+Morag Drummond Happy to help and I really appreciate you watching. It was very kind of you to leave this comment. Have a fantastic day, you made mine! - Marty
+Morag Drummond I agree. I just added a few of these pens to my "wish list" on Dick Blick's web site and then visited TH-cam and saw Marty reviewed them. I appreciate it!
I totally agree.....i have officially made Marty my art supply guru guy and before I buy anything I pop over to TH-cam to see if he has a video posted on the product first. I wish I had found his channel before i spent mega bucks on a big set if Prismacolor pencils only to find out that I would have made out better to have just stuck with Crayola for all the problems I've had with them!! Yeah....so thank you Marty for making ALL of our lives a tad easier😉
+Michele Johnson-Utter I have a huge box of Prismacolor pencils too, but I've had them for years. I pulled them back out and am reminded why they were on a shelf for so long. TH-cam reviews like Marty's (especially Marty's) have really helped me figure out how to make them easier to use, but I'll replace them in time with Faber-Castell or Caran d'Ache!
Michele Johnson-Utter Awww, you guys are very kind. Thank you for the comments and I am so happy the reviews are helping people make more informed decisions. Makes it all worthwhile. - Marty
Just fyi the brush nib on the marker is double ended! You can flip the nib if the tip gets too worn. You can use tweezers to gently pull the nib or a paper towel.
Your swatches are the best on TH-cam. I love that you treat all the swatches evenly and if using a paint, you cover the pigmentation, opacity, and blend-ability. And always with the clear labeling! Sometimes when I am watching a video of a product that I can't find on your channel (Kuratake Gambai Watercolors), I hold them to your standard but they always fall short. thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich is my second go-to for swatches.
T Kim Thank you. I don't know if I'm the best, but I try to be very consistent. thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich is a good friend and I can absolutely recommend her as a go to for anything art and crafts related, she's just awesome. Thank you so much for the support and for taking the time to leave comments. Have a fantastic day!
The consistency is what makes you so great! Also, after watching a review of yours, I am not left with further questions re: the products ability in real world usage. Same with thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich
Ramona Wallace Hi Ramona - Thanks so much for leaving a note, I really appreciate that. The only thing I love more than art supplies is creating art. :-)
I know this comment is very late and may be redundant now, but just in case ...the type of paper used actually makes a huge difference on performance of these pens depending on the outcome you want. In addition to better blending, I was also hoping a lighter colour would go over darker, but no. Disappointment reared its head .. until some happy 'accidents' in learning about paper. eg watercolour or similar paper used here tends to absorb the PITT pen (as with most markers), and it's extremely hard to blend. However, I recently discovered a cheap, plasticy paper, which I now know is similar to Yupo paper which is completely non-absorbent and it works! . .. Best of both worlds- great brush detail AND better blending- while initially I still couldn't get it to blend well. . ... another amazing 'accident'happened and after watching videos on ink based art and this video, I tried the Derwent blender pen and wow! It lifted the PITT pen colour right up (was using darker grey shade brush pen), and this was even after the PITT Pen had dried. But it certainly doesn't work anywhere near as effectively on more absorbent paper. Yupo paper is now quite well known and increasingly popular and seems to be one of the latest trends, being so different for so many mediums which works; it's almost plastic in feel but unfortunately quite expensive. However it works beautifully with an appropriate blender (like the Prismacolor one shown here), so it doesn't matter if light can't go over dark; just 'lift' the colour (blend, do gradients and shading/tinting fx). Blends with blender pen (not a water-based blender), or brush and OMS or equivalent (mineral spirits or denatured alcohol; even turpentine if one can bare it!). Water won't do a thing. Essentially the paper one uses is key to the result one wants, or so I've found with my experiments (and reinforced further now, after seeing lots of videos pop up recently). Hope this helps and isn't too late a comment; if so, ... many of you may have probably discovered this too. .......... Yupo paper is also great for simple water-based markers (brush tip or nibs; one can even lay down ink from crayola super tip markers for example, onto a palette or metal tin lid and pick it up with a brush and paint!) - thus can be transformed into a watercolour paint-like look! Very exciting! Also, if you can't get or afford Yupo paper, glossy photo paper can produce almost identical results! (Sometimes depends on if use front or the reverse side, but also discovered this by accident which was again reinforced after watching latest 'public' trends in ink-based art on Yupo paper (or hacks such as equivalent plasticy type paper). People are trying anything they can; even plastic mailing envelopes-just a matter of experimenting- Tis amazing and fun! Now ... just wish I could afford the whole set of F-C PITT Brush pens as they're very expensive here in Aussie as most art Supplies are! Grrr :) thank you again for another great review Marty :)
Thanks for the remarks Megan. The Yupo paper is a little slippery for my marker work, but you're right, it takes these PITT's very well. You might like this persons work on Yupo www.michaelkareken.com/scrap-recycling/0582g2zzjnt6x6efaxq9wqtpfe5zgp
Wow - what a fantastic artist and love the 'story' and essays that kindle his work on his website - thank you for referring me to his art ... and thanks again for your great vids :-)
I just found your youtube channel and I am already impressed. You are an inspiring person, thanks for making such great videos! I will be coming back often :)
Owings Art The Kuratake is the best pen I have ever used, I have used a lot for many years. I just got about 30 assorted pens from Japan and some come close (I sent you some) but still nothing (in my opinion) beats the Kuratake.
I love using these with Copic Markers. Doing the line work, then coloring with Copics once its dry. Started with using the black pens years ago, now I'm more into colored line art. I can get as much or as little detail as I want with these. I have a few of the gray tones, and a friend ordered the basic 6 pack for my birthday. They are great brush pens even if you can't refill them.
Thank you for this! I've been experimenting with markers and pens for the first time lately, and I'm really enjoying the Faber-Castell Pitts. Especially for the price difference from Copic and Prismacolor!
Kristopher Miller Thanks for the note Kristopher! For sure, the Pitts are outstanding and they're water-based so they won't bleed through most paper. And as you mentioned, they're a good value for the price. Have a great day!
Great video Marty. I really love the FC pitt artist pens. They are great, I find they blend well. I agree thought it is a bummer you can't refill them, but I love that they have light fast ratings on each pen.
Shannon Sand Hi Shannon - Yeah, I like that "lightfast" rating as well, it's very helpful. These are great, but not everyone likes them. Some people really prefer the Copics, which are also great, but very expensive.
to blend i just slap yellows and then, while its wet - some magenta colours - its blending on its own creating beautiful combinations from such strong colors. no need for blenders really - just work fast!
Love FC pitt pens I've been experimenting with different papers with them and I've found that using Fabranio hot press 140lb WC paper They blend not to bad with a little water on your finger
Hey, Marty. I am also Marty :) I love your channel and I hope to see more reviews like that. Subscribed already! I think you make the most comprehensive and thorough reviews on higher class art products. Keep up the good work :)
+Martina Strider Great to meet another Marty :-) Thank you for the kind comments and for subscribing. I really appreciate the support and never take it for granted. If you have suggestions, please send them along, I love to build my list and provide as much value as possible to channel subs. Have an AWESOME day. - Marty
I'm fairly sure these pens are india ink based, not water based. They don't smudge if you go over the dried marker with water. The coloured ones are coloured india ink, which you can refill using this ink of roughly the same colour. The frugal crafter has a vid about refilling the black ones. The Prismacolor blender is alcohol based, which is why it can break down the india ink. Thanks for the review.
muskndusk I think you might be right, but everything I read online said these were water based. I wish I could find out the definitive answer on that. The prismacolor blender worked well. I'll have to update this video and correct the info at some point. Thanks for the note and helping to correct this.
