Just to clarify, this review is my honest personal opinion, I have not been paid or sponsored by anyone, including Letraset.
Letraset launched the Flexmarkers at the beginning of August exclusively with Create & Craft tv and the initial launch was limited to 4 packs of 6 flexmarkers.... Set 1 & 2 includes 12 colours that are brand new to the Letraset family i.e. they are not available in Promarkers or Trias, and Set 3 & 4 include 12 colours that have only previously been available in Trias. So if you already have promarkers that is 24 new colours for you.
The next batch of Flexmarkers will be launched in September and will be available at all good art supplies retailers. These include 4 packs of 12 markers - 27 out of these 48 colours are not available in Promarkers.
The point of me telling you all this is to illustrate that these don't have to be an alternative to Promarkers and other brands, these compliment the Promarker range - adding some much needed paler shades and other colours that are "missing" from the Promarker colour chart.
However if you don't have any alcohol markers, or want to try a new brand then these would be a great place to start - there aren't a huge number in the range to collect - I know a lot of people are put off by the fact that there are 148 Promarkers, over 300 Copics or Trias and over 160 Spectrum Noirs, there are only 72 Flexmarkers - so that would be a great set to start with and if you needed to add colours you can select from both the Promarker and Tria range, in the knowledge that they will work perfectly together.
Here's the Flexmarker Colour Chart - the ones marked with * are NOT available in Promarkers
The main difference between the Promarkers and the Flexmarkers is the nib - both markers have a chisel nib at one end, and instead of having a bullet nib like the Promarkers, the Flexmarkers have a brush nib.
So let's move on to what I think...
First impressions... well the packaging of the sets is very clever, I love these new blister packs which double as portable storage - ideal for on-the-go colouring and crafting.
The barrels of the actual pens have a very striking design, which I personally quite like - it is very distinguishable from the Promarkers and the Trias, the end caps are the same or similar to those on the Trias and like the Trias the colour and HSL value is already enclosed at either end so no need to colour in your own sticky dots like we have to do with Promarkers
The only downsides I can find here are
1. both end caps are identical so you can't tell which end is which, purely by touch and
2. the visual indication on the barrel is a little ambiguous and not immediately obvious.
The Flexmarkers use the same ink that is in the Promarkers and Trias, so the quality is terrific, nice crisp colours. The Flexmarkers seem to be more juicy than the Promarkers, the ink seems to flow from the brush nib far quicker, so you definitely don't want to be heavy handed with them or you'll end up with ink pooling on the surface of your paper/card.
If you are used to Promarkers then the brush nib takes a little getting used to, but with a little practice I'm sure you'll start to love them. Copic users and those of you who have Trias will already be familiar with a brush nib so will be quite comfortable with the Flexmarkers. The brush nib also allows you to create effects that you can't with the Promarkers, just by varying the pressure you use, I also find it easier to fill in an area that's a little too big for the bullet nib of the Promarkers but not big enough or too fiddly to warrant using the chisel nib, you can colour the area quickly and smoothly with the brush nib. This also makes blending that bit easier - because it's always easier to blend when the ink is still wet, before the alcohol has evaporated.
The introduction of a lot of paler colours is a huge bonus for those who already have promarkers - we definitely needed more pastels and the ones in set 1 and set 2 are just ideal. For those who have asked me how to colour white... Light Fawn and Antique White in Set 1 will be particularly useful for colouring wedding dresses, polar bears, white rabbits etc etc
I tend to use strong, bright colours in my crafting, I'm not usually a pastel-ly type person BUT I'm enjoying experimenting with these pastel shades in Set 1 and 2 for more subtle effects.
Conclusion: I love them, they are exactly what I've been waiting for - the colours Letraset have chosen are clever choices for 2 reasons
1. if you only have flexmarkers then you have a self-contained but comprehensive range of 72 blendable colours and shades and
2. the new-to-promarker colours fill many of the gaps in the promarker colour chart
The only negatives I can find are the ambiguous nib indicators on the barrel and some of the end caps are harder to remove than others.
15 comments:
hi Debbi thanks for your opinions on these as i only have ever used promarkers and always value your opinion on markers as i think your a pro at using them so after reading this post not only to i need to complete my promarker collection but i think i need to get these too lol thanks hun xx
thanks Debbie, very interesting to know x
I have all the pm's and am considering getting these as well now x
As always hun, a really imformative and useful post, thank you so much. I shall invest - the paler shades are a Must Have item with the PMs. Know what you mean about the hard to remove caps, some of my PMs were like that and I ended up removing the cap and nib complete! Hugs Sxx
loving the soft pastel colours in the flexmarkers..how I wish I had waited and not wasted cubbyhole stash cash on those Spectrum Noirs...can't wait to see some colouring from you using these beauties...hugs kath xxx
Have to agree with you entirely - they are fab despite me opening the wrong end continually!! Fab colours too! Sheila:)X
Great, helpful review Debz.
I shall maybe invest in a set of these to go with my trusty pm's.
Susan xx
A brilliant personal review on the new Flexmarkers Debbi. Thank you for taking the time to do it. Im certainly grateful. Lee xx
Thanks for your review of the Flexmarkers Debbi. They look very interesting and the extra colours would be good to have. I have about 2 Copics that I bought one time I was in Cullen Crafts. I was curious about what they were like! I think I'd quite like some of the pale Flexmarkers if they're not too dear lol!
How you feeling now after your injections a couple of weeks ago. Hope they're helping after you had such a painful time.
Kat xx
Thanks for this Debbi, you always give an honest review. I'm not sure about trying them as I don;t know if I would like the brush nib. Could ertainly do with some paler colours though so maybe worth giving them a go. Hope you're recovering now. Marianne x
Thanks for this - I do like the pastel colours but have struggled with the brush tip before - it will be interesting to see how I get on with these. It certainly is a huge plus point to have a set of 72 completely self-contained markers which are at the same time compatible with ProMarkers. I find that I do not like mixing brands - the inks seem to be somewhat different although most people I've come across say that all the current ones on the market can be used in conjunction with one another.
Paula (PEP)
Thanks for doing this hun, I for one really apreciate your opinion! I think I'm gonna get a couple of packs when they are released & see what they are like!
hugs & thanks again
shell xx
Thanks for your honest opinion Debbi, I'm still very much a copic gal though
Anne x
this was pretty interesting...my local craft store JUST started offering copics!! i was like--oh, these are the markers i always see on the stamping blogs!!:) i was so excited i bought two just for fun:) (and i love them!...they are super expensive, though). anyways, i love my promarkers:):) am considering giving these a try. i love all the neutrals offered. and the range of blues.
i guess i can order them online?? i'll have to google the company. thanks for an informative read!!
xo
Hi :) Thanks so much for this reveiew. I've been looking for an easier colouring system for my design work and I'd seen Promarkers on C&C but loved the Flexmarker colours. I've been using water colour pencils which I love but not very convenient or quick! I just couldn't work out the difference between promarkers and flexmarkers as I'd not used either. This review has clarifed it. Thanks so much!
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