Y19 Napoli Yellow is a warm yellow Copic Marker which resembles Gamboge watercolor. This is an essential color for botanical artists but also useful for general year-round coloring. Y19 is only available in Sketch and Classic styles.

Y19 Napoli Yellow

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

WARNING: THE Y-TEEN FAMILY HAS AN ERROR! Y17 is darker than both Y18 & Y19 which breaks the Copic numbering pattern! Y17 is the problem, not Y19. If you typically choose blending combinations based on the cap numbers, do not attempt to use Y19 as the darkest marker and Y17 as the middle, it will not work.

Temperature: A barely warm yellow. The Y-Teens are the most balanced/neutral in temperature than the other yellow number groups but Y19 does feel slightly warmer.

Resemblance: diluted Gamboge or Cadmium Yellow Dark watercolor.

Actual Value: N4. Notice the extreme discrepancy between the actual value and the value indication Y19 on the marker cap! This marker is not as dark as you’d expect!

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 matches two coats of Y19.

Buildup: Y19 reaches maximum color at three layers. Any further layers begin to appear oily.

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: Y19, as with other level 9 markers does tint the paper yellow but we found the ink moved rather well with more hits of colorless blender.

Lift: Lifts fairly easily but requires more than 6 applications of Colorless Blender to correct a mistake. It’s not stubborn, there’s simply a lot of colorant to move.

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 mild, less than a 10% fade.

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: WARNING Y17 has been inserted into this group by mistake. Y17 is actually darker and warmer than Y18 and Y19.

We do not recommend using Y17 in blending combinations with Y18 or Y19 due to the value mismatch.

Y19 is a highly recommended color and I recommend the entire group (minus Y17) for all colorers.

Family Members: Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17*, Y18, Y19

Shop for Y markers at Violeta-ink.com (affiliate link).

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 medium blue violet such as BV04 (affiliate link).

Underpaint: We suggest V12 (affiliate link).

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

Pushing Pencil: PC1026 Greyed Lavender (affiliate link) 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.