Review on 96 Color Set of Blendable Tombow 56149 Dual Brush Pen 🖌️ Art Markers with Desk Stand - Brush and Fine Tip Markers with Stand by Nicole Mcleod

I have used markers extensively over the years and have purchased both this set of Tombow markers and a similar set of Copic markers. Anyone who has been hiding in the world of markers on the internet for a very long time knows that Copic are widely regarded as the best pens money can buy (they are by far the most expensive) and that few other pens compete be able. In fact, many other marker brands are ranked based on how they compare to Copics, which I'll do for this review :) I know a lot of people (including myself) are looking for alternatives to really expensive markers. Pens, so hopefully this helps with this quest. Probably the biggest difference to note to the right of the bat is that Tombow's markers are WATER-BASED. This means they perform completely differently than Copics, Prismacolors, Tria and many other high quality markers. It's not entirely bad unless you want them to act like other alcohol-based brands. Here are the pros and cons of each: Tombows: + The translucent ink makes them a pleasure to layer and mix and match + Water miscible, meaning they can be manipulated with a brush and combined with other water soluble materials + The pins are very durable. very long time. Mine is six years old and is still strong except for one or two heavily used colors + The smell of the ink is hardly perceptible and only if you practically put it in your nose. + Doesn't bleed through paper unless you really apply it in a thick layer. Since the ink is water based, this causes the surface of many papers to delaminate and crack. Using heavy paper or paper with low absorbency (e.g. parchment) can help. Do not apply too much ink at once or the paper will warp. For me these markers give more streaks than Copics no matter what I tried. Different papers can help with this, but in general you have to make an effort to paint large areas evenly. I find the 96 color set a bit limiting, especially as most markers are very bright and saturated. I prefer to work with more neutral tones, so this is a minus for me. The paper stays moist longer and the two colors penetrate each other. + They never alter the surface of most types of paper. It can warp a little if you use something very fragile and really saturate it with ink, but I've never had a major problem with it. and finally ink refills and replacement nibs + A detailed color naming system that's easy to understand - they bleed through paper like crazy. I always keep two sheets of paper under my projects so I don't get my desk dirty. Although I don't see it as a major inconvenience. Colors appear slightly darker when wet than when dry. The fumes from these things are unpleasant; I'll talk more about that later. Despite all the great features, these things are really expensive, over $6 per pen in most places. With moderate use, each pen will last approximately 1.5 years after refilling. With intensive use (daily) they last for several months. Since refills are available I'm not too concerned, but they seem to run out quicker than tombows. Finally, I use my Copics a lot more than my Tombows. They're a lot easier for me to mix and have more of the colors I need. However, that doesn't stop me from using tombows. I use them almost exclusively in my sketchbook as they don't show through or smudge for the next few pages and their thin size makes them more portable. For some reason I also prefer to do studies and sketches in it. These are the highest quality water based markers I have tried and they are widely used. At just over a dollar a pen in this set, I have a hard time imagining a marker of this high quality at such a low price. Just be aware that they require different mixing techniques than many well-known brands of art markers and you won't be disappointed :) *Thought I should mention that I have an issue with Copic marker fumes. I have learned from discussions with my colleagues that this is NOT a typical experience, but if you are sensitive to smells I would highly recommend Tombows for any alcohol based marker. I was fine for the first few months, but over time the couples started to bother me more and more. After taking Copix for an hour or two in a row, I get a mild malaise (mild nausea and weakness). After a few hours I feel pretty bad. Of course, I'm working with my face inches from the paper (I'm really myopic) and a scarf covering my mouth and nose almost completely solves the problem, but you have to be aware of this.