The best paper for Copic markers allows for smooth blending and rich colors. Copic markers are alcohol markers that have a huge variety of shades, and all of them can blend together.
They are also sometimes referred to as the crème de la crème of markers.
In addition to that, they can be used for different kinds of purposes and can create multiple arts, but to get the most out of them, you need to use the best paper with Copic Markers.
Your markers won’t be able to perform well and will lack the quality of the print if the paper is not suitable to be used with them.
It might be news to you if you are a beginner, but every professional knows that not every paper is compatible with every kind of paper.
Not using the proper paper for your Copic markers is just a waste of your time, effort, and ink.
That’s why we’re looking at the best paper to use with Copic markers and looking in detail at each option and what will work best for you.
One of the biggest selling points for the alcohol markets is their ability to blend. Using the wrong paper can make your ink dry up too soon, limiting your ability to blend them properly and rendering the markers useless.
The wrong paper can also bleed through, making the surface underneath the paper get stained and ruined forever.
It is not possible for everyone to try out every kind of paper and find out what works best.
This is why I have made a list of the best paper and canvas for Copic markers that worked out best for me.
What type of special paper do you need for Copic markers?
Here is a list of the best papers to be used for Copic markers. I recommend knowing places where to buy Copic Markers and getting these papers there or asking for a Copic marker paper recommendation from those stores.
First, we’ll look through some basic stats for each type of paper for Copic markers, including # of sheets, size, and weight.
Then, we’ll look at each type of Copic marker paper in detail, examining what it’s best for and if it’s the best cardstock for alcohol markers.
| Best Papers for Copic Markers | Sheets | Size | Weight |
| X-Press It Blending Card | 125 | 8.5” x 11-Inch | 0.24 ounces |
| Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth Pad | 20 | 9″x12″ | 1.08 pounds |
| RENDR Hardbound Sketchbook | 32 | 11” x 14” | 1 pound |
| Canson Artist Series Pro Layout Marker Pad | 50 | 9” x 12” | 12.5 ounces |
| Bee Paper Bleedproof Marker Pad | 30 | 8.5” x 11” | 1 pound |
| Copic Markers SKBK9X12 Sketch Book | 50 | 9” x 12” | 0.24 ounces |
| Strathmore 566-8 500 Series Hardbound Mixed Media Art Journal | 32 | 8.5” x 11” | 1.41 pounds |
| Arches Watercolor Blocks | 10 or 20 | varies | 300 gsm |
| Arches Hot Press Watercolor Paper Block | 20 | 9” x 12” | 14.8 ounces |
| Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Paper Block | 20 | varies | 300 gsm |
X-Press It Blending Card
If you are looking for what paper to use with Copic markers, this is a thick and sturdy paper for use with Copic markers. It is smooth and has a bright white paper that lets every color pop a lot.
You can buy these papers in a box of 25 or 125. Every page in the box is loose, and it can be easily used for printing.
One of the best paper for markers all-around, among loose paper options, this is one of the best paper for alcohol markers.
The paper is sturdy enough to promise that it won’t pill when you are blending like normal papers. You can grab any size of the paper and blend the colors as much as you want on them, and the quality will not be disturbed.
These papers are a little thicker than regular papers but can still be used for printing.
If you have a digital sketch of what you are trying to achieve on the paper, simply print it out on the paper and start with your paintings.
This paper is considered the best paper for Copic markers since it has high saturation. It allows the artists to save their ink and easily blend their artworks.
You don’t have to worry about feathering your paper either. There will be no mess, so you can use as many colors as you want and blend them as you like without worrying about the surface beneath.
Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth Pad
Wondering what kind of paper to use with Copic markers? The Strathmore 300 Series is a good place to start your search.
It is one of the best papers for Copic markers as it is within budget.
It is mostly called the student paper as it is used by art students widely. That being said, it is not just a marker paper but rather a multimedia paper.
You can use pens, markers, pencils, glitters or anything else you want on it.
If I were going to give a straightforward Copic marker paper recommendation for artists on a budget, this is that pick.
