Blackout journals are a ton of fun, but using the right materials can make it incredible. Here are the best pens for a blackout journal, so you can have some fun!
Table of Contents
- 1 Pens Have A Big Impact
- 2 The 8 Best Pens for a Blackout Journal
- 2.1 Sakura Gelly Roll White Gel Pen
- 2.2 Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight Gel Pens
- 2.3 Sakura Gelly Roll Souffle Gel Pens
- 2.4 Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic Gel Pens
- 2.5 Sakura Gelly Roll Gold Shadow Gel Pens
- 2.6 Sakura Gelly Roll Silver Shadow Gel Pens
- 2.7 Uniball Signo White Gel Pen
- 2.8 Kelly Creates Metallic Brush Pens
- 3 Other Materials You Can Use
- 4 Challenge Yourself
Pens Have A Big Impact
When I published my review of the Archer & Olive Blackout! Book, I had a ton of questions. The most frequently asked question was about pens. What kind of pens can you use in a black paper journal, anyway? You might think that there aren’t a lot of options, but that’s simply not true! There are lots of fantastic pens and materials that can not only show up on black paper, but look absolutely stunning on black paper. You just have to know what you’re looking for!
The 8 Best Pens for a Blackout Journal
I have tried all the pens I own in my black paper journal, but not all of them made the cut. Here are the best pens for a blackout journal that I have found (so far).
Sakura Gelly Roll White Gel Pen
This classic white gel pen is a fantastic first pen to buy along with your blackout journal. It is thick, creamy, opaque, and (best of all) very inexpensive!
- 0.5mm (fine), 0.8mm (medium) 1.0mm (bold) point sizes
- Bright, White opaque ink
- Ideal for dark and colored paper
- Pack contains 1 each: 05 (fine), 08 (medium), 10 (bold)
Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight Gel Pens
If you’re a fan of bright, bold colors, then the Moonlight set of Gelly Roll pens is your best bet! These vibrant colors were designed specifically with black paper in mind, so you can rest assured that they’ll show up great on your dark paper.
- Gelly roll moonlight 10 (bold point) gel ink pens
- A roller ball pen that is easy and comfortable to write with
- Archival quality ink chemically stable, waterproof, and fade resistant. Fluorescent Moonlight colors are not fade-resistant
- No smears, feathers, or bleed-through on most papers
Sakura Gelly Roll Souffle Gel Pens
One of my absolute favorite sets of pens for a blackout journal is the Gelly Roll Souffle pens. These are incredibly opaque, creamy, and satisfying as hell to write with. They take a while to dry, but the end result is incredible. You need to see the dried ink to understand just how velvety smooth it truly is.
- Souffle blister card 3-dimensional opaque ink pen set
- A roller ball pen that is easy and comfortable to write with
- A raised effect that is delicate and can be crushed-down
- Use on dark or light backgrounds; raised effect best on non-porous, clean, smooth surfaces
Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic Gel Pens
Do you like a bit of metallic shine? Because you’re gonna get a ton of gorgeous metallic colors with the Gelly Roll Metallic set. They are truly some of the best pens for a blackout journal!
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Sakura Gelly Roll Gold Shadow Gel Pens
Sakura decided that they loved gold so much that they designed a whole set of unique pens. These pens lay down thick, creamy ink in one color. Then, as the ink dries, the main body of it turns gold, leaving the original color as a thin outline. These are delightful to write with since they undergo a magical transformation. And they stand out beautifully on the black paper!
- Gold shadow set displays an extra special touch of care and thoughtfulness with a unique metallic glint outlined in color line
- Penmanship or embellishments beautify cards, invitations and custom stationery
- Applicable for handmade craft cards, invitations, gift tags, doodles and drawings, line borders and lettering templates
- Technical qualities are patented gel ink for creating two tone outlining effect
Sakura Gelly Roll Silver Shadow Gel Pens
Just like the Gold Shadow gel pens, these Silver Shadow pens have a little magic trick for you. The colors dry, leaving an opaque silver body with a charming colorful outline.
