This is a very specialized art form that is not widely practiced by many artists. Because the term “scratchboard” can be a bit vague, it’s important to know exactly what materials are used to create scratchboard art.
There are a few different types of scratchboard art, such as black and white, color gradients, and watercolor. Each type of scratchboard art has its own set of materials and techniques.
Here are the best scratchboard art materials to help you get started.
Our Editor’s Best Scratchboard Art Materials Reviews
- MUSEUM-QUALITY SCRATCHBORD: Acid-free kaolin clay ground with India ink on warp-resistant Hardbord. Ultra-smooth, highly absorbent, scratch art surface
- PROFESSIONALS’ TOP CHOICE: Easier to scratch into for clean, crisp, details and lines. Scratch marks are repairable by reapplying India ink. Add vibrant color to your Scratchbord art with inks
- HIGH-DENSITY HARDBOARD CORE: Will not tear, bend or buckle. Ampersand’s premium, warp-resistant, FSC-Certified Hardbord will ensure your artwork is supported
- FRAME WITHOUT GLASS: Seal and display your scratchboard artwork without glass
- MADE IN THE USA: Unparalleled quality and craftsmanship has made Ampersand Art Supply the leader in painting panels for over 25 years
- MUSEUM-QUALITY SCRATCHBORD: Acid-free kaolin clay ground with India ink on warp-resistant Hardbord. Ultra-smooth, highly absorbent, scratch art surface
- PROFESSIONALS’ TOP CHOICE: Easier to scratch into for clean, crisp, details and lines. Scratch marks are repairable by reapplying India ink. Add vibrant color to your Scratchbord art with inks
- HIGH-DENSITY HARDBOARD CORE: Will not tear, bend or buckle. Ampersand’s premium, warp-resistant, FSC-Certified Hardbord will ensure your artwork is supported
- FRAME WITHOUT GLASS: Seal and display your scratchboard artwork without glass
- MADE IN THE USA: Unparalleled quality and craftsmanship has made Ampersand Art Supply the leader in painting panels for over 25 years
- Luminous Effect Scratchboard ： This scratch art paper with premium quality, ensures every scratch reveals a clear and vivid image, maintaining the integrity of the artwork. Simple scratches are all that is needed to reveal, no paint is required, unlike traditional paintings that tend to stain clothes. Unique glow-in-the-dark design, you can also see the beautiful and extraordinary artwork at night!
- Portable entertainment: Lightweight and compact, these scratch boards are perfect for travel. Keep yourself or your kids entertained on long trips, rainy days, or quiet evenings at home
- Create stunning wall art: Turn your scratch art into beautiful home decor. Frame your finished pieces for unique, personalized wall hangings that showcase your artistic flair and travel memories
- Preserve travel memories creatively: Recreate favorite city scenes from your adventures. A unique way to commemorate special trips and relive cherished moments, more personal than photos
- MOVE YOUR TIP AND RELAX：Each Scratchboard has a foil sketch on it, use the scratch tools (included) to scratch off the gray sketch to reveal the beautiful colors underneath. A complete sculpting art set for artists of all ages. When you are stressed, angry or upset, try the stress release scratch art, the best way to whip boredom or release stress.
- MUSEUM-QUALITY SCRATCHBORD: Acid-free kaolin clay ground with India ink on warp-resistant Hardbord. Ultra-smooth, highly absorbent, scratch art surface
- PROFESSIONALS’ TOP CHOICE: Easier to scratch into for clean, crisp, details and lines. Scratch marks are repairable by reapplying India ink. Add vibrant color to your Scratchbord art with inks
- HIGH-DENSITY HARDBOARD CORE: Will not tear, bend or buckle. Ampersand’s premium, warp-resistant, FSC-Certified Hardbord will ensure your artwork is supported
- FRAME WITHOUT GLASS: Seal and display your scratchboard artwork without glass
- MADE IN THE USA: Unparalleled quality and craftsmanship has made Ampersand Art Supply the leader in painting panels for over 25 years
- ✔【1. Scratchboard Art Material】-Our Scratch Art Rainbow painting paper is made of coated paper, odorless and non-toxic powder, and has passed CE-ROHS certification. And it is designed according to the real city night scene pictures, with a high degree of restoration.
