This document provides an overview of the Copic marker color system and how to select colors that blend well together. It explains that each marker is labeled with a letter indicating its color family and numbers relating to saturation, tone, and darkness. Markers within the same color family that share the first number will blend most seamlessly. The document recommends choosing 2-3 colors that only vary in their second number to ensure consistent but varied blending. Understanding the color wheel and families will help select colors that naturally blend together for projects.

1. Copic Marker Color System
It can be overwhelming with all the choices of Copic Markers Colors to decide which colors go well together. Once
you understand the way the markers are labeled, it will make it much easier for you to select colors for your
projects. Let’s take a look at the Copic Sketch Markers together. I have selected 3 Markers in the Same Color
Blending Family: R20, R21, and R24.
As you will notice each marker has a Letter followed by a number or numbers. In this case you
will notice the Letter on these Markers is R. The letters on the markers represent a Color Family.
The Color Families are divided into groups on the chart below. Locate R which is the Red Color
Family.
COLOR FAMILIES
� E-Earthtones YG- Yellow Green
� C-Cool Grey G-Green
� W-Warm Grey B-Blue
� T-Toner Grey V-Violet
� F-Fluorescent BV-Blue Violet
� RV- Red Violet N-Neutral Grey
� R-Red
� YR-Yellow Red

2. Each marker will a number or numbers after the letter. It will help you if you think of the
numbers separately. Example: R-2-0 instead of R-“22”.
THE FIRST NUMBER
Locate the 1st
number which is 2
The first number between 0 and 9 relates to the Color Saturation or the Intensity (Tone)
of the color. (This is achieved by the varying amount of grey that is in the color)
Take a look at the markers in the photo above. By just reading the code we know that
R20, R22 and R29 all have the same intensity of Red-(the same amount of grey in each
of them). We know this because they all start with the Letter R and all are followed with
the number 2.
Locate the 2nd number which is 0. The second number also ranges from
0 to 9 and it relates to the brightness or lightness of the color.
The second number on the marker is the DARKNESS of the marker. It will range
from 0-9. Zero being the lightest and 9 the darkest.

3. NATURAL BLENDING GROUPS:
Within each Color Family there are natural groups of sequential colors. For example:
Look at the chart below: R20-R39
The colors all come from the same Color Group which is R and have the same color
intensity which is 2. The variation is in the lightness and brightness of the color which is
the 3rd
number.
Groups such as these form what we call “Natural Blending Groups”. When used
together it will allow you that have the most seamless blending as possible.
In order to get the most out of your Copics:
� You need to use at least 2 colors from the same blending group.
� To ensure consistency but having sufficient variation chose groups of 2 or 3
colors with the same letter and the same first number.
� Try to always keep a couple digits between your second numbers.
When creating a color family which means colors that will blend well together, KEEP
THE FIRST NUMBER the same.
Example: E41, E42, E43 These 3 markers will blend well together. They are E in the
Earthtone Family and the 1st
number on all 3 markers is 4.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GREYS
Cool Grays are bluish, or cool. Neutral Grays have not tone, warm or cool. Toner Grays
are slightly warmer, or brown than neutral. Warm Grays are browner than any of the
other grays.

4. When viewing the Copic Color Wheel it will all start to make sense to you. The vibrant
colors will sit on the outside of the color wheel with the lowest first numbers. This is
those that start with 0 and 1. Then move towards the center of the wheel are the de-
saturated colors, starting with numbers such as 7, 8 or 9. If you select a set of colors try
to select colors from the same ring.
MORE IMPORTANT TIPS
� To get started with Color Families that will work well together use the above tip
as your guideline and also see my Basic Color Starter List.
� Highly recommend using/purchasing a Colorless Blender. You will use this
often and throughout the classes and when you are done.
Use the Copics Color Chart. Start immediately by printing it out with the link
provided from the Copic Website. This chart will be used quite often not only to
record the colors you have on hand or that you want to get but to match up