Copic is a Japanese brand of alcohol-based art markers developed with Manga artists in mind, though their popularity quickly took off in other regions. Now, they’re some of the most highly prized illustration products on the market, available in 358 different colours and three different types of markers – Original, Sketch and Ciao.
Copic Original, as the name might suggest, is the original marker pen developed by Copic. Its chunky, square-barreled shape holds the most ink of the three and is double-ended, and there are 9-compatible nib options to switch between. The trade-off is that only 214 colours are available for the Original range, and they tend to be used by hobbyists more than professional artists.
Copic Sketch: This is the go-to marker for industry pros, with the full range of 358 colours to choose from. The oval-barreled shape is slimmer, holding less ink than the Original, and only one nib option is available if you wanted to switch either the standard broad tip or brush tip that they come with.
Copic Ciao is the last product in the Copic marker family. Noticeably slimmer than its siblings, this entry-level pen is lower quality and only available in 156 colours, but comes with child-safe lids and is typically far more affordable than both the Original and Sketch ranges.