- ✔【2. City Night Scratch Painting Paper VS Traditional Black Scratch Paper Art Set】-The real and beautiful city night view is hidden under the matte gray coating. It is an excellent DIY gift set for adults. It can be used for various holiday gifts or party favors and birthday gifts. After completion, it will be a beautiful decoration. It is more collectible than traditional black scratch painting art paper.
- ✔ 【3. Scratch Art for Adults to Kill Time】-If you want to kill time quietly, this size and weight are very convenient to carry, you can create at any time. This is a very clean entertainment project, don't worry about it staining your space.
- ✔ 【4. Scratch Art Set Include】-Including:2xScratch Drawing Board/2xBlank Board for Diy Drawing,1xWood Stylus Stick/1xRed small Scraper/1xScratch Pen/1xBlack Brush.
- ✔ 【5. 100% Service Guarantee】-We will release new patterns from time to time. If you find any problems during the purchase process, please contact us in time and we will solve them as soon as possible.
- Complete scratch art kits: These craft kits include 36 rainbow scratch art bookmarks, 3 scratch tools, and scratch art bookmark is equipped with a scratch stick, ensuring that all participants have a complete experience
- Durable, non-toxic and neat: These graffiti bookmarks are made of high-quality paper and feature a layer of grey pattern prompts. The scratch-off grey coating will show bright rainbow colors when scratched. Use non-toxic materials to ensure the safety of participants' creative exploration
- Compact and portable design: Each rainbow scratch paper bookmark is approximately 8.7 inches long and 2.8 inches wide. The entire set of equipment is portable, suitable for various uses and easy to store
- Cultivating creativity and skill development: Fostering creativity, imagination and self-expression, providing screenless entertainment. Scratch art is an ideal tool for honing writing or painting skills, and is highly suitable for teenagers, the elderly and adults who enjoy art, handicrafts and personalized bookmarks
- Versatile: Suitable for various activities, including gift-giving, indoor events, family time, classroom projects, party gifts, and creative pastimes. We offer one-year after-sales service. If there are any quality issues with the product, please contact us in a timely manner
- DIY Personalized Crafts: when the black coating on the surface of the scratch board paper is scraped off, the white paper underneath comes out; You can give full play to your imagination and creativity, to scrape out beautiful patterns on it, experiencing an interesting craft activity
- Let You Have Fun: the package contains 50 pieces of scratchboard papers and 10 pieces of scratch paper sticks, 60 pieces in total, enough quantity and a nice combination to meet your daily play and DIY needs; Also, you can share them with your friends, family members, classmates and more, to have fun
- Save Time and Energy: the scratch craft paper is suitable for kids and adults, easy to use; Just use the scratch paper wooden stick to scratch off the black coating, and create the pattern you want, simple and convenient, without taking too much time and energy
- Proper Sizes to Use: the black scratch paper measures approx. 7.2 x 5 inches/ 18.5 x 12.5 cm, and the paper scratch stylus measures approx. 5.51 inches/ 14 cm long, lightweight and portable for fitting well in a backpack, which will not add a burden to you, allowing you to take them out and create in spare time
- Applicable Occasions: these scratching paper with tools are suitable for DIY craft projects, art classes, school projects, classroom activities, family fun days, notes and cards making, sketching, drawing, tracing etc., adding more fun for you
- Make Your Own Crafts: the scratch paper is black on the surface, and when you scrape away the black coating, the white paper underneath comes out, and you can give full play of your imagination and creativity, to scrape beautiful patterns on them, provide an interesting crafts activity for you
- Save Your Time and Energy: the scratch paper art set is easy to use, which is equipped with wooden stylus, you only need to gently use the wooden stylus to scratch off the black coating, the operation process is simple and convenient, won't take too much time and energy, and cultivate your focus
- Enjoy the Fun of DIY Together: you will receive 160 pieces of scratch paper art and 40 pieces of wooden stylus, adequate quantity and thoughtful combination can meet your daily play and DIY demands, and you can share them with your close friends, family members, colleagues, classmates, partners and so on, to have fun
- Proper Dimension to Use: this scratch off paper measures approx. 21 x 28 cm/ 8.27 x 11.02 inches in width and length, and the wooden stylus is about 14 cm/ 5.51 inches in length, appropriate in size and light in weight, carrying it around in a backpack doesn't add to your burden, so you can take it out and create in your spare time
- A Wide Range of Applications: our scratch board is suitable for various occasions, such as DIY craft projects, family fun days, art activities, and projects activities, fit for doodle, make notes, create cards, sketch, draw, trace and more, improve your drawing, imagination and creativity skills, and add more fun for you
