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So I've been a lurker here for a little over a year. I am addicted to stamping and SBing for over 7 years now, and I have worked at a SB store for 6 years. But, enough about me. I am seriously considering investing in COPICS, what would you suggest starting out purchasing. A 72 set? If so which is your favorite? What colors can't you live without. I really need some input...thanks
So I've been a lurker here for a little over a year. I am addicted to stamping and SBing for over 7 years now, and I have worked at a SB store for 6 years. But, enough about me. I am seriously considering investing in COPICS, what would you suggest starting out purchasing. A 72 set? If so which is your favorite? What colors can't you live without. I really need some input...thanks
Welcome! :grin:
I'd say no to investing in a 72-color set, due to the fact that investment wise, it's probably better to get colors that you specifically know you will use frequently, UKWIM?
That said, here are some of my personal faves, and most oft used:
New Leaf
Pea Green
Yellow Green
Lt. Olive
Orange
Pale Lemon
Light Reddish Yellow
Napoli Yellow
Phthalo Blue
Pale Grayish Blue
Nile Blue
Blue Green
Iridescent Mauve
Blueberry
Amethyst
Skin White (perfect for skintones)
Baby Skin Pink (" " " )
Frost Blue or Pale Porcelain Blue
Africano
Sand
Caramel
Blush (perfect for cheeks!)
Pink
Dark Pink
Light Rouge
Honey
Cream (makes great blonde hair!)
Burnt Sienna (Makes great auburn hair)
Toner Grey No. 5
Cool Grey No. 1
Clear Blender
HTH! :grin:
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
I also suggest looking at blogs that use copics -- www.debbiedesigns.typepad.com is the first that comes to mind and there are lots of links there; also www.ellenhutson.typepad.com. I think the point is not to get "one of each color" at first, but to get say 3 greens that can be blended together.
On the other hand, I do not use copics at the moment!!
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
I started out with the holiday set of 12 markers since I was going to use them on my Christmas cards. After I used them a couple of times, I went out and purchased some other colors to round out my collection. I'll purchase more as the seasons change and I need them for other cards. I would just suggest that you decide what your immediate needs will be for them and start from there.
I've been purchasing them individually and I love them! I feel like I want them all, but I know I probably don't *need* them all (cost-wise, I don't think that's an option anyway). They're so much fun!
__________________ Donna - Wife and Mom in Massachusetts
I would never buy a whole set. Wouldn't use half of them. As it is, I have two lighter blues that when you use them, they are so close you can't tell them apart, same for two of my yellows! Duh. Oh well. When one runs out, I'll have the other! I would, however, buy a holiday set like the above poster wrote about, if I didn't have any Copics of those colors. I like that idea. But a full set? No way. Too much duplication and too many colors I wouldn't use.
I'd recommend the Manga wallet. It's called that because it's designed for "Manga" artists (don't ask me what that means). Anyway, it's a 24 piece set which comes in a canvas type wallet. You can find it online for about $107. I like the colors in it and thought it was a good value. Most of the companies that sell the Copic sets sell this one. I got mine from Dick Blick.
I'd recommend the Manga wallet. It's called that because it's designed for "Manga" artists (don't ask me what that means). Anyway, it's a 24 piece set which comes in a canvas type wallet. You can find it online for about $107. I like the colors in it and thought it was a good value. Most of the companies that sell the Copic sets sell this one. I got mine from Dick Blick.
This is the set that I have and I bought it from Dick Blick also.
I'd say no to investing in a 72-color set, due to the fact that investment wise, it's probably better to get colors that you specifically know you will use frequently, UKWIM?
That said, here are some of my personal faves, and most oft used:
New Leaf
Pea Green
Lt. Olive
Orange
Pale Lemon
Light Reddish Yellow
Napoli Yellow
Phthalo Blue
Pale Grayish Blue
Nile Blue
Blue Green
Iridescent Mauve
Blueberry
Amethyst
Skin White (perfect for skintones)
Frost Blue or Pale Porcelain Blue
Africano
Sand
Caramel
Blush
Pink
Dark Pink
Light Rouge
Toner Grey No. 5
Cool Grey No. 1
Clear Blender
So I've been a lurker here for a little over a year. I am addicted to stamping and SBing for over 7 years now, and I have worked at a SB store for 6 years. But, enough about me. I am seriously considering investing in COPICS, what would you suggest starting out purchasing. A 72 set? If so which is your favorite? What colors can't you live without. I really need some input...thanks
Dick Blick is a great source for individual markers. I have bought them there periodically and the price is $4.22 (with a club card). You can order the color chart free from copic, which is a good starting point for identifying the colors you may want. If you use SU products, Ellen's blog is a must.
Dick Blick is a great source for individual markers. I have bought them there periodically and the price is $4.22 (with a club card). You can order the color chart free from copic, which is a good starting point for identifying the colors you may want. If you use SU products, Ellen's blog is a must.
How do you get a club card...this is a very good price, I'd like to take advantage.
How do you get a club card...this is a very good price, I'd like to take advantage.