Owings Art I checked, they are india ink, but when I looked into this I discovered that this ink is water-based. Strange, I always thought it was some kind of rubber. I know that it clogs fountain pens. The marks from these pens are waterproof when dry.
Thanks for this informative video. I'm just beginning to look at purchasing some markers to assist with enhancing my use of Gelato ink coloring of canvases. It sounds like this might be the direction to take. I'm wondering if the Pitt Brush Marker might be a better option since they can be purchased one marker at a time rather than markers exclusively sold in sets.
Which are better Prismacolor or Faber Castell brush tip markers (pens). I need to buy some as a gift and I liked that the Prismacolor ones have dual end tips (one fine and one brush). But I want to know which is better and which will last longest. Thank you!
My Pitt markers dried up on me even though I had them stored correctly. It happened a few years ago and I had all the colors. I really felt let down by FC. They offered to replace just one.
Owings Art I'm having trouble with my pens :( I don't know if Im really bad at calligraphy or my paper is just really bad. One of the tips frayed within two days of use and I used it for maybe 5 minutes each day...
Hmmmm, you may have gotten a bad pen. However the paper can definitely effect these pens and the outcome. Best to try them on smoother paper, like Bristol. That might help. I've been using these for years and have had no trouble at all. Hope you get it worked out.
Thank you for the awesome video! I wanted to learn about my new pitt pens. To you and to anyone else was having problems with the paper pilling/coming up on you and getting messed up, might I suggest gel matte medium? I do art journaling and one of the best art journalers discusses this in the video of hers which I will post the link to. I'm sure there's a better way to describe it but it's basically a layer of clear gel that dries and creates a non-porous surface. You should be able to apply it over coloring pages or any paper that is thick enough. I've only tried using it on mixed-media paper but I know it works on other paper styles as long as they are not too thin. People even use it on Bible art journaling and you know how thin Bible pages are. I will post a link to a girl who blends the markers on her art Journal Bible page. I hope this tip and these videos help! Art journaling using pitt pens: th-cam.com/video/HL7nqPSrPRY/w-d-xo.html Bible art journaling using Pitt pens:th-cam.com/video/peIDEEGwuPk/w-d-xo.html
they are india ink rather than water based, and i've found over time with use that the brush tips actually are quite prone to splaying at the very tip on both the sepia and black brush pens i have
Timora Hi There Timora - Everything I looked at online stated these were water based ink. Can you tell me where you found they weren't? I haven't used them over time, I'm new to them, but they seem really great. I will have to wait and see if I experience the splaying you mention. Thanks for checking out the video and for leaving a comment.
i have the 4 pitt artist pens set in sepia and on the back of the packaging it says "pigmented india ink; waterproof, permanent; odorless, acid-free, pH-neutral; 4 nibs: S,F,M,B. and on the front it also has india ink i bought my set and the others i have individually through my local art store.
Timora Hi Timora, That's correct and exactly what's on my packaging, but if you check into it, many Artists and art supply places say the ink is actually water-based. Here is an example from the Faber-Castell brochure. "Highly pigmented water-based India ink" Here is a link to the document: www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEkQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faber-castell.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2FFaber-Castell%2Fbrochures%2Fen%2FBROS%2520Pitt%2520Artist%2520Pen%2520A5%2520-ENG-%25200414.ashx&ei=lK4QVZiVO8OgNpjOg5gF&usg=AFQjCNENmzBzGJobSkkQpZTwug-shN1gXQ&sig2=KLstq9e-6ISseSrNr--rng
even though it might be water-based, it doesn't blend with water. most times i've seen the term water-based used it when it is meant to s how that the media can be blended with water which these haven't been able to from my own experience unless the paper is heavily dampened first so the colors can bleed into each other on the pre-wet surface as they are permanent and non-soluble when dry
Timora You're right about the blending, I had to use the alcohol blender or other pens very quickly to get these to blend. Thanks again and please don't be a stranger to the channel.
hey Owing was gonna ask quick curious but are these more vibrant that the Tombows i was inially impressed by the tombow dual aft brush pens but decided to go with these insted aside from the much lesser comparisson they go darker perhaps when you colour it in it. I still like tombows though
Hi There and thank you for the great question. I don't find them quite as vibrant as the Tombow's. The Faber-Castell's do have some advantages in my experience though. Firstly, they blend a bit better and don't pill the paper as much. On the other hand, the Tombow's are really great and I like using them very much. ~Marty
hmmm it's hard choice then it'd be good to try out some single ones i haven't seen them at my local store yet. The lightfastness from these pens is surely an advantage though.
They sell some packs of them (FC Pitt Markers) online at Amazon or Blick. You can then try some of the same colors against the Tombow's. Hope that helps!
I enjoy your reviews. Love F-C products and these brush markers are among my favorites. I use them alone or mix with watercolor and pencils. Work fine together. But I didn't see you use the "white" and am very curious about how that one works. Does it truly overpaint in an opaque way or is it something else? Also, I notice in your demo that the "blender" you're using had different effects with different sets. What's that all about? I've never seen blending with such inks before.
Bart Charlow Thank you for the comments and questions Bart. I have to say that I just experiment with various media and so I guess that makes me a madman. :-) The white is somewhat opaque, but not nearly as opaque as the Uniball Signo pen I use for highlights. The blender I used is a Prismacolor alcohol blender. I think you have to catch these inks before they dry to get the effects I demo here. The idea is to move the ink quickly, either with a blender or another color. I really appreciate you checking out the video and the comments/questions. Hope my answers help. All the best!
In your color swatches, I noticed that the Cinnamon #189 in the Terra row looks much darker than the Cinnamon #189 in then Skintones. Is one of these mislabeled, or what's going on with the color inconsistency? Thanks.
+Debby T You're right it does look different, but I think it might just be the camera and not the marker. I would take a look at them, but they're all mixed up now in my sets and I'll have to hunt them down. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, good eye. - Marty
+Owings Art Thanks. I asked because I just bought a couple more sets to add to my small collection and I found that a few of the duplicate colors in my new ones are a lighter shade than the pens I already had. I'm trying to figure out if anyone else has encountered color inconsistency with different FC Pitt Pens that are suppose to be the same color. I saw your video and thought it might be a clue.
