Friday, February 8, 2013

Flowers of Spring


Let me start by saying I was just a little upset when Copic decided to raise their prices again in Jan.  I think that was the third time in a year.  So I wanted to see if I would like Spectrum noir by Crafters companion,
The new list price for Copcic is $7.99 but if you shop around you can find them for $5.24
Spectrum noir comes in a set of 6 pens I bought mine at Joann's regular price was $14.99 I used my 50% off coupon so I paid $6.50.
So that is a very Big plus for Spectrum noir.


Copic you have 358 markers.
Spectrum  has  168 markers
Copic wins with the most colors

Both are refillable.  So this is a tie.
Now on my flowers.  The only part that was colored with the spectum noir was the purple petals.
Because I only bought the one set.
can you guess which one is which.
What I tried to do in my test was to match the copic colors with the Spectum
I did not due to bad. I could not find a match for the Spectum LV3.  Which does not mean that copic does not have that color it just means I do not own it.
I used a digital image from Scrapbook Stamp Society called Flower 2 by Karen Sheltrown
Neither pen made my printer ink smear.  so both work well with the Epson ink.
But to me the big difference was the shape of the pens, the Spectrum are a square based pen verses the oval.
And I found with my little kids size hands that this made my hands hurt after a very short time.  My hands were tired by holding the pens.
The other big difference is in the nibs instead of a brush nib the spectrum has a smaller hard nib, that was on fine enough really to get into the small places but it took more work to blend with that style of nib
In conclusion.  The reason I went to the copic pens was to be able to blend the inks the way the professionals were doing. The difference is  like the difference between a BMW and an Kia.  If you have never driven the BMW then you might just be happy with the Kia.  but the move from the BMW to a Kia .. it is just not the same.
So even with the greater price.  in my book Copic wins.  I like the quality of the ink, the color choices and the shape of the barrel.
Thanks
Debbie


4 comments:

  1. Debbie, Thanks for the information, I have wondered about the differences but didn't want to buy anymore. I have almost all of the Copics and it would be very expensive to exchange. Love the look of your card no matter what markers you used.
    Zenita

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  2. very beautiful card, Debbie.
    I was thinking of using the spectrum noir so I'll still don't know.

    greetings karin

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  3. Why not test the promakers? You can have the hard nib or in the flexmarkers the soft brush..they are much better then the Spectrums...

    Best wishes
    Petra

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  4. Hi Debbie. I just read your post today, the 12th because I just found your blog. I have been crafting for many years, owned a scrapbook store for 8.5. Prior to opening my store I was a sahm who had way too many hobbies. Coloring is one of them. Now after being in retirement for 3 years I have decided to get back into the industry. I started a blog just this month, colormemineblogspot.com and will be selling the Shinhan Touch Twin Brush Markers wholesale. Please contact me and we can discuss further. My email address is Pamela@prettypetunia.com. Thanks!!!!

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