What Are Copic Ciao Markers?
Copic Ciao markers are blendable, refillable alcohol markers. Each one has a brush tip at one end and a chisel tip at the other end.
Who Should Use Copic Ciao Markers?
Copic Ciao markers are intended for use by adults. The people who use them are typically illustrators, artists, adult coloring enthusiasts, card makers and stampers. Illustrators use them for creating a variety of artwork including fashion illustrations, botanical illustrations, architectural renderings, comic book art, manga and children’s story book illustrations. Card makers and stampers frequently use them for coloring in hand-stamped images.
Copic Ciao markers are intended for use by adults. The people who use them are typically illustrators, artists, adult coloring enthusiasts, card makers and stampers. Illustrators use them for creating a variety of artwork including fashion illustrations, botanical illustrations, architectural renderings, comic book art, manga and children’s story book illustrations. Card makers and stampers frequently use them for coloring in hand-stamped images.
These markers are not intended for children’s use. That said, it is possible that perhaps some mature young artists could be trusted with Ciao markers if they are responsible enough to follow instructions for how to use the markers correctly. I wouldn’t recommend giving them to a a five year-old to play with, but if you have teenagers, your teens could probably be taught to use them carefully and correctly. You might want to help them refill the markers when the ink eventually runs out.
Please review Copic’s material safety data sheet (MSDS) and understand the possible hazards before using them or allowing others in your care to use them. According to the material safety data sheet, these markers have ingredients that are flammable and irritating to the eyes, and the vapors they emit may be harmful to breathe.
Advantages of Copic Ciao Markers
Copic Ciao markers offer you several compelling advantages:
- Refillable, Cost Effective and Earth Friendly: Copic Ciao markers are refillable. This makes them a much more environmentally friendly choice of markers than other competing brands that are not refillable. If you do a lot of drawing or coloring with markers, you’ll find that you throw away a lot of plastic as you use up non-refillable markers in your art supplies stash. You can reduce your environmental impact by buying refillable markers. Beyond that, you might find when you do the math that you will save money in the long run by buying Ciao markers and then the refills rather than buying brand new non-refillable markers over and over again.
- Superior Blending Ability: Copic Ciao markers blend beautifully. If you create illustrations, drawings or other images where it is important for one shade of color to blend seamlessly into the next shade, you are likely to achieve outstanding results once you’ve practiced sufficiently with your Ciao markers to master the skills required for blending.
- Sizable Color Range: Ciao markers come in a spectacular variety of colors. They are far superior to some other brands for purposes like fashion illustration, because there are many marker collections that do not include a suitable range of skin tones. Ciao markers are available in colors that empower you to render people of all ethnicicities and skin tones. They also have a broad range of colors suitable for drawing landscapes, plants, flowers, buildings, products, cosmetics, and just about any other type of substance you might want to illustrate.
Disadvantages of Copic Ciao Markers
In my opinion, Copic Ciao markers’ main disadvantage is their relatively high price tag as compared against other brands of markers. Copic markers are imported to the United States from Japan, and the costs of shipping and importing add to their price tag. However many artists — myself included — find them to be worth the expense.
Copic Ciao Markers vs Copic Sketch Markers
Copic Ciao markers tend to be more affordable than Copic Sketch markers. Ciao markers are smaller and need to be refilled more often. This is really only going to be an issue for you if you are a hardcore, serious marker artist who uses your markers frequently. When you refill your markers, you’d be able to refill an empty Ciao marker 9 times with your container of refill ink. In contrast, you’d be able to refill your Sketch marker 7 times with the same bottle. So you’re looking at less effort spent on refills if you make the greater investment in Sketch markers rather than Ciao markers. However, Ciao markers are totally sufficient for casual artists, stampers and paper crafters.
Copic Ciao markers come in fewer colors than Copic Sketch markers do – but the color palette consists of an impressive 180 colors, so there are still plenty of colors to choose from.
The Verdict: Highly Recommended!
Overall, I believe Copic Ciao markers are worth the price if you need high-quality markers for illustration, paper crafts, or artwork. I highly recommend these markers to other artists and illustrators.
Where to Buy Copic Ciao Markers:
Copic Ciao Markers are available for sale at many art supply stores. My two favorite sources for buying them include Dick Blick and A Cherry on Top Crafts.
See Also: Drawing With Markers
This page was last updated on 11-6-2023.