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They are refillable markers, so you never throw them away. If you're on a budget, you can buy a handful of colors to use and try it out. If you haven't already done so, visit Marianne's blog. She's a Copic Product Specialist. The blog is an amazing resource if you want to look into these markers. I love them and mainly use them to color my stamp images.
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I'd say the main reason is they're professional tools. They've been used for years by graphic designers and so on, it's only recently they've been picked up in the hobby market by the likes of us stampers.
The fact they they are alcohol-based probably also makes them more expensive as alcohol inks are generally a bit pricier than water-based ones. The alcohol ink is also what makes them completely different to use than other markers. There are, of course, other alcohol-based markers on the market (Pro-marker, Tria etc) but of the ones I've tried, Copics have by far and away the best nibs and smoothest ink lay down.
As Fura said, they're refillable and you can also replace the nibs if you need to (although the nibs are very hardy) so you only need to buy a marker once.
I don't know about prices in the US but I was noticing a while back that actually an individual Ciao marker here in the UK is no different in price than an individual Tombow marker. Tombow might also be considered a professional grade marker I guess but it's not alcohol ink so you can't do the same things with it (still great markers, just different!).
If you think you might like them, why not see if you can find a class or try-out session in your area so you can get to have a play with some guidance and without risking too much money?
I saw a set at Overstock called Coic Ciao 12 Basic Colors Marker Set for $38.61. Is that a good starter set? Isn't there some kind of blender pen you need? Or is there something else you can blend with? I would love to try these and think this is affordable to start with if this is a good starter. My dh would flip if he saw this price though! Thanks for any help.
There's a new Copic "sticky" on the Tools and Products forum where you can find lots of fabulous information and a link to Marianne's blog. Marianne is the goddess of Copics, and her advice is invaluable. Have fun!
__________________ Carol
*Olim velis me peraudire.*
Rock is dead. Long live paper and scissors!
you asked so now you will also be tempted with the examples shown.
this card would not be the same witout the copic coloring, another
example from seaside creativity: http://seasidecreativity.wordpress.c...a-second-look/
If you look at the retail price of copics, almost $6.00 each and compare to the
prices online with free shipping, it is not as bad of a cost. I like the idea that they are
refillable and will last forever.
Everyone style of cards change at one time or another,
for so long it has been embellishments, then we tire of paying the extra postage
to send them. This is a card technique that doesn't require a lot of other embellishments, the blended coloring is a statement of it's own.
I'm just getting into them, but am going to use prism color pencils to add
to blending, so I won't need as many copics. another reason for copics over
promarkers and SU markers, is all the tutorials online and color combo selection
to view before ordering.
__________________ Carolyn
my avatar: (such desparation), Dear God, if you can't make me thin; make my
friends fat"
They are so worth it, I was not going to buy them because of the cost, but am so glad I did. I was able to use a 50% coupon on the JoAnn website and got 36 for $80 shipped. There are so many great tutorials out there and the results, even for someone who has never used them can be amazing. You just have to take your time and practice, but it really is worth it.
What she said. Also if it helps I buy from carpediemstore.com Sketch style are $3.95 each with shipping maxing at about $12 they also are super fast shippers... HTH!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paula Pea
Glad I bought mine....I HATED coloring before I got them...now that's all I do...
I just bought some at carpediem store...single at $2.64....I ended up getting 36 for $96.84...with shipping it ended up being $110.00. Not worth getting if you are not going to get a bunch because just for one they will charge you $12 for shipping. I haven't gotten them yet...but I can not wait. Took me a long time to get the guts to spend that $$ but I took a class and fell in love with them
the ability to 'blend' so well ... I had not found this in water-based markers. Blending is one of the "selling" features ... or at least it was for me. ;)
the fact that they are 'refillable' .... No matter which "style" you select, all Copic Markers can be refilled.
Thus, if you spend a lot of your creative time in "coloring", the features above will be meaningful.
