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I have searched and searched and can't figure out what I am doing wrong.
Sorry if this has been covered before, but I just can't figure it out.
I just got my sets of Copics and am having trouble with my blending.
I checked out ilikemarkers.blogspot.com but I can't get decent results with this way.
When choosing your colors for blending how do you pick the numbers?
For instance when using R35 and R37 you don't notice enough of a difference in the shading. To me it looks like one color.
Do you need to separate the numbers more or what?
Also what is the best way to start learning how to blend?
I have tried coloring my lightest color and then quickly adding my shaded areas and then coloring over the whole thing again with my lightest shade. For some reason this isn't working.
I do like putting my darkest color on an acrylic block and picking it up with my lighter color, but am having difficulty with the shading showing up.
Should I pick up more color or should I try a darker shade?
I'm learning like you. I've read the Copic thread-it's long but well worth it.
I believe the blending pen could possibly help here-it removes colour so you could maybe try that and create a difference. I am so new it's hard to comment but I find a similar thing. i think the thing is the more you use one colour in one spot, the darker that colour gets-if your dark colour is only 2/3 numbers up from the light, if you colour the light too much you've created the dark colour.
I wonder if you need to only do a couple of strokes of light, or if you need to then add more dark colour?
The other thing i heard is to use the blending pen all over where you want to colour, then colour and this helps with the blending. Not sure why!
I know Marianne says that you shouldn't get colours too near each other as there's not much difference so maybe her prediction is coming into play.
I struggle too as explanations are so vague. Some add dark to light, others vice versa. i just need a foolproof way of trying this. i don't need to be the best in the world, just to be able to blend and use my pens to the best of their potential.
There are some of the colors that eventhough they are a few numbers apart they don't look that different. I have the Copic Chart and I have it filled in with all my colors this way when I am looking for colors for shading I can see how close in color they are and chose from there.
I have tried doing the shading where you use the light color first then add the darker color and blend from there but I found that it didn't work for me doing it that way so what I have started doing is I start with the darker color and put it in the areas that would be in the shade and then I use the lighter color over that, if I need to make the dark areas darker then I go over them again, I have seen a couple of video's where they do the same as what I do. I don't think that there is any set rules on blending with Copic's, just keep experimenting until you find a way that works for you. They do take some time to figure out but the results can be wonderful when you find your technique.
The other thing that I do is write down what colors I used together so that if they are colors that I really like and they blend well together I know what I used and I don't have to guess for the next time.
Last edited by jackie1; 04-16-2009 at 07:10 AM..
Reason: need to add something
With the colors you're using, you won't notice much of a difference. You might check out Debbie Olson's blog for color combinations (on the sidebar) that she likes and try those. What you're looking for is probably R59, which will give you the darker shading you're wanting.
The blender pen isn't really used for blending, but more pushing color around. Marianne says to think of it as a broom. As far as coloring all over with the blender pen to help you blend better...that ONLY works when you are blending very light colors into white, B000 for example. Anything darker than a 3 for the last digit won't work with that technique like you expect...especially when you're trying to blend two colors together.
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This is such a learning curve!! The instructor, Sally Lynn, of the Copic Certification class that I took told me the exact thing that everyone is telling you the "colorless blender" REMOVES color--go figure. I now blend with the lightest # within my the color scheme. But yes you need to choose colors that are a little higher in # to SEE the effects. Practice, practice!! Just like Shannan said try different paper (this was a huge difference for me, WOW), inks and methods and come back and tell us what worked for you.
With the colors you're using, you won't notice much of a difference. You might check out Debbie Olson's blog for color combinations (on the sidebar) that she likes and try those. What you're looking for is probably R59, which will give you the darker shading you're wanting.
The blender pen isn't really used for blending, but more pushing color around. Marianne says to think of it as a broom. As far as coloring all over with the blender pen to help you blend better...that ONLY works when you are blending very light colors into white, B000 for example. Anything darker than a 3 for the last digit won't work with that technique like you expect...especially when you're trying to blend two colors together.
