Who-Hoo this is so exciting! Copic has listened to us and taken in everyone's suggestions and have made their recommendations for the top 36 & 72 Copic Marker Color Selections. What this means is trying to decide from the 300+ copic colors has just become a "no brainer". Simply print the attached charts and either start to fill in the colors or start shopping!
Now this is my current 36 color chart (to the left). Notice how each color group works in with a 2 or 3 digit sequencing difference, to allow for blending. For example Blues B00, B02 & B05; 2 to 3 digits difference in numbering sequence means that you will now be able to make several blended shades of blue.
I already filled in what colors I have and at a quick glance I can see what colors I am missing. I am in complete trouble when it comes to the Red Violets, Yellow Greens & Yellow Reds. Plus this will make remembering what colors I already own much easier. The great part about these 36 color selections is that they are compatible with Copic Original, Copic Sketch or Copic Ciao. Any of the three markers will work with these color selections. Actually, I own a little of all three types of markers, but my preference is still the Sketch marker since it has the Airbrushing capabilities and the Super Brush tip. Now if you're new to this just click back on my blog to the Copic areas and you will see very detailed explanations of the three markers and all their assets. Most of September 2007 was dedicated to Copic Information.
Let me just back up for a moment and explain how these colors were chosen in order of importance:
- These colors are universal - available in Copic Original, Sketch or Ciao
- Certain colors are most popular and needed to be included; 0=Colorless Blender, Y21=Buttercup yellow, B00=Frost Blue, E00=Skin White, R29=Lipstick Red, YG67=Moss, C3=Cool Gray #3
- They picked two or three colors in sequence (b00, B02, B05 or BV00, BV04, BV08) so you have something to blend with.
- R29, Lipstick Red is so vibrant that to get a shadow for it the sequence goes R29, R39, R59, so R59 is the shadow for R29.
- Colors like pink just don't have enough cross-over, so they just picked a good cross section of what pinks are available.
Once you add the next 36 colors (tomorrow's blog) to make the 72 you will see how even more sequences are created.
Once you know which type of marker you prefer, this should help you build your collection 2 or 3 markers at a time in a sequence (always keep a 2 to 3 digit difference in your sequence)
So here is your own Copic Chart to fill out, this is a PDF file, Download copic_36_stampers_select_pdf_chart.pdf . If this doesn't work for everyone I do have this chart saved as an Excel file and would be happy to e-mail to anyone and then you can print it or manipulate it in any way you would like, just drop me a note in the comment section and it'll be on it's way.
Tomorrow I will share the list for the 72 color selections. It includes this set of 36 + 36 additional colors.
If you are already using another color recommendation chart/list from another person/site - that's okay. Just remember to always keep a 2 to 3 digit difference in your sequence. Other recommendations on other sites have been made compatible to Stampin Up or CTMH or to personal preference and all of those are valid and still a super tool. Since I have never owned inks from other Stamping Companies and mostly used Ranger ink products this is a great tool for me. So the most important thing to remember here is that we all want you to get the most out of your Copic Markers. So have fun!
They have also come up with three additional sets of 12 markers each in the following color collections:
- Basic Brights - Most of these have a 0 as the first digit, this means they are very vibrant. The last digit is mostly between a 4-7, meaning they are good middle bright (there are a few exceptions like the deep red, turquoise, and blue-violet)
- Soft Pastels - All but one of these markers end in a 0-3, meaning they are pale colors. The V15 (Mallow) is still a lighter purple, but it's in there to create a sequence.
- Earthy Elements - Only 2 of these colors have a middle digit of 0, meaning most of these markers have a bit of grey in them - they're not super-bright colors. Then, they included the pale blue & yellow in this set (B00, Frost Blue & Y21, Buttercup Yellow), since these are used for backgrounds.
If you buy all three sets then you will be creating quite a few sequences - V12, V15, V17; E33, E35, E37; B00, B02, B05; BV00, BV04, BV08; Y02, Y06; R29, R59; G02, G07; YR02, YR04.
I will be including those charts also.
Thank you Copic, (actually Marianne, in particular - she worked for days on this after listening to what everyone had to say at CHA), For taking this sometimes complicated selection process and making it so easy for us to use!
Marianne - YOU ROCK!!
And now after all that explanation I'm going to make this the easiest thing you've ever done by saying, remember this:
ANY Copic color is a stamping, scrapping, airbrushing, creating color!














































