What inks would be best for bristol paper

[Kavin]

I was wondering what fountain pen inks would be best for my fountain pen to draw on bristol paper, as an artist I would prefer clean lines without feathering and bleeding, and I would also want a smooth surface rather than a rough surface to avoid damaging my nibs and also for the inks to shine more.  I currently use Noodler's black and Heart of Darkness which are more water-resistant than proof, and I also use platinum carbon black. I was wondering if I should use different paper for better results, like Clairfontane, or stick with bristol as the paper usually comes in various sizes. 

[dipper]

In my experience, the only way to find a good pairing of an ink with a "Bristol" smooth surface board or paper is to buy and test until you find a pairing that works. (I have used Winsor&Newton, Daler-Rowney, Frisk, and others that I forget.)

 

The description "Bristol" is a rather vague labelling used by many paper suppliers. It is not a brand-name or one specific manufacturer.

The smoothness and dense compressed surface of papers labelled "Bristol" are reliably repeated from maker to maker.

The "feel" of the surfaces can vary from hard, clean, and almost glossy, to a subtle softness - almost as if the surface has been dusted with talc.

But the behaviour of inks regarding bleed and feathering seems to be most variable from brand to brand.

 

Price and brand reputation must be significant for some features like archival quality, but does not indicate suitability for fountain pen inks. Recently, in a local (UK) general store, some cheap A4 sketchpads seemed to have a pleasing dense smooth surface - just as good as expensive art supplies "Bristol" papers, though not labelled as such. The paper did not even claim to be "smooth". I bought a pad to try. First sheet tested and found to work really well with six inks tested. The rejected inks failed on the bleed-through check, but had no feathering.

[Braden Douglas]

For clean lines and minimal feathering and bleeding, it's advisable to use fountain pen inks that have good ink flow and are specifically formulated for precision and line work. Except for Platinum Carbon Black, Atramentis Document Inks are waterproof and designed for long-lasting results without feathering or bleeding. Or Sailor Kiwa-Guro, another popular option for artists, ink is pigment-based, providing water resistance and clean lines. Furthermore, while Bristol paper is commonly used for drawing, it may not always be the best choice for fountain pen work due to its texture. Bristol paper typically has a slightly rough surface, which can cause more resistance and potential damage to your nibs. You can try to use Clairfontaine which offers a range of high-quality papers, including their renowned "Rhodia" line, which has a smooth surface and is well-suited for fountain pen use to draw.
 

[Kavin]

The type of bristol paper I generally use is the Strathmore bristol paper with the smooth texture, there is almost no feedback on it and it feels really smooth. I was wondering more about compatibility really, I wasn't able to reply as I was busy for most of this while. From my personal preferences, I like pigmented inks on bristol paper, namely platinum carbon and I might try the Montblanc permanent black and de atramentis document or archival black.