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I'm having a problem with ink smearing when I color. I usually use Colorbox or Staz-on ink to stamp with as I sometimes like to emboss the images. I know that both of these are pigment inks and take longer to dry. I stamped some images and let them sit for three days to make sure the ink dried. But when I colored the images, the ink smeared. It didn't matter if I used markers or pencils, the ink still smeared, even after I let it dry for three days. This has happened before. Can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong?
Staz On is not a pigment ink. It is a solvent based ink and if you are using it with copics, it will smear every time. Staz On also should dry, even on slick surfaces-- that's exactly what it's for.
If you stamp pigment inks on paper that is coated, it will NEVER dry. Ask me how I know! I've even had trouble getting pigment to dry on the old Bazzill linen paper. If the problem is your paper, you just need to get a black dye ink pad to use with those papers. (The Staz-On should dry on just about anything.)
Sorry to hear you are having such a frustrating time, lots of experienced stampers here to help but we need specifics in order to do so.
We might be able to help better with a bit more information. What kind of markers are you using, what kind of pencils and what type of cardstock
Is the Stazon dry to the touch but smears when you color or never dries? When you color with pencils are the watercolor or regular and if regular are you blending with OMS or baby oil?
Never had much luck with Stazon, Even adding a ton from re inker it would always come out too pale. Sounds like you need two separate inks for the two purposes. I use India Ink pads by Stewart Superior for coloring, glossy and vellum. And clear Versamark for any type of embossing.
I use Marvy LePlume markers, can't afford copics. The pencils are some I picked up at Wal-Mart. I also get my cardstock from Wal-Mart, the Georgia Pacific brand.
I thought maybe it was because I was using pigment ink instead of dye ink. Guess I'll need to check into the Memento ink pad that was suggested.
I use Marvy LePlume markers, can't afford copics. The pencils are some I picked up at Wal-Mart. I also get my cardstock from Wal-Mart, the Georgia Pacific brand.
I thought maybe it was because I was using pigment ink instead of dye ink. Guess I'll need to check into the Memento ink pad that was suggested.
Well, LePlume markers are a watercolor marker, so they shouldn't be making either Staz-On or Colorbox inks smear (once the ink is dry). And if you aren't blending the pencils with OMS or baby oil, the pencils shouldn't be making the ink smear, either. And, unfortunately, with the LePlumes being waterbased, they will make the Memento smear :(
I can't imagine why the Staz-On woudn't be dry after 3 days - that stuff dries on plastic almost immediately. The Colorbox should also be dry on GP cardstock after that length of time. The only thing I can think is that with the markers, maybe you're overblending and what looks to you like the ink bleeding is actually the paper starting to fuzz?
I use Marvy LePlume markers, can't afford copics. The pencils are some I picked up at Wal-Mart. I also get my cardstock from Wal-Mart, the Georgia Pacific brand.
I thought maybe it was because I was using pigment ink instead of dye ink. Guess I'll need to check into the Memento ink pad that was suggested.
Hmm, the mystery deepens! Your Marvy LePlume markers or pencils should work just fine with either of those inks and lots of people use the GP brand card successfully so that should be fine, too. Stazon in particular is a solvent ink and should dry almost instantly on any surface and be unaffected by water-based media. Could you show us a picture of what's happening when you colour, perhaps?
My only thought was if you lived in a high humidity area....but really, after three days the Staz-On for sure should be dry. A picture, as Angelnorth suggested may help some of the more experienced stampers/colorers out here offer more advice.
I don't color much, can't afford the Copics, plus the thing I like most about stamping is the instant gratification factor. You don't get that by coloring in a lot of empty space line images.
What little coloring I have done.....I believe the best way to avoid smearing the black outline image you stamp would be to stamp in Versamark and heat emboss with black embossing powder. I seem to recall reading you should not use Copics with an embossed image as it may damage the tips of the markers over time but since you don't use Copics this should not be a problem for you!
Good luck! Oh....and be sure to mention if you are using something to blend the pencils with after coloring. Such as baby oil, water, or OMS....that will help the "experts" know what suggestions to offer. :-)
Ink Problem