Hi Martie I happened to toss one of these, big black brush, into my "wish cart" at Blick's. I have no clue about markers, have a lot of color pencils sets and what I know about them I learned after I purchased from you. I did see an example of these that had no bleed through at all to the other side of the page which impressed me. I always thought that markers bled through, like sharpies, so I'm assuming these because of the India ink are much different and are not alcohol based like a sharpie? I have some Prismacolor blenders like you demonstrated but when I have used on pencils it drys clear without a stain like yours did and to me the color didn't blend much as the lines from the marker looked unchanged. I'm not sure if I'm making sense, when you review watercolor pencils I notice you always check to see how well the pencil line blends and disappears with water, and didn't see with these. Is that how these preform? and leave outline of discoloration? Again total novice and thanks
(Continued) for sharing all your knowledge. Not planning on investing on many, maybe a handful to play with skin tones in some coloring books only, that's where I have seen what appears to be nice blending with Copics but with these I don't see where you have time, they seem to dry immediately? So now I'm thinking that comparing these to Copics is not fair that they preform differently, or I'm I totally confused about that? Also do these last a while or can they dry up pretty quick like some office markers? Again thanks for your time really enjoy, and really learning a lot, from all your videos.
Hi Michelle - Thanks for the great questions. Yes, these perform differently, mostly because they are water-based and not alcohol, so you get very little to no bleed. Copics appear to blend better because they do, but that's because people don't know how to use the FC's usually. If you blend immediately after application, the FC's will blend almost as nicely in my opinion. The FC's last a good long time, you just need to keep the caps tights. Hope this helps! ~Marty
Hello Marty. Thanks for the review. I tried working with felt-tip pens but I disliked them. They are blotchy and scratch the paper up. I'm considering buying some markers but I wonder if they work in the same way as the felt-tip pens I disliked. Or do markers and Pit pens work more smoothly without the ugly overlays of colour and uneven tones?
+roden70 Hi roden - Great questions. There are pros and cons to all markers. Firstly these are brush tip markers as are some Copic markers, I like them, but they can cause that scratchy pilling of the paper if you're not careful or the paper gets too saturated with the ink. The other huge factor is the paper you use. The less porous, the better in my experience. For example, I use mostly Bristol Smooth paper, it's not as absorbent and so I'm able to avoid the piling or "scratchy" issues for the most part. As far as the ugly overlays and uneven tones, that's more about the method you use. For example, make sure the colors are very dry before adding more layers or blending different tones. I like to practice a little on a separate piece of paper until you achieve the desired effects. Hope this helps you! - Have a great day! - Marty
Let's face it. I love everything Faber Castell but I can't figure out how you think these are water based. They are pigment India ink and permanent. Do you mean there is water blended in the ink. I'm curious.
Hi Susan - Thanks for the note. You know I'm not sure why these are considered, "water-based", except they needed to characterize them as non-alcohol based.
Thanks! Weve got a lot of very cheap markers water based in Holland, and I, by accident got water on them and had a fantastic, much better result in my art journal, but didn t know about blending them. cool, will try it, right after I ve done with what I m doing now. Thank you, you offer a lot of great youtube vids bout paint, drawing, products etc. please keep doing it! Owings Art
Hello again! Great review. I do a lot of colouring because there is a serious adult colouring book phenomenon going on here in the UK (and probably across the world) and I have a decent collection of books to colour in. Anyway, I made the mistake the other day of buying a Copic Caio Marker pen from our local Hobbycraft store, tried it out on one of my books (that I've used Stabilos, Staedtler and even Berol pens without the bleeding effect) and this Copic BLED right through the paper, onto the drawing on the other side, ruining it. I was mortified! So, today I took it back and swapped it in effect, for 3 Faber Castell Art Grip Aquarelle Pencils, just paying an extra 80p difference, that was all. Onto my question - finally - do the Pitt Markers bleed through the paper at all? I'm intrigued as to what these pens are actually used for (and the Copics in fact) because, surely you would need extremely thick paper as the ink is more like paint..the Copics are anyway. I won't be buying any more of those at £2.80 a pop lol.😂
+Jane Metcalfe Yes, Copics are alcohol based and will definitely bleed through even the most sturdy papers. I'd suggest these Pitt's while are water-based and less likely to bleed through. If you really like Copic's though, you can place a piece of cardboard or plastic between the pages to prevent bleed over to the next page...however the backside of the page is still going to show the bleed. Good luck Jane and try the Faber-Castell Pitt's they're also pretty great.
+Owings Art Could you do me a favour sometime please? I know you are - primarily - an artist, but could you buy a few adult colouring books and test the Pitt Markers out on them? It would be great if you could review colouring books and whatever pens are the best to colour in the drawings. You could also mention the paper thicknesses as well as they vary immensely from book to book. The Copics bled through the paper in a book called 'Splendid Cities' and I was shocked as my other (cheaper) pens have always been fine. It's just that if I ever delve into Pitts (or something similar) I would need to know in advance if they were suitable..and you're the best candidate to try them out lol.😀
Jane Metcalfe Thanks for the suggestion Jane. I've added this to my backlog. I can't say when I'll get to it exactly as I have a ton of work on the list. I appreciate the suggestions and keep them coming. Have a great day!
I know this vid is old but i just saw it. I have to move!!! Did i hear i say these sets are around $10??? Because at my local craft stores those packs are 29.99 ea. I got the blue pack on clearance..11.99! Lol! I love the review. Thanks
I'm a little confused, I own 10 sets of these 3 of which you showed I have, and all of them say that they are an India Ink not a water based ink, and all of mine also say they are Waterproof, and because they are an Indian ink they dry almost instantly to avoid smudging. When I was buying these I was going to buy a blender as well, but I was told that "the blender wouldn't really work with these pens as they are an indian ink not water based ink, so they wont blend into each other" . So I'm just curious on how you managed to get your blender to work. I'm honestly not hating!! I think you did an awesome video!! I'm just a slightly confused 14 year old beginner artist!! XD hope you can help me :]
+CrazySweetGirl Thanks for the email and the great questions. It's easy to get confused because some of the information can be hard to find, but the truth is that these are water-based india ink markers. Faber-Castell states right in their catalogue, "Highly pigmented water-based India ink." The trick to blending is to do it while they're still wet, before they've had a chance to dry. I was using an alcohol based blender in the video (Prismacolor), but that wasn't the best way to blend these. I've since learned that just a water brush or a tiny bit of water on your finger will also do the trick if you catch then while they're wet. If you wait until they're dry, you'll be out of luck. I hope these answers help you out. Thank you for watching the channel and for asking these great questions. - Marty
Hi Marty Thank you so much for the tip. I was also told by the clerk at the Blick store to NOT mix the alcohol colorless blender with these water based markers. I will also try the water brush technique. In addition I have recently found that Tombow makes a water based colorless blender - have you tried using something like that with these markers?
