Maybe you want to erase bad test scores, or remove margins from used books. Artists who use pen and ink also need to know how to correct mistakes in their artwork. With simple household appliances and the right technique, it is possible to remove most of the ink from a piece of paper. While removing all the ink may be difficult, a combination of several different techniques can increase your chances of turning the paper white again.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Household Chemicals
Step 1. Use acetone to remove the ink
Most nail polish removers are made of acetone, and can be used to remove ink from paper. Pour a small amount of acetone onto a cotton swab, then rub it over the ink you want to remove.
- This method gives the best results with ordinary ballpoint ink.
- Blue ink is easier to remove than black ink.
Step 2. Try using isopropyl alcohol to remove the ink
You can use isopropyl alcohol to remove ink from all types of paper. If only a small amount of ink needs to be removed, use a cotton swab. However, if you want to remove most of the ink on a page, try soaking the paper in a small tray for 5 minutes.
- You can use any brand of isopropyl alcohol in this step. Avoid using isopropyl alcohol that contains fragrances or dyes.
- Be sure to protect the part of the paper that you don't want to lose ink.
Step 3. Apply lemon juice to the ink stain
Pour a little lemon juice into a 240 ml jar. Dip the earplugs in the lemon juice. Then rub a cotton swab soaked in lemon juice onto the ink you want to remove from the surface of the paper.
- The acid will dissolve the ink and paper. So, be careful when removing ink on thin paper.
- Thick paper is more resistant to this method than thin paper.
Step 4. Mix the baking soda and water into a runny paste
Mix the two in a small glass bowl for best results. Use a clean white cotton cloth to apply the baking soda paste to the ink on the paper. Gently rub the paste over the ink you want to remove.
- You can also use a toothbrush to scoop the baking soda paste from the bowl onto the paper, or to rub the paste onto the ink. Use a toothbrush with bristles that are still intact and not worn out for best results.
- Allow the paper to dry. There is no need to rinse the remaining baking soda paste off the paper. The water will evaporate and the baking soda will come off on its own.
Method 2 of 3: Using Friction
Step 1. Use a simple knife to remove the ink
This method gives the best results on printing ink and if only used to erase some letters. Hold the knife vertically above the paper, then stroke gently. Do not press the knife too hard against the paper, or the paper will peel off.
Step 2. Use a special ink eraser
Special types of erasable ink you can easily remove with an ink eraser. These erasable inks are usually blue instead of black, and are labeled erasable on the packaging. These inks are also often sold as ink-tipped pencils with an ink eraser on the other end.
- If you're not sure whether the type of ink used can be erased, try to find out by erasing it using an ink eraser.
- A rubber eraser will give the best results on pencil/graphite writing, and it is not recommended to erase pen ink.
- While it is possible to remove ink with a vinyl eraser, you should be careful. This eraser is very rough and can easily peel off the surface of the paper along with the ink to be erased.
Step 3. Peel off the ink using sandpaper
Use 000 sandpaper and a small block of sandpaper. If you need to change the shape of the sandpaper to a smaller size than the sandpaper block or your fingers, cut a small amount of sandpaper and then glue it to the eraser end of the pencil. Gently rub the sandpaper onto the ink on the paper in small, right-to-left motions.
- Be careful not to apply too much pressure when applying the sandpaper to the ink on the paper.
- Gently blow on the surface of the paper to remove sandpaper, ink, or paper debris, so you can see the progress more clearly.
Step 4. Use a fine grinder to remove the ink from the paper
A grinder is basically an emery surface that is used mechanically so that it is possible to peel off the paper surface more evenly and easily than by hand. A Dremel mini grinder with a round stone is recommended for removing ink.
- It is highly recommended to use a grinder to remove ink streaks on the edges of the book.
- However, the grinder is sometimes too rough for the paper surface, unless the paper is strong enough.
Method 3 of 3: Disguise Ink Stains
Step 1. Apply Tipp-Ex
Although Tipp-Ex cannot remove ink, it can disguise ink as it erases it. Tipp-Ex is actually a well-known trademark of correction fluid. Apart from Tipp-Ex, another well-known brand is "Liquid Paper" or "Wite-Out" which is a thick liquid, often white in color, and is used to cover up mistakes or scribbles on paper. Tipp-Ex is generally applied with a small brush.
- Tipp-Ex may dry out or clump. So, make sure the consistency is right before use.
- Tipp-Ex will feel wet after application. Be sure not to touch the still-wet Tipp-Ex liquid with any other surface.
Step 2. Coat the ink with the Tipp-Ex in the form of a roller
If you need to erase ink in a horizontal or vertical strip, this Roller Tipp-Ex is probably the best choice to cover your mistakes. One side of the Tipp-Ex is made to resemble the appearance of paper, while the other side is an adhesive that will stick to the paper. These Tipp-Ex rollers are usually white, but other color options are also available depending on the color of your paper.
- This Tipp-Ex coating can be easily seen up close on the surface of the paper.
- However, if paper that has been coated with Tipp-Ex is copied or scanned, the reader may not notice it.
Step 3. Cover any spills or ink splashes with paper
If you want to turn a part of an image out of ink, sometimes the easiest solution is to cover it with a piece of paper. Find the same blank paper as the previous paper, then cut it to the size of the surface you want to cover. Glue the new paper to the old. Recreate your artwork or writing on a new surface.
- Make sure that the edges of the new paper are flat against the surface of the old paper so that they do not appear warped or bent.
- Depending on people's level of observation, those who pay close attention may notice differences in the surface of the paper.
- If you copy or scan the results, people will have a harder time noticing these fixes.
Step 4. Cover up the ink spill
If you're working with pen and ink, and then spill some of the ink, the first thing that comes to mind is probably to wipe it off. However, if none of the above methods work for the ink spill, you might be able to disguise the error by adding elements to your artwork such as creating a background or adding a specific color.
- Using opaque colors on top of the ink can also disguise your mistakes.
- If you accidentally draw outside of the original design, consider decorating the design. If you take this step, you'll look like you meant to do it from the start!
Step 5. Trace the paper and start over
Of course, this step isn't about erasing ink, but it does the same thing as erasing errors on paper. If none of the methods above work to remove the ink from the paper, place the new paper on top of the old paper. Trace the entire text or image there without including what you want to delete. Finish by making repairs on new paper.
- This method is more demanding, but if you're working on pen and ink art, this is the best option.
- Repairs in this way will produce results on new paper, as if the error never occurred.
Tips
- Use a gel pen if you are afraid that someone will wipe the ink from the check (check washing). The above method of removing ink rarely works on gel inks.
- Protect the part of the paper you don't want to ink from while trying to erase the rest of the paper. Attach a clear sticker or cover it with other paper so that the ink that should remain intact does not get washed away.
Warning
- If you are trying to remove ink from a book page, keep in mind that the method you use may damage the page. Look for hidden passages in the book and test first how to remove the ink before using it in a wider area.
- Keep in mind that it is illegal to remove information from checks.
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