Copic Multiliner Pen Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

With the Copic Multiliner, this is the first time that I have used a fineliner in a color other than black, and I'm totally in love with that, now. These have planted themselves squarely into the "things I didn't know I needed in my life" category. Unfortunately, while the ink makes these a fantastic product, the build of these pens makes me less likely to meet their price point unless I have a specific project in mind for them.

The strength of these pens lies completely in their pigment-based ink. It's waterproof, acid-free, bleed-proof, archival, and works with alcohol markers. It doesn't dissolve toner, so it's safe to use on printouts or photocopies. The colors are well-pigmented and leave solid lines. There's a range of ten colors available in neutral and natural tones that are perfect for sketching.

The tips are available in a huge range of sizes from .03 up to 1.0 in the felt-tips, and several sizes of sponge-tip brush tips. The long needle-point makes it easy to see your work as you sketch, and the tip runs over the paper with a good bit of feedback. The tips do wear out quite quickly on textured paper. Even on smooth paper, it feels like the .03 size, which is particularly fragile, wears out before the life expectancy of the pen. Because these are the disposable model of pen (unlike the refillable SP version), that life expectancy is more important, especially considering that these pens run $3.60 a pop.

These disposable models cost only a little more than a cartridge for the refillable version, and less than a refill and new tip for the SP model--which makes them, in general, a better investment than the refillable pen. That seems a bit backwards to me. But I think the issue here is that the ink and tip are really all you are paying for in the disposable version. It doesn't feel like much has been invested into the pen body at all.

The body is made of a slightly sparkly, almost granite-looking plastic. I think that's a bit misleading. When I first saw them, I assumed they were glitter gel pens. When I realized they were serious business copic liners, I was surprised. I certainly don't see an architect carryiCg these into an important meeting. The quality of the plastic feels fairly cheap. If they weren't branded, I'd be guessing these came from a line that costs pennies per unit. The molded plastic has rough seams and edges, and the clip is so flimsy I can bend it way back with barely any pressure at all. The cap does post, but with a friction that feels ill-fitted and unreliable.

Basically, I think these pens are unicorns in mule clothing. I'm not likely to spend this much for a disposable pen that might wear out before it runs dry. But I am very likely going to need to outline something in olive green or lavender on occasion--and for that, I am very glad these exist.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Copic Sketch Marker And Refill Review

(This is a guest post by Nick Folz. You can find more of Nick and his work on his blog, Smallberry Drive, Twitter, and Instagram.)

My first brush with Copics was a review about their excellent doodle packs, which I was smitten with. I really dug the Ciao Dual Tip Marker, which was the meat and potatoes of the set. So I wanted to dive into another marker of theirs a bit more and test out the refill system. I went with their Sketch Marker color R29, Lipstick Red.

Copic’s reputation in the marker industry usually precedes them (if you are unfamiliar let me summarize: they good). Their Sketch series is very similar to the Ciao, both have the dual tip and both are refillable. The Sketch are a bit more expensive but have more color options and hold more ink.

The chisel and brush tips are great and add levels of versatility to the marker. The Copic ink is amazing, it is thick and impressive and you can layer it for added saturation and darkness. It plays well with most types of ink, both under and over, and can be blended with other Copic colors. I don’t do much with the Copic blenders, but I have seen miracles preformed with those things.

The Copic Various Ink refill is great. A narrow tip delivers new life to the marker and is a must have to get the actual value out of the pricey markers. There are a few ways to refill: slowly drip ink onto the chisel tip to fill the reservoir, or pull the tip out and fill directly into the middle of the marker. The later is the quicker, if possibly messier, option. The chisel tip is easy to remove and replace, so I recommend that method.

I LOVE the color of this thing. It has unlocked so many options for me. I have been doing silhouettes in red and inking details in black. I am smitten with this technique. The consistency of the ink makes this possible without looking like a streaky mess. Adding pops of color to black and white is joy and I am glad I have the refill to keep the party going. I have refilled the marker twice and haven’t even used a fourth of the refill ink.