This is SO helpful-thank you! I think there's maybe too much info out there and it's hard to take in and link one bit of info to another. That means it's easy to misintepret something. I had NEVER heard that i needed to use lots of ink-I've been trying to do strokes as minimally as possible, I've been doing just what you say beginners do. Does this mean that essentially, you need lots of ink of each colour you're trying to blend as basically, it's the sort of pooled ink that blends? Do i have to be really quick to add the other colour before the first dries or if it's wet enough will it be OK? I try to be fast but then I read that you should do Copics slowly-I'm so muddled.:confused:
I've tried light to dark and just still have a line where the dark merges into the light. I will try the tips mentioned-I so want to learn this but it's really difficult as I learn so much better when people show me and everyone seems to have a different take on it anyway!
I never understood using the blender pen before blending so thanks for clarifying that too. I may give it a go with light colours to see what the effect is as I have no idea.
Someone said you should use circles of colour-I am confused by this, I thought long strokes were better. If you do circles how do you get a level amount of ink?
Ok, so basically use more ink-do I do this by being slow on my strokes or by layering? Presumably by being slower as by layering I'm affecting the colours?
Can i ask one more thing? This sounds really thick, but when you use the 'lightest' colour to blend the dark colour in, it means the lightest colour you've been using does it? I.e. if I used say R20 and R22, I use the R22 to blend and not just the lightest colour I own? I know that sounds stupid to ask, but I'm really bogged down with info-I literally have a headache! I'm so excited by this but it's hard!
Thanks everyone-I do feel I am beginning to understand, thanks for all your help and to OP thanks for asking this and sorry to hog the post!
I took the copic certification class and Marianne says to use at least 3 shades of the same color family to blend with. I start off w/my darkest color, the next shade from it and finally the lightest color to blend them all together. She does suggest using tiny circles mostly because of the blending. The blender pen can also be used to remove color over inside the lines when you accidently go out alittle...very helpful indeed!
__________________ Just Plain old "S/talkin' Pinky"/
Can i ask one more thing? This sounds really thick, but when you use the 'lightest' colour to blend the dark colour in, it means the lightest colour you've been using does it? I.e. if I used say R20 and R22, I use the R22 to blend and not just the lightest colour I own? I know that sounds stupid to ask, but I'm really bogged down with info-I literally have a headache! I'm so excited by this but it's hard!
Not thick at all... there is SO much info out there that it does tend to get confusing.
When people tell you to blend with the lightest color, they mean if you are putting two or three shades of blue together, then blend with the lightest blue of those two or three.
Hope that helps.
Keep practicing!
__________________ Colleen Schaan - Education Specialist at Imagination International Inc.,/Copic Marker
Blog - Distinctive Touches;My Copic Books!
Thank you so much! That blog is amazing. I want to be her when I grow up :mrgreen:. I am going to try out some of her color combination and see what I get.
I really love these markers and want to get it right.
I looked at the back of my images and can see a solid image of the color, so I think I am using enough ink. I think my biggest problem is that I was trying to stay close in the numbers.
Maybe the best advice is to play and look at what others are using.
Oh my, this is a bit overwhelming. I've been considering getting some copics but it seems like there's quite the learning curve and I'd hate to invest the money and not be able to do it. I'd be interested in this online class you mentioned, as I can't seem to find any classes nearby. :(
How do I do the online class? That would be something I would be interested in.
Thanks
Amanda
Here is the link: http://www.mycreativeclassroom.com/c...gory.php?id=18
The Copic class is the 2nd one from the top. It tells you everything you need to know! I haven't taken the class, but Colleen rocks and I'm sure it's fantastic!
Suzanne Dean's tutorials are great!! SO great that I just ordered two Tilda's to start out with!! SHe makes it look soo easy! And your're right three colors seem to make the blending!
Amanda, do you really post 46 MILLION times a day?!?!?!?!?!?! That's what your stats say... Wow, you really DO deserve the title "Stazon Splitcoast"!!!!!
I have learned more from Suzanne Dean than I have from anyone else so far. Here is her blog: http://www.scrapbitz.blogspot.com/
She has her links to videos and different tips and information on here......I learned A LOT from this woman...THANK YOU SUZANNE!!!!!
After studying her technique, I tried using my copics again, but I did it using my lightest color first go here to see my result: http://mrslumpys.blogspot.com/2009/0...c-colored
Blending with Copics ???
Just starting out, you tend to use less ink than you really need to. It takes practice, so don't get frustrated if you don't "get it" right away). Try different methods, different papers, and do what works for you! 
