There’s nothing worse than being immersed in an adult coloring project only to find that the ink smudges when you run your hand across it. This ruins the piece, and it ruins your inner peace at the same time! Among adult coloring book artists, the fear of the smudgeable nature of gel pens runs rampant since they have a horrible reputation for smearing.
Pentel EnerGel RTX Pens
The best pen for those concerned with smudging is the Pentel EnerGel RTX pen. They’re retractable, they have a clip, they have a finger grip, and they are the fastest drying pen widely available for purchase. They dry so quickly because the ink is a combination of traditional gel and liquid ink, which allows it to dry almost immediately after application to a coloring book page. They also come in a variety of colors for a little diversity when working on your adult coloring book art creation.
They also don’t have the appearance of a standard gel pen and instead look more like a sleek writing pen. This appeals to many coloring book artists as the gel pen that most people think of can seem childish and rudimentary due to its popularity in classrooms. If you’re looking for a non-smudging gel pen that also looks more adult, this pen should be your go-to.
Do keep in mind that the bleed-through potential of these pens on thinner paper is higher than some of the other choices because the ink has a liquid quality to it while most gel pens are just gel. That means the ink will soak into the paper more than some of the other selections in this article, so make sure to only use these pens if you’re coloring on thick pages.
Pentel EnerGel RTX Pens Can Be Found Here
Zebra Sarasa Gel Pens
These pens are an affordable option and are renowned for their quick-drying ink, which helps the coloring book aficionado avoid smudging. They’re so quick to dry that they’re the most popular pen among left-handed artists who are more prone to drag their hand over fresh ink.
These pens are retractable which makes them a great pen for travel because there’s no chance that the tip will bleed onto the container they’re being transported in. They also have clips on them so they can easily be secured to your coloring book while you’re on the go. The variety of colors also gives the coloring book artist a good amount of variation in color choice, which is great for artists who want to use pens and no other mediums in their coloring.
Get Your Set of Zebra Sarasa Gel Pens Here
Fiskars Multicolor Set
This set includes 48 different colors and is considered a favorite among adult coloring book aficionados because of the variance in colors and tip size. It’s great for coloring both large areas and doing detailed work which means just this set of pens will meet all your coloring book needs.
These pens glide on top of the paper and work well on both white and black paper. Even though the color seems to ride right on top of the page, it dries very quickly and isn’t prone to smudging, although some of the more pastel colors do not show up as vibrantly as an artist may want. This is a fair compromise, however, considering the lack of smudging that occurs when your hand invariably ends up riding over the coloring you’re doing.
Purchase the Fiskars Multicolor Set Here
Radiant Writers Glitter Gel Pens
These pens fit the bill for a great gel pen for adult coloring book artists that doesn’t smudge at all. When they’re first applied to the paper, their luminosity is immediately obvious, but the pens will still look wet to an observer. Do not fear; when you rub your hand along the inked page, the ink stays in place and doesn’t smudge at all. The wet appearance is just a result of the composition of the ink.
Order Radiant Writer Glitter Pens Here
Tadkin Gel Pens
The Tadkin Gel Pen set is appealing because there are 100 different colors in the pack, although the caps don’t necessarily match the ink color so a test paper will be needed when choosing your color for adult coloring book projects.
The colors when applied to the paper are vibrant and do not bleed through normal coloring book pages, although they are known to bleed through thinner paper so use these pens with caution. The ink itself applies very wet but dries very quickly, so smudging is a non-issue. This aspect of their application makes them a great choice for coloring book projects.
Along with the non-smudging aspect of these quick-drying pens, the tips are very fine which is great for detailing work. In one pack, you get metallic, neon, glitter, and pastel colors, so this wide range of choices can be inspiring for an artist looking to do a little detail work.
Buy the Tadkin Gel Pen Set Here
Papermate Ink Joy Gel Pens
These pens are notorious for their fast-drying ink and smooth application, and that combined with the grip on these pens makes them an ideal choice for people who suffer from hand cramps, carpal tunnel, or other issues with their hands when coloring.
While they’re a favorite in offices because the fun colors write more like standard pens, their fine point and uniform ink laying are also perfect for adult coloring book projects. These pens do not smear because they are designed for quick use in a work environment, so there’s no need to let the ink dry at all to avoid smudging. They can be used to lay color and can immediately be highlighted without any risk of danger to your coloring book art.
