Why does the ink bleed through the paper? What can I do to avoid this?

Since our ink is a dye ink, it soaks into the paper you use, hence the ink will always bleed through the paper to some extent. We therefore recommend you place a scrap paper underneath to protect the surface you work on. To avoid excess bleeding we also recommend that you don't put much pressure on the markers when drawing. The level of bleeding also depends on the type of paper you use. In the Copic Paper Selections range you can find Premium Bond Paper and Custom Paper - those 2 types are basically bleed-proof. The Thick Marker Paper and Soft Watercolor Paper (Gasen-shi) bleed through very easily though, but it is easier to create gradations and blend colors on these surfaces. We recommend trying out various types of paper to find the one most suitable for you.