Copic Custom Color Mixing

If you visit here often, you've probably seen me use some custom lighter shades of Copic markers.  Marianne Walker, Product Specialist for Copic, explains in detail how to fill an empty Copic marker and how to refill your drying-out markers.  Debbie Olson has shown her custom colors and the ratio she uses to mix them.

Custom lighter colors are nice to use on backgrounds, to soften up an otherwise plain white background or they can be used to give a softer, lighter glow around objects.  Here's how much lighter my custom colors of YR31 and BG000 are:

Today while I was refilling my custom lighter colors, I thought I would show you exactly how to do that.  To create custom colors, you will need Copic Colorless Blender Fluid and an empty Sketch marker or a Colorless Blender marker that is going dry.  Empty Various refill ink bottles are also available.  Since these bottles have the CC measurements on them (see last photo), they make it easy to get your mix/ratio just right.

 

Start by removing the dropper tip from the Various ink refill bottle and put in the desired amount of Colorless Blender Fluid -- this will just thin out and make a lighter color of whatever shade you are working with.  For my custom colors, I use a ratio of 2 parts Colorless Blender fluid to 1 part of color.

 

Next, add the Copic Various Ink Refill color of your choice to the Various ink bottle.  Here, I'm using BG000:

 

Test the color by using a cotton swab to make sure it's the color you want.  If it's not, you can make adjustments:

 

Replace the dropper tip on your custom Various ink refill bottle and label it with the ratio you came up with:

Now fill your empty Sketch marker with your new custom color and enjoy!  By mixing enough of the same color at one time, you can store it for easy and precise refilling in the future.

Comments

[Karen W]

1.

Thanks so much for this info. I love my copics and I think they are suppose to be bringing out some very light shades. This will really help.

[Mel M. M. M.]

2.

Fabulous tutorial! Makes me want to shop for refills like crazy! Thanks for sharing your brilliant tricks so freely, :O)

[Mary]

3.

Excellent!! Thank you for the information. I can never get my Copics to be light enough. Granted, I am a total novice, but I just knew there was a better way. This idea will be wonderful for those special "lights."

[Deborah]

4.

Thanks so much for the info ! I find the yellows to be so harsh - that is wonderful info to have!! I'll have to invest in a few of those goodies and make myself a few custom colours as you have!

[Michele D]

5.

Thanks for sharing this great idea!

[Jenn E.]

6.

great explanation, Sharon!

[Melanie Muenchinger]

7.

very cool! :)

[Kathi R]

8.

Hah! Brilliant! I've made two