CrazySweetGirl I too was under this impression as one of the first things I noticed before buying was that it said permanent India ink. I know Marty has answered as this post is a year old, but I don't find they blend very well at all. Saying that though, I love them and they are fantastic for detailed work.
hey I was wondering how do you use the faber castell pitt black manga pens I got them for Christmas they are just all the same couler how would I use them to shade in and draw manga
+blair mcmichael Hi Blair - Maybe you got the set that's just the black pens in differing weights (line thicknesses)? If so those are for outlining and other work, not necessarily shading. You might need the Manga set that comes with a variety of grays in various shades. Like this: amzn.to/1PxRt0q
Can someone please please please tell me the best paper for these pens for colouring in???? I do adult colouring books for relaxation. I find these pens can get streaky but more annoyingly if you put just the slightest to much colour down it will fuzz and destroy paper. Is there any paper you can recommend ???? I print my colouring pages onto paper of my choice
+taekwondochick32 Hi there - Yes, that can definitely be a problem because these Pitt and Tombow type markers are water-based. If the paper isn't super sturdy, it'll have that "gritty" effect. A couple things you can try. Go lightly at first, let it dry and go over it again to darken the color. You can sort of layer the colors that way. I also use colored india inks, suck as Pigma or other brands. However you may run into a limited color selection. You can also try alcohol makers like Copic or others. They will not cause the gritty paper as much, however they will bleed through all but the thickest paper. Thanks for the question and best of luck. :-)
They're very nice. Not blendy unless you're on marker paper and blend IMMEDIATELY after laying the color down. Less if a blend and more of a smudge. India ink. Not a water based marker.
Hi TJ - You make some great points. I looked into these though and the product people indicate to me there are basically two types of markers, alcohol and water -based and that these are, "water-based". Don't know if that's scientific or marketing based. :-) Thanks for the notes on these, they're great and I use them often. ~Marty
I'm sure they're correct, and I'm backing off of my objection. However, I don't believe in this case "water based" means what we think it means. We're used to water based meaning re-wettable with water after drying, and alcohol based meaning it can only be blended with alcohol and only to a certain degree. But that's because in both cases the markers contain dye ink and not India ink. Pitt ink pens are water based but that doesn't mean that once the ink dries you can apply a wetting agent and move them around again successfully. They are a pigmented India Ink. Not a dye ink. The solution contains a shellac (that's what makes India Ink, well, india ink) which basically lacquers the pigment to the surface when dry. They are intended to be permanent and waterproof when dry. Alcohol may break the lacquer seal and allow you to smudge the color a bit, but it's not really meant to blend. You also have a tiny moment in time right after laying it down, before the shellac dries, to move the color with your fingers. Just a bit. I love my pitt pens, but they have their own unique personality compared to my prismacolor markers, or copics.
+KawaiiPinkPunkStar Yes, but it's a slightly different technique and takes a bit of getting used to. Here is a video by my friend Don Colley that demonstrates a way to blend: th-cam.com/video/TNF3u9lvkMk/w-d-xo.html
+Patricia That depends a lot on the paper, but mostly likely they won't bleed through, especially if you don't lay them on too heavily and you use thicker paper. Unlike alcohol markers these type of water-based markers don't tend to bleed a lot and that's why some Artists prefer them. - Marty
Hi Marty, I realize this is an old video. You might not even see this comment now that it's 2020. lol But if you do, do you still use these? Did you find out if the tips fell apart easily or not?
Uhm was wondering if you can use them for Manga Colouring? I dont know what markers should I buy for Drawing Manga characters etc. etc. So if someone could hlp :)
HoWlOfTerrOr1 Thanks for the question. Absolutely these can be used for Manga and Anime. They even make a few sets exactly for that purpose. Most Japanese Artists use Copic, but I use these as do many Artists and they work great. Have a fantastic day!
can I have one request as to your video editting please? Don't put music louder than your voiceover because what this does is it blasts me in my ears on headphones whenever you're not speaking and well I want to have you quite loud to hear everything you say, the music altho really nice is just a bit too loud. Anyways amazing reviews, thank you for making them :)
Thanks, I recently upgraded my mic for better sound and I'll try to keep the music at the same level so you won't get the volume fluctuations during transitions. Thanks again and I really appreciate you watching. ~Marty
They sure look like and behave like markers though don't they? They have a nylon tip, they're filled with water-based pigmented india inks and they act just like markers. Even if Faber-Castell calls them pens, I will still call them markers. To me, pens are different. That's my argument. :-)
I love how just about every product I consider has been brilliantly reviewed by you. Thank you, over and over.
+Morag Drummond Happy to help and I really appreciate you watching. It was very kind of you to leave this comment. Have a fantastic day, you made mine! - Marty
+Morag Drummond I agree. I just added a few of these pens to my "wish list" on Dick Blick's web site and then visited TH-cam and saw Marty reviewed them. I appreciate it!
I totally agree.....i have officially made Marty my art supply guru guy and before I buy anything I pop over to TH-cam to see if he has a video posted on the product first. I wish I had found his channel before i spent mega bucks on a big set if Prismacolor pencils only to find out that I would have made out better to have just stuck with Crayola for all the problems I've had with them!! Yeah....so thank you Marty for making ALL of our lives a tad easier😉
+Michele Johnson-Utter I have a huge box of Prismacolor pencils too, but I've had them for years. I pulled them back out and am reminded why they were on a shelf for so long. TH-cam reviews like Marty's (especially Marty's) have really helped me figure out how to make them easier to use, but I'll replace them in time with Faber-Castell or Caran d'Ache!
Michele Johnson-Utter Awww, you guys are very kind. Thank you for the comments and I am so happy the reviews are helping people make more informed decisions. Makes it all worthwhile. - Marty
Just fyi the brush nib on the marker is double ended! You can flip the nib if the tip gets too worn. You can use tweezers to gently pull the nib or a paper towel.
QueenWaspGo They that's a great tip QueenWaspGo. Thank you!
Thank you so much! I had no idea XD
Your swatches are the best on TH-cam. I love that you treat all the swatches evenly and if using a paint, you cover the pigmentation, opacity, and blend-ability. And always with the clear labeling! Sometimes when I am watching a video of a product that I can't find on your channel (Kuratake Gambai Watercolors), I hold them to your standard but they always fall short. thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich is my second go-to for swatches.
T Kim Thank you. I don't know if I'm the best, but I try to be very consistent. thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich is a good friend and I can absolutely recommend her as a go to for anything art and crafts related, she's just awesome. Thank you so much for the support and for taking the time to leave comments. Have a fantastic day!
The consistency is what makes you so great! Also, after watching a review of yours, I am not left with further questions re: the products ability in real world usage. Same with thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich
T Kim So happy to hear that. THANK YOU!!!
