How do I keep my sketches from smearing?

Question

I have a sketchbook that I use for drawing on the go, and I've tried using many various types and brands, but I run into the same problem: When I close the book, the image gets quickly smeared into the back of the paper preceding it. It's the worst when I have any kind of hatch marks, of course, but the more detailed I make a sketch, usually the more distorted it will become.

Now I'm not trying to preserve these drawings per se, but it makes it difficult to work with if I try to use the sketches as a reference. I'm not really interested in buying another sketchbook, but does anyone know any way to deal with this? Perhaps I should use a different pencil (I'm using a 2h mechanical) or find some way to remove excess graphite?

Answer 1

Hi- another idea is to use a pad that isn't spiral bound. If the sheets can't move against each other, they won't smuge your drawing. It does also help to use a harder graphite. You may have to make changes that you don't really want to in order to avoid the problem. Good luck!

Answer 2

There are a lot of different kinds of fixitives for drawing... Because you dont want to 'preserve' your drawings, i recommend you use a workable fixitive. Workable fixitive is an aerosole spray that leaves a matte finish that seals graphite to paper just enough that it wont smear. They are good if you want to go back into a work and add more graphite. However, if you want to erase things, workable fixitive makes it kind of difficult. i have used numerous different brands of workable fixitive and i have yet to find one that doesnt leave weird streaks or smudges when you try to erase. If you are going to use it, make sure you get all your highlights as light as you want them before you spray. Workable fixitive can be purchased at just about and art supply store and almost always cost between $5-10.

As other people said, you can use hair spray, but that is really more of a permanent fixitive....and if you decide in the future that you want to totally preserve your work i recommend going with Krylon 'Crystal Clear' instead of hairspray. Hairspray leaves a matte finish usually, 'Crystal Clear' leaves a semi-gloss finish that looks really nice on graphite

Hope that helped :)

Answer 3

The only way to prevent smearing/smudging is to spray the sketch with fixative solution. You can find it at almost any art supply shop. It will even prevent smearing of charcoal sketches.

Answer 4

Go to the nearest Dollar General and buy a box of cheap hairspray! That's all you need for sketches. I have heaps of sketches and they all make it through because I've sprayed them with hairspray. Just don't spray too much, well, obviously, because your beautiful sketches will get all soggy and ruined.
=(

Answer 5

my sisters who draw have told me they use hairspray to stop smearing. Don't ask me if it works, that's just what they've told me....just a light spray over the sketch

Answer 6

i dont know abt sprays but i cover mine with cellophine. its plastic so the sketch doesnt smudge. earlier i also used to have this problem and i know really how frustating it is to get ur sketch smudged when u spent a lot of effort in it.
hope my suggestion helps : )

Answer 7

Spray it with an aerosol hair spray. hold it about a foot or more away and spray. This should work, but you can't go back and draw over it later so only do it when you finish.

Answer 8

I do lots of portrait drawing...I have found that if I use plain ole Aqua Net Hair spray..no smdges.

I might also suggest using an HB lead in your mehanical pencil..thats whay I use.

Answer 9

i draw them on diff sheets of paper n keep them in plastic covers

Answer 10

They make fixative spray for this.