I would use Copic Marker Y23 to color this urban waterfront scene. You’ll color better when you understand the ink better. We tested this alcohol ink to see how it performs.

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.

Y23 Yellowish Beige

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

Temperature: A warm, light yellow

Resemblance: Naples Yellow watercolor

Name: “Yellowish Beige” is a very generic name for this color, almost as if this was the last color of the day and they’d used up all their creativity on the other 358 marker. names. Yes, it’s yellowish. I’d argue that it’s not very beige.

Marker Styles: Y23 is only available in Sketch and Classic style markers.

For a Copic Wide marker in this color, you must purchase a “blank” or empty marker body and fill it with refill ink. Copic Wides have been do-it-yourself colors since 2019.

Copic makes refill inks for all 358 colors and every style of Copic is refillable.

Actual Value: N2.5

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.

We tested Y23 Copic Marker ink for quality. Test results show layering, staining, lightfastness, and cap accuracy. How does this alcohol ink compare to other inks?

Cap Accuracy: The colored plastic on a Sketch marker closely matches the color of 1-2 layers of Y23 ink.

Buildup: Y23 reaches maximum value at 4 layers

Shattering: Y23 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: Y23 does not stain. This is typical of yellow inks and the light color reduces any possible staining even more.

Lift: Y23 lifts easily and can be considered a correctable, erasable color.

See staining swatch. Sample was given 6 stripes of #0 Colorless Blender, drying between each stripe. Results indicate how much lifting you can expect.

We tested “Yellowish Beige” Y23 Copic alcohol marker ink for layering, staining, lightfastness, and cap accuracy.

Lightfast: Y23 did not appreciably fade at all during the test period. If there’s any fading there, it’s not apparent to the naked eye.

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: Y23 is dilution of Y28 but the mother ink which forms both markers is likely far more golden brown than anything Copic currently produces. Y22 is the at the lighter end of the Y-Twenty family. We wish Copic would produce a sub-zero series for this family as the current Y00’s feel too greenish and do not work well with Y23.

Family Members: Y28, Y26, Y23, Y21

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 murky grayed violet like BV23 or if they made it, V23 (which does not exist, to our sorrow).

Underpaint: We suggest V0000

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

Pushing Pencil: PC1026 Grayed Lavender is an excellent choice to shade this color. Please use very light pressure.

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.

YELLOW WORKSHOP