so enjoying your going through the different products out there and giving us your opinion on them
Ramona Wallace Hi Ramona - Thanks so much for leaving a note, I really appreciate that. The only thing I love more than art supplies is creating art. :-)
I know this comment is very late and may be redundant now, but just in case ...the type of paper used actually makes a huge difference on performance of these pens depending on the outcome you want. In addition to better blending, I was also hoping a lighter colour would go over darker, but no. Disappointment reared its head .. until some happy 'accidents' in learning about paper. eg watercolour or similar paper used here tends to absorb the PITT pen (as with most markers), and it's extremely hard to blend. However, I recently discovered a cheap, plasticy paper, which I now know is similar to Yupo paper which is completely non-absorbent and it works! . .. Best of both worlds- great brush detail AND better blending- while initially I still couldn't get it to blend well. . ... another amazing 'accident'happened and after watching videos on ink based art and this video, I tried the Derwent blender pen and wow! It lifted the PITT pen colour right up (was using darker grey shade brush pen), and this was even after the PITT Pen had dried. But it certainly doesn't work anywhere near as effectively on more absorbent paper. Yupo paper is now quite well known and increasingly popular and seems to be one of the latest trends, being so different for so many mediums which works; it's almost plastic in feel but unfortunately quite expensive. However it works beautifully with an appropriate blender (like the Prismacolor one shown here), so it doesn't matter if light can't go over dark; just 'lift' the colour (blend, do gradients and shading/tinting fx). Blends with blender pen (not a water-based blender), or brush and OMS or equivalent (mineral spirits or denatured alcohol; even turpentine if one can bare it!). Water won't do a thing. Essentially the paper one uses is key to the result one wants, or so I've found with my experiments (and reinforced further now, after seeing lots of videos pop up recently). Hope this helps and isn't too late a comment; if so, ... many of you may have probably discovered this too. .......... Yupo paper is also great for simple water-based markers (brush tip or nibs; one can even lay down ink from crayola super tip markers for example, onto a palette or metal tin lid and pick it up with a brush and paint!) - thus can be transformed into a watercolour paint-like look! Very exciting! Also, if you can't get or afford Yupo paper, glossy photo paper can produce almost identical results! (Sometimes depends on if use front or the reverse side, but also discovered this by accident which was again reinforced after watching latest 'public' trends in ink-based art on Yupo paper (or hacks such as equivalent plasticy type paper). People are trying anything they can; even plastic mailing envelopes-just a matter of experimenting- Tis amazing and fun! Now ... just wish I could afford the whole set of F-C PITT Brush pens as they're very expensive here in Aussie as most art Supplies are! Grrr :) thank you again for another great review Marty :)
Thanks for the remarks Megan. The Yupo paper is a little slippery for my marker work, but you're right, it takes these PITT's very well. You might like this persons work on Yupo www.michaelkareken.com/scrap-recycling/0582g2zzjnt6x6efaxq9wqtpfe5zgp
Wow - what a fantastic artist and love the 'story' and essays that kindle his work on his website - thank you for referring me to his art ... and thanks again for your great vids :-)
I just found your youtube channel and I am already impressed. You are an inspiring person, thanks for making such great videos! I will be coming back often :)
+Becky Keyes Hi Becky - Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a kind comment. - Marty
I love these pens, I have used the Faber Castell brush pen (black) for the last 10 years or so, recently I switched over to the Kuratake brush pen..
Need Art Now What have your experiences been with the Kuratake brush pen?
Owings Art The Kuratake is the best pen I have ever used, I have used a lot for many years. I just got about 30 assorted pens from Japan and some come close (I sent you some) but still nothing (in my opinion) beats the Kuratake.
Need Art Now You've sold me, I'm going to have to try them. Nothing in the mail today, maybe tomorrow. Thanks again.
I'll email you tomorrow and let you know which ones I use. :)
Need Art Now Perfect. Thanks
I love using these with Copic Markers. Doing the line work, then coloring with Copics once its dry. Started with using the black pens years ago, now I'm more into colored line art. I can get as much or as little detail as I want with these. I have a few of the gray tones, and a friend ordered the basic 6 pack for my birthday. They are great brush pens even if you can't refill them.
Yay! Thanks for the review. The color payoff looks great.
GummyTumor These seem really great. I have to see how they hold up over time. Thanks for the note Gummy.
I just got a 48 pack of these for my birthday today! Please don't sing happy birthday - I have avoided it all day :) thanks for this vid, I love art.
Ha! Thank you for the message and Happy Birthday. I think you're going to love these. ~marty
Thank you for this! I've been experimenting with markers and pens for the first time lately, and I'm really enjoying the Faber-Castell Pitts. Especially for the price difference from Copic and Prismacolor!
Kristopher Miller Thanks for the note Kristopher! For sure, the Pitts are outstanding and they're water-based so they won't bleed through most paper. And as you mentioned, they're a good value for the price. Have a great day!
+Owings Art just saw your answer here to my same question!
Patricia :-)
I just love these markers. They are nice and affordable
Shreykishore Bangera Thanks for the note Shreykishore. I like the fact that the aren't too expensive.
Great video Marty. I really love the FC pitt artist pens. They are great, I find they blend well. I agree thought it is a bummer you can't refill them, but I love that they have light fast ratings on each pen.
Shannon Sand Hi Shannon - Yeah, I like that "lightfast" rating as well, it's very helpful. These are great, but not everyone likes them. Some people really prefer the Copics, which are also great, but very expensive.
Owings Art I haven't tried the Copics yet. I am not quite sure I am ready to make that investment into markers yet.
Shannon Sand Yep, they aren't cheap, but they're refillable, which really lowers the cost of ownership long term. :-)
to blend i just slap yellows and then, while its wet - some magenta colours - its blending on its own creating beautiful combinations from such strong colors. no need for blenders really - just work fast!
+PegiBruno Thank you Pegi.
Love FC pitt pens
I've been experimenting with different papers with them and I've found that using Fabranio hot press 140lb WC paper
They blend not to bad with a little water on your finger
Blissfulthings Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try. Have a great day!
Hey, Marty. I am also Marty :) I love your channel and I hope to see more reviews like that. Subscribed already! I think you make the most comprehensive and thorough reviews on higher class art products. Keep up the good work :)
+Martina Strider Great to meet another Marty :-) Thank you for the kind comments and for subscribing. I really appreciate the support and never take it for granted. If you have suggestions, please send them along, I love to build my list and provide as much value as possible to channel subs. Have an AWESOME day. - Marty
Cool videos Marty and really with the 50 shades of grey reference lol.
***** Ha! See now I know you're paying attention...lol. Yep, I never read the book or saw the movie, but I hear it's spicy. :-)
I'm fairly sure these pens are india ink based, not water based. They don't smudge if you go over the dried marker with water. The coloured ones are coloured india ink, which you can refill using this ink of roughly the same colour. The frugal crafter has a vid about refilling the black ones.
The Prismacolor blender is alcohol based, which is why it can break down the india ink.
Thanks for the review.
muskndusk I think you might be right, but everything I read online said these were water based. I wish I could find out the definitive answer on that. The prismacolor blender worked well. I'll have to update this video and correct the info at some point. Thanks for the note and helping to correct this.
Owings Art
I checked, they are india ink, but when I looked into this I discovered that this ink is water-based. Strange, I always thought it was some kind of rubber. I know that it clogs fountain pens. The marks from these pens are waterproof when dry.
muskndusk See that's exactly what I kept seeing. So as far as you're concerned does that technically mean that they are water-based?
Owings Art
I suppose they're a bit like acrylic paint: water based until dry. So yes when wet and no when dry :)
muskndusk I think we have it then. Thanks lady. :-)
Thanks for this informative video. I'm just beginning to look at purchasing some markers to assist with enhancing my use of Gelato ink coloring of canvases. It sounds like this might be the direction to take. I'm wondering if the Pitt Brush Marker might be a better option since they can be purchased one marker at a time rather than markers exclusively sold in sets.
Hi Chris - Thanks for commenting. They are a nice option if you just need to be able to purchase a pen here and there. They're a good value. ~Marty
Which are better Prismacolor or Faber Castell brush tip markers (pens). I need to buy some as a gift and I liked that the Prismacolor ones have dual end tips (one fine and one brush). But I want to know which is better and which will last longest. Thank you!