If you have tried out Copics and like them, then I highly recommend you go for the refillable variety and stock up on some ink. You can find Copic refills and Copic Sketch markers and sets at JetPens.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Copic Doodle Pack Brown Ink Review

(This is a guest post by Nick Folz. You can find more of Nick and his work on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.)

Okay listen, I'm a black and white sort of fella. No no no, I like grey as much as the next person and life is so rarely as simple as the bright clear white and the rich dark black, but when I'm doodling I prefer the starkest of contrasts. Good ol' B & W.

That said, comfort zones are made to be stepped away from. Markers are decidedly outside of mine. Sure, as an awkward youth I burnt through many a flimsy yellow cardboard box of brightly toned cylinders, and had fun while doing so, transforming white sheets into worlds where the grass really was green and the sky always a brilliant blue. I think I was probably in high school when I abandoned colors in general in my drawings. Too much work! The thing was done and now I have to risk ruining it by coloring? No thanks. I have talked to many people who feel the same way about inking, which I have always found relaxing and a general refinement of the previous version, but I digress. Let’s get down to the business at hand - Copic Markers Doodle Pack in Brown. A fine way to test the swirling waters of color.

Here is the (my) thing about colors: when given all of the choices in the world, it is crippling. It can be overwhelming trying to choose the right color when there are limitless options. It is much easier and even more effective to limit a pallet and work within constraints. That is what piqued my interest in these packs. You are giving various tones of a single color group and a variety of tools as well. Let’s do a quick breakdown of the four items:

• Copic Ciao Marker - E31 Brick Beige: dual edge (one chisel, one brush) perfect for large area toning. A light (but not too light) brown.
• Copic Ciao Marker - E35 Chamois: dual edge (one chisel, one brush) perfect for large area toning. A dark (but not too dark) brown
• Copic atyou Spica Glitter Pen - Chocolate: Lays down a decent sized deep dark brown. 
• Copic Multiliner Pen - 0.3 mm Brown: Lays down a super fine deep dark brown.

For an analogy, let’s say you are painting a room: Your Ciao Markers are your rollers, Spica is your edge brush and the Multiliner is your tiny-detail-single-hair brush. They work wonderfully in concert with one another, each doing a job the other couldn't do and making the whole better.

To be honest I totally forgot how to use markers and started to do line work with one of the Ciao markers. Rookie move. Markers bleed like my nose in allergy season, what was meant to be a fine line wound up a broad stroke and I sat agape watching the pigment do it slow march outward. Oops. I shrugged it off, finished lining it with the marker and relined it with the Spica. Went back with the Ciaos to fill and then finished it up the details with the Multiliner. Suffice to say it was like riding a bike and before long I was grinning like that awkward child I once was (I am now an awkward adult, thank you very much).

One of my favorite aspects is the layering effect of the Ciaos. You might have only two colors but you can overlap the color for slightly darker shades of each, adding nuance to the shading. The Spica was my main outliner, the flow was solid and clean. Yes, it is a glitter ink pen but I hadn't noticed HOW glittery till the next day in better light. Glitter ink is, admittedly, not my bag, but it has a very nice look to it! The Multiliner worked well, but I am not wild about the tips on these types of pens. The super fine point is made of what feels like felt and they crush too easy for me, but tip works perfect for details and the shade is close to the Spica, so they work well together.

All in all I would highly recommend the Doodle packs to anyone interested in trying either expanding their marker knowledge or color palette. They are extraordinarily fun to use and will add some variety to an otherwise drab sketchbook. They can be purchased at JetPens and are available in a variety of color spectrums (I have my eye on the turquoise next).   Cheers.

(Disclaimer: This product was provided for me free of cost but I am not otherwise being compensated for this review. The opinions contained are my own.)