Make These PaperMate Ink Joy Pens a Part of Your Collection Here
Muji Gel Ink Pens
These pens only come in black, which can be a serious bummer for adult coloring book artists, but they’re still worth noting here because they can seriously vamp up your coloring utensil collection. Black is often needed for shading or dark areas of a coloring book project, so having a trusty black gel pen for those moments can be vital.
These pens are known to last a long time, and it’s easy to monitor the ink levels because the barrel of the pen is clear. The ink does not pool, and it dries quickly which is wonderful for coloring because the smear factor is kept to a minimum. The pen tip is very fine which is great for detailing during a coloring project.
One downside to these pens is they will saturate the paper if you pause and hold the tip of the pen against the page. Make sure if you’re using these pens that you’re continuously drawing to avoid this type of bleeding.
Buy a Pack of Muji Gel Ink Pens Here
Sakura Gelly Roll Pens
Since we covered the best black gel pens on the market, let’s look at the best white pens available for shading and detail work, or large blocks of color on darker coloring book pages. They’re a little pricy for a 3 pack of pens, but a good white pen is hard to come by since they’re seen as impractical for other purposes besides detail work in a coloring project.
The three pens all have different point sizes which allows for differing kinds of line work in one package. These pens boast a waterproof quality, which means that they won’t bleed when water or other ink is applied to the page. This makes them virtually smudge-proof once dried, but the dry time on this selection is a little bit longer than some of the other choices that have been offered up here. Keep in mind that you’ll need to let the ink dry thoroughly to avoid any smudges.
Try Out the Sakura Gelly Roll Pens Through This Link
More about gel pens HERE!
Chromatek Glitter Pens
An appealing quality of this set is the price for 30 pens with refills included, so it’s like getting 60 pens altogether. They have a grip on the barrel for better control while drawing, and the ink doesn’t dry up on the tip which can be a problem with other gel pens on the market. All the pens in this set are glittery, so these make a great addition to any collection needing a little more shimmer.
They’re an excellent tool for coloring books with black pages because the ink dries to the surface and doesn’t bleed into the paper. Since the ink dries so quickly, they do not smear at all when coloring on a surface. No bleeding and no smearing means there is no chance of these drawing utensils smudging while you’re trying to create your coloring book art.
Even though they don’t smudge, there is a tendency for the ink remaining in the pen to stick to the ink tube inside the barrel, and it doesn’t come out freely when shaken which can be annoying. However, they’re the perfect economical choice for a novice artist looking to get started with gel pen coloring book projects.
Get a Pack of Chromatek Glitter Pens Here
Pilot G2 Premium Retractable Pens
These pens win the prize for convenience and portability since the tip retracts into the pen in a traditional clicker style that most people are familiar with on other styles of pens. However, these are bonafide gel pens that deliver the same type of drawing experience as other gel pens on the market.
These are most easily found in black color in most major retailers, however, other standard colors are available like red and green. This lack of versatility means they’ll have more specific uses when you add them to your coloring utensil collection, however, since they reduce the chances of them bursting or bleeding during transport they are an excellent contender when looking for the best gel pens available.
These pens are well known to dry very quickly and are not only a favorite amongst artists, but they’re also a first-line choice for writers, bullet journaling, and other household uses. The ink flows onto the page and almost dries immediately, which again is great for those who are traveling or using these quickly between tasks when out and about. There’s also a built-in clip on these pens so they can be attached to your coloring book as you carry it with you through all of life’s adventures. They also have a grip on the barrel near the tip for better control and to make long-time use easier on your fingers.
Get a Set of Pilot G2 Retractable Gel Pens Here
Conclusion
There are a variety of coloring utensils on the market, but gel pens are the most vibrant and have a lot of appeal to coloring book artists. The smudging potential of a pen is important to keep in mind, and every style available offers up a different level of potential smearing due to the ink quality and the manufacturing style of the pen itself.
Don’t let the chance of smudging deter you from using gel pens, and keep in mind the pens above when you venture into the world of gel pens! With how vibrant gel pens appear on coloring book pages, it would be a shame to forego their brilliance because they have the potential to smear.
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