I prefer the FC Pitt markers. They are water-based and work better.
My Pitt markers dried up on me even though I had them stored correctly. It happened a few years ago and I had all the colors. I really felt let down by FC. They offered to replace just one.
Sorry to hear that.
Can you do blending picking up a darker color from a palette with a lighter colored pen like you would do with a Tombow?
Yes, I think so Patricia. You should give it a try and see. I think I've done it and it works fine.
Owings Art I'm having trouble with my pens :( I don't know if Im really bad at calligraphy or my paper is just really bad. One of the tips frayed within two days of use and I used it for maybe 5 minutes each day...
Hmmmm, you may have gotten a bad pen. However the paper can definitely effect these pens and the outcome. Best to try them on smoother paper, like Bristol. That might help. I've been using these for years and have had no trouble at all. Hope you get it worked out.
Thank you for the awesome video! I wanted to learn about my new pitt pens. To you and to anyone else was having problems with the paper pilling/coming up on you and getting messed up, might I suggest gel matte medium? I do art journaling and one of the best art journalers discusses this in the video of hers which I will post the link to. I'm sure there's a better way to describe it but it's basically a layer of clear gel that dries and creates a non-porous surface. You should be able to apply it over coloring pages or any paper that is thick enough. I've only tried using it on mixed-media paper but I know it works on other paper styles as long as they are not too thin. People even use it on Bible art journaling and you know how thin Bible pages are. I will post a link to a girl who blends the markers on her art Journal Bible page. I hope this tip and these videos help!
Art journaling using pitt pens:
th-cam.com/video/HL7nqPSrPRY/w-d-xo.html
Bible art journaling using Pitt pens:th-cam.com/video/peIDEEGwuPk/w-d-xo.html
+Melissa Sanchez Thank you Melissa. I appreciate the share.
they are india ink rather than water based, and i've found over time with use that the brush tips actually are quite prone to splaying at the very tip on both the sepia and black brush pens i have
Timora Hi There Timora - Everything I looked at online stated these were water based ink. Can you tell me where you found they weren't? I haven't used them over time, I'm new to them, but they seem really great. I will have to wait and see if I experience the splaying you mention. Thanks for checking out the video and for leaving a comment.
i have the 4 pitt artist pens set in sepia and on the back of the packaging it says "pigmented india ink; waterproof, permanent; odorless, acid-free, pH-neutral; 4 nibs: S,F,M,B. and on the front it also has india ink
i bought my set and the others i have individually through my local art store.
Timora Hi Timora, That's correct and exactly what's on my packaging, but if you check into it, many Artists and art supply places say the ink is actually water-based. Here is an example from the Faber-Castell brochure. "Highly pigmented water-based India ink" Here is a link to the document: www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEkQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faber-castell.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2FFaber-Castell%2Fbrochures%2Fen%2FBROS%2520Pitt%2520Artist%2520Pen%2520A5%2520-ENG-%25200414.ashx&ei=lK4QVZiVO8OgNpjOg5gF&usg=AFQjCNENmzBzGJobSkkQpZTwug-shN1gXQ&sig2=KLstq9e-6ISseSrNr--rng
even though it might be water-based, it doesn't blend with water. most times i've seen the term water-based used it when it is meant to s how that the media can be blended with water which these haven't been able to from my own experience unless the paper is heavily dampened first so the colors can bleed into each other on the pre-wet surface as they are permanent and non-soluble when dry
Timora You're right about the blending, I had to use the alcohol blender or other pens very quickly to get these to blend. Thanks again and please don't be a stranger to the channel.
hey Owing was gonna ask quick curious but are these more vibrant that the Tombows i was inially impressed by the tombow dual aft brush pens but decided to go with these insted aside from the much lesser comparisson they go darker perhaps when you colour it in it. I still like tombows though
Hi There and thank you for the great question. I don't find them quite as vibrant as the Tombow's. The Faber-Castell's do have some advantages in my experience though. Firstly, they blend a bit better and don't pill the paper as much. On the other hand, the Tombow's are really great and I like using them very much. ~Marty
hmmm it's hard choice then it'd be good to try out some single ones i haven't seen them at my local store yet. The lightfastness from these pens is surely an advantage though.
They sell some packs of them (FC Pitt Markers) online at Amazon or Blick. You can then try some of the same colors against the Tombow's. Hope that helps!
i mean't the tombows sold singlely it's not a must though
what is the difference between the pit markers and the stampers big brush pens (other than size)?
Hi Lani - Do you mean the larger Pitt Markers or are you talking about something else?
I enjoy your reviews. Love F-C products and these brush markers are among my favorites. I use them alone or mix with watercolor and pencils. Work fine together. But I didn't see you use the "white" and am very curious about how that one works. Does it truly overpaint in an opaque way or is it something else? Also, I notice in your demo that the "blender" you're using had different effects with different sets. What's that all about? I've never seen blending with such inks before.
Bart Charlow Thank you for the comments and questions Bart. I have to say that I just experiment with various media and so I guess that makes me a madman. :-) The white is somewhat opaque, but not nearly as opaque as the Uniball Signo pen I use for highlights.
The blender I used is a Prismacolor alcohol blender. I think you have to catch these inks before they dry to get the effects I demo here. The idea is to move the ink quickly, either with a blender or another color. I really appreciate you checking out the video and the comments/questions. Hope my answers help. All the best!
Owings Art Yes, it does. Thanks. Meantime, how about a demo on that Uniball Signo or any other device that overpaints and let you add highlights?
Bart Charlow That's a great idea. Okay I just added it to my short list. Thank you!
In your color swatches, I noticed that the Cinnamon #189 in the Terra row looks much darker than the Cinnamon #189 in then Skintones. Is one of these mislabeled, or what's going on with the color inconsistency? Thanks.
+Debby T You're right it does look different, but I think it might just be the camera and not the marker. I would take a look at them, but they're all mixed up now in my sets and I'll have to hunt them down. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, good eye. - Marty
+Owings Art Thanks. I asked because I just bought a couple more sets to add to my small collection and I found that a few of the duplicate colors in my new ones are a lighter shade than the pens I already had. I'm trying to figure out if anyone else has encountered color inconsistency with different FC Pitt Pens that are suppose to be the same color. I saw your video and thought it might be a clue.
Debby T Absolutely and I'm going to keep my eyes out for that. I'm also going to hunt down my Cinnamon's and take a look. - Marty
Hi Martie I happened to toss one of these, big black brush, into my "wish cart" at Blick's. I have no clue about markers, have a lot of color pencils sets and what I know about them I learned after I purchased from you. I did see an example of these that had no bleed through at all to the other side of the page which impressed me. I always thought that markers bled through, like sharpies, so I'm assuming these because of the India ink are much different and are not alcohol based like a sharpie? I have some Prismacolor blenders like you demonstrated but when I have used on pencils it drys clear without a stain like yours did and to me the color didn't blend much as the lines from the marker looked unchanged. I'm not sure if I'm making sense, when you review watercolor pencils I notice you always check to see how well the pencil line blends and disappears with water, and didn't see with these. Is that how these preform? and leave outline of discoloration? Again total novice and thanks
(Continued) for sharing all your knowledge. Not planning on investing on many, maybe a handful to play with skin tones in some coloring books only, that's where I have seen what appears to be nice blending with Copics but with these I don't see where you have time, they seem to dry immediately? So now I'm thinking that comparing these to Copics is not fair that they preform differently, or I'm I totally confused about that? Also do these last a while or can they dry up pretty quick like some office markers? Again thanks for your time really enjoy, and really learning a lot, from all your videos.
