Which is your favorite black ink

[zousha]

I'm trying to figure out the best, sharpest, black ink to use that will not blend or bleed when I'm coloring in, either with markers or watercolor pencils. Have used staz-on, and memento so far. Do you have suggestions please. I'm fairly new to stamping, and am still unclear with the varieties of inks that are out there�dye based, pigment, water-based, etc.
Thank you in advance for your help.

[Stampnf1n]

Memento hands down.

Bonnie

[cat_woman]

I use what you're using - Stazon when I want to use watercolours or anything water based and Memento inks when I want to use my Copics.

[steph108]

I love Memento Tuxedo Black Ink for coloring. It doesn't bleed or smear. If I'm stamping on a slick surface I like to use Staz On.

[winnieu]

Memento Black or Memento Fog if I want a light outline. Archival black for anything that I will wet. You can spray with water and it remains as is. I have trouble with Stazon as it works, but the smell is bothersome to me..I am very sensitive to smells. Most people it won't bother...

[zousha]

Thank you all so much for your responses. I'm so excited to have found SCS - what a kind community of stampers there are out there. I'm learning so much and am very appreciative! Lisa

[Angelnorth]

If by "markers" you mean something like Tombow, Memento or Stampin Up! rather than something like Copic then I'd say Versafine Onyx Black, no question. It's an oil-based pigment ink that gives fantastic detail and crisp outline whether you use it with rubber or clear stamps and being oil-based it doesn't bleed with any watery colouring media. It's the densest black I've come across and is my ink of choice for everything that doesn't involve colouring with an alcohol-based marker!

[soaksupthesun]

My favorite is Momento Ink also, it never disappoints.

[melissa59]

I vote the same as Joanne: Memento for alcohol-based coloring; Versafine for water-based coloring.

For all the folks mentioning Memento, are you coloring with water-based inks and pencils? I ask because I swear by Memento for my alcohol-based Copic markers, but I thought it would bleed with water-based coloring. Am I wrong to assume that?

[KatarinaM]

I agree with Joanne as well. Versafine is the BEST ink for water based marker coloring. I WISH Versafine was compatible with Copics!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angelnorth

If by "markers" you mean something like Tombow, Memento or Stampin Up! rather than something like Copic then I'd say Versafine Onyx Black, no question. It's an oil-based pigment ink that gives fantastic detail and crisp outline whether you use it with rubber or clear stamps and being oil-based it doesn't bleed with any watery colouring media. It's the densest black I've come across and is my ink of choice for everything that doesn't involve colouring with an alcohol-based marker!

[Luv2talk]

Another MEMENTO fan here. It's the ONLY black ink I have.

[craftykarla]

Memento Tuxedo Black for me also...seems to be always in stock when I got to Michael's or Joanne's.....should I sent you (our Canadian friends) a couple of pads....

[Joan B]

Memento for Copic or alcohol markers, but Memories Dye for waterproof. depends on what I am coloring with.

[Ldumont999]

Memento forever and always. This ink is a no-brainer.

[kphorse]

Memento and Versafine, the best blacks on the market!

[peacefuljen]

I love Versafine too. I also wish it was compatible with copics, as it gives a much crisper impression than Memento, IMO.

[Betty]

Quote:

Originally Posted by melissa59

I vote the same as Joanne: Memento for alcohol-based coloring; Versafine for water-based coloring.

For all the folks mentioning Memento, are you coloring with water-based inks and pencils? I ask because I swear by Memento for my alcohol-based Copic markers, but I thought it would bleed with water-based coloring. Am I wrong to assume that?

I have never had Memento bleed with watercoloring.

[Paula in GA]

I thought it would bleed too. I always use India Ink. Always on my desk!

[Kathleen Mc]

it depends on what i'm doing.

for alcohol markers i use memento tuxedo black; for watercolouring i use versafine onyx black - much nicer to use than staz-on. and another one i like is the brilliance graphite black but that should be heat set as it can smudge. i also use versacolor black when heat embossing.

i have managed to stamp an imag wit hmemento and then bleed the colour out like with distress inks so can't see how you can watercolour over it.

[acrussell]

The best black ink that I have found is called Staz-On. Stampin'Up sells it. It doesn't bleed or smear. I can watercolor my images or use markers with no problems at all. And, best of all it smells like almond extract.

[BelfryBat]

I'm a Versafine junkie all the way. It's the only black ink that I use on paper.

I don't use Copics, so I don't need Memento for that, but I do love using it for 'watercoloring' on solid stamps. The colors blend really easily and if you spritz it with water right before you stamp - gorgeous!

[annie*]

Quote:

Originally Posted by peacefuljen

I love Versafine too. I also wish it was compatible with copics, as it gives a much crisper impression than Memento, IMO.

I totally agree! I stamped an image multiple times with Versafine and the same image with Memento and then showed them to my DH. He said why is there such a difference with the stamped images? Half of them are clear and the other half are fuzzy. The fuzzy ones were all stamped with Memento. Anytime I'm not using Copics I always choose Versafine if I want clear, crisp, detailed, images.

