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I almost always stamp my images to be colored with either Versafine Onyx, or Memento Tuxedo black ink. However, there are times when the black ink is a little bit too dark, especially if i use my Misti and stamp more than once to get a good full image.
Does anyone use gray ink instead of black for some of their stamping? I have Smokey Gray, by Versafine and Basic Gray by Stampin Up. The Basic Gray seems a little light, and Smokey Gray is a little on the brown side..plus my Smokey Gray ink pad is a bit too juicy and doesn't give a sharp image. So, I've been considering trying Memento Gray Flannel. Just wondering if anyone uses that for stamped images and how that works. If Basic gray is about the same, then I'll just stick with that instead of buying yet another ink pad.
its a different shade. ( my sample book of swatches of ink pads is at home) but, one of the memento grays has more of a blue ish tint to it.
and yes, I do use all the ones you mentioned and a few others.
sometimes when I want it to look like "no line coloring" I will grab a Distress Antique linen. (brown) or if its a plant leafy type thing I will do the Old paper pad as it has a greenish tint to it.
sometimes I use the Memento shoot whats the name. something sand I think. its also a pale brown tan color.
any of them will work, I think it just depends on how you are going to color it and how dark the colors are going to be.
eta and then I do the sentiment in black because, I tend to want it to pop better. and I am like that new versafine clair nocturn (black) ( I have not bought a gray shade in that yet but, the blues, greens and browns are all being used in my room)
I haven't used the Momento, but know what you mean about Smokey Gray having a brown undertone. A gray I use that's close in value (to my eyes) to Smokey Gray but with no brown is Ranger Archival/Wendy Vecchi Watering Can.
And Versafine Clair Morning Mist is a little lighter than both, with no brown.
I have a comparison photo but switched phones and am not sure how to access the photo. If I can figure it out I'll post it, though it may look different on different monitors/screens.
ETA On my computer Watering Can looks fairly black, but it's not. I guess I should have stamped the cats in Jet Black for a better comparison. If you'd like me to, yell.
Last edited by bjeans; 07-12-2019 at 12:07 PM..
Reason: photo
its a different shade. ( my sample book of swatches of ink pads is at home) but, one of the memento grays has more of a blue ish tint to it.
and yes, I do use all the ones you mentioned and a few others.
sometimes when I want it to look like "no line coloring" I will grab a Distress Antique linen. (brown) or if its a plant leafy type thing I will do the Old paper pad as it has a greenish tint to it.
sometimes I use the Memento shoot whats the name. something sand I think. its also a pale brown tan color.
any of them will work, I think it just depends on how you are going to color it and how dark the colors are going to be.
eta and then I do the sentiment in black because, I tend to want it to pop better. and I am like that new versafine clair nocturn (black) ( I have not bought a gray shade in that yet but, the blues, greens and browns are all being used in my room)
I looked at samples online of both Memento gray inks and it seems like London Fog is a little more blue..and possibly lighter than Gray Flannel. However, not seeing either them in person , it's just a guess. Thanks for your reply..and suggestion for no-line coloring choices. I wasn't necessarily ready to try no-line coloring, but am looking for something that isn't as bold. Some of the stamps I've used have heavy stamping lines and the black ink is kind of overpowering, you know?
I haven't used the Momento, but know what you mean about Smokey Gray having a brown undertone. A gray I use that's close in value (to my eyes) to Smokey Gray but with no brown is Ranger Archival/Wendy Vecchi Watering Can.
And Versafine Clair Morning Mist is a little lighter than both, with no brown.
I have a comparison photo but switched phones and am not sure how to access the photo. If I can figure it out I'll post it, though it may look different on different monitors/screens.
ETA On my computer Watering Can looks fairly black, but it's not. I guess I should have stamped the cats in Jet Black for a better comparison. If you'd like me to, yell.
So Watering Can is a dark gray, right? I like it! I may have to go search for that one online.
Photo isn't showing the difference well at all on my screen but it's there! Top is Archival jet black, bottom is watering can - a charcoal gray, no brown, no blue, just neutral to my eye.
I used lots of different colors back when scenic stamping was all the rage. Amy from Beeswax stamps tells everyone to think outside of the box and let what and how you are coloring the image dictate what color it is stamped with. She would do beautiful work with blue, lavender, terracotta etc, not just neutrals.
I looked at samples online of both Memento gray inks and it seems like London Fog is a little more blue..and possibly lighter than Gray Flannel. However, not seeing either them in person , it's just a guess. Thanks for your reply..and suggestion for no-line coloring choices. I wasn't necessarily ready to try no-line coloring, but am looking for something that isn't as bold. Some of the stamps I've used have heavy stamping lines and the black ink is kind of overpowering, you know?
