W3 Warm Gray #3 is a diluted warm gray Copic Marker which mimics Titanium Gray watercolor. This color is useful for shading organic white objects like fur, cement, and white botanicals. W3 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.
W3 Gray No. 3
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and its ink characteristics.
Temperature: An light, warm gray.
Resemblance: Titanium Gray watercolor.
Actual Value: W3
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: Close. The cap on a Sketch marker matches 2 coats of W3.
Buildup: W3 layers beautifully.
Shattering: Slight shattering into a cooler gray with hints of soft brown along the outside of the puddle ring.
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: No. Copic grays are not generally staining.
Lift: Lifts easily. This color is almost erasable.
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: No fade was detected.
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: W3 is a diluted version of W10.
Family Members: W10, W9, W8, W7, W6, W5, W4, W3, W2, W1, W0, W00,
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: N/A
Underpaint: N/A
Pushing Pencil: We suggest Prismacolor 1072 50% French Grey with a very soft touch.
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 W3:
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 classes.
Vanilla Arts Digi Stamps using W3:
Penny Candy: an incredibly flexible image- the color options are completely up to you! Use my sample color palette or make substitutions to match your favorite colors. Find more info here.
Snowman Supplies: an incredibly flexible stamp, perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or any party. Find more info here.
Color palettes and swatches using W3:
We are building our palette and swatch collection a little more each week and will update here as more become available.
Visit the color resource page at our sister site VanillaArts.com for a wide variety of Copic palettes and swatches.
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)
