calligraphy | |
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| J. Herbin Pigmented | |
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| Kaimei Manga | |
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| Kuretake Comic | |
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| Speedball Calligraphy | |
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Opacity Over Ink Image Samples
| Ink | Ballpoint | Gel | Drawing Pen | Drawing Ink | Perm. Marker | Copic Marker | Water- color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copic Opaque White Paint with Brush |  |
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| Deleter Manga Ink – White 1 |  |
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| Deleter Manga Ink – White 2 |  |
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| Dr. Ph. Martin’s Pen-White Ink |  |
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| IC Comic Art White Ink |  |
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| IC Comic Super White Ink |  |
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| J. Herbin Dip Pen Calligraphy Ink – White |  |
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| J. Herbin Dip Pen Pigmented Ink – White |  |
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| Kaimei Manga Pen Ink – White |  |
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| Kuretake Comic White Ink 30 |  |
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| Speedball Calligraphy Ink – White |  |
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Overwrite-ability
Inks were written over using ballpoint ink (Jetstream), gel ink (Signo), permanent marker (Sharpie), drawing pen (Micron), drawing ink (Deleter Black 1), Copic marker, and watercolor (Kuretake Gansai Tambi No. 20) to test how easily they could be written over. Click on the image samples below to magnify.
Legend
| No | Partial | Yes |
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| Ink | Ballpoint | Gel | Drawing Pen | Drawing Ink | Perm. Marker | Copic Marker | Water- color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copic White | |
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| Deleter White 1 | |
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| Deleter White 2 | |
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| Dr. Ph. Martin’s | |
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| IC Comic Art | |
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| IC Comic Super | |
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| J. Herbin Calligraphy | |
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| J. Herbin Pigmented | |
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| Kaimei Manga | |
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| Kuretake Comic | |
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| Speedball Calligraphy | |
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Overwrite-ability Image Samples
| Ink | Ballpoint | Gel | Drawing Pen | Drawing Ink | Perm. Marker | Copic Marker | Water- color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copic Opaque White Paint with Brush |  |
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| Deleter Manga Ink – White 1 |  |
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| Deleter Manga Ink – White 2 |  |
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| Dr. Ph. Martin’s Pen-White Ink |  |
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| IC Comic Art White Ink |  |
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| IC Comic Super White Ink |  |
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| J. Herbin Dip Pen Calligraphy Ink – White |  |
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| J. Herbin Dip Pen Pigmented Ink – White |  |
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| Kaimei Manga Pen Ink – White |  |
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| Kuretake Comic White Ink 30 |  |
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| Speedball Calligraphy Ink – White |  |
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Conclusion
To conclude, we leave you with another Moby Dick quote: “I try all things, I achieve what I can.” Have you tried white inks before? We’re positive that with the precision, beauty, and finesse of white inks, you can achieve so much more.