I have both Gray Flannel and London Fog and I use both, depending on what my subject is and what colors I will use for coloring.
London Fog is a cool gray. You might say it is "bluer".
Gray Flannel is a warm gray, or even a French grey. You might say that it is "browner".
If I am trying to make my stamped image a little less bold than black, I will use the London Fog.
I have both Gray Flannel and London Fog and I use both, depending on what my subject is and what colors I will use for coloring.
London Fog is a cool gray. You might say it is "bluer".
Gray Flannel is a warm gray, or even a French grey. You might say that it is "browner". ...
Nice to see that someone else follows the same 'gray' line that I use! lol
I've had London Fog for years, and this year picked up Gray Flannel. The Gray Flannel is now my preferred gray for stamping "lighter than black" on images to color with Copics.
Agh!!! It's threads EXACTLY LIKE THIS that are the reason I have over a dozen different black inks! lmbo I think I have three grays. Anyone want to bet how many I will end up before the month ends? It wouldn't be so bad, except for the fact that I always end up using the same ink, and rarely touch the others. For example, the only black ink pad I've used in forever is the VersaFine Clair Nocturne. Now I'm thinking, "Hmmm, I don't have a gray in this brand/type..." :???:
I use gray quite a bit. Recently I purchased a few more Lawn Fawn gray inks. I had Hippo for some time and added Manatee, a really light gray, and Narwhal which is a dark gray. I have used Memento inks for several years and also use Gina K Designs inks. The dark gray of Gina K called Slate is very much like Narwhal of Lawn Fawn. It is darker than the Memento gray ink colors. Gina has Moonlit Fog a lighter gray that is close to Manatee, though you can't tell from the screen, and those colors are a close match to London Fog by Memento. In Gina's store there are a few new grays, many read for No Line Coloring. I do not own them, so can't do a comparison to other brands.
I just noticed that Lawn Fawn has Storm Cloud. It looks like a dark gray. I might need to pick another ink pad up.
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Last edited by lovinpaper; 07-13-2019 at 04:02 PM..
Reason: adding another color
Agh!!! It's threads EXACTLY LIKE THIS that are the reason I have over a dozen different black inks! lmbo I think I have three grays. Anyone want to bet how many I will end up before the month ends? It wouldn't be so bad, except for the fact that I always end up using the same ink, and rarely touch the others. For example, the only black ink pad I've used in forever is the VersaFine Clair Nocturne. Now I'm thinking, "Hmmm, I don't have a gray in this brand/type..." :???:
I get what you're saying. I do have 3 or 4 VersaFine Clair pads, but as soon as I realized they aren't compatible with Copics, I knew immediately that I had 2 or 3 too many for me. However, I really like their performance with sentiments
For me, Versafine, Memento, and Gina K Amalgam. Resisting another black. Trying, anyway.
I have those three but keep forgetting about Memento. I use Ranger Archival Jet Black the most since it works well with water and over paint and it’s used in my LSS classes - just what you get used to it.
I lost mine so bought another. Then lost it. They reappeared. Then there were three.
Versafine Clair Nocturne may be the richest, deepest black I’ve seen/used. It - and all Versafine Clair colors - can be heat embossed a good 5-6 minutes after being stamped, even when they feel dry.
I told the owner of a stamp company that at a Stamp and SB Expo when he was making a card using V. Clair. He didn’t believe me but was willing to take the challenge and liked that he was wrong. (I wonder if Fiona will keep resisting.)
I get what you're saying. I do have 3 or 4 VersaFine Clair pads, but as soon as I realized they aren't compatible with Copics, I knew immediately that I had 2 or 3 too many for me. However, I really like their performance with sentiments
Wait, what? VersaFine isn't compatible with Copics?! No, it has to be. That's a main reason I use that ink as my go-to ink. :eek: It works with Copics, plus I can also emboss with it and the black is a wonderful shade. I could swear I've colored images stamped with it. (I only use Copics or SU Blends to color, 'cause I stink at coloring and they make my coloring passable at least.)
>>>>>>>>>One hour or more after my last sentence ... come to think of it, MAYBE it doesn't. I'm realizing I almost always emboss my images with clear EP. I recently stamped some without embossing, but I had DD color those for me. She's been coloring for me since she was in middle school, and she'll be 20 this month, so I'm almost positive she wouldn't tolerate a smeared image. I have to go investigate and check for myself. It will make me nuts until I know for sure. To be continued... ;)
Wait, what? VersaFine isn't compatible with Copics?! No, it has to be. That's a main reason I use that ink as my go-to ink. :eek: It works with Copics, plus I can also emboss with it and the black is a wonderful shade. I could swear I've colored images stamped with it. (I only use Copics or SU Blends to color, 'cause I stink at coloring and they make my coloring passable at least.)
