G17 Forest Green: Copics Uncapped (Marker Swatch, Ink Testing)

G17 Forest Green is a cool green Copic Marker which resembles Phthalo Green Blue Shade watercolor. This ink is not as natural as the cap suggests and can be a stubborn blender. G17 is available in Copic Ciao, Sketch, 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.

G17 Forest Green

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

Temperature: A cool green.

Resemblance: Phthalo Green Blue Shade watercolor.

Actual Value: N6

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: No. The colored plastic on the Sketch cap is darker and warmer than G17 ink.

Buildup: G17 looks patchy and oily with just two coats.

Shattering: This color shatters into green with blue and yellow leakage.

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: G17 is a staining color and left the paper with a definite bluish tint.

Lift: This color is very stubborn.

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: G17 had an odd fade. It lightened by about 25% but more significantly, it turned a weird turquoise blue.

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: G17 sits at the darker end of the G-Teen family. There isn’t a lot of difference between G16 and G17; in fact, it’s hard to justify the existence of both. A very unnatural color. When you think of “green” many people imagine this color but when you try to find this color in nature, you’ll find it’s actually an artificial green.

Family Members: G12, G14, G16, G17, and G19

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: Reddish Violets like RV66 or V05 complement both G16 and G17 well.

Underpaint: We suggest RV63 for underneath both G16 and G17.

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

Pushing Pencil: Prismacolor 901 Indigo Blue works well.

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 G17:

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 G17:

We continue to create new content and stamps and we will update here as more become available.

Visit the stamp shop page at our sister site VanillaArts.com for a wide variety of digi stamps.

Color palettes and swatches using G17:

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)

Y06 Yellow: Copics Uncapped (Marker Swatch, Ink Testing)

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.

Vanilla Arts Classes using Y06:

Vanilla Arts Digi Stamps using Y06:

We continue to create new content and stamps and we will update here as more become available.

Visit the stamp shop page at our sister site VanillaArts.com for a wide variety of digi stamps.

Color palettes and swatches using Y06:

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)

R08 Vermilion: Copics Uncapped (Marker Swatch, Ink Testing)

R08 Vermilion is a light warm red Copic Marker which resembles diluted Vermilion watercolor. This is a useful marker for beginners as it can substitute for pink yet blends easily with red. R08 is only available in Copic Sketch 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.

R08 Vermilion

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

Temperature: A warm red.

Resemblance: Vermilion watercolor.

Actual Value: N7

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: The plastic on an R08 Sketch marker is warmer (more orange) than the actual ink color.

Buildup: R08 layers well up to 2 layers. Beyond that, you’ll see slightly oily looking streaks or patches.

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: R02 stains the paper.

Lift: Very little lifting.

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: The sample faded about 10% during testing.

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: R08 is the dark end of the R-Zero family which feels warmer as the colors get darker. The sub-zeros have a bleached, pinkish feel while the others feel more true to the scarlet red family.

Family Members: R0000, R000, R01, R02, R05, and R08

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 true blue like B24

Underpaint: We suggest B93

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

Pushing Pencil: Prismacolor 931 Dark Purple is a reliable choice.

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 R08:

Box of Colors (Marker Painting Foundations 2): a four episode Copic + Colored Pencil challenge for graduates of MPF. Covers color theory and form sculpting with group feedback. For more information: Box of Colors.

Ink Frog: A lesson on alternative blending methods & creating warm characters. Find more info here.

Vanilla Arts Digi Stamps using R08:

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.

Color palettes and swatches using R08:

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)

W9 Warm Gray No. 9: Copics Uncapped (Marker Swatch, Ink Testing)

W9 Warm Gray #9 is a warm gray Copic Marker which resembles Davy’s Gray watercolor. This color is useful for underpaint, shade, fur, and natural landscapes. W9 is only available in Copic Sketch 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.

W9 Warm Gray No.9

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

Temperature: A warm gray.

Resemblance: Strong Davy’s Gray watercolor.

Actual Value: N9

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 cap on a Sketch marker is very close to 1 layer of W9.

Buildup: W9 layers up to 2 coats. Exercise caution beyond this as it can look very oily.

Shattering: Slight shattering into a gray with slight hints of 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: Copic grays are not generally staining but this is a dark color so it will tint the paper slightly.

Lift: Lifts with some effort but is too dark to be fully erased.

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: Slight fading was detected, perhaps about 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: W9 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 935 Black will push this color but be careful because the black pencil is a cool and this marker will look extra brown in comparison. There really isn’t a great pushing color for this marker.

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 W9:

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 W9:

We continue to create new content and stamps and we will update here as more become available.

Visit the Vanilla Stamp Shop our sister site VanillaArts.com for a wide variety of Copic classes.

Color palettes and swatches using W9:

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)

E37 Sepia: Copics Uncapped (Marker Swatch, Ink Testing)

E37 Sepia is a warm saddle brown Copic Marker which resembles Burnt Umber watercolor. An all-purpose blending brown for natural landscapes, skintones, hair, and furry animals. E37 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.

E37 Sepia

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

Temperature: A warm saddle brown.

