Choosing Copic colors can be a somewhat daunting task.

What do these numbers mean?

How do I know what will look good together?

Where do I start?

If you find yourself asking these questions, help is on the way!

Let’s start by understanding what the numbering system means.

Every Copic color number begins with a letter(s).

In the example, the letters are BG for blue green.

There are 15 color families:

Next comes the first number.

In the example, the number is 0. This number indicates the amount of saturation, or vibrancy the color has. The higher the number, the duller the color.

The last number indicates how dark or light the color is.

In the example, the number is 5—a midtone or middle color.

Lower numbers make good highlights and higher numbers make good shadows.

A Color & 2 Friends

To choose colors that will blend and look nicely together, choose a color and two friends. Begin by choosing a midtone color, with a number close to 5.

I have chosen R27 as my midtone color. Notice that 7 is the number that indicates it is a midtone.

I then need to pick 2 friends—a highlight and a shadow. Stay in the same color family. I’ve picked R or red.  To pick the highlight, go down at least two numbers from the midtone color. I chose R24.

To pick the shadow, go up at least two numbers from the midtone color. I chose R29.

Note on the color wheel, the three colors are in the same ring.

Speaking of rings, let’s look at the color wheel.

This color wheel is a bit hard to see but you can download your own at the bottom of this post. To begin your own collection of Copics, try buying colors in the same ring. This will ensure that all of your color families will blend and match well.

Download Copic Color Wheel (.pdf)