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.
We test art supplies the way you actually use them.
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.
No sponsors. No sugarcoating.
Manufacturers don't pay for our tests or influence our results. When a product performs poorly, we'll show you what happened and explain why.
Swatch charts show pretty colors, but reveal little about how pencils and markers perform. Learn why proper testing provides more useful information.
How Art Supply Test Lab’s independent testing works— where supplies come from, how affiliate links support the work, and why manufacturers have no editorial control.
What does the Art Supply Test Lab test? Colored pencils, markers, pens, and paper, with a focus on individual colors, material performance, and honest comparisons. No confetti cannons, no automatic recommendations. Just useful information to help you choose better supplies and get more from the ones you already own.
Copic Marker Tests
Our original site began testing Copic Ink back in 2020.
We studied ink behavior, layering, 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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