Resemblance: Burnt Umber Watercolor

Actual Value: N7

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: The plastic on a Sketch marker matches 3-4 coats of E37 ink. It’s the correct color family, but too dark for this ink.

Buildup: E37 layers well but exercise caution at more than 2 coats of ink.

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: Stains a bit.

Lift: You can lift most of this color but it’s definitely not 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: We observed no fading during the test period.

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: E37 is at the darker end of the E-Thirty family. This family of browns feel warmer as the color gets darker.

Family Members: E30, E31, E33, E34, E35, E37, and E39.

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: Brown is not a hue on the color wheel and does not have a complement.

Underpaint: BV25 neutralizes this color well.

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

Pushing Pencil: Prismacolor 1076 90% French Grey pushes this color nicely.

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 E37:

Seashell Trio: A lesson on delicate pinks and browns for realistic shells. Find more info here.

Sleigh Bell: explore the difference between highlights and reflections, a process that’s essential to capturing the look of shiny metal objects which look touchably real. Find more info here.

Vanilla Arts Digi Stamps using E37:

Color palettes and swatches using E37:

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)

B14 Light Blue: Copics Uncapped (Marker Swatch, Ink Testing)

B14 Light Blue is a green-shade blue Copic Marker which resembles diluted Cobalt Blue watercolor. This is an all purpose light blue, very friendly blending for beginners and casual colorers. B14 is only available in Copic Sketch 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.

B14 Light Blue

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

Temperature: A green-shade blue.

Resemblance: Cobalt Blue watercolor.

Actual Value: N4

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: The plastic on a Sketch marker is close to 1 coat of B14 but looks warmer than the actual ink.

Buildup: B14 begins to look oily at more than 3 layers.

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: B14 stains the paper just a bit.

Lift: This color lifts fairly well with just a bit of warm paper stain left behind.

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: We did not detect any fading during the test period.

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: B14 is at the lighter end of the B-Teen family. This family looks green-shade at the light end and a bit red-shade at the dark end.

Family Members: B12, B14, B16, and B18

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 soft yellow orange. We suggest YR12

Underpaint: We suggest W3

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

Pushing Pencil: Prismacolor 1007 Imperial Violet pushes this color nicely with a pleasant cool temperature.

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 B14:

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 B14:

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 digital stamps.

Color palettes and swatches using B14:

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)

G16 Malachite: Copics Uncapped (Marker Swatch, Ink Testing)

G16 Malachite is a cool green Copic Marker which resembles Phthalo Green BlueShade watercolor. This is a very generic green but may not be the easiest blending green for beginners. G16 is only available in Copic Sketch 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.

G16 Malachite

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

Temperature: A cool green.

Resemblance: Phthalo Green Blue Shade watercolor.

Actual Value: N5

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: No. The colored plastic on the Sketch cap is much darker than G16 ink.

Buildup: G16 layers well twice but anything beyond looks oily.

Shattering: This color shatters into green with yellow leakage.

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: G16 is a staining color and left the paper with a definite bluish tint.

Lift: This color doesn’t want to lift.

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: G16 had an odd fade. It lightened by about 10% but more significantly, it turned a weird turquoise blue.

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: G16 sits in the middle of the G-Teen family. When you think of “green” many people imagine this color but when you try to find this color in nature, you’ll find it’s actually an artificial green.

Family Members: G12, G14, G16, G17, and G19

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: Reddish Violets like RV66 or V05 complement G16 well.

Underpaint: We suggest RV63

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

Pushing Pencil: Prismacolor 901 Indigo Blue works well.

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 G16:

Box of Colors (Marker Painting Foundations 2) is a four episode Copic + Colored Pencil challenge for graduates of MPF. Covers color theory and form sculpting with group feedback. For more information: Box of Colors.

Vanilla Arts Digi Stamps using G16:

We continue to create new content and stamps and we will update here as more become available.

Visit the stamp shop page at our sister site VanillaArts.com for a wide variety of digi stamps.

Color palettes and swatches using G16:

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)

Y02 Canary Yellow: Copics Uncapped (Marker Swatch, Ink Testing)

Y02 Canary Yellow is a balanced yellow Copic Marker which resembles Hansa Yellow Light watercolor. This is an easy yellow to work with for botanicals and general coloring but can look fluorescent. Y02 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.

Y02 Canary Yellow

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

Temperature: A balanced yellow, not noticeably cool or warm.

Resemblance: Hansa Yellow Light watercolor.

Actual Value: N2

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 cap of a Sketch marker matches Y02 ink.

Buildup: Y02 layers beautifully.

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: Y02 does not stain the paper.

Lift: Easily liftable, could almost be considered 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: Fading was noticeable, about 20%. Given the light starting point of this color, it doesn’t have to fade much to be obvious.

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: Y02 is in the middle of the Y-Zero family. They’re unnatural looking yellows with a chemical vibrancy to them. Several yellows in this family (including Y02) 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 V01

Underpaint: We suggest BV0000

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.

Vanilla Arts Classes using Y02:

Vanilla Arts Digi Stamps using Y02:

We continue to create new content and stamps and we will update here as more become available.

Visit the stamp shop page at our sister site VanillaArts.com for a wide variety of digi stamps.

Color palettes and swatches using Y02:

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)