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I've heard these markers are amazing, I've heard they tend to run out of ink quickly if doing a lot of coloring for a bunch of cards or such. I've also heard you can buy ink refills for them, but I've not seen the refills anywhere around here and it makes me hesitant to start slowly accumulating them.
Are they really worth the headache of trying to locate supplies for them?
And what about the blender? Do you have to replace the nib every time you switch colors?
I'm just worried that this is going to get really pricey, really fast. I'm not very artistic so I'm a little weary of spending so much money on markers...are they truly worth it? No lines is great, but I still have my reservations...any other pros (or cons) to these beauties?
__________________ �Genius is essentially creative; it bears the stamp of the individual who possesses it.� ~Madame de Stael
I have some but they are very expensive. Personally I like the Prisma a bit better due to price and lasting a lot longer.
I just bought a skin white copic 5 weeks ago and I have not used it all that much just coloring skin on my girl images and it is dried out already. I have some others that did the same thing.
Some people love them and don't mind the cost. They are nice markers but not for me.
I will buy another skin one as its the closest match I can find for this.
I have the copic ciaos (DH bought me a 72 set for my b-day/christmas one year) I LOVE them! I have not had one run out of ink yet.
The blender pen is NOT like the SU blender pens. It does not blend the colors, rather removes color. That is VERY important to note or you will be very frustrated with it!! I have never replaced my nib, rather I just scribble on scrap paper and it comes clean.
Do you have a local scrap book store that sells them? I have seen our LSS offer copic workshops and that way you could try the markers before investing
I have the copic ciaos (DH bought me a 72 set for my b-day/christmas one year) I LOVE them! I have not had one run out of ink yet.
The blender pen is NOT like the SU blender pens. It does not blend the colors, rather removes color. That is VERY important to note or you will be very frustrated with it!! I have never replaced my nib, rather I just scribble on scrap paper and it comes clean.
Do you have a local scrap book store that sells them? I have seen our LSS offer copic workshops and that way you could try the markers before investing
As funny as it sounds, unless you count Michaels and Hobby Lobby, I don't know if we have a Local Scrapbooking Store. Hobby Lobby has them but when I asked they wouldn't let me try them out. :confused: But other than that I have no idea where to find copics except online.
__________________ �Genius is essentially creative; it bears the stamp of the individual who possesses it.� ~Madame de Stael
I have practiced coloring dozens of images and none of my Copics have dried out. I don't have a lot of markers so I use the same ones over and over.
Have you tried taking the cap off both ends and laying the barrel part horizontally to let the maker re calibrate the pressure inside?
I buy mine at Scrap-Mart and they have or can get every color of marker or refill. Free shipping if you spend $50 + and great customer service. Even with the free shipping they will send a partial order if it will be a week or so until they get in the rest of what you ordered.
Since I can't see them in a store and the samples colors on line are not accurate. Even the color wheel on the Copic site is not accurate if you print it. So, I only buy colors I have seen someone use on a card that I like. I saw some Christmas cards that Beate made using JustRite stamps. I bought the markers she used because I have the same stamps
Suzanne Dean has several videos on YouTube. She has one doing "Tilda in the Spring Rain" colored in various shades of red. I bought the stamp and the colors she used.
Last edited by Barbara Jay; 03-12-2010 at 05:02 PM..
I am not artistic in the paint/pencil/canvas way. Many people have told me that my artistic talent is in my crafts.
I know Copics are pricey but I like them the best of all the coloring pens I have tried. The color goes on smoothly and doesn't pill the paper if you go over areas that you have already colored even on #110 cardstock from Staples. I have just started buying better cardstock to color on and it does make a difference but it is not necessary if you don't color images too often.
I used them at a LSS when I took cardmaking classes a couple of years ago. Started with a few in colors that I liked. None of my pens from my original purchase have dried out. They must have reproduced in the dark because I have quite a few now. In my area (Northern California), a few of the local art stores have started carrying them.
Last edited by Crafter 4 Life; 03-12-2010 at 05:07 PM..
Reason: add info
I have over 200 copic marker and will never use anything else. I find that if you have a color run out ( I have had only one run dry and I think the marker was "used" already) it is just as easy to buy another one than to refill. I have purchased most of mine at Oozak.com. They have fast and free shipping for orders over $50. They also carry refills and new nibs if needed. I have purchased some on ebay but this is where I ran into the "already used" marker problem. Hobby Lobby is a great place to start. They have all the basic colors and you can use your coupons on them too!
