You asked for it and we are on it!! Today we are sharing a comparison of the markers we covered this week here in the CLASSroom; the ones we carry in our store that we think are fabulous for coloring stamped images, lettering, journaling and so much more. Disclaimer - this is our opinion and experience, it is not scientific, but we hope it helps guide those of you who are looking for comparative information! Here are our best answers to some of the most commonly asked marker questions and a comparison of the main markers we carry at Ellen Hutson LLC, divided by type:
- alcohol ink
- water-based dye ink
- specialty - which includes embossing/watermark and sparkly markers
Q. How are alcohol ink markers and water-based dye ink markers different?
A. Alcohol markers have pigment suspended in alcohol and water-based dye markers have pigment suspended in water. Generally, alcohol markers are easy to blend, work on a variety of surfaces (even glossy surfaces like coated paper and metal). Typically dye (or water-based) markers work better on porous surfaces like card-stock.
Q. Which markers are the best?
A. That's an impossible question - we love all the markers we carry! It depends on what kind of project you want to use them on, what type of paper you are working with, what type of look you would like to achieve, and so much more! Check out the lists below to see some of the important features of each type of marker to help you better determine which marker may be best suited to your style.
ALCOHOL INK MARKERS
Q. Can you use two different brands of alcohol ink markers together?
A. Yes, from the brief amount of testing I have done you definitely can combine Copic and Altenew alcohol markers.
Alcohol Marker Brands We Carry:
- COPIC Sketch Marker
- 358 colors - color numbers are shown on the caps making them easy to identify
- Sold individually
- Dual tips - comes with Super Brush and Medium Broad (also known as Chisel tip); also available are Medium Round and Fine Point Nib (available in May 2017!)
- Durable, yet replaceable, polyester nibs. Super Brush nibs are formed by hand - they are responsive and flexible, and feel like a saturated, long lasting, flexible brush. Provides artists (yes, that's you!) the ability to spread ink smoothly in a manner similar to watercolor.
- Oval barrel - keeps them from rolling off the table
- Airbrush Compatible
- Refillable with Copic Various Ink - 12 refills from one Various Ink bottle that works out to just $.75 if you purchase the refill at retail, but we always have them priced at 25% off which brings the cost down to $.56 a marker!
- Store vertically or horizontally
- Very Blendable
- Ink pad recommendations - Tsukineko Memento together with Neenah cardstock is the favorite of many stampers. There are many others, so just try what you have in your stash to see if it bleeds the ink before coloring and entire image.
- Features: permanent, fast-drying, toner compatible, non-toxic and acid-free (depending on the surface, they will dry acid-free. The alcohol carrier solvent is slightly off-neutral pH, but once that evaporates they are neutral. However, certain papers retain the alcohol more than others).
- Compatible surfaces: Neenah Cardstock and Blending Card Xpress are the two most commonly used papers, but Copics also work on vellum, Yupo, watercolor papers and many other varieties of paper. Copics are also permanent on many surfaces - paper, leather, wood, fabrics, plastic, faux fur and more.
- We prefer and carry the Sketch variety of Copic marker over the Original and Ciao options due to the responsive and flexible Super Brush nib, wide range of colors, option of working with the airbrush system, the shape and the way they fit in your hand.
- Altenew Artist Marker
- 12 colors...currently. (We've heard there are more colors coming later this year)
- Sold as set
- Double sided - brush & fine tips (Altenew is working on replacement nibs)
- Organic shape for ease in holding and slightly flattened edges to keep them from rolling off your desk
- Not refillable...yet (We heard Altenew is working on this too)
- Store vertically or horizontally
- Blendable
- Features: alcohol-based, compliments existing dye ink colors to take the guessing game out of the way you color
- Compatible surfaces: Altenew recommends Neenah Solar White and vellum for coloring your stamped images, but just like Copic markers they can be used on many surfaces.
- These are very new to us, so we have lots to learn. If you are on a budget and would like to begin working with alcohol ink markers these would be a good option to start.
WATER-BASED INK MARKERS
Other Comparison Articles:
- Zig Art & Graphic Twin Markers and Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers
- Distress Markers and Memento Markers
Water-based Ink Markers We Carry:
- Distress Marker
- 61 colors
- Sold individually
- Double sided - brush & fine tips
- Not refillable
- Store horizontally
- Reactive with water for easy blending
- Features: water-reactive, non-toxic and acid-free.
