CopicSketch, Alcohol-Based Markers, 12pc Set, Basic

This is a fun set. You can enjoy copic markers with this set for a relatively low price for copics. You can't do the three color blending thing that so many seem to enjoy, but if you want to do some shading with these, get a neutral grey (I use N4 a lot) and use it under the various colors for shadowing, I personally think it looks a bit more realistic than the three tone method. You also really should experiment with 'mixing' the various colors in this set with each other by layering one over another. You will find out its a whole lot more colors than it seems to be. Especially because switching the order that you layer them in changes the resulting color slightly.There aren't any flesh tones, if you like to color people, the brown is actually quite useless for the darker skin tones of humans, it's too red. Look around the internet for tips on good markers to buy for skin colors. It depends on what color of people you would like to depict,of course but there are tips all over and youtube is the best for teaching you how to handle copics.Some hints: store the copics flat to avoid them leaking too much, usually into the cap (there doesn't seem to be a way to totally prevent this) but sometimes on your drawing or coloring. When they do leak, which they always do, into the cap, clean it out with alcohol on a q-tip or you are going to get that problem where the cap either won't open or won't close. If one does squirt onto your drawing (or preferably, before it does, try them on another piece of paper first), solve the problem by taking off the caps on BOTH ends and letting it lie flat for maybe a minute. this seems to regulate that every time. I'm putting this information here as from what I see online, the benefits of copics are touted all over and the drawbacks are NEVER mentioned, though when you google a specific problem (i.e, the leaking into the cap thing) you soon find that you are far from the only person who has had an issue with this.I do love my copic markers and I think that the way they blend and the way they go smoothly on paper makes up for the issues with them. I look forward to reusing them for many years with refills. However, I think I ought also to mention that they are not the only good brand out there and that they are actually compatible with other good brands, such as prismacolor markers, which I also love (and I love that you don't get the messy caps with those, although you also don't get the refills). Mixing the two kinds (and probably some others, though I haven't gone there yet) is not only cost effective,but gets you different kinds of colors, Prismacolor markers are brighter and more vibrant than Copics.But they blend together with them smoothly and super well.You can also layer colored pencils on top of Copics for beautiful effects. Look that up on youtube too.So you don't really NEED to spend $600 on the complete Copics, either all at once or over time (though you may want too). I've got this set and about six other copics plus six prismacolor markers and there is no color I can't get in several shades using those 24 (which include several flesh tones and some of the greys in both sets). And no, I'm not a professional or very experienced artist.So if you use these right, they CAN work for you without your 'having' to spend. Good luck.

I bought this set of Copics because I am trying to get into coloring my art work by more traditional means and having purchased a couple of Copic Sketch Markers in the past, I decided to go for the 12pc set. Now, they work wonderfully, as expected from the two I purchased years before, the multiple wonderful reviews, and the fact that Copics are used by many professionals. Also they apply really smoothly and have a very long life span. Nonetheless, if you are an artist and/or plan to make any type of elaborate piece, then 12 markers may not be enough.These work great alone, but (I found) Copics are best when blended together and because this is a 12pc BASIC set, you only get 12 different colors. It makes doing highlights and shadows a bit difficult when you are missing the in-between shades and tones. So, again, I would keep that in mind when buying this particular set. I'd say it's more for beginners learning to get a feel for the Copic Sketch Markers or for those who don't really know where to start in buying Copic Sketch Markers 'cause there are so many. With this set you can get a feel of how to use them and figure out what shade you need to fill in the gaps of the 12 colors.For example:in-between the pink copic (RV [red violet] 11) and the red copic (R08) in this set, there are 26 other copics with varying shades/tones that exist. Imagine roughly that many colors applying for each of the copics sitting next to each other in this set.You can buy this set and see just how light the light blue (B14) is and just how dark the dark blue (B29) is, and figure out if you need something just a bit lighter or a whole lot darker, and then buy those individual colors separately. This way you have the 12 basic colors as a foundation and can add your preference in-between colors yourself.Or, if you are wanting to use these with a more "directed" approach i.e, for flowers only, the sea only, or people only, then maybe this isn't the best set for you. There are floral sets, sea & sky sets, and skin tone specific sets (among others) that may suit you better than this general 12pc set simply by not having to search for/ through so many colors because the above mentioned sets would come with the shades and tones you need.Overall, I really like this set and am quite happy with it, but I wanted to let others to know that this IS a 12pc BASIC set. Emphasis on the basic. I kept reading this when searching reviews before I purchased my own set: That "...this was a BASIC..." And while I was prepared in the fact that these 12 colors were probably not going to be enough, I wanted a solid place to start with when buying these markers. I realized that there were other sets available and that I would probably need skin tones as well as the B&W and gray-scale colors at a later date, but I came to the conclusion that the 12pc Basic Set was good enough for me for now.I don't know if anyone reading this review has done that research and so I just wanted to give a little explanation as to WHY this set would be considered basic for people reading review after review and seeing that these are great markers getting great reviews, but beware, this is a "BASIC" set.I hope this helps~

As an artist, I’ve had the pleasure of using Prismacolor markers, and I can confidently say they’ve become one of my go-to tools for illustration. The vibrant color selection is fantastic; there’s a shade for almost everything, which really helps bring my artwork to life.One of the standout features for me is their blendability. The alcohol-based ink blends seamlessly, allowing me to achieve smooth gradients and rich textures. Whether I’m working on character designs or detailed illustrations, they perform beautifully, making shading a breeze.I also appreciate the dual-tip design. The broad tip is great for filling in larger areas, while the fine tip allows for precision work, making them versatile for various projects.However, I did notice that they can be a bit pricey, especially if you’re looking to build a complete set. Additionally, I’ve found that the ink can dry out if not capped properly, so I’ve made it a habit to keep them stored upright and capped when not in use.Overall, I highly recommend Prismacolor markers to anyone looking for high-quality, vibrant markers. They’ve definitely elevated my artwork, and I can’t imagine my toolkit without them!