- Silver shadow set displays an extra special touch of care and thoughtfulness with a unique metallic glint outlined in color line
- Penmanship or embellishments beautify cards, invitations and custom stationery
- Applicable for handmade craft cards, invitations, gift tags, doodles and drawings, line borders and lettering templates
- Technical qualities are patented gel ink for creating two tone outlining effect
Uniball Signo White Gel Pen
If you’re looking for another option for a white gel pen, then the Uniball Signo is a great option! I find that it isn’t quite as opaque as the Sakura Gelly Roll, but it still does a great job and is a worthy option for your blackout journal kit.
- SMOOTH INK FLOW: High quality ballpoint and gel ink allows for smooth and effortless drawing. Great White gel pen set for artists drawing illustration sketching and adult coloring books
- ARCHIVAL INK AND WATERPROOF: Archival ink white pen waterproof white ink pens fast drying smear resistant and water resistant white gel pens
- FINE TIP WHITE GEL PENS: 0.7mm fine point allows for detail drawing sketching coloring and illustration
- Acid Free and Non Toxic. Rubber grip for comfortable use. More ink than uniball uni ball signo white gel pen and sakura gelly roll white pen
Kelly Creates Metallic Brush Pens
Want to do some brush lettering in your blackout journal? You can! These metallic Kelly Creates brush pens show up beautifully in a black journal, and they’re a joy to use for lettering.
- INCLUDES: 8 pens in metallic jewel colors
- DETAILS: Pens are perfect for writing small details
- COLORS: Pens come in 8 beautiful, metallic jewel colors
- Product Dimension: 6.69"L x 3.74"W x 0.43"H
Other Materials You Can Use
If you want some great options for your blackout journal that aren’t strictly speaking pens, then you have a few options available to you. These materials are a bit heavier and wetter than your standard pen, so I can only endorse them on the thick paper of an Archer & Olive Blackout! Book. Here are a few of my favorites!
Coliro Watercolors
I have been in love with Coliro pearlescent watercolors for years and years, and they never disappoint me. These glorious and intoxicatinly beautiful paints are simply amazing on black paper. I enjoy using my gold palette in particular to create lovely bits of design. I just use it with my Pentel Aquash Water Brush Pens and viola! Watercolor magic.
- Ideal for creating special effects and highlighting.
- Can be blended and can be dissolved with water and applied with a brush
- Colors adhere to all absorbent surfaces such as paper wood gypsum etc.
- Set includes: Silver Pearl, Fine Gold, Shining Pink, Red, Fine Lilac, Red Violet, Blue Pearl, Blue Silver, Green Pearl, Blue-Green, Bronze, and Red-Brown.
Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleedproof White
This versatile material is extremely handy for dark paper. You can use it on a paintbrush or even on a flex nib for some vibrant calligraphy.
- Bleedproof white in a 1.0 Oz glass jar
- Covers dye, marker colors, or pigment color
- Excellent for correcting on all paper-based surfaces
- Great for watercolor work for building layers
Dr. Ph. Martin’s Irridescent Inks
Again, whether you’re using a nib or a paintbrush, you can’t go wrong with these shimmery iridescent inks from Dr. Ph. Martin’s. I sadly don’t have the full set, but the colors I have looked perfect on black paper.
- Set of 12, 1.0 oz glass bottles with droppers and mixing palette
- Stunning colors with a pearl shimmer and shine and unmatched color intensity
- Lightfast, waterproof, archival grade color made from the finest ground pigments
- 24 unique colors available across two different sets
Liquitex Metallic Inks
If you’re looking for a different type of metallic ink, then Liquitex has an excellent selection. These inks are thicker than your average ink, so they tend to go onto the paper very opaque.
- Includes six metallic professional ink colours
- Intermixable with Liquitex professional acrylic paint colours and mediums
- Artist quality pigments
- Conforms to ASTM D 4236
Challenge Yourself
A blackout journal gives you so many opportunities to think outside of the box, use new materials, and try new things. You have to think about your designs and layouts in a different way, which is a great creative exercise! I hope that somewhere on this list of the best pens for a blackout journal you found a new favorite set of pens! A blackout journal is a great idea for your next bullet journal, dream journal, project journal, or something else entirely. Grab the right pens for you and go making something amazing!
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