Copic Markers – What’s in the big sets?
So, my wife and I are interested in some Copic Markers. These are professional artist markers and since she started playing with markers, I’ve kind of picked up a little bug and have the desire to play with them as well.
She’s tried several different brands of markers and I’ve tried them in a more limited fashion. I will say from our experience that the Copic Markers are just a level above the others. However, the most affordable way to buy the markers (which can be $6 or $7 dollars each) is to buy the sets.
Now, Copic Markers come in several different size sets (3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 72 pens). However, considering the price per pen, the 72 marker set is the way to go (they are around $350 for each set from several locations). There are five 72-marker sets in the Sketch line, which is the one aimed at artists. That is a total of 360 markers (with 358 unique colors, black and white showing up twice).
The problem I found is that it is hard to compare the colors you get in each set. When looking for the “best set to start with” there was not a clear answer. Buying all five sets is a significant investment and it is more probable that you might buy one or two big sets and fill in with smaller sets or individual markers to get your working set of markers.
Now the good news is that these markers are refillable and the nibs are replaceable, so you should never have to buy more than one marker of the same color. The problem is, several of the smaller sets have overlaps were you get the same marker in multiple sets (even the big 72 marker sets have overlap).
Copic provides a nice Color Picker Page that shows all of the colors (using internet color codes, so not 100% the marker color, but it gives you an idea). However, the page is not broken down based on the marker sets and it becomes a chore to compare the colors from one set to the other. So, cue the music …
The nice part of the Copic’s page is it really is just a table of entries with the marker code, a name, and a background color code. I took the raw information from the html, details from other pages that say what markers are in which sets, and using my DBA skills, populated a couple of tables in a database. From that, I ran some queries, sent the output through an awk script I wrote to create some html, and the next thing you know, I have a web page with set of tables broken down by color family and marker set. This allowed me to compare the sets side-by-side on the same page.
Originally, I was just going to let me wife look over the page to see if there was a set she felt would be a better starter set, but then I thought, hey, there are probably other people out there who may be curious about the same thing (I found more than one comment asking about which set to start with). So if this interests you, I hope this chart (limited to the five 72-marker Sketch sets) will be of help.
Color Family: B
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – B01
Mint Blue |
B – B00
Frost Blue |
C – B04
Tahitian Blue |
D – B000
Pale Porcelain Blue |
E – B0000
Pale Celestine |
| A – B05
Process Blue |
B – B02
Robin’s Egg Blue |
C – B16
Cyanine Blue |
D – B28
Royal Blue |
E – B66
Clematis |
| A – B06
Peacok Blue |
B – B12
Ice Blue |
|
D – B52
Soft Greenish Blue |
E – B69
