Not every Copic marker behaves the same. Every alcohol ink color has unique characteristics based on its exclusive chemical ink formula.
Knowing how a color behaves will help you blend effectively and make art with confidence.
YR18 Sanguine
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and its ink characteristics.
Temperature: A warm golden orange.
Resemblance: undiluted Cadmium Yellow-Orange watercolor.
Name: “Sanguine” (pronounced san-gwen) is an interesting name for this color. Sanguine is Latin for blood, Sanguine paint is usually a dark blood red. However, Sanguine is also the name for a type of earthy red pigment used for drawing exercises. The color of this marker is closer to the color of drawing Sanguine rather than paint.
Copic Marker Styles: YR18 is only available in Sketch and Classic style Copics. Copic makes refill inks for this and every other color they produce.
Actual Value: N6 (note the cap number indicates this color should be a value 8)
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: Yes, the plastic on a Sketch marker matches 2 layers of YR18 ink
Buildup: YR18 layers well, reaching a maximum value at four layers of ink
Shattering: YR18 ink shatters into two separate orange dyes. The base dye is a rich rusted orange color which is brightened by a warm yellow orange dye.
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: This color is very staining.
Lift: Stubborn. The ink does not move much on contact with colorless blender. Consider it permanent.
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: Minimal fading, I estimate less than 10%
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: YR18 is in the darkest member of the YR-teen family with YR12 on the light. We suspect the mother ink is much darker than YR18.
I strongly suspect the YR-teen family is made from several mother inks. YR14 and YR16 are the same value and both darker than YR15. Additionally, YR14 shatters into colors while YR16 does not— they can not both be generated from the same concentrated ink.
WARNING, the caps on this entire family are wildly wrong on older marker sets.
Family Members: YR12, YR14, YR15, YR16, YR18
Shop for YR 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: We suggest a medium blue marker like B26 (affiliate links).
Underpaint: B23 (affiliate links) neutralizes this color nicely.
This is simply one suggestion. Many possible colors exist. Test to find a color that pleases you.
Pushing Pencil: PC932 is beautiful with YR18.
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.
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)
