Print a page from a home inkjet and the first brushstroke can turn the lines into a gray smear. Use a laser printer or a page from a coloring book printed on one, and you can paint right over the black lines without a smudge. The key is matching the paper and ink to the wet media, and keeping the paint thin enough to sit on the surface rather than soaking through.
Pick paper that can take a wet wash
Standard copy paper (20 lb) will buckle, pill, and tear the second you add water. You need something heavier. Look for a multi-purpose or mixed-media paper that is at least 90 lb (around 140 gsm). Mixed-media paper is a good middle ground: it has enough tooth for a light wash but still feeds through a printer. Avoid hot-press watercolor paper unless you have a printer that can handle thick media – most home printers will jam. If you are unsure, print on a test page first and let it dry completely before touching it with water.
Understand printer ink: Laser vs. inkjet
The single biggest factor is whether your printer uses toner (laser) or liquid ink (inkjet). Laser toner is fused to the paper with heat, so it is already waterproof – you can paint right over the black lines without smearing. Inkjet ink is dye-based or pigment-based; dye-based inks are the worst, while pigment-based inks are more water-resistant but not always fully waterproof. If you have an inkjet, you have three options:
- Print on a laser printer (at a copy shop, for example) and then paint at home.
- Set the ink by spraying a light coat of workable fixative or hairspray over the printed page and letting it dry thoroughly. Test on a corner first.
- Use a waterproof pen to trace the lines after printing, then paint – but that only works if you don’t mind the extra step.
If you are printing at home with an inkjet, the safest route is to use a page from a coloring book printed on a laser printer, or to treat the page before painting.
Start with light washes, not a flood
Even on good paper, too much water will soak through and ruin the page. Use a damp brush, not a dripping one. Dip your brush in clean water, shake off the excess, then pick up a little pigment and test the color on a scrap of paper first. Apply the wash in thin, even strokes, and let each layer dry before adding another. You can always build up color, but you cannot lift a heavy stain once it sets. If you are new to watercolor, practice on a scrap piece of the same paper first to see how much water it can hold.
Tape the edges to keep the page flat
Wet paper expands and dries with waves. The fix is simple: tape the page down before you start. Use a low-tack artist tape or washi tape along all four edges, pressing down firmly. If you want a white border, tape it on all sides; if you want the color to go edge-to-edge, tape the back of the page to a board. For a more secure hold, wet the paper slightly on the back before taping – but that is only necessary for very wet washes. Once the painting is dry, remove the tape slowly at a 45-degree angle to avoid tearing the paper.
Steps to tape a printed page for watercolor
- Cut the printed page to size if it is larger than your board.
- Place the page on a flat, waterproof surface (a piece of plexiglass or a wooden board works).
- Tear four strips of tape – slightly longer than each side – and press them halfway onto the paper and halfway onto the board.
- Smooth the tape down with your fingernail to seal the edges. That prevents water from seeping under the paper and lifting the ink.
- When the painting is completely dry, peel the tape off slowly and steadily.
Dry flat, then flatten if needed
Never pull a wet page off the board. Let it dry completely – that can take an hour or more, depending on humidity. If the page still curls after the tape is removed, place it under a stack of heavy books overnight. For a stubborn curl, lightly mist the back of the page with water and press it under books again. Do not use a hairdryer; the heat can warp the paper further and make the ink run if any moisture is trapped.
Combine watercolor with colored pencils for control
Watercolor is beautiful for backgrounds, skies, and large areas, but it is hard to keep within thin lines. That is where colored pencils come in. After the watercolor is dry, use a sharp pencil to add detail, shading, or to clean up edges. You can also use a watercolor pencil: draw with it, then activate it with a wet brush for a soft effect. For crisp lines, keep the pencil strokes light and use a sharp point. If you want a more painterly look, skip the pencil and instead use a waterproof pen (like a fine-liner) to outline the shapes before you paint.
The most common mistake: Using too much water
Nine times out of ten, a ruined watercolor coloring page comes from a brush that is too wet. A puddle of water sits on the paper, the ink from the printer bleeds into the wash, and the paper buckles. The fix is easy: blot your brush on a paper towel after dipping it, and always work with a damp, not dripping, brush. If you do flood a section, blot the excess water immediately with a clean, dry tissue or a corner of a paper towel – do not rub. Then let it dry and decide if you need a second layer. Once you get the hang of controlling the water, you will find that printed pages can handle a gentle wash just fine.
If you are looking for pages to test this on, try the Nature Coloring Pages – the large leaves and petals give you plenty of room for soft washes. For more guidance on picking the right paper and tools, check the how to open and print coloring page PDFs guide. And if you want to combine watercolor with other media, the how to choose colors that look good on coloring pages page has tips on building a palette that works with both paint and pencil. For a simpler project, the easy coloring pages for toddlers and setup tips show how to set up a low-mess painting session. When you are ready to move on to other tools, the how to color neatly with crayons on coloring pages guide covers a different approach. And if you are coloring with kids, the how to choose coloring pages by age group page helps you match difficulty to skill. For a broader selection, browse the Themes Coloring Pages for more watercolor-friendly designs. Just remember: keep the water light, tape the page down, and let it dry flat. That is the whole trick.