>>>>>>>>>One hour or more after my last sentence ... come to think of it, MAYBE it doesn't. I'm realizing I almost always emboss my images with clear EP. I recently stamped some without embossing, but I had DD color those for me. She's been coloring for me since she was in middle school, and she'll be 20 this month, so I'm almost positive she wouldn't tolerate a smeared image. I have to go investigate and check for myself. It will make me nuts until I know for sure. To be continued... ;)
The Versafine clair does not work for me and copics. It smears. But it's a really nice and crisp black ink otherwise.
Wait, what? VersaFine isn't compatible with Copics?! No, it has to be. That's a main reason I use that ink as my go-to ink. :eek: It works with Copics, plus I can also emboss with it and the black is a wonderful shade. I could swear I've colored images stamped with it. (I only use Copics or SU Blends to color, 'cause I stink at coloring and they make my coloring passable at least.)
>>>>>>>>>One hour or more after my last sentence ... come to think of it, MAYBE it doesn't. I'm realizing I almost always emboss my images with clear EP. I recently stamped some without embossing, but I had DD color those for me. She's been coloring for me since she was in middle school, and she'll be 20 this month, so I'm almost positive she wouldn't tolerate a smeared image. I have to go investigate and check for myself. It will make me nuts until I know for sure. To be continued... ;)
Specifically it's the VersaFine Clair ink that isn't compatible with Copics.
As everyone has mentioned, it's an awesome ink for crisp sentiments. Plus, it's a good one for watercoloring.
I almost always stamp my images to be colored with either Versafine Onyx, or Memento Tuxedo black ink. However, there are times when the black ink is a little bit too dark, especially if i use my Misti and stamp more than once to get a good full image.
Does anyone use gray ink instead of black for some of their stamping? I have Smokey Gray, by Versafine and Basic Gray by Stampin Up. The Basic Gray seems a little light, and Smokey Gray is a little on the brown side..plus my Smokey Gray ink pad is a bit too juicy and doesn't give a sharp image. So, I've been considering trying Memento Gray Flannel. Just wondering if anyone uses that for stamped images and how that works. If Basic gray is about the same, then I'll just stick with that instead of buying yet another ink pad.
Thanks!
I've used Memento London Fog, which is very close in color to SU Smoky Slate.
They both seem like a softer grey than SU Basic Gray, which to me reads like a 'light black' lol.
I do prefer Memento inks for stamping images I'm coloring with alcohol markers, it works great.
Oh my goodness, you’re all correct about it not working with Copics!!! I am well on my way to senile! I went and found some images I’d already had stamped to do a color test. Know why it never smeared for me? Because I always emboss with clear over it! It’s all coming back to me now. Fell in Love with that ink because the ink was so dark and I could emboss with it even if I waited a few minutes to get to it. I’m such a big dummy sometimes. Lol. This is what happens when I’m not on SCS regularly. I forget stuff! (I haven’t been on here much at all the last few months. Lol)
I've used Memento London Fog, which is very close in color to SU Smoky Slate.
They both seem like a softer grey than SU Basic Gray, which to me reads like a 'light black' lol.
I do prefer Memento inks for stamping images I'm coloring with alcohol markers, it works great.
Hope this might help!
I am using an old Stampin' Up Going Gray ink pad and re-inking with Basic Gray. The gray is lighter than I want, kind of a mid-toned gray instead of the darker gray that I'm looking for. Maybe I need to add more Basic Gray re-inker and see if it darkens.
I almost never use black. I stamp mostly in brown. I do sometimes use gray.
__________________ By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. Confucius
I am using an old Stampin' Up Going Gray ink pad and re-inking with Basic Gray. The gray is lighter than I want, kind of a mid-toned gray instead of the darker gray that I'm looking for. Maybe I need to add more Basic Gray re-inker and see if it darkens.
Do you have the newer Basic Gray ink? I mean to say, a few years ago they changed it up and made that color an Archival ink formula and sold it on a linen-style pad (rather than the foam). Supposedly the Archival is good for coloring... so you might want to look at your re-inker just to see.
Still when I want grey to color with alcohol markers, I stamp witn my Memento.
Do you have the newer Basic Gray ink? I mean to say, a few years ago they changed it up and made that color an Archival ink formula and sold it on a linen-style pad (rather than the foam). Supposedly the Archival is good for coloring... so you might want to look at your re-inker just to see.
Still when I want grey to color with alcohol markers, I stamp witn my Memento.
Soooo, my original ink was and still is Versafine onyx black which is older than dirt and still great. I did buy Momento two years ago and still have not opened.