- 5 PIECE SET: Includes 1 each Line Tool, Scratch Knife (2 Nibs), Wire Brush, Fibre Brush, Piece of Steel Wool and Sample Piece of Claybord
- CREATE UNIQUE DETAILS: Use these tools to scratch away the surface coating exposing the white clay underneath
- PERFECT FOR DIY ART DESIGN: This complete kit is ideal for artists and hobbyists of all ages
- EASY TO USE: Create a variety of linework and textures using hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling on Claybord or Scratchbord
- ADD DEPTH & TEXTURE TO YOUR ART: Tools are available individually or in a 5-piece set
- Material: the scratch paper art sets are made of thick paper cardboard, the wooden styluses are made of wood, the scratch pens are made of plastic, which are non-toxic and harmless for kids and adults
- Super Value Set: The package includes 8 sheets of glow in the dark A5 scratch paper (20 x 14 cm), 2pcs scratch pens (random color) and 2pcs wooden styluses
- Wipe Application: this DIY arts and craft kits is suitable for birthday party, dinosaur party, Christmas party, family and classroom activities, DIY project for stimulating children's creativity and imagination.
- Ideal Gift: perfect for DIY gifts for kids, great present for birthday, Children’s day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, etc.
- Warm Tips: recommended for kids of 3 years and up, suitable for parent-child games, helping to enhance the interaction between children and parents.
Best Scratchboard Art Materials Buying Guide
Before choosing the best scratch board art materials you should consider following options:
1. Ink: The ink you use will depend on what you want to do with your scratchboard. Ink can be water-based or oil-based.
If you want to create an image that can be photographed or scanned and then colored in with computer software, then you should use water-based ink.
If you want to create an image that is purely black and white, then you should use oil-based ink. You can also use a combination of ink types.
2. Inkpad: You will need an inkpad to hold your ink. Inkpads come in a range of sizes and materials. Some have a ridged bottom, which helps the ink from soaking into the board.
If you are using water-based ink, it is probably best to have a smooth bottom for the inkpad so that the ink doesn’t soak in too much.
If you are using oil-based ink, you should have a ridged bottom so that the ink doesn’t spread too far.
3. Inkbrush: You will need an inkbrush to apply ink to the board. There are different types of inkbrushes available.
You can choose a brush that has synthetic bristles, which is good for applying water-based ink, or you can choose a brush that has hog bristle, which is good for applying oil-based ink.
4. Ink Eraser: An ink eraser is needed to remove ink from your board. An eraser that is too hard will damage your board, and an eraser that is too soft will not remove the ink.
It is best to test the eraser before you buy it to make sure it is the right type for you.
5. Masking Tape: Masking tape is used to mask off areas of the board before you ink it. You can also use it to lift the ink off the board once it is dry.
6. Fixative: Fixative is used to seal the ink into the board. You can use fixative as you ink your board, or you can use it after the board is dry.
Fixative can be water-based or oil-based.
What else you should know about scratchboard art materials
1. What is a scratchboard?
A scratchboard is a board coated with a layer of wax or clay that can be scratched to create a design.
2. What are the different types of scratchboards?
There are several different types of scratchboards, but the most common are the black and white scratchboard, the colored scratchboard, and the metal scratchboard.
3. What are the best scratchboard art materials?
The best scratchboard art materials are the ones that suit your needs and preferences. Some people prefer to use traditional scratchboards made from wood, while others prefer to use modern materials such as plastic or metal. There is no right or wrong answer, so it really depends on what you want to achieve with your artwork.
4. How do I use a scratchboard?
To use a scratchboard, you will need a sharp object like a pen or a pencil. You will also need some sort of abrasive material like sandpaper.
First, you will want to sketch out your design on the scratchboard. Once you have your sketch, you will want to start scratching away at the board with your sharp object. Be sure to use light pressure at first so you don’t damage the board. As you scratch away, the abrasive material will start to remove the top layer of the board, revealing the layer beneath. You can continue to scratch away until you have the desired effect.
5. What are some scratchboard techniques?
Some scratchboard techniques are hatching, stippling, cross hatching, and scumbling.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best scratchboard art materials. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best scratchboard art materials will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.