It’s one of the best Copic marker paper options for the price range.
It is the best for all the students who are still trying to just get the hang of the papers and paintings. They don’t have to spend a lot of money on professional papers but can achieve almost the same results using this paper.
They can experiment and get the hang of the markers and the paper before moving on to the real professional papers.
The protective cover on the back also acts as a support.
You can directly draw on it instead of having to worry about a desk or a table underneath. This paper helps you blend all the colors easily and gives you a rich blend of colors.
You can use it to experiment with multimedia without building up the wax on your pens or markers.
RENDR Hardbound Sketchbook
Sketchbooks are often not recommended when it comes to using markers, especially alcohol markers.
These markers can bleed through the sketchbook pages easily and can start impacting the pages underneath as well.
They often start piling up as well when you try to blend the colors a lot.
That’s why searching far and wide for the best cardstock for alcohol markers is important. The best Copic marker paper can be a bit tough to find, especially for the right price.
This sketchbook is an absolute exception.
You can use the alcohol-based ink on both sides of the paper and still have no bleed through the pages.
They are a revolutionary product for the whole art society.
It is not just used for the markers, but for other media as well.
This sketchbook is not intended for professional work but to be kept personal. You cannot tear the pages out of this sketchbook, and they are all packed in properly.
The pages are not entirely white in this sketchbook as it is not for professional use.
They are slightly greyish, and they can sometimes affect the brightness of colors.
But it does not matter to many people, including me, since it is a sketchbook.
It is ideal for traveling as you can fit it easily in your backpack and use it anywhere.
Canson Artist Series Pro Layout Marker Pad
If you are looking for a good paper for Copic markers that is semi-transparent and thinner, this is one of the best paper for Copics out there of that kind.
It is the perfect paper for you to sketch out something from an existing paper or anyplace else.
All you have to do is place this paper on it and start sketching out. It is semi-transparent, which will make it very easy for you to sketch everything perfectly.
It might be a little difficult to see in some lightning, so you can use a torch or some sharp lightning device to make the trace a little clear.
Also, it’s ideal for tracing out and transferring everything to your bleed-proof paper. It is cost-effective and easy to use.
A lot of people might be confused with the semi-transparent and the bleed-proof quality of this paper.
It is quite unusual to have both qualities in a paper, but this paper has been coated on the back to prevent it from bleeding.
It also does not disrupt the transparency of the papers and saves it in the best possible way.
Best sketchbooks for Copic markers
Many people like to keep sketchbooks and like to work on them instead of having to drag papers everywhere with them. I have talked about one sketchbook in one section above, but it was in accordance with the papers.
If you are wondering what paper to use with Copic markers, the best sketchbooks for Copic markers are not a bad place to start.
You can find some of the best paper for markers in sketchbook form, and we’ve assembled some of the best options.
Let’s now discuss the different sketchbooks and which one is the best for every artist who is looking for the best paper for Copic markers.
You can choose any of the following sketchbooks to practice your sketches and paintings on the go.
You can also look for the best cardstock for Copic markers and get something even more durable.
Bee Paper Bleedproof Marker Pad, 8-1/2-Inch by 11-Inch
This brand is not so popular in the market, but loyal customers can guarantee the quality of this sketchbook. This sketchbook is the most famous in the market for the quality of the paper and its affordability.
That’s what makes it one of the choices of best paper to use with Copic markers if you are looking for a balance between price and quality.
While there are many sketchbooks out there, a lot of good ones, are not all affordable.
They might be in the price range of some people, but if you are pursuing a career in arts, you must be aware of how hard it can be to purchase everything expensive.
These sketchbooks are bleed-proof and have a stark white color.
You can use multiple media on these pages simultaneously, even without having to worry about the bleed.
Copic Markers SKBK9X12 Sketch Book – 9″ X 12″ – 50 Sheets – Wire Bound
As the name suggests, it is a sketchbook specifically for use with Copic markers. It is prone to bleeding hence letting you easily work with your alcohol-based markers.
It’s got a good paper for Copic markers that are specially designed to handle their alcohol based ink.
