Printed coloring pages behave a little differently from a bound coloring book: home-printer paper is thinner, and printer ink or toner sits on the surface. Here’s how each kind of tool behaves on a printed page, and what paper to pair it with.
What’s the best thing to color printed pages with?
For most people, colored pencils are the best all-round choice for printed coloring pages. They work on ordinary copier paper, never bleed through, can be layered and blended, and suit both bold and detailed designs. Gel pens and fine-tip markers give brighter, flatter color and are great for small areas, but want slightly heavier paper, around 100–120 gsm (28–32 lb). Alcohol markers give the smoothest, most vivid fills but soak through anything thin, so they need 160 gsm (65 lb) paper or cardstock and a scrap sheet underneath. Crayons are fine for bold pages and children, but too waxy and blunt for fine detail.
| Tool | Best on | Paper | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colored pencils (wax-based) | Everything; blending and shading | Plain 80 gsm (20 lb) is fine | Wax bloom (a whitish haze) on heavy layers; buff it off gently |
| Colored pencils (oil-based) | Fine detail, layering | Plain 80 gsm or heavier | Harder cores need more layers for strong color |
| Gel pens | Small areas, highlights, patterns | 100–120 gsm (28–32 lb) | Slow-drying ink smudges; work top to bottom (right to left if you’re left-handed) |
| Fine-tip and water-based markers | Bold pages, outlines, patterns | 100–120 gsm (28–32 lb) | Going over one spot repeatedly pills the paper |
| Alcohol markers | Smooth, vivid fills on bold pages | 160 gsm (65 lb) or cardstock | Bleeds through thin paper; can soften some laser toner |
| Crayons | Bold pages, children | Any | Too blunt for detail |
Pencils: soft or hard cores?
Soft-core pencils lay down strong color with little pressure and blend easily, which is ideal for bold pages and for anyone with stiff hands. Harder cores hold a sharp point for longer, which suits detailed pages with small spaces. Many colorists keep a set of each. Whichever you use, a good sharpener matters more than the brand: a sharp point is what keeps you inside fine lines.
Markers on printed pages
Test any marker in a corner first. On an inkjet print, most markers are fine once the page is fully dry. On a laser print, some alcohol markers can soften the toner and drag the black lines, so try one stroke over a line before coloring a whole page. Every design in our books is on its own page with nothing printed on the back, so if ink does come through it only marks the sheet underneath.
Which tools suit which designs?
Bold, open designs like our Cozy Cottage books work with everything, markers included. Fine, detailed designs like Honeywick are best with sharp pencils and fine-tip pens, because broad markers can’t get into the small spaces. Our guide to easy vs detailed coloring pages explains the difference, and the printing guide covers paper and printer settings.
The simplest way to test your tools is on a free page: print one from the free samplers and try each pen and pencil in a corner.
Common questions
Alcohol markers usually will on standard 80 gsm paper. Use 160 gsm (65 lb) or cardstock, or slip a scrap sheet underneath. Water-based and fine-tip markers are usually fine on 100–120 gsm.
No. A mid-priced set with soft cores and a good sharpener does most of what an artist-grade set does on printed pages. Spend more once you know you enjoy blending.
Only on watercolor or heavy mixed-media paper, 200 gsm (90 lb) or more, fed through a printer that can handle it. On normal printer paper, water makes the sheet buckle.