__________________ By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. Confucius
As funny as it sounds, unless you count Michaels and Hobby Lobby, I don't know if we have a Local Scrapbooking Store. Hobby Lobby has them but when I asked they wouldn't let me try them out. :confused: But other than that I have no idea where to find copics except online.
no, it does not sound funny that you don't have a store, but you might "google" and see if there is one that you are not aware of!!
It does seem a tad weird that Hobby Lobby would not have demo markers for you to try...or for them to demo with!!
I highly suggest that you take a class on "basic Copics" in your area if you can to learn about the markers and how to pick good colors and how to use them successfully.
There is a lot of mis-information about them out there... and also a lot of "good" info our there about them.
I've got a COPIC FAQ page on my blog HERE that will answer some of your questions for you... and also give you some basics about which colors to pick if you just want to try out a few.
The markers seem pricey, but they are an initial investment, but since they are refillable and you can replace the nibs, the markers are life-long tools and come out to be less expensive than other markers that you end up having to replace.
There is also a learning curve to them... they are very different from most markers our there... and that is why I suggest a class to learn to use them... otherwise it's easy to get frustrated with them.
Hugs!
__________________ Colleen Schaan - Education Specialist at Imagination International Inc.,/Copic Marker
Blog - Distinctive Touches;My Copic Books!
I have them and love them and use them a lot, on all my cards, the blender has run out now twice, but I use it all the time for correction more than anything. I have not had another run dry yet. Any store that carries copics should be able to get the refills for you, along with the nibs.
If this is a craft you plan on spending years doing it is worth the cost. But if you tend to jump around to different crafts that interest you it might be too much of a cost to be worth your while
Colleens FAQ is a great resouce. the type of paper is very important. She has 3 listed, but I use Neenah but I find one of the 2 kinds, and I wish I could tell you which one (I too them out of their packages and filed them, I know which file, but not the name) Anyway....One of the 2 does bleed when printing digitals and using copics. Maybe someone else knows which one. Also, the PTI is to heavy to go through my printer
OH, and I have had mine for a year now. The only colors that have just run out are the 5 or 6 that I seem to use all the time. The refills cost what one marker would cost, but they will refill the markers many times over. I get my refills from Carpe diem on line. I place an order yesterday for 5 refills. They were the only place I found that had all the colors that I needed.
Hello,
Does anyone use the Toner Gray Copic markers? When I use to paint with bottled acrylics I used the one color toner for all and it was great for toning down applied colors for shadow effects. If you use the Toner Gray markers I would like to know which ones and how you used them.
Thank you,
Nancy [email protected]
There is a learning curve to using Copics. If you can take a class, that would be great. Otherwise, maybe you can take a look at some the the on-line tutorials and just get a few markers to play with and see what you think.
If you get a few, I would recommend getting a set of 2 or 3 that blend. Maybe E000, E00 and E02 to do caucasian skin if you do a lot of cards with people. Or maybe a set of greens if you color a lot of flowers (for yellow green I like YG-03, YG-25 and YG-63 - sounds weird but it works for me. For true green I like G-20, G-21 and G-24). I'm sure others have favorite combinations to offer.
I know its hard to buy 3 of the same color - but the beauty of copics is the ability to blend and shade. If you get 3 different colors it will be harder to use them to their best advantage.
There is no reason you can't use your copics along with other coloring mediums while you build your collection. Just make sure you do the Copic coloring first so you don't plug up the nibs of the markers with wax or residue from other coloring methods. You can use other coloring methods over the top of Copics with no problem.
One other thing to mention- the paper/ink combination you choose is important and can make the difference between fun and frustration. My favorite combo is Memento ink with Neenah classic crest paper. I never get bleeding or smearing with it and I find it perfect for my blending style. I'm sure others have advice on their favorite combinations too.
I absolutely ADORE my copics and find it hard to color with anything else now.
But.... I never recommend them to beginner stampers. Its just too much of an investment at first. I want them to be sure they really enjoy stamping and will really use the Copics before they invest. For beginning stampers, I think watercolor pencils are the best, most versatile choice.
Whew.... sorry for being so long winded.... I just love my Copics and want everyone who buys them to love them too ;)
Hello,
Does anyone use the Toner Gray Copic markers? When I use to paint with bottled acrylics I used the one color toner for all and it was great for toning down applied colors for shadow effects. If you use the Toner Gray markers I would like to know which ones and how you used them.
Thank you,
Nancy [email protected]
I have used them, but with mixed results (could be my technique though :rolleyes: )
I have more success if I used the grayed down version of the same color family instead. So if I'm coloring foilage with yellow-greens and I think its too bright, I'd add a little YG-91 to the shadowed areas and blend it in.
pros and cons of copics?
I personally just don't "need" every single thing (I just need most things ;)) and choose to stay with what I already like and know. 
