Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Picking Between Markers, part 2 - Copic

Oh I'm going to have so much fun papercrafting today! Usually I come up to Seattle each spring for the SakuraCon Anime Convention and teach Copic workshops, but this year I was too busy so everyone else went instead. I love Seattle and I really missed all my Anime friends, but I'm getting to play with stampers, so it all works out.

The first marker type I'd like to explain is the original Copic Marker.

For those of you who want a firm, fine point while coloring, the ability to airbrush, or don't want to refill right away then the Original Copic Marker is for you.

Original Copic Markers were the first style created by Japan over 25 years ago. They are most popular for Architects, product designers, calligraphers, Quilters, and for papercrafting. These durable markers have not changed since they first came out many years ago. Some artists have kept the same marker for over 20 years!

These markers feature a square body design, come in 216 colors, and have the option of 9 different tips. If you don't like the standard fine or broad tips then swap them out for calligraphy tips, a brush tip, super fine tip, round nib, or any of the other custom nibs.

What does all this mean? The original Copic Marker is the most customizable. You can get an empty marker and mix your own inks to get exactly the color you want, as well as the tips you need.

I use these when I have a larger area that I want to color smoothly, and I also need to fill in fine details. One feature people like is that when you take a cap off it can stick on the other side, (you can't do this with a sketch, but you can with a Ciao) and the color number is printed on the cap (not Ciao). The Fine nib is also much easier to write with than the Super Brush tip found on Sketch or Ciao markers. So if you think you'll be doing a lot of journaling with the markers instead of inking pens, then the original Copic marker is for you.

Image credits- Stamp: Party Lanterns by AMuse Ink : Memento Tuxedo Black Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Markers : B41, Y11, G12, V12, BV31

9 comments:

Sandy Knecht said...

I think I will have to get some original Copic for the fine line. Thank you, I didn't know that!

Karen W said...

Thanks so much for the info. Just to let you know, cryogen white and Stampin Up's whisper or shimmer white are the same paper. We have been using the new memento inks and copic sketch markers and I love them, you can NOT make that black ink run on the cryogen paper, haven not tried other paper with these markers yet. cut card stock has the best prices for retail on the cryogen white paper that we have found and service is awesome.
Karen

david f said...

are copic markers officially archival.

i know that they are acid free once the alchol has dissolved.

for the collectors who buy my work it is mandatory that it is 100% archival and will not fade or yellow

if anybody knows please post

Unknown said...

How can you claim that your alcohol based markers are acid free on most surfaces???

The dye are suspended in alcohol and contain acid, therefore it cannot be acid free.
Saying its acid free when it dries is a bit misleading, copic markers are alcohol based therefore contain acid.
If I use them on the basis of your acid free claim and it ruins my work, to whom to I complain?

Unknown said...

thanks so much for info above
Question..
i like copic original for the grip but also i like sketch super brush option .. is there a way to instal super brush on copic ??

thank you

M.M

Anonymous said...

thank you for posting this! i just got my first copic markers for a christmas gift. i got some of each type and then paniced a bit about the smaller brush tip on the original markers. i didnt know you could place the larger brush tips in them instead. how wonderful!
Anj Mirage

Kaspar said...

For those of you who want a firm, fine point while coloring, the ability to airbrush, or don't want to refill right away then the Original Copic Marker ... ccopicmarkers.blogspot.com

Jen Adkins said...

Marianne,
What size are the "super fine" and "fine" nibs? (How many mm with average pressure?)

David Thomas said...

Thanks for sharing such a nice piece of information with us. crayola broad line markers