Learn more about Y06 Yellow Copic Marker. We swatch and test ink colors- layering, staining, lift, value, lightfastness, saturation, and cap accuracy. | MarkerNovice.com | How to Color, Color Theory, Copic Swatch

Y06 Yellow is a standard yellow Copic Marker which resembles Hansa Yellow watercolor. This is an intense yellow which easily dominates a color palette with an unnatural glow. Often looks like a highlighter. Y06 is available in Sketch, Ciao, and Classic 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.

Y06 Yellow

Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and its ink characteristics.

WARNING: This color does not reproduce well due to the florescent nature of the ink. The test graphic above has been scanned and digitally altered to come close to the authentic color but does not capture the radioactive glow of Y06.

Temperature: A standard yellow, not noticeably cool or warm. But be careful, this marker glows like a highlighter.

Resemblance: Hansa Yellow watercolor.

Actual Value: N3 (the glow throws this measurement off)

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 plastic cap of a Sketch marker is close to one coat of Y06 but is deceptive because the cap does not glow the way the ink does.

Buildup: Y06 layers without looking oily but oddly, this ink does not build value well. Two coats looks almost like four coats.

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: Y06 does not stain the paper.

Lift: Lifts easily.

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: Fading was extreme and irregular, about a 50% fade. Strangely, this color did not just get lighter, it also browned to an unpleasant tan.

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: Y06 is at the darker end of the Y-Zero family. They’re unnatural looking yellows with a chemical vibrancy to them. Several yellows in this family (especially Y06) look like office high-lighters if you’re not careful.

Family Members: Y0000, Y2000, Y00, Y02, Y04, Y06, and Y08.

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 pale violet such as V22

Underpaint: We suggest V12

This is simply one suggestion. Many possible colors exist. Test to find a color that pleases you.

Pushing Pencil: Prismacolor 1026 Greyed Lavender works wonderfully.

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.