Stratospheric Blue |
| A – B14
Light Blue |
B – B18
Lapis Lazuli |
|
D – B60
Pale Blue Gray |
|
| A – B23
Phthalo Blue |
B – B21
Baby Blue |
|
D – B63
Light Hydrangea |
|
| A – B26
Cobalt Blue |
B – B24
Sky |
|
D – B79
Iris |
|
| A – B29
Ultramarine |
B – B41
Powder Blue |
|
D – B91
Pale Grayish Blue |
|
| A – B32
Pale Blue |
B – B45
Smoky Blue |
|
D – B93
Light Crockery Blue |
|
| A – B34
Manganese Blue |
|
|
D – B95
Light Grayish Cobalt |
|
| A – B37
Antwerp Blue |
|
|
D – B97
Night Blue |
|
| A – B39
Prussian Blue |
|
|
D – B99
Agate |
|
Color Family: BG
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – BG09
Blue Green |
B – BG02
New Blue |
C – BG05
Holiday Blue |
D – BG01
Aqua Blue |
E – BG000
Pale Aqua |
| A – BG10
Cool Shadow |
B – BG11
Moon White |
C – BG34
Horizon Green |
D – BG07
Petroleum Blue |
E – BG0000
Snow Green |
| A – BG15
Aqua |
B – BG13
Mint Green |
C – BG99
Flagstone Blue |
D – BG23
Coral Sea |
E – BG53
Ice Mint |
| A – BG18
Teal Blue |
B – BG32
Aqua Mint |
|
D – BG93
Green Gray |
E – BG57
Sketch Jasper |
|
|
B – BG45
Nile Blue |
|
D – BG96
Bush |
E – BG70
Ocean Mist |
|
|
B – BG49
Duck Blue |
|
|
E – BG72
Ice Ocean |
|
|
|
|
|
E – BG75
Abyss Green |
|
|
|
|
|
E – BG78
Bronze |
|
|
|
|
|
E – BG90
Sketch Gray Sky |
Color Family: BL
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – 100
Black |
B – 0
Colorless Blender |
C – 100
Black |
|
|
| A – 110
Special Black |
|
|
|
|
Color Family: BV
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – BV08
Blue Violet |
B – BV00
Mauve Shadow |
|
D – BV000
Iridescent Mauve |
E – BV0000
Sketch Pale Thistle |
|
|
B – BV04
Blue Berry |
|
D – BV02
Prune |
E – BV01
Viola |
|
|
B – BV23
Grayish Lavender |
|
D – BV11
Soft Violet |
E – BV34
Sketch Bluebell |
|
|
B – BV31
Pale Lavender |
|
D – BV13
Hydrangea Blue |
|
|
|
|
|
D – BV17
Deep Reddish Blue |
|
|
|
|
|
D – BV20
Dull Lavender |
|
|
|
|
|
D – BV25
Grayish Violet |
|
|
|
|
|
D – BV29
Slate |
|
Color Family: CG
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – C1
Cool Gray No. 1 |
B – C0
Cool Gray |
|
|
E – C00
Cool Gray |
| A – C3
Cool Gray No. 3 |
B – C2
Cool Gray |
|
|
|
| A – C5
Cool Gray No. 5 |
B – C4
Cool Gray |
|
|
|
| A – C7
Cool Gray No. 7 |
B – C6
Cool Gray |
|
|
|
| A – C9
Cool Gray |
B – C8
Cool Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
B – C10
Cool Gray |
|
|
|
Color Family: E
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – E09
Burnt Sienna |
B – E00
Skin White |
C – E00
Skin White |
D – E000
Pale Fruit Pink |
E – E0000
Floral White |
| A – E15
Dark Suntan |
B – E02
Fruit Pink |
C – E19
Redwood |
D – E01
Pink Flamingo |
E – E17
Reddish Brass |
| A – E29
Burnt Umber |
B – E04
Lipstick Natural |
C – E25
Caribe Cocoa |
D – E08
Brown |
E – E18
Copper |
| A – E33
Sand |
B – E07
Light Mahogany |
C – E27
Africano |
D – E47
Dark Brown |
E – E23
Hazelnut |
| A – E37
Sepia |
B – E11
Barley Beige |
C – E34
Orientale |
D – E50
Egg Shell |
E – E30
Bisque |
| A – E44
Clay |
B – E13
Light Suntan |
C – E53
Raw Silk |
D – E71
Champagne |
E – E42
Sand White |
| A – E49
Dark Bark |
B – E21
Baby Skin Pink |
C – E55
Light Camel |
D – E74
Cocoa Brown |
E – E70
Ash Rose |
|
|
B – E31
Brick Beige |
C – E59
Walnut |
D – E79
Cashew |
E – E81
Ivory |
|
|
B – E35
Chamois |
C – E77
Maroon |
D – E93
Tea Rose |
E – E84
– Sketch Khaki |
|
|
B – E39
Leather |
|
D – E95
Flesh Pink |
