Description Winsor & Newton Drawing Inks are formulated from a series of soluble dyes in a shellac solution. These inks can be applied with brush, dip pen or airbrush and are widely used by designers, calligraphers and artists as well as illustrators. The range comprises 26 colours including Liquid Indian Ink, a water based solution of traditional chinese stick ink. This is the standard lettering ink used by calligraphers (which is not water resistant). Fast drying, water resistent & transparent, this allows the overlaying of different colours for attractive colour mixtures. All the colours are water resistant except Liquid Indian Ink, Gold and Silver. All the colours are intermixable. Gold and Silver should be added to other inks in small quantities to avoid thickening. Mixtures of Gold and Silver together should not be stored due to adverse chemical reaction. The colours can be easily diluted with water to reduce the strength of the colour or to increase its transparency. Distilled water must be used as tap water causes the dye to separate from the binder. As Drawing Inks contain dyes, they do not possess the lightfast properties of pigmented colours and should not be used in work which is intended for display in lighted areas. This does not apply to Blacks and White which are pigmented and Gold and Silver which are metal based. Although metallic colours are lightfast they may show tarnishing in the long term. Drawing Inks are not recommended for fountain pens because the inks can clog the nib. If you would like to use Drawing inks for airbrushing it is recommend that they are properly thinned first using de-ionized water. All water colour brushes can be used with Drawing Inks. Care should be taken to rinse the brushes in water whilst working to prevent the ink from drying hard into the hair. In such cases, methylated spirits can be used to dissolve the colour, followed by thorough washing with soap and warm water. Paper or Illustration board is the most commonly used surface for Drawing Inks. The paper surface needs to be smooth to allow the pen to move over it quickly. Next to paper, illustration board is the most commonly used support by designers’ using Drawing Inks. Bristol Board is excellent for this use. Drawing Inks are also used on acetate films for overlaying by designers. Due to the many types available, acetates should be tested first to ensure the ink will be accepted.