Why you may ask.......because like others here have posted I have yet to find any problems with bleeding when using Watercolors, alcohol inks. I do not use Copics and can’t understand SU saying you have to use Momento with alcohol inks.....this is not the case and a I humbly suggest they just promote for whatever reason.
I am not sure why no one else has discovered that you don’t need to use Momento. I also like that Versafine Onyx Black gives such nice crisp image. I do use the above mentioned greys and do agree with the description of the color.
Did not mean to highjack but just wanted to share my thoughts on Momento.
I was also wondering if it is on SU paper that you have to use Momento? I don’t use their paper much. I have always used 110# paper but last week did use SU thick whisper white Nd Versafine worked just fine on that one. I use a number of Momento products just not their black.
Do you have the newer Basic Gray ink? I mean to say, a few years ago they changed it up and made that color an Archival ink formula and sold it on a linen-style pad (rather than the foam). Supposedly the Archival is good for coloring... so you might want to look at your re-inker just to see.
Still when I want grey to color with alcohol markers, I stamp witn my Memento.
Hmm, I'm not sure which version of Basic Gray ink refill I have. I know I have the old linen ink pad (as in really, really old), not the foam pad. I'll check to see which I have.
I do prefer Memento ink for alcohol markers too, but am wondering if I can get by with what I have in terms of gray.
So funny: I use Versafine Clair ink with alcohol markers frequently and it does not smear for me! Very strange… My favorite ink color of all time is VF Smoky Grey and my new favorite now is definitely VF Clair Morning Mist. I think I have at least 6 other gray inks :-) but this is the one I go back to again and again instead of black, trading off with Memento Espresso Truffle if I need a warmer shade.
And yes...it could make me look at picking up a couple more lol....unfortunately, VF clair does not fit into my organize more ink storage slots so unless I can find another place I have to keep those down. I have the black that I keep with all it's black pals.
Removed my comment about Versafine Clair. The Organize More newer, compact design doesn’t hold Versafine Clair pads. I have the older style, and when needing a new one, they agreed to make an older style so height would match. I didn’t realize that the inside measurements were different too.
For those considering buying the the holders it might be worth asking if they’d make the old style if Versafine Clairs are part of the ink stash. If they agreed the cost would be higher and the wait longer since it would be outside the norm. (It’s a small family business.)
Last edited by bjeans; 07-17-2019 at 12:11 PM..
Reason: Correction
I often use gray to stamp with, I also like sepia. I use Watering Can; Ranger/W.Vecchi Archival Ink..waterproof, Shadow Gray; Umbrella Crafts dye ink and Vintage Sepia; Versafine pigment ink along with Onyx Black from Versafine. These give me sharp images. All my "go to's" for stamping.
__________________ Have a creative day, every day.
Well, let me just add to the discussion that Altenew has a couple families of gray inks...four to a family, ranging from light to dark...just in case you need a few in both warm and dark grays. Cuz you know...some of us just need more options...you know who you are. <cheesy grin> You are welcome
Soooo, my original ink was and still is Versafine onyx black which is older than dirt and still great. I did buy Momento two years ago and still have not opened.
Why you may ask.......because like others here have posted I have yet to find any problems with bleeding when using Watercolors, alcohol inks. I do not use Copics and can’t understand SU saying you have to use Momento with alcohol inks.....this is not the case and a I humbly suggest they just promote for whatever reason.
I am not sure why no one else has discovered that you don’t need to use Momento. I also like that Versafine Onyx Black gives such nice crisp image. I do use the above mentioned greys and do agree with the description of the color.
Did not mean to highjack but just wanted to share my thoughts on Momento.
If you have an unopened Memento inkpad you really should give it a try. I always used nothing but Versafine in onyx for years...even with my alcohol markers. LOVE the crisp images with detailed stamps. However, I bought a Memento black ink pad about 6 months or so ago and wow, it works just as well as the Versafine, and is better with the alcohol inks. I used to get a little bit of bleeding with alcohol inks when I used Versafine, but there is absolutely none with the Memento ink pad. After reading about not using Versafine with alcohol inks, I need to go back and do a test with both inks again.
Nice to see that someone else follows the same 'gray' line that I use! lol
I've had London Fog for years, and this year picked up Gray Flannel. The Gray Flannel is now my preferred gray for stamping "lighter than black" on images to color with Copics.
I'm liking that Gray Flannel color a lot too (even though I still haven't seen it in person). The London Fog looks a little bluer than I would like but it would probably be really great with no-line coloring. I like the extra definition that the darker gray would give however, without the boldness of black.
Ugh, I do not need more ink pads but I think that Gray Flannel is going on my list next.
Stamping with gray instead of black ink