It may just be the best sketchbook for Copic markers.
It is spiral-bound, making all of your sketches more organized. This sketchbook has a total of 50 hard sheets that you can use.
The size of the sketchbook is also small, which makes it portable along with your other things.
It can easily fit into your bag pack whenever you need to travel or just carry it.
Strathmore 566-8 500 Series Hardbound Mixed Media Art Journal, 8.5″x11″
All the sheets in this hardbound sketchbook are given a shine with a vellum finish. This shine is not just for the look, but it also makes these pages last longer than the regular papers.
This is not just used for the normal markers, but it can support any kind of media that you have got to throw on it.
On the higher end of quality for sure, it’s also among the best paper for Copic sketch markers.
It can be your acrylic paints, normal pencils, ink, or watercolors.
It has a total of 32 thick white sheets bound together carefully and made into a sketchbook.
They come in compact sizes so you can easily draw on them, but in the meantime, you can also carry them easily with you.
Not just the papers, but the whole sketchbook is durable due to the binding. The papers are made out of pure cotton fiber, which makes them completely bleed-free.
At the same time, it still does not absorb a lot of ink from the markers ruining the markers or paintings.
The brown cover of the sketchbook makes it look aesthetically pleasing.
There is nothing better for artists than a mix of good quality paper, which already looks like art.
This could be the best sketchbook for Copic markers.
Best watercolor paper for Copic markers
When talking about Copic markers, one cannot forget about the watercolor paper. Watercolor papers are special papers designed to withstand the liquid in the colors and are made to not bleed.
If you want to achieve the same results with your Copic markers, you can try your luck with watercolor papers.
Watercolor paper can be used as a Copic marker paper, as watercolor and Copics work in similar ways.
That’s why it’s one of the best kinds of paper to use with Copic markers.
You can also look for some of the best cardstock for Copic markers as another alternative.
The best paper for Copic markers is the one where the paper does not bleed, the quality of the colors is preserved properly, and it does not suck on a lot of colors. It should also let the colors stay on it for enough time for you to easily blend them all together.
Here are some of the pages that are recommended by me for your next Copic drawing.
These papers are not just cheap but durable and can be used for multi-purposes.
- Arches Watercolor Paper Block, 300 lb
- Best Watercolor Paper Pad − Arches Watercolor Paper Pad (12 Pack)
- The Best Hot Press Watercolor Paper − Arches Hot Press Watercolor Paper Block
- Best Cold Press Watercolor Paper − Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Paper Block
The best canvas for Copic markers
Suppose you are trying to work on something very professional, and the drawings or paintings you are producing need to be used professionally. In that case, it is preferred to use a canvas instead of some blank paper.
A lot of people find this even weird to use a whole canvas for drawings.
Canvases are ideal for the Copic markers as they don’t bleed and have a big stand to support them when you are working on them.
Often, they can make a more interesting choice than just looking at what kind of paper to use with Copic markers.
You need to choose a canvas that is best for you. Since almost all of the canvases are the same, you need to choose the one that is ideal in size, does not bleed, and the one that has the best bright white shining color.
The color will help you easily pop the colors without having to try much.
Using Copic markers on mixed media paper
If you’re wondering “is mixed media paper good for Copic markers?”
The answer is no. It doesn’t work well due to its tight texture on the surface.
The ink soaks into the paper too quickly and doesn’t perform well. In particular, it doesn’t allow for lots of detail, making it not the best paper for Copics.
When considering the best paper for alcohol markers, mixed media is one of the diciest, and I’d recommend staying away.
So, is mixed media paper good for Copic markers? No, don’t risk it.
Conclusion
Whatever kind of art you are going to create with your Copic markers it is important to have a paper to use with Copic markers that is reliable and you can use without worrying about bleeding or anything else.
The papers given above are some of the examples of papers that you can use in your projects.
I hope that in our search for the best paper for Copic sketch markers you’ve found something that fits your needs.
The papers above have been recommended by me but you can always try something new and find out what works best for you. Start small with a cheaper paper and work your way up to professional once your skills have reached the professional level as well