Review of ProMarker Alcohol Ink Marker Pens from Letraset

ProMarkers are a good value entry level art marker pen. I would recommend them as being an ideal way to gain experience of using this type of marker pen before moving on and investing in more expensive refillable alternatives

The digital stamp in the image is by Clip Art and Stamp and is available free from My Graphico.

ProMarkers, from Letraset, are positioned as an entry level art marker pen. They are used by comic and manga artists, and are also popular with rubber stampers as they provide a low cost alternative to Copic marker pens. The pens are ideal for coloring rubber stamping projects and the clear colors and ease of use means that professional looking results can be achieved with a little practice.

Using ProMarker Pens

ProMarkers are ideal for coloring rubber stamped images. Unlike cheaper 'everyday' marker pens and those used by children, ProMarkers contain alcohol inks. The inks sink into the paper and give a consistent color without streaking. Alcohol inks can make some rubber stamping inks bleed, the best inks to use are dye based inks. I used a range of dye based inks with ProMarkers without any problems. The colors can be blended and good results can be achieved, particularly when using closely matching colors.

The two different sized tips give a good range of coloring options. The chisel tip covers large areas and is ideal for coloring backgrounds. The bullet tips is well suited to more detailed work.

ProMarkers have a distinctive smell which is common with all alcohol ink pens. This is less apparent when working in a well ventilated area. The ink soaks into the paper and this means that it can bleed through thin papers, marking the surface underneath. I didn't find this an issue with thicker paper or cardstock, and if I wanted to use ProMarkers on thin paper, I'd simply ensure that the work surface was protected.

Personal Thoughts

I have enjoyed using the ProMarker sets that I bought. I purchased a couple of sets that were designed for manga use as I felt that these would give me many of the colors that I would find useful in basic stamping projects. Of course, the results are more limited than they would be if I had the full range, however the sets provide a good starting point. I have found the colors are bright and have found the pens easy to use. I love the dual tips as this really gives a wide scope of use. The pens do smell, but all alcohol ink pens do. They also bleed through paper. However, as long as you remember not to color a sheet of lightweight paper without working on some scrap paper or covering the work surface you'll be fine. The main drawback is that the pens cannot be refilled. This is reflected in the cost, particularly when the price of ProMarkers are compared with other art marker pens.

Buying ProMarkers

ProMarkers are available for purchase either individually or as set. The sets have been created to offer a range of complementary colored pens. More information is available from the Letraset website.