Copic: Fine vs. Super Brush

[Jacklind]

I�ll be buying my very first Copic Markers soon and I�m trying to figure out which one to buy.

I�ve basically got a choice between the original and Ciao (Sketch is a little hard to get where I�m coming from).

So I got a few questions concerning the fine nib on the original and the super brush�

I love the way you can blend colours together. It looks like most people use the super brush for that. Is that cos it�s easier or is it just as easy with the fine nib??

Also, my artwork Is quite detailed at times, so I�m wondering just how fine/thin lines the super brush can make? Just as fine as the fine nib??

Any other reasons for picking one over the other?

All replies are really appreciated.

Thanks!

Jack

[Lainy67]

Personally I think if you are careful and practice you can make finer lines with the brush on the ciao than with the original fine nib. It is not that fine. I have a couple of originals and honestly if they were colors I used a lot I would replace with sketch. I find it more difficult to blend with the fine nib but that could be because the brush seems to lay down more ink and stay wet longer.

[Colleen Schaan]

Excellent questions Jack!

From my own personal experience, I prefer the super brush nib on the Ciao. It is flexible enough to really get some nice coverage using the side of the brush (and good blends) and yet I'm still able to use the tip to get into very fine detailed work. It does take some practice to get comfortable with if you haven't used a brush tip marker before, but once you play with it, it gives you amazing flexibility in results. I use the super brush tips to color the old Thomas Kinkade images that CHF used to carry. (Super tiny detail).

The fine point nib on the Original is nice, but if you find that you are going to do a lot of blending, it's really more difficult. It is possible, don't get me wrong, it's just much easier to blend colors with the brush nibs.

The Ciao doesn't fit in the airbrush system where the Original does... so that's another thing to think about.

The Original comes in 214 color and the Ciao comes in 180 colors.

Hope that helps.

[Crafter 4 Life]

I agree with Lainey67. I prefer the brush to the nib. I just think I can get into tinier areas with the brush tip. For me, the original barrel shape (squarish) is not comfortable to hold. I like the Ciao or Sketch. I started with the Ciao since these were the ones easily available to me but as I replace markers, I think I will look for Sketch. The Ciao barrel is round and the Sketch are oval. If you can't see/find me, I am probably under the table retrieving a pen or it's cap!

[Barbara Jay]

Copics are a big investment so you need to be sure you choose wisely .

I would suggest you find an image you have that has small parts. Then buy 1 Original and 1 Ciao marker in different colors and practice with them to see which one you prefer. They each feel different when you hold them . See if you really like the fine tip nib on the Original or if you can achieve the same results with the Brush Tip Ciao

I find that holding the brush tip marker completely vertical and barely touching the paper I can get into any tight spot without ink creeping over the lines.

Good luck

[Jacklind]

Thanks a lot everyone. Not only were the replies excellent, but it was also what I was hoping to hear.

I�ve been painting for a number of years and I�m pretty used to normal watercolour brushes. So the jump from that to the super brush probably wont be that big. But really gald to hear that you can use it for small details.

Trying both out is great advice , but from what I�ve heard here, I�m pretty sure I wont be dissapointed with either Sketch or Ciao (Also, I am a bit concerned about the shape of the original, as one of you mentioned).

About the airbrush system� It sounds really interesting, but I don�t think it�s something I�ll be trying out in the near future.

I think I�ll try out the Ciao and if I love them as much as I hope I will, then I�ll start investing in Sketch (as soon as I�m a famous artist ;D )

Again thanks for the wonderful replies!

Jack