Hi Michelle - Thanks for the great questions. Yes, these perform differently, mostly because they are water-based and not alcohol, so you get very little to no bleed. Copics appear to blend better because they do, but that's because people don't know how to use the FC's usually. If you blend immediately after application, the FC's will blend almost as nicely in my opinion. The FC's last a good long time, you just need to keep the caps tights. Hope this helps! ~Marty
***** Hi Ingrid - That's a great tip. Yes, I love these markers. They are fantastic for all the reasons you mentioned her. ~Marty
Hello Marty. Thanks for the review. I tried working with felt-tip pens but I disliked them. They are blotchy and scratch the paper up.
I'm considering buying some markers but I wonder if they work in the same way as the felt-tip pens I disliked. Or do markers and Pit pens work more smoothly without the ugly overlays of colour and uneven tones?
+roden70 Hi roden - Great questions. There are pros and cons to all markers. Firstly these are brush tip markers as are some Copic markers, I like them, but they can cause that scratchy pilling of the paper if you're not careful or the paper gets too saturated with the ink. The other huge factor is the paper you use. The less porous, the better in my experience.
For example, I use mostly Bristol Smooth paper, it's not as absorbent and so I'm able to avoid the piling or "scratchy" issues for the most part. As far as the ugly overlays and uneven tones, that's more about the method you use. For example, make sure the colors are very dry before adding more layers or blending different tones. I like to practice a little on a separate piece of paper until you achieve the desired effects.
Hope this helps you! - Have a great day! - Marty
What kind of paper are you using in this video? Just wondering.
That is Bee Super Deluxe I think.
Let's face it. I love everything Faber Castell but I can't figure out how you think these are water based. They are pigment India ink and permanent. Do you mean there is water blended in the ink. I'm curious.
Hi Susan - Thanks for the note. You know I'm not sure why these are considered, "water-based", except they needed to characterize them as non-alcohol based.
can you blend every waterbased marker ? even dollarstore brands within the same brand?
I don't see any reason why not. 😀
Thanks! Weve got a lot of very cheap markers water based in Holland, and I, by accident got water on them and had a fantastic, much better result in my art journal, but didn t know about blending them. cool, will try it, right after I ve done with what I m doing now. Thank you, you offer a lot of great youtube vids bout paint, drawing, products etc. please keep doing it! Owings Art
+Janice James Thank you Janice. Hope it works well for you!!
What type of paper do you use with the Pitts pens
Mostly sketchbooks, but a nice Bristol works well.
Hello again! Great review. I do a lot of colouring because there is a serious adult colouring book phenomenon going on here in the UK (and probably across the world) and I have a decent collection of books to colour in. Anyway, I made the mistake the other day of buying a Copic Caio Marker pen from our local Hobbycraft store, tried it out on one of my books (that I've used Stabilos, Staedtler and even Berol pens without the bleeding effect) and this Copic BLED right through the paper, onto the drawing on the other side, ruining it. I was mortified! So, today I took it back and swapped it in effect, for 3 Faber Castell Art Grip Aquarelle Pencils, just paying an extra 80p difference, that was all. Onto my question - finally - do the Pitt Markers bleed through the paper at all? I'm intrigued as to what these pens are actually used for (and the Copics in fact) because, surely you would need extremely thick paper as the ink is more like paint..the Copics are anyway. I won't be buying any more of those at £2.80 a pop lol.😂
+Jane Metcalfe Yes, Copics are alcohol based and will definitely bleed through even the most sturdy papers. I'd suggest these Pitt's while are water-based and less likely to bleed through. If you really like Copic's though, you can place a piece of cardboard or plastic between the pages to prevent bleed over to the next page...however the backside of the page is still going to show the bleed. Good luck Jane and try the Faber-Castell Pitt's they're also pretty great.
+Owings Art Could you do me a favour sometime please? I know you are - primarily - an artist, but could you buy a few adult colouring books and test the Pitt Markers out on them? It would be great if you could review colouring books and whatever pens are the best to colour in the drawings. You could also mention the paper thicknesses as well as they vary immensely from book to book. The Copics bled through the paper in a book called 'Splendid Cities' and I was shocked as my other (cheaper) pens have always been fine. It's just that if I ever delve into Pitts (or something similar) I would need to know in advance if they were suitable..and you're the best candidate to try them out lol.😀
Jane Metcalfe
Thanks for the suggestion Jane. I've added this to my backlog. I can't say when I'll get to it exactly as I have a ton of work on the list. I appreciate the suggestions and keep them coming. Have a great day!
can you use these on cloth..canvas..on sneakers?
***** Yes and on both Jose. Thanks for the question!
I know this vid is old but i just saw it. I have to move!!! Did i hear i say these sets are around $10??? Because at my local craft stores those packs are 29.99 ea. I got the blue pack on clearance..11.99! Lol! I love the review. Thanks
how do the blues blue hue work in illustrating.
They are just okay DeeDee - I use Tombow's for deeper blues.
I'm a little confused, I own 10 sets of these 3 of which you showed I have, and all of them say that they are an India Ink not a water based ink, and all of mine also say they are Waterproof, and because they are an Indian ink they dry almost instantly to avoid smudging. When I was buying these I was going to buy a blender as well, but I was told that "the blender wouldn't really work with these pens as they are an indian ink not water based ink, so they wont blend into each other" . So I'm just curious on how you managed to get your blender to work. I'm honestly not hating!! I think you did an awesome video!! I'm just a slightly confused 14 year old beginner artist!! XD hope you can help me :]
+CrazySweetGirl Thanks for the email and the great questions. It's easy to get confused because some of the information can be hard to find, but the truth is that these are water-based india ink markers. Faber-Castell states right in their catalogue, "Highly pigmented water-based India ink." The trick to blending is to do it while they're still wet, before they've had a chance to dry.
I was using an alcohol based blender in the video (Prismacolor), but that wasn't the best way to blend these. I've since learned that just a water brush or a tiny bit of water on your finger will also do the trick if you catch then while they're wet. If you wait until they're dry, you'll be out of luck.
I hope these answers help you out. Thank you for watching the channel and for asking these great questions.
- Marty
Owings Art Thank you so much for replying :) this really helped!! will definitely be subscribing to your channel and watching all of you videos ^^
Hi Marty Thank you so much for the tip. I was also told by the clerk at the Blick store to NOT mix the alcohol colorless blender with these water based markers. I will also try the water brush technique. In addition I have recently found that Tombow makes a water based colorless blender - have you tried using something like that with these markers?
