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What are copic markers and why would I want to use them?
copic markers are alcohol based markers (like sharpies, bic mark it, prismacolor premier artist markers etc), they come in over 100 colors and are permanent. They are great for coloring and the effect you can acheive is great. They don't live strokes like the water based markers on the paper (you'll need some practicing for this), they are easy to blend as well. As well the Manga Artists use them for coloring.
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Besides everything mentioned, I think they are the best markers out there!!
__________________ LizThe joy of the LORD is my strength.Right Brain Madness --My blogProud member of the redDivasKSS certified multi-step stamperFan Club member since 2004
They are fairly pricey. I could not afford them, so I bought the Bic's and the Sharpies. They seem to work fine to me (at least until I can convince DH that I need the Copics ;))
I don't know about the bic but I don't think sharpies are alcohol based. They really stink and the copics don't stink to me (and I have a sensitive sniffer).
The ink of Sharpies is based on propanol, butanol and diacetone alcohols. Sharpies as well are used in medicine, to mark the spot of surgery, because they are alcohol based and kill bacteria, rather than using non-alcohol based markers which can transmit bacteria.
The reason for the odor is different ingredients used in the marker, and from my personal experience all alcohol based markers I have had smell different, some had stronger odor (like sharpies which are cheaper than copics or prisma), as well prisma who are alcohol based too, smell stronger than the copics.
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Michaels does not carry the copics, they only carry the prismacolors. HL carries the copics in store, if you are lookin for a cheaper price and don't mind ordering online oozak, has some of the cheapest prices around. I have done my research on copics, just too broke to buy any!!!
I love my copics, they color without leaving any streaks.They also blend well.I think they are one of my favorite tools to use.They do not compare to any other markers.
Thanks for the info. I wonder what types of alcohol are used in the copics. All I know is that Sharpies smell really strong and chemical-ly to me to the point where I get headaches.
I wish I could find where I read it...but the alcohol in Copics is Ethanol...so it's more of an organic alcohol which could be a big factor in the lack of strong odor.
__________________ Cher No longer stamping...on to bigger things.
Thanks. So "this" alcohol marker and "that" alcohol marker aren't comparable at all since they have different types of alcohol.
I agree! It's a bit like comparing Vaseline to Gasoline...LOL Both are Petroleum products...one I use for chapped lips because it has no odors...the other causes everyone to bail out of the vehicle if DH gets a drip on his shoe!!
__________________ Cher No longer stamping...on to bigger things.
My apologies for hijacking this thread. I have tried several times to get an answer/help with my coloring w/copics problem. I find when I finish coloring, it looks georgous, then when I go back to it, the color has wicked outside the black. My only remedy is to cut it out. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Im using Pallette Black Noir ink, PTI white paper...
I started out with one set of 72 Copics and now I have more than I should and can afford. I love how they color, I love how vibrant the colors are and I love the coordinating colors that are offered. It's hard to want to use any other markers after Copics (for me anyway). The best part is that you can buy ink refills for the markers. =) I would suggest you visit Marianne's site. It's just wonderful! http://ilikemarkers.blogspot.com/
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My apologies for hijacking this thread. I have tried several times to get an answer/help with my coloring w/copics problem. I find when I finish coloring, it looks georgous, then when I go back to it, the color has wicked outside the black. My only remedy is to cut it out. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Im using Pallette Black Noir ink, PTI white paper...
Besides working with scratch paper underneath, The PTI is so thick that when you evenly color and soak it the marker actually takes a little longer to dry. It's still moving around long after you're done coloring it because of the thickness. You might try heat-setting the picture as soon as you're done coloring- this will get the alcohol (ethanol) to evaporate quicker and won't keep moving around. Or, with practice you will find that you need less coloring around the edges of your work. HTH!
Gale & Ilikemarkers~thank you so much, I did not know about paper underneath or heatsetting after I finished coloring. Bless you bunches for this info. Will go back and DO IT AGAIN!! Also, Ilikemarkers~thanks so much for all your help on your blog!! So many very helpful people here.
When I used the blender inside the stamped mage recently, however, I did notice that color wicked outside. I had done it only on the mittens of a figure, and that was the only area of the coloring that had the problem. If you get color outside your image, you can "push" the color back into the image with the broad end of the Copic blender. It really works.
When I used the blender inside the stamped mage recently, however, I did notice that color wicked outside. I had done it only on the mittens of a figure, and that was the only area of the coloring that had the problem. If you get color outside your image, you can "push" the color back into the image with the broad end of the Copic blender. It really works.
The blender solution (blender marker) pushes the ink out. As well other colors, so when you blend colors you will need to be careful how far you push the ink and how much pressure you apply
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I have never tried it but I have seen many that do emboss then color the image. I am pretty sure that if you emboss the type of ink does not matter. PLEASE someone correct me and ADD more info!!
I don't think embossing will make a difference with seeping colors. Embossing is sitting on top of the paper, whereas the ink is soaking all the way through the paper and then soaking out under the line. It might help the top layer of marker. Just be aware that colored embossing powders do NOT work with Copics.
Embossing will help if your stamped line is bleeding, just not the marker.
Oh my! I can't believe no one mentioned the thing I find the coolest about these markers. If you buy the kit, you can airbrush color with these. I was at a scrapbooking convention where the Spellbinder table was using these with their dies. For anyone of you who may not know about these dies, you can cut, emboss, and stencil. So for like the rose, you can cut it out, run it through a machine gain with the embossing mat to emboss it and then pull out your copic with the airbrush kit and spray on the color to the exposed parts. You can blend the colors beautifully. I heard people rave about these markers and thought they were a little crazy. Yes, they are good mrkers, but I had already invested in the SU! markers and thought that would be enough. After seeing them used to airbrush, my stamping and scrapping have just been kicked up a notch. I buy the single ones at HL when they are on sale, which is probably every six weeks or so. The color options are few so I plan on buysing some sets online. I would love to have ALL the colors. There are like 250!!!!
I'm ready to take the plunge - just haven't figured out which colors to get and whether to start with a set or just pick out individual colors. Or whether to get the original, the sketch, or the ciao. I guess I'm not really ready yet. . .
I just started using mine and LOVE them. I took a class this past Saturday on how to blend using a light/med/dark marker. I also use SU markers but these work so much different.
By chance has anyone found colors that coordinate with the SU! colors? I have the SU! markers and love them, but find myself buying more of the Copics so that I can do the airbrushing. But if I could just use Copics for coloring.... I could use the SU! markers for any direct to stamp coloring that I do. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!
copic markers
