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Ideas, techniques & and how to

Intro to Ideas, Techniques & How To

COPIC Markers are a high quality marker and designed to give the finest result if used properly. Below are suggestions for using the markers, using the airbrush, creating comics as well as a list of frequently asked questions.

Check out our Art Books and How-to Literature in our catalog to get the most information on comic/manga art and illustration

Get your questions answered on our FAQ page.

How To Use COPIC Markers

Always use good paper with a smooth and tight surface. Art stores sell "Marker" tablets. We also sell these tablets. They make colors appear brighter and use less ink in the process. A rough paper will not only absorb too much ink but may also bleed along the edge of the line.

When trying to blend colors or mix colors together use the special "COLORLESS BLENDER" Marker #0. This marker works best on MARKER TABLET PAPER because the ink needs to remain on the surface to mix. It is very difficult to blend colors on an absorbent paper. See more details about our Colorless Blender in our catalog.

Adding white to your art work. Markers are a dye based system and thus only tiny particles can move through the fiber tips. White ink is too think to be effective in a marker. If you need to add white highlights to a drawing or to cover up an area that you don't want to show then use Opaque White. This comes in a jar and should be stirred and applied by a tiny brush. Always clean the brush with soap and water after using.

How To Refill COPIC Markers

COPIC Marker Nib

The markers are refillable and when markers streak with white lines it is time to refill marker. Please check your art store or this web site to find Various Ink and order based upon number on cap. Use the information sheet on Re-filling COPIC Markers to help you in the process.

Download PDF instructions.

How To Change Marker Nibs

COPIC Marker Nibs Nine styles of COPIC interchangeable nibs - from broad to calligraphy - provide greater freedom of technique in your renderings.

COPIC nibs deliver clear, vibrant color on photocopied surfaces as well as glass, plastics and metals.
The nibs are made of a strong, but flexible polyester for smooth, consistent application.
Note: The COPIC Marker nibs cannot be used with the Sketch Markers.

COPIC Marker Nibs Our special COPIC Tweezers allow you to quickly change the COPC nibs.

Easy no-mess nib change gets you drawing again in minutes.
Being able to change nibs quickly helps you keep up with the most demanding marker techniques.

1. Using the tweezers pull the large nib out of the marker.

2. Insert the Nib slowly back into the marker.

3. The ink will wick from the inside out to the end of the nib. This may take a few minutes.

How To Use the Airbrush System with COPIC Markers

COPIC Marker Airbrush System Airbrush effects can be achieved using COPIC Markers in a special attachment available through this web site. The air source can be portable air cans or an air compressor.

Use the chisel end of the marker in the special airbrush adapter for COPIC Markers.

Pressure should be around 45 pounds per sq.inch (PSI)

Always practice moving the airbrush close to and farther away from paper surface to achieve graduate tones.

Making simple masks or stencils from paper, stick-on notes, or special stencil film will help control the areas of spray by the airbrush. Torn paper can give a very good edge for landscape work.

Many books and magazines are available on using airbrushes, Most refer to the traditional airbrush but many of the techniques also apply to the COPIC system.

Airbrushed effects can be used in illustration, comics, background sets for animation, etc.

Read more details about our Airbrush System.

This article was posted in Ideas, techniques & and how to over 4 years ago — Fri Feb 22 23:53:00 -0500 2013

How To Color A Manga Girl

Step 1 With your blank outline image, begin by coloring the flesh areas with R00.

Step 2Add shadows to the flesh areas with R02.

Step 3 Color the main parts of the hair with B93, leaving highlights white. Add shadows to the skirt and hairbows with C1, leaving the rest white.

Step 4 Add shadows to the hair with B23. To add more depth, go over the hair behind her head a few times. With the C1, add a touch of shadow to the upper right of her eye.

Step 5 Color the highlights on the skirt with B05.

Step 6 Color the rest of her skirt with B97, and add B05 to highlight the bow.

Step 7 Finish the bow with B97, then work on her eye. Use the lightest blues on the outside of the pupil, getting darker as you go in.

Step 8 Color the shoes with E57. For the dark socks, start with a light gray and work in two more shade of gray, getting darker as you add shadows.

This article was posted in Ideas, techniques & and how to 3 months ago — Wed Jan 23 00:24:50 -0500 2008

How To Create a One-Page Comic/Manga

Gather the following tools to create you own comic or manga.

regular pencil #2
non-photo blue pencil
Manga manuscript paper
COPIC pigment ink Multiliner .3, .5, .8, BS
ruler
eraser

Start out with a simple story idea. Write down the idea for each panel. Plan for at least 4 panels per page and often 6-8 panels as your comic develops.

List any words that will appear in word balloons or blocks of type at the top of the panels.

Use a piece of typing paper to sketch with pencil your first attempt to lay out the panels and the text for your one page comic.

After this first draft transfer your drawing and layout to the larger Manuscript paper with the Non-Photo Blue pencil. Indicate where panel frames will be in the pencil.

Type the text on a computer or carefully hand letter in capitol letters on pencil guidelines. Remember if people can't read your words they are missing part of your story.

Ink in the main characters and backgrounds with a pigment ink multiliner. Leave shading for later.

Cut out and paste in the text from your computer. Try to format the text to fit the space for your balloons or blocks for words.

Ink around the text with black line for balloon or rectangular block. 10 Ink around the frame or panel boarders.

Add shading with black ink for solid or cross hatched or screen tone shades to give back ground a solid feel. This will also make your foreground figures jump forward.

Add a title at the top of the page, frame it, then at the bottom of the page sign and date your work and take it to the copy machine.

This article was posted in Ideas, techniques & and how to 3 months ago — Wed Jan 23 00:11:28 -0500 2008