I use Arches 140 Cold Pressed and 3M Blue masking tape and never have a problem. If you are using something else, one or the other might be the cause.

I second using blue “painters tape” – I have Blue Hawk brand and it works quite well. Just be careful when lifting the tape off the edges of the support. I have had some bad luck with tape peeling off the top layer of multi-layer illustration board. I think the better quality of support, the less likely it is to peel off with tape.

I use (Norton house painters) masking tape (purple) on Archers hot press 640 gram (almost a board) works like a dream never had issues with it tearing or leaving behind thick residue behind, some of my paintings have been taped for over 3 months as a typical painting takes 80-120 hours to complete hope this helps you.

Joe Miller (Cheap Joe’s) has a great little video clip that shows how to keep the tape from tearing your paper:

http://youtu.be/euItyftc3N8

Jan

I stick the masking tape on my flannel shirt before I stick it on the paper. This lessens the stickiness of the tape. I use regular masking tape not the blue painters tape.

I second janinco’s recommendation of the method shown in the Cheap Joe’s video – putting the tape on your shirt to reduce the stickyness before applying to the paper.

I use white artists tape. (I find the color of blue tape distracting next to my painting area.) It’s low-stick to begin with, but the shirt method makes it even less so.

I make a point of only pressing the tape down firmly on the edge facing in to the painting area, not around the outside, reducing the area where the adhesive is pressed hard against the paper. I also pull the tape up slowly.

So far, no leaks, no tearing.

If water/paint is seeping under the edge of the tape, try adding a fine line of masking fluid along that edge to make doubly sure it is sealed.