[Alice in Md]

Here's another vote for Versafine Onyx Black. I have decided not to venture into Copic-land, so I'm all set with the Versafine line of inks.

[from the heart]

I swear by India Ink from Stewart Superior. It is by far best for watercolouring and waterbased markers like Tombow. It doesn't slip on SU cardstock the way Memento Tuxedo Black does. Nice clean, crisp stamp with India Ink. Memento is great though on anything other than SU cardstock.

[russnzella]

I'll be another vote for Versafine....LOVE it! I have some other black inks that work ok with some stamps. But it never fails - if I stamp an image in another ink and don't like it but then try the Versafine ink - it's perfect every time! Now I'm not a Copic girl so it doesn't matter to me that it's not Copic friendly. I've used StazOn as well...but like I said - seems like I always go back to that Versafine ink pad.

[eagles777]

I have used black versafine with copics but you have to make sure it is really dry.

[Joeknee]

India Ink for sure! It's the ONLY black ink that I use, and have for years. I used to get it thru Sunday International but I see they are no longer ~ I'll have to find it elsewhere.

Perfect for watercolors, gamsol, anything. I've actually "turned" quite a few stamping friends on to it and they are sold also. First found it at a show many years ago and I'm so thankful I did.

[TexasGrammy]

I have two favorites:

Memento Tuxedo Black - for images that I'll be coloring with alcohol markers

Ranger Archival Jet Black - for crisp black sentiments

Thus, there are many, many times when I actually use both of these on my cards. ;)

[jeanne3579]

Memories Black for everything!

[SophieLaFontaine]

Huh!! I like Palette Noir for watercolouring, BUT I have never tried Versafine, India Ink, or Ranger Archival Jet Black. I shall have to try these sometime!!

For Copics I am like everyone else: Memento Tuxedo Black.

[cullenwr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angelnorth

If by "markers" you mean something like Tombow, Memento or Stampin Up! rather than something like Copic then I'd say Versafine Onyx Black, no question. It's an oil-based pigment ink that gives fantastic detail and crisp outline whether you use it with rubber or clear stamps and being oil-based it doesn't bleed with any watery colouring media. It's the densest black I've come across and is my ink of choice for everything that doesn't involve colouring with an alcohol-based marker!

Ditto this comment!

[DianeinSparks]

Another vote for Versafine.

[lylacfey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagles777

I have used black versafine with copics but you have to make sure it is really dry.

Do you heat set Versafine before using? I would be grateful for tips.

Another vote for Versafine. It's the blackest of black for stamping. I use it for everything except alcohol base markers. For those kind of markers I use Memento but I am not crazy about it. I know I am in the really low minority over this.

[gregzgurl]

So glad I checked out this thread! I LOVE Versafine and LOATHE StazOn, so I'm thrilled to know that I can use Versafine when I'm watercoloring! I'll probably do a lot more of it now... Thanks!

[Waltzingmouse]

In my humble opinion, the very best black ink for clarity is Versafine, BUT, it bleeds with copics as you know, and so I 'cure' that by using clear embossing powder - a very fine one, like Stewart superior, immediately after I stamp, I then set it with a heat gun and the image is ready for copics/watercolours etc.

If for some reason I can't clear emboss, I use Memento, which I also love, but which I don't find as crisp for detail, so I tend to use it more on 'relaxed' projects....hth

[melissa59]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzgurl

So glad I checked out this thread! I LOVE Versafine and LOATHE StazOn,

I also hate StazOn, probably because it Staz On everything forever, whether I want it to or not! But I do like the way it smells.

The almond oil reminds me of hand lotion one of my aunts often used when I was a kid. I remember even back then liking that smell. I thought it was Jergens but bought some when I was an adult and it didn't have the same strong almond aroma.

[blondie090277]

I'm a HUGE fan of the the versafine inks for water colouring Nice deep black, crisp lines!

[scrappinmama72inpa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by acrussell

The best black ink that I have found is called Staz-On. Stampin'Up sells it. It doesn't bleed or smear. I can watercolor my images or use markers with no problems at all. And, best of all it smells like almond extract.

Thank you. I could never put a name to the smell of Staz-On. I love it. I use it all the time, but I think it's just so I can sniff the ink pad.

[arkip]

Versafine Black Onyx for my sentiments-always. It also stays moist long enough to use with embossing powder.

[Jill with a G]

I think we need more than one kind of black ink for the different things we do on cards. I like my variety of blacks for different purposes. I like Stazon for permanent ink especially on acrylic pieces or when I alter paper to look like metal. I like Momento Tuxedo Black for using with Copics. I like Ranger Distress Black Soot for when I'm distressing and sponging. I like black pigment inks when I want to emboss. I don't think it would work for me if I only had one black ink. I even have one labeled cheap black ink, and I use that for testing how a stamp may look on different papers or materials.