Paper Marbling Coverage Calculator

Marbling medium and paint volume from paper size.

Tray length (cm)

Tray width (cm)

Solution depth (cm)

Number of sheets to marble

Number of paint colors

Tab to move between fields

Solution per fill (liters)

3.6

Total solution needed (liters)

3.6

Carrageenan per fill (g)28.8

Alum for mordanting (g)60

Total paint needed (ml)80

Paint per color (ml)20

Tray refills needed1

Max paper size (cm)28

Tray Surface Area In2186

Total Dry Time (hrs)10

How to Use This Calculator

Enter the internal length and width of your marbling tray in centimeters.
Set the depth of carrageenan or size solution in the tray — typically 2–4 cm.
Enter the total number of sheets you plan to marble in this session.
Enter the number of paint or ink colors you will use on each sheet.
Read the solution volume in liters and carrageenan grams needed per tray fill, plus total solution required.
Use the alum grams output to pre-treat your paper for proper paint adhesion before marbling.

How the result changes with Tray length (cm)

Tray length (cm)	Solution per fill (liters)	Total solution needed (liters)
29	2.6	2.6
77	6.9	6.9
134	12.1	12.1
181	16.3	16.3

Tray length (cm): Internal length of your marbling tray in centimeters.
Tray width (cm): Internal width of your marbling tray in centimeters.
Solution depth (cm): Depth of carrageenan/size solution in the tray. Typically 2-4 cm.
Number of sheets to marble: Total sheets of paper you plan to marble.
Number of paint colors: Number of different paint/ink colors used per sheet.

Solution per fill (liters): Volume of carrageenan/size solution needed per tray fill.
Total solution needed (liters): Total solution including tray refills.
Carrageenan per fill (g): Grams of carrageenan powder per tray fill.
Alum for mordanting (g): Grams of alum (potassium aluminum sulfate) for paper pre-treatment.
Total paint needed (ml): Total volume of marbling paint/ink across all colors and sheets.
Paint per color (ml): Volume of each paint color needed for all sheets.
Tray refills needed: Number of times you will need to refresh the size bath.
Max paper size (cm): Largest square paper that fits in the tray with 1 cm margins.

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Tray length (cm) = 40, Tray width (cm) = 30, Solution depth (cm) = 3, Number of sheets to marble = 20 = 5 input(s) provided
Calculate Solution per fill
Solution per fill = solutionVolumeMl / 1000
3.6 = 3.6
Calculate Total solution needed
Total solution needed = solutionVolumeLiters * trayRefills
3.6 = 3.6
Calculate Carrageenan per fill
Carrageenan per fill = solutionVolumeLiters * 8
28.8 = 28.8
Calculate Alum for mordanting
Alum for mordanting = alumSoakLiters * 30
60 = 60