This document provides an introduction to alcohol-based markers, including Copic, Prismacolor, and Letraset brands. It discusses the characteristics of alcohol-based markers, such as their ability to blend colors. It also covers storage, techniques like shading, and common papers used with these markers. The presenters are Becca Hillburn and Heidi Black, comic artists promoting their work at an upcoming convention.

1. Introduction to Alcohol Based
Markers
Copics, Prismacolors, and
More!
Becca Hillburn
Heidi Black
Mechacon 2014

2. 7/29/14
Becca Hillburn
I'm a childrens comic artist and freelance illustrator originally from New
Orleans but currently living in Nashville, TN. I graduated from SCAD
with a Masters Degree in Sequential Art in 2013, and from the University
of New Orleans with a bachelors degree in Hypermedia (digital art). My
main focus is currently watercolor comics, and my hobbies include
writing for my blog, Keep on Truckin' Nattosoup and attending
conventions as an artist.

3. 7/29/14
Heidi Black
Heidi is a sequential artist and illustrator from dayton, ohio. She likes
cats and potatoes and hates writing bios. Her work is at
electricabyss.com, including her tutorial artbook, Electricabyss, and her
newest comic, Sons of Fire.

4. What are Alcohol Based Markers?
• Markers that use an alcohol based solvent to suspend
pigments, as opposed to water
• Prismacolor, Copic, Letraset
• Not Crayola, RoseArt, or other ‘student grade’ markers
• Used by comic artists, graphic designers, illustrators
• Quick, fairly consistent results
• Noted for ability to blend

5. “Kid Loki”
Heidi Black
“Pippi in the South Pacific”
Becca Hillburn

6. Alcohol VS Waterbased Markers
• Typically tend to be much higher quality than
student grade brands
• Often feature refillability, ability to replace tips
• More expensive than most waterbased brands
• More difficult to find- usually have to go to a
dedicated art or hobby shop, order online
• Able to achieve impressive results with
practice

7. Anatomy of an Alcohol Based
Marker
Image Via: store.copicmarker.com

8. Papers for Alcohol Based Markers
• Strathmore mixed media sketchbooks
• Copic (Too) brand papers, my favorite is the
PM pad
• Cardstock paper
• Strathmore 400 series and above smooth and
plate finish Bristol paper
• Hot and cold pressed watercolor paper

9. Selecting an Ink for Lineart
Always do a test swatch on separate sheet of paper ahead of time. Try to let
your inks dry overnight before applying marker, to prevent smearing.
• Solvent based inks (or lacquer based) are NOT alcohol based marker proof.
• Waterbased inks tend to be alcohol based marker proof.
• Copic Multiliners are always alcohol based marker proof.
• Sakura Microns are usually alcohol based marker proof.
• Kaimei Sol K ink is alcohol based marker safe (I use it myself with brushes).
• Winsor Newton tends to be alcohol based marker safe.
• Avoid Prismacolor technical pens as they bleed

10. Good Alcohol Based Marker Brands
• Copic- Original, Sketch, or Ciao
• Prismacolor (available in bullet or brush tips)
• Shin Han Twin Touch (available in bullet or
brush tips)
• MEXPY (available in bullet or brush tips)
• Letraset Flex Marker
• Letraset Pro Marker

12. Keep a Swatch book
All marker brands have different color coding systems, so it’s
handy to keep a book of color swatches organized by color
families, especially if you mix brands.

14. Copics: Worth the Expense?
• Refillable
• Fairly common
• HUGE color selection
• Often go on sale, if you know where to look
• Replaceable nibs
• Super brush tip available on Sketch and Ciao
• Copic Wides useful for effectively covering large spaces with less streaking
• Empty markers are available, so you can mix your own colors
• Plays well with a lot of other brands like Prismacolors, Letrasets
• Even a ‘wrecked’ Copic marker can be salvaged

15. Comparison Between Copic
Markers Types
Image Source:
http://fantasyartclass.blogspot.com/ Image Source:
http://whoopsiedaisy-jane.
blogspot.com/2009/02
/copic-demonstration-information.
html

16. Copic Nibs
Copic Original
Image Source:
http://www.refuelled.com/copic-marker-
Copic Sketch and Ciao
pen-nib-set-p-641.html http://www.carpediemstore.co
m/mlistCategoriesAndProducts.
asp?midCategory=69

17. Starting a set from scratch
(Copic, but applicable to other brands as well)
• Start with a selection of Warm Greys (W00-
W05)
• Colors can be layered for saturation
• Start with a couple colors in each family until
you know what you need.
• Skin and hair colors are most pressing needs if
you render figures
• Blue violets (BV000-BV01) useful for shading
skin and cool shadows

18. Copic and Watercolor mixed media
on Fluid watercolor paper
B

20. Copic Color Chart
Image source:
https://www.copicmarker.com/demystifying-the-
copic-color-system

21. H

22. Techniques
• Blending-
– Utilizing Colorless Blender
– Utilizing lighter colors in same family
– Tip to Tip Blending
– Palette to Tip Blending
• Applying a wash of marker
• Splatters with toothbrIumsaghe Soourrc pe: aintbrush
http://www.anniescatalog.com/copic/A-Perfect-
Blend.html

23. B

24. Marker Technique- Shading
• Same color in layers (E00 on top of E00)
• Same color family in layers (E02 on top of E00)
• Analogous color (YR on top of Y, R on top of YR)
• Complimentary Color (BV on top of YR)

25. Shading
B

26. Simple shading, layers of like color

27. Sketching with Markers
Strathmore 300 series
sketchbook, Pentel Hi
Tec C pen

28. Shading
Yellow to Red to
Violet to Blue Violet
Orange to Brown
to Blue Violet to
Blue
Green to Blue to
Blue Violet
Red to Red Violet to
Blue Violet
H

29. H

30. Marker Storage
Alcohol based markers should be stored horizontally.
Image Source:
http://store.copicmarker.com/pages/overview-marker-storage
Image Source:
http://korpannita.wordpress.com/201
3/04/13/my-copic-markers/

31. Home Storage
Image Source:
http://inkinglyyours.blogspot.com/2011/
03/ink-padre-inkermarker-storage-units-for.
html

32. Travel Options
Image Source:
http://www.marcopaper.com/produ
cts.php?product=Copic-Marker-36-
Pc-Wallet-(Empty)
Image Source:
http://store.copicmarker.com/collections/
marker-storage/products/copic-carrying-case

33. Photo courtesy of Chris Paulsen

34. Marker Accessories
• Nib removal tweezers
• Refill colors
• Extra or additional nibs
• Plastic palettes for
palette to nib blending
• Airbrush System

35. Image Source:
http://store.copicmarker.com/colle
ctions/accessories/products/twzr
Image Source:
http://store.copicmarker.com/produc
ts/medrndn

36. Image Source:
http://store.copicmarker.com/pages/overview-various-ink

37. Image Source:
http://store.copicmarker.com/pages/over
view-airbrush-system

38. Enjoyed our presentation?
Support our work!
Becca Hillburn
Table 512 in the Artist Alley
7” Kara (children’s watercolor
comic)
Hana Doki Kira Shoujo anthology
Marker Review Handbook
Commissions
www.nattosoup.blogspot.com
www.nattosoup.com/store
Heidi Black
Table 601 in the Artist Alley
ElectricAbyss: The Art of Heidi Black
GameGo
Commissions
www.electricabyss.com