Sijun Forums :: View topic - What kind of markers are the best investment?

Jimmyjimjim · member Member # Joined: 12 Dec 2002 Posts: 459

Hey everyone-

I'm just about to replace my set of (mostly dried up) Design2 markers. Can someone recommend which kind to replace them with? I've used the Tria Pantone markers before, but frankly am reluctant to buy at $4.99 a pop if something cheaper will be just as good.

Does anyone know what brand will be best to have if I will (hopefully) be attending design school in a year? Is there a standard brand I should be aware of?

Of the sets I've researched, The Tria Pantones, Prismacolors, and Chartpaks seem to be the most widely available and most preffered.

Thanks for your help!

Inspector Lee · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2003 11:35 pm

I'd stay away from the Chartpaks, they're Xylene based (not real great for your health). I believe the Pantones and the Prismacolors are both alcohol based.
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tommyboy73 · junior member Member # Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 13

The Pantone Tria's are great and you can find them cheaperthan 4.99 on the net. Also look into Copic Markers at www.bluelinepro.com. Very popular with manga artists.

tommyboy73 · junior member Member # Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 13

The Pantone Tria's are great and you can find them cheaperthan 4.99 on the net. Also look into Copic Markers at www.bluelinepro.com. Very popular with manga artists.

HawkOne · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 10:21 am

Maybe you could also check out the advice in this thread from a short while ago ...

http://forums.sijun.com/viewtopic.php?t=32053

Information there might provide you with some more ideas ... Idea

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haohmaru · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 10:51 am

i second tommyboy73 - look out for copic markers!
not only popular among manga artists(i don't know about that), but also among european designers(fashion and other).

i like them.
cost around 4.50 here.
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Derek · member Member # Joined: 23 Apr 2001 Posts: 139

Depends on what you want to do...

Trias are best for color and working in larger areas, and their working time iis a bit longer that of Prismacolors. However, the Prismacolors offer a truer range of greys, if not as extensive, so if you work monochromatically...

The Prismacolors are _not_ non-toxic; they're just as nasty as before, though regulations and a couple of loopholes for a while allowed them to claim being non-toxic. Really, any of them should be used in an open area.

A big plus for the Trias is that you only buy one barrel per marker "number", then just buy refill ink, and you can get a wide range of nibs for them, easy to replace. If that weren't enough, if the Pantone color range weren't broad enough for you, you can custom mix your own colors from the inks, and fill empty marker barrel/nib combinations. They also produce a range of blacks, really strong and dark shades of red, green, blue, yellow, and I think there are six or so all together besides the Process black.

As for price... you really need to think if you're going to use them widely. If so, then even at 3.50 or so (which is $$) you will get a lot out of them. They're only worth less if you don't actually use them often. If you go black and white, then go to MrArt.com and get a set of 10, 20, 30, 50 and 70 Prismacolors... and some black... will keep you going for a long time.
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:::nVIDIA::: · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2003 10:28 pm

I use Tria's. I recommend it highly. Also, it's pretty modular - you can replace the nib, the three sized ends, and of course...the refill inks..which limits the throwing away of plastics.

Ed--
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plastikman · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 2:22 pm

one you should really look into is "copic markers" they use an alcohole base which is better for blending and it doesnt have that sharpie smell to them ^_-

also you can buy an air brush system with it which is pretty cheap but the markers them selves you can refill them, mix colors, and buy new pen bodies and different nibs for them...

72 set $300
36 set $72
12 set $50

www.copicmarker.com

merlyns · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2003 1:07 am

I used pantone markers and I find them very good but they are indeed expensive well they werent mine, maybe I'll buy thekm some time....

-david
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Nucleardan · member Member # Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Posts: 63

i'd go for the Prisma colors. They don't have that "i'm a gradeschool kid that comes home smelling like flavored marker" smell to them. I think someone has alreday mentioned this.