Alcohol Ink — A Beginner's Guide
Alcohol ink is one of the most exciting art mediums to have grown in popularity over recent years. It produces bright, transparent colours that blend together beautifully, creating stunning patterns that are nearly impossible to achieve with any other medium.
What is alcohol ink?
Alcohol ink is a dye dissolved in alcohol (usually isopropanol). As the alcohol evaporates, the colour is left behind on the surface. Because the ink is transparent, colours blend together where they overlap, creating entirely new hues.
Which inks are available?
We carry a selection from three fantastic brands:
- Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink — The world's most popular alcohol ink brand. An excellent colour range and easy to use. Browse our full range.
- Octopus Fluids Alcohol Ink — A German brand offering intense colour saturation and a wide colour palette.
- Jacquard Piñata Alcohol Ink — Known for its brilliant metallic colours such as gold and silver. Perfect for decorative work.
What surface should I use?
Regular paper is not suitable for alcohol ink — the ink spreads too quickly and gets absorbed. You need a smooth, non-porous surface:
- Grafix Craft Plastic sheets — Specially designed plastic/film surfaces that are ideal for alcohol ink. Colours stay vibrant and blend beautifully.
You can also work on ceramic tiles, glass, metal, and other smooth surfaces.
Basic techniques
- Drop technique — Let a few drops of ink fall onto your surface and tilt it to let the colours flow and blend.
- Blow technique — Use an air blower or straw to move the ink across the surface.
- Blending solution — Alcohol Blending Solution is a colourless fluid you can use to blend colours together, create lighter areas, or correct mistakes.
Safety tips
- Always work in a well-ventilated area — the alcohol fumes can be strong.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands.
- Always close the bottles when not in use to prevent evaporation.
Ready to give it a try? Explore our full alcohol ink range here.