A few things worth knowing to get more out of your markers and make them last longer.
Storing your markers
- Store dual-tip markers horizontally. Standing them upright lets the ink pool at one end and starve the other nib.
- Keep caps on firmly. Alcohol ink evaporates quickly through a loose cap.
- Avoid direct sunlight and radiators — heat thins the ink and fades pigment over time.
Getting clean colour
- Work light to dark. Alcohol ink layers beautifully, but it is very difficult to lift once it is down.
- Blend while the ink is still wet. Once it dries, the edge sets.
- Use a colourless blender to soften an edge you have already laid down.
- Test on a scrap of the same paper first — the same marker reads differently on different surfaces.
Protecting your work
- Place a spare sheet under your page. Alcohol ink passes through most standard paper.
- Marker paper and dedicated sketchbooks are designed to contain bleed — see Paper & Sketchbooks.
- Let a finished piece dry fully before stacking it.
Reviving a dry-looking nib
If a marker feels dry, re-cap it and store it horizontally for a few hours — the ink often redistributes. Press gently rather than hard; forcing a nib damages it.