E – E87
Fig |
|
|
B – E40
Brick White |
|
D – E97
Deep Orange |
E – E89
– Sketch Pecan |
|
|
B – E41
Pearl White |
|
D – E99
Baked Clay |
|
|
|
B – E43
Dull Ivory |
|
|
|
|
|
B – E51
Milky White |
|
|
|
|
|
B – E57
Light Walnut |
|
|
|
Color Family: F
| A | B | C | D | E |
|
|
|
|
D – FB2
Fluorescent Dull Blue |
|
|
|
|
|
D – FBG2
Fluorescent Dull Blue Green |
|
|
|
|
|
D – FRV1
Fluorescent Pink |
|
|
|
|
|
D – FV2
Fluorescent Dull Violet |
|
|
|
|
|
D – FY1
Fluorescent Yellow Orange |
|
|
|
|
|
D – FYG1
Fluorescent Yellow |
|
|
|
|
|
D – FYG2
Fluor Dull Yellow Green |
|
|
|
|
|
D – FYR1
Fluorescent Orange |
|
Color Family: G
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – G07
Nile Green |
B – G00
Jade Green |
C – G09
Veronese Green |
D – G94
Grayish Olive |
E – G000
Pale Green |
| A – G16
Malachite |
B – G02
Spectrum Green |
C – G19
Bright Parrot Green |
|
E – G0000
Crystal Opal |
| A – G17
Forest Green |
B – G05
Emerald Green |
C – G20
Wax White |
|
E – G03
Meadow Green |
| A – G21
Lime Green |
B – G12
Sea Green |
C – G24
Willow |
|
E – G43
Various Pistachio |
| A – G28
Ocean Green |
B – G14
Apple Green |
C – G40
Dim Green |
|
E – G46
Sketch Mistletoe |
| A – G99
Olive |
B – G29
Pine Tree Green |
C – G82
Spring Dim Green |
|
|
|
|
B – G85
Verdigris |
|
|
|
Color Family: NG
| A | B | C | D | E |
|
|
B – N1
Neutral Gray |
C – N0
Neutral Gray |
|
|
|
|
B – N3
Neutral Gray |
C – N2
Neutral Gray |
|
|
|
|
B – N5
Neutral Gray |
C – N4
Neutral Gray |
|
|
|
|
B – N7
Neutral Gray |
C – N6
Neutral Gray |
|
|
|
|
B – N9
Neutral Gray |
C – N8
Neutral Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – N10
Neutral Gray |
|
|
Color Family: R
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – R02
Flesh |
B – R20
Blush |
C – R00
Pinkish White |
D – R000
Cherry White |
E – R0000
Pink Beryl |
| A – R08
Vermilion |
B – R24
Prawn |
C – R05
Salmon Red |
D – R12
Light Tea Rose |
E – R01
Pinkish Vanilla |
| A – R27
Cadmium Red |
B – R29
Lipstick Red |
C – R11
Pale Cherry Pink |
D – R14
Light Rouge |
E – R21
Sardonyx |
| A – R32
Peach |
B – R39
Garnet |
C – R17
Lipstick Orange |
D – R22
Light Prawn |
E – R56
Currant |
| A – R37
Carmine |
B – R59
Cardinal |
C – R35
Coral |
D – R30
Pale Yellowish Pink |
E – R81
Rose Pink |
|
|
|
|
D – R43
Bougainvillaea |
E – R83
Rose Mist |
|
|
|
|
D – R46
Strong Red |
E – R85
Rose Red |
|
|
|
|
|
E – R89
Dark Red |
Color Family: RV
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – RV04
Shock Pink |
B – RV06
Cerise |
C – RV02
Sugared Almond Pink |
D – RV23
Pure Pink |
E – RV00
Water Lily |
| A – RV09
Fuchsia |
B – RV21
Light Pink |
C – RV10
Pale Pink |
D – RV42
Salmon Pink |
E – RV000
Pale Purple |
| A – RV11
Pink |
B – RV34
Dark Pink |
C – RV13
Tender Pink |
|
E – RV0000
Evening Primrose |
| A – RV19
Red Violet |
|
C – RV14
Begonia Pink |
|
E – RV52
Various Cotton Candy |
| A – RV29
Crimson |
|
C – RV17
Deep Magenta |
|
E – RV55
Hollyhock |
|
|
|
C – RV25
Dog Rose Flower |
|
E – RV63
Begonia |
|
|
|
C – RV32
Shadow Pink |
|
E – RV66
Raspberry |
|
|
|
|
|
E – RV69
Peony |
|
|
|
|
|
E – RV91
Garyish Cherry |
|
|
|
|
|
E – RV93
Smokey Purple |
|
|
|
|
|
E – RV95
Baby Blossoms |
|
|
|
|
|
E – RV99
Argyle Purple |
Color Family: TG
| A | B | C | D | E |
|
|
|
C – T0
Toner Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – T1
Toner Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – T2