I too am confused about the copics. I love the results they produce when I go through the galleries and tutorials on here. I dont know whether to get the sketch; caio.. or whatever..Everytime I think I am ready to make the plunge and buy some..I read something else that only confuses me more! I dont know which style to use! HELP HELP HELP. I would be a beginner obviously..and have only colored with SU! markers and watercolor pencils which I love..any advise would be greatly appreciated..
I was hesitant to spend the money also. I started out with a basic set, played with them for a little, then added colors as I studied the charts and discovered how I liked to use them. I now have approximately 40 Copic Sketch markers. (I should say that I found the basic set that I bought to be too dark in most cases. I didn't really enjoy and get the full benefit of the Copics until I got a range of lighter colors.)
I have always loved to color, and these are the most versatile and satisfying medium to color with that I have found. I can layer colors and blend, achieving the results that I want, pretty quickly.
HTH!
__________________ Marcy Wolf Creek Crafting
I just love the smell of Stazon in the morning!
I too am confused about the copics. I love the results they produce when I go through the galleries and tutorials on here. I dont know whether to get the sketch; caio.. or whatever..Everytime I think I am ready to make the plunge and buy some..I read something else that only confuses me more! I dont know which style to use! HELP HELP HELP. I would be a beginner obviously..and have only colored with SU! markers and watercolor pencils which I love..any advise would be greatly appreciated..
First of all, your copics choice is based on Your Preferences.
Ciaos are the round barrel. ...
Sketch are the oval barrel ...
Originals are the square barrel.
Each of the 3 offer varying "tips" for your use.rig
Originals offer "only" bullet tip and chisel tip.
Ciao & Sketch both include 'chisel tip' and 'brush tip'.
Sketch offers the widest range of color.
ALL types are refillable ... this is honestly one of the main selling features.
If 'I', personally, were starting all over again ... I would stick the Sketch type. Please temper that advice with the fact that I use Copics nearly exclusively in my crafty color-work now. If swayed by the lower cost of the Ciao's, they offer the same "tips", but without the wider range of color options. ;)
Just to add that I have all the Ciaos - and I add Sketch if there is a color I want and it doesn't come in Ciao. Unless it bothers you - there is no Copic Police saying all the markers have to be the same barrel. Just like my pencils are varying sizes because the ones I use more get sharpened more. And my paints have varying amounts in the pots for similar reasons. Also it drives me crazy that the Sketch I can't put the lid on the other end while I am coloring. So for me I made the right decision.
Create an account and look at Oozak - great prices, shipping costs and prompt (scarily so!)
Are they worth it? yes, if you know you are going to use them then absolutely there is nothing more frustrating than trying to work with the wrong tools - if papercrafting is a fad then no.
Last edited by RiverIsis; 01-16-2010 at 04:47 AM..
Just to add that I have all the Ciaos - and I add Sketch if there is a color I want and it doesn't come in Ciao. Unless it bothers you - there is no Copic Police saying all the markers have to be the same barrel....Also it drives me crazy that the Sketch I can't put the lid on the other end while I am coloring.
Ditto on both these points! My stamping table is such a mess that putting down something as small as a marker cap can mean I spend the rest of my afternoon looking for it rather than stamping :rolleyes:
Booklvr asked about the basic set. I have to say that I have shied away from buying in sets - if you get even a couple of colours you won't use, you have lost the price gain straight away. The sets also seem to me not to have colours that are right for blending. When I started out with Copics, I hit on the strategy of buying markers to colour a particular image (yellow/orange/green for a harvest image with corn and pumpkins, for example). Now I have enough that I basically just buy a few every now and again to fill out certain colour groups if I have some craft budget to spend!
Don't forget there's no law that says your image must be coloured 100% with Copics. If you buy a few and then want to colour an image that needs a colour you don't have yet - use something else for that bit (pencil, chalk, ink, whatever!). The only thing to remember is that if you use pencils or chalks alongside your Copics, make sure to do the Copic colouring first and add the other colour later (the wax from the pencil or the chalk particles might clog your marker nib and lead to you having to replace it).
Why are Copics so expensive?