The club card is free for teachers and students, otherwise $10 a year. I balked a bit at this charge, and the store manager said "if your daughter is a student, register her name" so I did. It gives you a % off and mail order coupons.
I have a DB close by, and it has been so helpful to add a few colors at a time. When I made a chart on my computer, sort-of in order by color family, it was immediately obvious what I was missing.
They are incredible on their own, also, blending them with wax-based color pencils, like prismas, give the most incredible opaque shiny finish. I think I copied Juliee HRR on this. HTH!
I love how these markers look but wow, they're expensive, even individually! I'm an instant gratification person...I want them all now. I really need to win the lottery LOL
I have seenthese markers and they are so expensive...What makes them so good versus sharpies or other markers?
It's more a question of what their capabilities are, vs. the capabilities of other markers, and the desired results of the artist.
Water-based markers, such as SU! and Tombow, are wonderful, high quality markers that work well for water-color type techniques and for coloring directly onto the rubber stamp, making it easy to omit parts of an image, or multi-color different parts of the image, such as a solid one (as opposed to an outline), prior to stamping.
The softness of the brush tip makes it easy to color right over thermal embossed lines, without causing damage to the image; the embossing repels the water-based ink, and if there is any residual ink on the embossing lines from coloring over them, you can quickly blot that way with a tissue.
They are not fade-resistant, will bleed out when moistened, and if your finger tips have any moisture on them at all (from lotion, natural skin oils, etc.), it can re-activate the marker ink, and you may end up with undesirable transfer to other areas of your project.
Because they are water-based and most papers are not designed to withstand water-based mediums (except for watercolor paper, etc.), if you repeatedly color over a section, it can deteriorate and break down the paper fibers, resulting in what is referred to as "pilling".
The same thing can occur if using a blender pen (designed for use with water-based markers), in conjunction with the markers.
They are designed to be disposable, and the nibs cannot be replaced; therefore they are much less expensive. Some folks do refill them when they run dry, using matching dye-based ink pad reinker. I've never tried this personally, so I do not know how effective it is.
Copic markers are alcohol-based. Richly saturated in color, but, because of the alcohol content, it evaporates almost instantaneously; no wet finger transfer issues to worry about.
They are blendable, using the Copic Blender Pen, and you can achieve beautiful shaded effects using just those two, or in conjunction with good quality colored pencils, too! Many artists combine them together to achieve stunning results.
The ink tends to bleed through most papers, unless you are using Alcohol Marker Pad Paper, so Copic colored images are best matted/layered, as opposed to single-layer cards. Water-based would be preferred for single-layer cards, because it *typically* (not always, tho) won't bleed through the paper, unless you are heavy-handed with the coloring.
Copics can be used on metal (I use them to tint my brads and other hardware), and other non-porous surfaces such as plastic, but it is best to test first, to see if you will achieve the results desired.
Like water-based, they are not fade-resistant, and whatever is in the alcohol ink tends to "eat off" any thermal embossed lines, so don't color over the embossed lines, but, within them, to avoid that happening.
Copics are refillable, and the nibs can be interchanged/swapped out and/or replaced when worn, making them a "life-time" marker; you will never have to throw the pen itself away, just purchase reinkers or new nibs when needed.
Copic Original and Sketch are designed to work with the Copic Airbrush system, and while I haven't tried it yet, personally, some awesome affects can be achieved with it.
Because they are alcohol-based, you can color over and re-work/blend any area of the paper repeatedly, and it will not deteriorate or break down the paper fibers!
So, it's not a matter of Copic markers being "better" than other markers, but, what kind of application you are needing, and which best serves that application.
HTH! :grin:
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
If I didn't already have a bunch of these I'd get this set.
I got these! Thanks for the tip! I've been looking for ones that match up to SU! colors and they did it for me. The price was ok. Actually, now that I think about it, in Canadian dollars, the price on the SU! markers (189) is the same price I paid for these Copic markers. And the set of 48 matches all the basic SU! colors.
is there a site that Canadians can order from (us 0r canadian) that has the markers in stock. Allthat Scraps is missing all the singles I want and MFT is out of stock also.
__________________ Laci is my little girl with four legs and fur!
I was surprised today when I found Copics at my local Hobby Lobby. I don't remember seeing them listed as a retailer on the Copic site. They didn't have any sets and the singles looked picked over. Maybe they're closing them out. The regular price was $5.89 which I was prepared to pay - to my surprice, they rang up at 25% off so I'm headed back over there this afternoon with my list in hand to add a few more to my collection. Has anyone else seen Copics at Hobby Lobby?
I have purchased Copics at Hobby Lobby. I have been getting them by onesies using a coupon. They have a very limited selection though. Texas Art Supply has a much better selection and they are less expenive.
Hey everyone... just to let you know... you can e-mail Carpe diem and they will send you an e-mail for special pricing on the copics...they are on sale right now for UNDER $4 EACH , HURRY I'm sure they will sell out of them fast!!!!!:-D
COPICS!
