Buy Copic Markers Online in Australia

Used by artists of all skill levels, Copic markers are refillable alcohol ink markers that have been growing in popularity all around the world. Perfect for graphic design, journaling, manga, illustration, architecture, and a variety of other creative activities, Copic markers feature two different ends, a brush tip and a broad ‘wedge’ nib, for greater control over every line.   

Before starting out your collection, there are a few things you may want to know about this unique system of alcohol ink markers.

Copic Sketch Vs Copic Ciao: What’s the Difference?

Here at Riot Art & Craft, we stock two different types of Copic marker: Copic Sketch and Copic Ciao. So, what’s the difference?

The good news is, while there are a few differences between Copic Sketch and Copic Ciao markers, none of these differences have anything to do with the quality. Both the Sketch and Ciao line contain the same alcohol-based, acid-free, and non-toxic ink, come with the exact same replaceable nibs, and are refillable. However, Copic Sketch are a little more expensive and are typically marketed as the top-of-the-range markers, while Copic Ciao is more popular amongst children.

There are several reasons for this:

• Colours: Copic Sketch markers feature the full 358 colour range, whereas Copic Ciao markers come in 180 colours.
  
  
• Size: Copic Ciao markers are a little bit smaller than Sketch markers. This means they’ll need to be refilled more regularly.
  
  
• Shape: While Copic Ciao markers are round, Copic Sketch markers feature an oval-shaped barrel which many people find more comfortable and easier to hold.
  
  
• Safety: Unlike the other Copic marker lines, Copic Ciao markers come with small holes in the lid to prevent choking should a child accidentally swallow one. That’s why Ciao markers are often considered the best markers for young artists.

How to Use Copic Markers

Working with Copic markers will take a bit of trial and error, and how you use them will depend on the effects you’re trying to achieve. Here are some general tips for the best way to get the most out of your markers.

Test Your Paper Surface

While Copic markers can technically be used on a range of different paper surfaces, they’re more suited to certain types of paper than others. That’s because some paper is more prone to bleeding. We suggest testing your markers on your chosen paper to see if you can produce smooth lines on the surface.

Copic markers are particularly suited to smooth paper, as this won’t damage or fray the marker tips.

Cover Your Workspace

Copic markers tend to bleed through paper. To protect your workspace from permanent damage, it’s always best to work with a few layers under your paper, whether that be a sacrificial tablecloth, or a few scrap pieces of paper.

Work Light to Dark

Copic markers are transparent, meaning that you’re going to have trouble covering a darker colour with a lighter colour. In most instances, it’s best to start with your lightest colours and then gradually work towards your darker shades.

Blending Copic Marker Colours

There are a few methods available to you when it comes to blending your colours, and which technique you use can depend on how many colours you’re trying to blend, how similar the colours you’re using are, and the effect you’re trying to achieve.

• Single colour blending: With clever layering, you can achieve a gradient using just the one marker.
  
  
• Blending similar colours: Use the lighter of the two markers to ‘move’ your pigments around and blend them together. If you try to use the darker colour, it will simply cover the lighter shade.
  
  
• Blending different colours of similar lightness: To blend two different colours, you’ll need to overlap your marks on the paper, and then begin applying more and more layers of each colour to create a smooth transition.
  
  
• Feathering: A more textural effect, feathering is best achieved using flicking strokes with the brush pen side of the marker. Start with your lightest colours and gradually move to darker tones as you go.
  
  
• Copic Colourless Blender: As the name would suggest, you can also use the Colourless Blender to help blend your pigments. The Colourless Blender can be used to blend two light coloured markers, or to create a smoother transition between the pigment and the natural colour of your paper.

Please note, all blending is best done when the pigments are still wet. Once they dry, you’re going to have a harder time lifting and mixing the colours.

How to Use the Copic Colourless Blender

While the Colourless Blender can be used for lighter blending, it actually has a few additional applications that can really enhance your artwork. Here are some of the other ways you can use your Copic Colourless Blender.

• Fix mistakes: Because the Colourless Blender works by lifting and moving pigments, it can also be used to lift mistakes. If you’ve accidentally gone over the line, you can use the Colourless Blender to lift most of the pigment to minimise the error.
  
  
• Lightening: Use the Colourless Blender to lift some of the pigment in your work, allowing the original colour of the paper to show through. This is great for creating highlights.
  
  
• Texture: Experiment with laying the brush tip flat, dotting, or even ‘scrubbing’ the paper surface with your Colourless Blender to see what kinds of unique textures you can create.

What Paper is Best for Copic Markers

Copic markers can be used on a variety of different papers, but some are going to give you better results than others. For example, you may experience some feathering on uncoated paper, while glossy paper is less absorbent, meaning you might need to use darker colours to achieve the same results.

These markers are at their best when applied to smooth, non-porous paper. It’s a good idea to choose a thicker paper as thin papers can experience a lot of bleed-through, and tend to become over-saturated quicker, which can lead to buckling and warping. Some types of paper also tend to suck up the pigment quicker than others, which can make blending more difficult.

 A great place to start is with Copic’s own range of paper. Uncoated, incredibly smooth, and specifically designed for Copic markers, this paper offers excellent blending capabilities, and is more resistant to buckling and over-saturation.

Understanding the Copic Marker Labelling System

Each Copic marker comes with a name and a colour code, which is a combination of letters and numbers that you can find printed on both ends as well as on the barrel of the marker. The colour code gives you three important pieces of information that can aid you with blending.

Colour letter: The ‘colour family’ that your marker belongs to

1^st digit: The colour saturation (The higher the number the greyer the colour)

2^nd digit: The brightness (the higher the number the darker the shade)

For example, the colour code for the Ocean Green Copic marker is G28. The ‘G’ indicates that the marker belongs to the green colour family, the first digit tells us that the colour contains a little bit of grey but is relatively pure, while the second digit tells us that the marker is of a darker shade.

On the other hand, the Ice Ocean Copic marker’s colour code is BG72. This tells us that it belongs to the blue-green colour family, has a fairly high grey content, and is of a lighter shade.

To determine how easily two colours will blend with one another, a good rule of thumb is to use colours from the same colour family that share the same first number, while the second number is 2-4 digits apart. For example, if you purchase a B00 marker, you may also wish to pick up B02, B04, and B06 for a broader tonal range. Once you become more experienced with blending, you can start experimenting with blending different colours or adding more grey.

Copic Australia offers a fantastic tool to help you determine compatible colours. You can find their colour wheel here.

How to Refill Copic Markers

The beauty of Copic markers is that even when they run out of pigment and dry out, you can refill them with ease. We offer Copic marker refills so you can keep using your markers for years to come.

Thanks to a newly designed, pen-shaped bottle, refilling your Copic markers has never been easier. Simply uncap both ends of your marker, remove the nib from one end (tweezers will help), insert the elongated refill nozzle, and gently squeeze the bottle to slowly release the ink. Once the marker has been refilled, simply reinsert the nib and put the caps on either end.

While the new design helps to minimise spillage, we still recommend placing some protective paper down on your workspace in case of an accident.

Share Your Copic Creations

We love seeing what our creative customers can do with our range of Copic Ciao and Copic Sketch markers. When posting your Copic creations on Instagram, don’t forget to tag us @riotartandcraft so we can appreciate your work as well!