B12 Ice Blue is a balanced blue Copic Marker which resembles diluted Cobalt Blue watercolor. This is an easy blue, works well in blends for beginners and useful in many color palettes. B12 is available in Copic Sketch, Ciao, and Classic marker styles.
Every Copic Marker has unique characteristics based on its unique ink formula.
Knowing how a color behaves will help you blend effectively and make art with confidence.
B12 Ice Blue
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and its ink characteristics.
Temperature: A balanced cyan color
Resemblance: Diluted Cobalt Blue watercolor.
Actual Value: N3
All Copics are measured on a Neutral Gray value scale. The last number on the cap is supposed to indicate value but we’ve found discrepancies where the actual ink value is different than cap designation.
Cap Accuracy: The plastic on a Sketch marker closely matches one coat of B12 ink.
Buildup: B12 reaches maximum color at four layers. This color does show a slightly oily look at one layer but it quickly smooths at two layers.
Shattering: Does not shatter.
Chromatography testing shows this ink’s behavior when it comes in contact with #0 Colorless Blender (solvent). High shattering colors may leak unexpected color when you make corrections or attempt to blend with any color that has a high solvent to colorant ratio. Shattering is not bad, it’s just something to be aware of.
Staining: B12 stains the paper with just a bit of yellow.
Lift: This color lifts fairly well with just a bit of warm paper stain left behind.
See staining swatch. Sample was given 6 stripes of #0 Colorless Blender, drying between each stripe. Results indicate how much lifting you can expect.
Lightfast: We saw a minor bit of fading during the test period, perhaps 5%
Samples were swatched on X-Press It Blending Card. 1 layer of ink was exposed to windowsill sunlight for 21 days. Approximately 10 hours of sun per day based on weather conditions. Note: we do not recommend displaying original Copic art under these conditions.
Natural Ink Family: B12 is the light end of the B-Teen family. This family looks a bit green-shade at the light end and noticably red-shade at the dark end— likely the bleaching effect of solvent.
Family Members: B12, B14, B16, and B18
We include this information because many Copic users never think deeper than the letter groupings (R, BV, G, etc.). Every ink has its own temperature variations and underlying flavors. Understanding what an ink looks like in its different dilutions helps when creating your own blending combinations.
Complement: A yellow orange like YR12
Underpaint: We suggest W2
This is simply one suggestion. Many possible colors exist. Test to find a color that pleases you.
Pushing Pencil: Prismacolor 1008 Parma Violet pushes this color nicely with a pleasant cool temperature.
VanillaArts.com (our sister site) teaches a Push & Pull technique for dimensional coloring. This is simply one suggestion. Many possible colors exist. Test to find a color that pleases you.
Vanilla Arts Classes using B12:
We continue to create new content and classes and we will update here as more become available.
Visit the workshop resource page at our sister site VanillaArts.com for a wide variety of Copic & colored pencil classes.
Vanilla Arts Digi Stamps using B12:
We continue to create new content and classes and we will update here as more become available.
Visit the workshop resource page at our sister site VanillaArts.com for a wide variety of digital stamps.
Color palettes and swatches using B12:
Looking for beautiful color palettes?
We absolutely love The Color Catalog 1 & 2 from Sarah Renae Clark. It puts hundreds of Copic friendly color palettes at your fingertips.
(note: affiliate link)