Toner Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – T3
Toner Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – T4
Toner Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – T5
Toner Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – T6
Toner Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – T7
Toner Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – T8
Toner Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – T9
Toner Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – T10
Toner Gray |
|
|
Color Family: V
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – V04
Lilac |
B – V12
Pale Lilac |
|
D – V01
Heath |
E – V000
Pale Heath |
| A – V06
Lavender |
B – V15
Mallow |
|
D – V05
Marigold |
E – V0000
Rose Quartz |
| A – V09
Violet |
B – V17
Amethyst |
|
D – V91
Pale Grape |
E – V20
Wisteria |
|
|
|
|
D – V95
Light Grape |
E – V22
Sketch Ash Lavender |
|
|
|
|
D – V99
Aubergine |
E – V25
Pale Blackberry |
|
|
|
|
|
E – V28
Sketch Eggplant |
|
|
|
|
|
E – V93
Early Grape |
Color Family: WG
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – W1
Warm Gray No. 1 |
|
C – W0
Warm Gray |
|
E – W00
Warm Gray |
| A – W3
Warm Gray No. 3 |
|
C – W2
Warm Gray |
|
|
| A – W5
Warm Gray No. 5 |
|
C – W4
Warm Gray |
|
|
| A – W7
Warm Gray No. 7 |
|
C – W6
Warm Gray |
|
|
| A – W9
Warm Gray |
|
C – W8
Warm Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
C – W10
Warm Gray |
|
|
Color Family: Y
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – Y02
Canary Yellow |
B – Y00
Barium Yellow |
C – Y19
Napoli Yellow |
D – Y04
Acacia |
E – Y000
Pale Lemon |
| A – Y06
Yellow |
B – Y08
Acid Yellow |
C – Y23
Yellowish Beige |
D – Y28
Lionet Gold |
E – Y0000
Yellow Fluorite |
| A – Y11
Pale Yellow |
B – Y17
Golden Yellow |
C – Y38
Honey |
D – Y32
Cashmere |
E – Y18
Lightning Yellow |
| A – Y13
Lemon Yellow |
|
|
D – Y35
Maize |
|
| A – Y15
Cadmium Yellow |
|
|
|
|
| A – Y21
Buttercup Yellow |
|
|
|
|
| A – Y26
Mustard |
|
|
|
|
Color Family: YG
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – YG03
Yellow Green |
B – YG07
Acid Green |
C – YG01
Green Bice |
D – YG00
Mimosa Yellow |
E – YG0000
Lily White |
| A – YG13
Chartreuse |
B – YG11
Mignonette |
C – YG05
Salad |
D – YG06
Yellowish Green |
E – YG61
Pale Moss |
| A – YG91
Putty |
B – YG17
Grass Green |
C – YG09
Lettuce Green |
D – YG93
Grayish Yellow |
|
| A – YG95
Pale Olive |
B – YG41
Pale Cobalt Green |
C – YG21
Anise |
|
|
|
|
B – YG67
Moss |
C – YG23
New Leaf |
|
|
|
|
|
C – YG25
Celadon Green |
|
|
|
|
|
C – YG45
Cobalt Green |
|
|
|
|
|
C – YG63
Pea Green |
|
|
|
|
|
C – YG97
Spanish Olive |
|
|
|
|
|
C – YG99
Marine Green |
|
|
Color Family: YR
| A | B | C | D | E |
| A – YR00
Powder Pink |
B – YR02
Light Orange |
C – YR16
Apricot |
D – YR000
Silk |
E – YR0000
Pale Chiffon |
| A – YR04
Chrome Orange |
|
C – YR18
Sanguine |
D – YR20
Yellowish Shade |
E – YR01
Peach Puff |
| A – YR07
Cadmium Orange |
|
C – YR21
Cream |
D – YR31
Light Reddish Yellow |
E – YR12
Loquat |
| A – YR09
Chinese Orange |
|
|
D – YR61
Yellowish Skin Pink |
E – YR15
Pumpkin Yellow |
| A – YR14
Caramel |
|
|
D – YR65
Atoll |
E – YR27
Tuscan Orange |
| A – YR23
Yellow Ochre |
|
|
D – YR68
Orange |
E – YR30
Macadamia Nut |
| A – YR24
Pale Sepia |
|
|
|
E – YR82
Mellow Peach |
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