Actual Tests. Not Swatches.
We test colored pencils, markers, pens, and paper.
And hey, we’re not sponsored.
Independent evaluations of art supplies to help you make informed choices.
Colored Pencils Under the Microscope
Every pencil color gets the same series of tests, measuring everything from opacity and layering to adhesion, erasure, and point retention. Compare individual colors based on how they actually perform.
Prismacolor Premier Crimson Lake PC925 tested for color accuracy, opacity, pigmentation, layering, adhesion, point retention, and lightfastness. See actual swatches, test results, and practical insights.
Prismacolor Premier Crimson Red PC924 tested for color accuracy, opacity, pigmentation, layering, adhesion, point retention, and lightfastness. See actual swatches, test results, and practical insights.
Prismacolor Premier Pomegranate PC195 tested for color accuracy, opacity, pigmentation, layering, adhesion, point retention, and lightfastness. See actual swatches, test results, and practical insights.
Prismacolor Premier Process Red PC994 tested for color accuracy, opacity, pigmentation, layering, adhesion, point retention, and lightfastness. See actual swatches, test results, and practical insights.
Prismacolor Premier Magenta PC930 tested for color accuracy, opacity, pigmentation, layering, adhesion, point retention, and lightfastness. See actual swatches, test results, and practical insights.
Get to Know Your Art Supplies
What makes one pencil more opaque than another? Why do some ink colors stop building after a few layers?
And seriously, how much can a swatch actually tell you?
Learn how art materials work, what affects their performance, and how to interpret test results.
Copic Marker Tests
Detailed test results of individual Copic colors. We tested ink behavior, blending, layering, color accuracy, and performance. See how each color behaves in use, not just how it looks in a swatch.
W0 Warm Gray No. 0
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and it’s ink characteristics.
RV32 Shadow Pink
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and it’s ink characteristics.
N10 Neutral Gray No. 10
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and it’s ink characteristics.
E25 Caribe Cocoa
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and its ink characteristics.
G19 Bright Parrot Green
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and its ink characteristics.
RV25 Dog Rose Flower
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and it’s ink characteristics.
N8 Neutral Gray No. 8
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and it’s ink characteristics.
G09 Veronese Green
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and its ink characteristics.
Y23 Yellowish Beige
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and it’s ink characteristics.
RV17 Deep Magenta
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and it’s ink characteristics.
N4 Neutral Gray No. 4
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and it’s ink characteristics.
B16 Cyanine Blue
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and it’s ink characteristics.
YG97 Spanish Olive
Let’s take a closer look at this Copic Marker and it’s ink characteristics.
Lab Notes: Beyond the Test Results
Lab Notes takes a closer look at art materials, how they work, why they behave differently, and what that means for your artwork.
A series of in-depth articles for artists and colorists who want to understand their supplies beyond the basics.
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