Your best (but not only) bet in finding a pen which won’t run when used with alcohol ink is to find yourself a fineliner. Fineliner pens have fine fibre or plastic tips. They are pretty cheap, and mostly disposable (although refillable versions are available). Copic make their own fineliners, which as you would imagine are a safe bet for use with Copic Markers. A fineliner doesn’t guarantee no running though, that depends on the ink in the pen. ] As mentioned above, Copic make their own range of waterproof fineliners. These do not run with alcohol markers. As you would expect from the Copic brand, these are high quality pens. They come in a variety of widths and should meet all your linework needs. They come in different widths too. I use a fine and slightly less fine on my line work. 2. Copic Fineliners

The fine tip can take a fair bit of punishment. Working on to paper is a very smooth experience, with reliable flow of the ink. 3. Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliners

Stationery

It has been a great experience looking at all these fineliner pens in such detail. My favourite is still the Uni-Pin Fineliner, but I am a creature of habit. It just seems to be the best value for money, comes in a great range of nib sizes, has a decent colour selection for sketching and the nib is very hard-wearing. The pigment ink is waterproof and relatively smudge proof, but not great for Watercolours. For this test we are looking at how well the fineliners work with alcohol markers. I am using a Winsor & Newton ProMarker Brush Pen. So that the smudging can be seen easily, I have chosen an amber coloured pen to use with the fineliners. I’ve drawn a series of different marks with fineliners and gone over the top of them with the ProMarker. In the fourth test, I put the coloured marker down first and drew over the top in the fineliners to see how that compared

Fineliners provide the precision and convenience of needle-point pens with the performance and visual impact of inks. They are easy to use and do not require any expertise for handling. This makes it simple, even for budding artists, to create their own masterpieces with pleasing aesthetics. Experienced artists can also work with convenience, as these pens do not require the level of expertise and focus that brushes and dip pens would require. The narrow tip of this pen allows you to draw accurate lines to give your drawing subtle details and achieve the desired finishing. The needle-point tip of the pen is made of plastic material, which provides it firmness. This makes it easy for you to balance the flexibility of the pen’s tip, enabling you to form consistent lines. In addition, with the help of these pens, you can comfortably use a natural writing angle to achieve the required consistency. For this test we are looking at how well the fineliners work with inks. I am using two types of ink for this test. The first test is the fineliners with Winsor & Newton Drawing Inks. This is a shellac dye-based ink. I am using canary yellow ink in this experiment. I like these Parker Jotters because they are fairly cheap (compared to more traditional fountain pens), and also refillable. And you all know how I feel about keeping costs down with refillable pens. The ink that comes as standard is waterproof and doesn’t run when used with alcohol markers. Both inks produced similar results for this test. All the fineliners resisted smudging quite well apart from the Stabilo Point 88 Fineliner. Again, with it being water-based, this was expected. I did notice some small smudging from the Winsor & Newton Fineliner when used with the Drawing Inks, especially on cross hatched marks, but it performed fine with the Acrylic Inks. I also tested the fineliners on top of the ink once dry. All pens worked well, but the Stabilo Point 88 seemed much more faded.

Pens & Markers

Use a lightbox or transfer paper to transfer your fineliner sketches onto other surfaces, such as canvas or wood. You can use fineliners not only for precision drawing but also for various other purposes. This includes illustrations, comic art, journaling, writing, and sketching. Since most of these pens use water-based ink, they produce controlled lines that are less likely to bleed through the paper. Some pens also use oil-based inks, which you can make use of for writing or drawing on smooth, glossy paper. You can use these pens to write or sketch over glossy surfaces like photographs. Why Pigma Micron Fineliners are a Must-Have If you’re reading this, chances are you’re on the hunt for the perfect fineliner. Well, look no further than the Pigma Micron Fineliners – the crème de la crème of the fineliner world.

A pen that won’t run is essential if you are looking to combine your alcohol markers with crisp lines. Often overlooked by beginners, a suitable pen to be used with alcohol markers needs to be in your art kit. The best pens for alcohol markers aren’t just the ones that don’t bleed, but that also give you the confidence to create your own style. A selection of my favourite pens to use with alcohol-based markers. Basics of Pens for Alcohol Markers Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – fineliners are great for adding details and corrections to your work.Now, onto the Pigma Micron. These fineliners are the gold standard in the industry, known for their archival quality ink that is waterproof, fade-resistant, and doesn’t bleed through paper. Plus, they’re made with a durable plastic nib that maintains its shape even after heavy use, ensuring consistent lines every time.