Understanding the difference between Eclats watercolour inks and classic watercolours

20 February 2025

How to choose between classic watercolour and watercolour ink?

Identify your creative needs

If you’re looking for transparency, softness and the ability to rework your work, watercolour is ideal.
For vibrant colours and a fluid application that offers great technical freedom, watercolour ink is the obvious choice.

Consider the type of project

Artistic projects: Classic watercolours are best suited to detailed, organic paintings.
Creative and exploratory projects: Watercolour inks, halfway between watercolour and liquid inks, are perfect for exploring modern or hybrid styles.

Think durability

Professional quality watercolours offer excellent lightfastness.
Quality watercolour inks are just as durable. Just like any other type of watercolour, it’s best not to expose it to direct light.

Key differences between classic watercolour and coloured ink

Composition and texture

Classic watercolour: Made from natural or synthetic pigments bound with gum arabic. Sold in solid cups or tubes, it is activated with water.
Watercolour ink: This type of coloured ink is particularly popular for its fluidity and specific composition based on soluble dyes. Ready to use, it combines the transparency of watercolour with the intensity of liquid inks.

Transparency and colour rendition

Classic watercolour: Colours are often soft and transparent, ideal for layering effects. Some watercolours, depending on the pigments used, can produce grainy effects.
Watercolour ink: The colours are both vibrant and flexible. They can be used to create smooth, even gradations, while retaining a certain transparency. Unlike permanent inks, watercolour inks can be reactivated with water, offering creative flexibility akin to classic watercolour.

How to use

Classic watercolour: Perfect for wash techniques, transparent work and wet-on-wet effects. It can be reactivated once dry.
Watercolour ink: Extremely fluid, it can be applied using brushes, pipettes or even nibs for fine lines or flat areas. Its texture allows for harmonious blends and striking colour transitions, perfect for dynamic watercolour effects.

Versatility

Classic watercolour: Ideal for delicate creations such as landscapes, portraits or fine illustrations.
Watercolour ink: Suitable for a variety of projects, from contemporary illustration to artistic lettering, it stands out for its ability to offer modern, fluid effects, while retaining the poetry of watercolour techniques.

Classic watercolour is for those who want to explore the transparency, softness and subtlety of colour. Watercolour ink, on the other hand, combines the fluidity and liveliness of liquid inks with the possibility of creating watercolour effects. If you’re still hesitating, why not try both? Combining them can produce unique and inspiring results.