When shopping for a set of markers you might have a nagging thought in the rear of your head wondering just how soon you will need to replace the ones you buy today. This article will undoubtedly be focused on finding the longest lasting design, illustration and paint markers, the kinds artists use frequently. For the most part what plays the biggest role in the usable longevity of markers depends on which kind of ink is inside and the grade of the pen’s hardware. Be prepared to invest $3 to $5 per pen. The rest generally comes down to proper marker storage and handling, and I will touch on some valuable bits of advice on this as well.
Caveat Emptor Always find out what you can from the first-hand experience of other users. How to Install blade in hand plane Should you have artist pals as well as an network with a forum for sharing art product info hit them up because of their advice on what things to use and what to avoid. It is always far better do some research by reading reviews on specific marker sets first and even contact the product’s manufacturer if you need any details clarified.
There are very many brands and types of art pens and markers out there, and the type you choose depends on your unique needs. Based on my research by talking with artists and scouring reviews I feel I could safely list these as the top three brands to provide you with a starting point:
Copic
Prismacolor
Faber-Castell
Keep in mind that the life of water-based ink is naturally shorter when deciding what kind of marker you wish to use. Water-based ink dries quickly, which may be very convenient when using them in some recoverable format or wood. However, the water-based ink will dry out from inside the pens more quickly than permanent or solvent-based ink would. Ink that contains alcohol should be stored in a cool area or else it’ll evaporate.
Be careful when you shop for art markers as sometimes they’re advertised as having a refillable ink reservoir but are really not intended to be refilled. When refillable is not actually refillable would be in cases where the actual ink cartridge can be replaced with new auxiliary ones which are sold separately instead of being able to buy a bottle of ink and pouring it in to the existing ink reservoir.
Once you find the appropriate markers, there are methods to ensure that your quality tools last as long as possible. Leaky pens certainly are a nightmare in their own right. Minimize ink spillage by storing them caps and cartridge barrels screwed tightly closed and stored in the correct position: one-sided store within an upright position, double-sided store in a flat or neutral position.
Most art markers are two-sided with a fine and a thick end. An extremely basic word of advice is by using both ends on each marker as just as possible. Otherwise one end will dry out long before the other.
Always use the paper that’s specific to the marker. If you are using normal copy paper it will absorb the marker ink just like a paper towel to water. Two examples: watercolor paper for watercolor markers, a pen sketcher pad for fine-tipped ink markers. You can even search “Marker Paper” and find a variety out there bound to suit your needs.
So prepare yourself to budget the amount necessary for the long lasting best quality markers. Once you know what sort of marker you require, do your research and find out all you can about that particular set and see how they compare with others’ reviews. From there on it is up to you to utilize and store them properly and obtain the most from the marker set you buy.