CrazySweetGirl I too was under this impression as one of the first things I noticed before buying was that it said permanent India ink. I know Marty has answered as this post is a year old, but I don't find they blend very well at all. Saying that though, I love them and they are fantastic for detailed work.
that is true! they add amazing details to artwork!
hey I was wondering how do you use the faber castell pitt black manga pens I got them for Christmas they are just all the same couler how would I use them to shade in and draw manga
+blair mcmichael Hi Blair - Maybe you got the set that's just the black pens in differing weights (line thicknesses)? If so those are for outlining and other work, not necessarily shading. You might need the Manga set that comes with a variety of grays in various shades. Like this: amzn.to/1PxRt0q
Are they water based markers
+ravi hyderabad Yes!
+Owings Art but they are still waterproof I think. I thought it's India ink markers
Alexandra J They are waterbased and once dry, they are pretty water-resistant.
Can someone please please please tell me the best paper for these pens for colouring in???? I do adult colouring books for relaxation. I find these pens can get streaky but more annoyingly if you put just the slightest to much colour down it will fuzz and destroy paper. Is there any paper you can recommend ???? I print my colouring pages onto paper of my choice
+taekwondochick32 Hi there - Yes, that can definitely be a problem because these Pitt and Tombow type markers are water-based. If the paper isn't super sturdy, it'll have that "gritty" effect. A couple things you can try. Go lightly at first, let it dry and go over it again to darken the color. You can sort of layer the colors that way. I also use colored india inks, suck as Pigma or other brands. However you may run into a limited color selection.
You can also try alcohol makers like Copic or others. They will not cause the gritty paper as much, however they will bleed through all but the thickest paper. Thanks for the question and best of luck. :-)
what pen are you using to blend the colours
Marc-jan janssen Hi Marc - That is a Blick colorless blender, but you could use any brand blender I think.
hello
I wonder Pens are refillable ??
Edwin Martinez No, these are not refillable.
They're very nice. Not blendy unless you're on marker paper and blend IMMEDIATELY after laying the color down. Less if a blend and more of a smudge. India ink. Not a water based marker.
Hi TJ - You make some great points. I looked into these though and the product people indicate to me there are basically two types of markers, alcohol and water -based and that these are, "water-based". Don't know if that's scientific or marketing based. :-) Thanks for the notes on these, they're great and I use them often. ~Marty
I'm sure they're correct, and I'm backing off of my objection. However, I don't believe in this case "water based" means what we think it means. We're used to water based meaning re-wettable with water after drying, and alcohol based meaning it can only be blended with alcohol and only to a certain degree. But that's because in both cases the markers contain dye ink and not India ink. Pitt ink pens are water based but that doesn't mean that once the ink dries you can apply a wetting agent and move them around again successfully. They are a pigmented India Ink. Not a dye ink. The solution contains a shellac (that's what makes India Ink, well, india ink) which basically lacquers the pigment to the surface when dry. They are intended to be permanent and waterproof when dry. Alcohol may break the lacquer seal and allow you to smudge the color a bit, but it's not really meant to blend. You also have a tiny moment in time right after laying it down, before the shellac dries, to move the color with your fingers. Just a bit. I love my pitt pens, but they have their own unique personality compared to my prismacolor markers, or copics.
You have 2 "Cinnnamon #189" but they are different colors. isn't supposed to be the same, by numer or name?
Someone else asked me about that. I think one marker was drier than the other. The colors are supposed to be identical.
Sorry to ask but, can you blend any of these as if they were copics?
+KawaiiPinkPunkStar Yes, but it's a slightly different technique and takes a bit of getting used to. Here is a video by my friend Don Colley that demonstrates a way to blend: th-cam.com/video/TNF3u9lvkMk/w-d-xo.html
+Owings Art Thank you ever so much for the link :) I'll check it out.
KawaiiPinkPunkStar For sure. Anytime.
+Owings Art Sent you a message on facebook
Hi! Nice review😉 Do they last long? I'm in doubt between these and the w&n pastel tones brushmarkers.
Hello! great video!! Do you know if this markers bleed in a normal notebook paper?
Thanks!
+Patricia That depends a lot on the paper, but mostly likely they won't bleed through, especially if you don't lay them on too heavily and you use thicker paper. Unlike alcohol markers these type of water-based markers don't tend to bleed a lot and that's why some Artists prefer them. - Marty
Owings Art
Hi Marty, I realize this is an old video. You might not even see this comment now that it's 2020. lol But if you do, do you still use these? Did you find out if the tips fell apart easily or not?
Thank you Wulf. I still use these and have never had problems with the tips, but I don't press too hard.
Are those worth the money?
Yes.
are these better than sharpies? whats difference?
These are water-based ink so will not bleed through your paper. Sharpie's I believe are alcohol based.
can you please let me know if these are Brush Pens that we use for calligraphy
+saar I suppose you could use them that way, but I don't. I believe FC makes some Pitt markers just for calligraphy. - Marty
+Owings Art are those tips flexible like a paint brush
saar Yes, a bit flexible.
I bought there metalic ones and noticed they bleed when I use copic markers with them :(
Yes, because Copic markers are alcohol based, these are not. :-)
oh! Good to know. Thank you for taking the time to reply and for sharing your knowledge.
Nice work! You just earned a sub :D
+ClassicCatComedy Thank you very much!!! Welcome to the channel. ~Marty
I'm really not stalking you lol
You have great information
Blissfulthings :-) Thank you for stalking me. :-)
+Owings Art can you buy them open stock when you run out of one?
Michele Johnson-Utter Yes! Absolutely.
Uhm was wondering if you can use them for Manga Colouring? I dont know what markers should I buy for Drawing Manga characters etc. etc. So if someone could hlp :)
HoWlOfTerrOr1 Thanks for the question. Absolutely these can be used for Manga and Anime. They even make a few sets exactly for that purpose. Most Japanese Artists use Copic, but I use these as do many Artists and they work great. Have a fantastic day!
Oh rly? so Pitt Markers are Useable for manga , Thank you so much for answering me. Thank you! have a great day!
HoWlOfTerrOr1 Sure, any time.
thx a lot, gonna try these =)
one video and already subscribed..ur amazing marty :) thnks for d review
+Nikhila Kodati Thank you Nikhila, much appreciated. - Marty
which kind of paper do you use?
All kinds, but Stillman & Birn is probably my favorite.
Can you refill these
Nope.
I think you're using the blender wrong. the name is misleading.
+Zain Artz You're very observant and correct. I was using an alcohol blender on a water-based marker.
Owings Art thank you. :)
Thanks.
can I have one request as to your video editting please? Don't put music louder than your voiceover because what this does is it blasts me in my ears on headphones whenever you're not speaking and well I want to have you quite loud to hear everything you say, the music altho really nice is just a bit too loud. Anyways amazing reviews, thank you for making them :)
Thanks, I recently upgraded my mic for better sound and I'll try to keep the music at the same level so you won't get the volume fluctuations during transitions. Thanks again and I really appreciate you watching. ~Marty
You know these aren't markers?
They sure look like and behave like markers though don't they? They have a nylon tip, they're filled with water-based pigmented india inks and they act just like markers. Even if Faber-Castell calls them pens, I will still call them markers. To me, pens are different. That's my argument. :-)