- Compatible surfaces: paper - especially Distress Watercolor Cardstock and other watercolor papers
- Water is the key to unlocking the potential of blending and special effects with the distress markers. As with the other distress products they are reactive to water and can be used to color images, use direct to rubber and create special effects.
- Memento Marker
- 36 colors
- Sold individually
- Double sided - brush & fine tips
- Not refillable
- Store horizontally
- Water-resistant when dry; blendable when colored on non-stick sheet and then blended with water brush
- Features: fast-drying, fade resistant, compatible with Copic markers and acid-free
- Compatible surfaces: cardstock, glossy paper, unglazed tile, wood & leather
- Art & Graphic Twin
- 80 colors + blender pen (color selection similar to Clean Color Markers - identify similar colors by name rather than number)
- Sold individually & in sets (Full set comes with storage rack)
- Double sided - rubber brush tip (won't fray, with no messy fibre deposits) & 0.8mm fine tip
- Not refillable
- Store horizontally
- Blendable with colorless blender pen, water, or another color of Art & Graphic Twin markers (start with darker color and work down with a lighter color to blend)
- Features: Water-based dye ink, xylene-free and odorless, flexible and juicy tip
- Compatible surfaces: most paper
- Suitable for rubber stamping, coloring, sketching, illustrating, lettering, cartooning and more!
- Clean Color Real Brush Marker
- 80 colors
- Sold individually & in sets
- Single sided, with nylon bristle brush tip
- Not refillable
- Store tip-down
- Blendable with colorless blender pen or water
- Features: water-based dye, nylon bristle brush is small and very flexible with great elasticity, making it easy to go from thin to thick lines in one stroke
- Compatible surfaces: works best with watercolor paper such as Bristol
- This water-based, dye-based ink can be blended with a water brush to create painterly watercolor effects
"SPECIAL EFFECTS" MARKERS - Embossing & Watermark, Glitter and Shine
- VersaMark Watermark Pen (other embossing pens include Ranger's Emboss It Pens and WOW Embossing Pen)
- 1 color - clear ink
- Sold individually
- Dual tipped - brush & bullet
- Not refillable
- Store horizontally
- Not blendable
- Features: acid free, non-toxic, tacky to the touch for embossing, chalking and applying pearlescent powders; ideal for watermark and tone-on-tone accents; works together with the VersaMark Ink pads
- Compatible surfaces: most paper surfaces - resists ink on glossy/coated papers for special resist effects and acts as a watermark on uncoated paper for tone-on-tone images
- Wink of Luna
- 9 colors
- Sold individually
- Single sided, with nylon bristle brush tip for thick or thin lines of metallic color
- Not refillable
- Store vertically, cap up - caps are color coded
- Minimum blendability; can be used on top of images colored with either alcohol ink or water-based markers to add a metallic shine
- Features: metallic pigment ink, water-based pigment, permanent, lightfast, archival & acid free
- Compatible surfaces: most paper, cork, fabric such as burlap and linen, wood
- Use to add shine to your projects
- Wink of Stella
- 15 colors, plus a Crystal Clear real glitter marker
- Sold individually & in themed sets
- Single sided, with nylon bristle brush tip for thick or thin lines of shimmery color
- Brush tip is smaller than Spectrum Noir
- Not refillable
- Store vertically, cap up
- Blendable, while wet
- Features: water-based pigment ink, archival quality, filled with specks of fine glitter - shake before use! can be used on top of images colored with either alcohol ink or water-based markers to add sparkle
- Compatible surfaces: most paper and can be used on rubber stamps
- More permanent than Spectrum Noir after it has dried
- Perfect for coloring, decorative lettering, drawing, writing, adding controlled glitter and used with stamped projects to add sparkle
- Spectrum Noir Sparkle
- 18 colors, plus a Crystal Clear glitter topcoat for applying over existing color
- Sold in sets of 3
- Single sided, featuring a flexible nylon bristle brush tip
- Brush tip is larger than the Wink of Stella tip
- Not refillable
- Store vertically or horizontally
- Blend the colors and watercolor with them
- Features: water-based pigment, always shake before use
- Compatible surfaces: most paper and wood
- Slightly reactive to water after dried on paper
- Use for coloring, stamping, decorative lettering, writing, embellishing, accenting and more!
