O/T: eraser

That sounds ike contract fraud. If you want people around here to help you, you better explain how it is not an attempt at fraud, or people here simply won't.

Black ink on red paper? Hardly. Last time I checked, Western contracts are not written with the paper soaked in blood. Maybe signed in blood, but not on bloody red paper. In China, red is the color for good fortune and joy, so perhaps this a Chinese contract.

There are all kinds of solvents for ink available, but one needs to know the type of ink in order to pick the right one. Pigment or dye based? Oil or water based? Permanent marker type? There may also be a problem with the paper. There is rice paper, clay coated, high rag content, porous, plastic coated (photo paper), corrasable (erasable typing paper), paper impregnated with something that reacts with the ink to make it permanent, etc. Each type requires different solvent and cleaning methods. The red paper might be dyed white paper, where the color will "bleed" with any kind of solvent attack. Obviously, bleach isn't going to work on red paper. Also, if the "standard pen" happens to be a ball point pen, then it will have left an impression in the paper, which also needs to be addressed to avoid making it look like the document has been altered.

Please narrow down what you're working with before blundering forward. Is there a test page available for experimenting?

The basics: If you have a microscope, it would be helpful to determine if the ink has soaked into the paper, or is sitting on the surface. If you're capable of handling a high tech solution, try vaporizing the black ink with a laser. A green laser works well for laser printed surface inks, so I would guess it would work for black pigment inks on the paper surface. However, I also suspect that it will burn holes in the paper for ink that has penetrated the paper: If you lack the resources, try a tattoo removal specialist.

You might want to start with a commercial ink remover: and perhaps some blotting paper.

Paint or ink contains pigment or dye, vehicle, and some kind of thinner.

Solvent will dissolve the ink vehicle, but usually not the pigment or dye. You would be better off using ink eradicator (which attacks the dye); for some blue inks, it's easy (use vinegar).

"spot remover" test a sample of the red paper for colour fastness.

My chemistry penmanship PhD was a while ago, I'm a bit rusty -

It's like this: "here's $2, son, if you want supper, run to the store and bring home a ball point pen, and a pad of red paper."

Not important here.

I have no idea what to do with this.

- Rich

The spot removers at Safeway read "removes most stains. Not intended for permanent ink"

Should be fine on "standard" ink then ?