POSCA Markers

What are POSCA pens?

Key features and characteristics of POSCA markers

• Wide colour range: Vibrant primary, metallic, pastel and fluorescent colours.
• Water-based paint: Odourless, non-toxic, making them very safe to use.
• Blendability and layering: Create gradients, shading and blending effects.
• Long-lasting and permanent: Permanent depending on surface and finish.
• Various tip sizes and shapes: Extra-fine, fine, medium and bold tips.
• Works on many surfaces: Suitable for paper, canvas, wood, metal etc.
• The versatility of use: Suitable for drawing and writing on different surfaces.

How to use a POSCA marker

1. Prepare your surface by cleaning and drying it, ensuring all dirt and dust is removed. Sanding might be necessary if you are working on an uneven surface. Prime your surface with a liquid primer or spray primer from Edding or Talens if you wish to increase the durability of the POSCA markers.
2. Shake the POSCA marker up and down with the cap still firmly on. While shaking the paint pen you should be able to hear a ball moving around inside. This sound means that the paint inside is being released and mixed.
3. Take off the cap and begin using the pen.
4. Press the tip of the pen and hold the tip down onto a spare test piece of paper until the paint is visibly released into the tip, this means the ball inside has been activated. Test the flow of the paint to see if it’s a smooth and consistent line.
5. Begin creating your artwork and get creative! Apply with even and gentle pressure and recap after use.
6. Layering and blending are achievable by applying a selection of different coloured POSCA pens. To layer paint you must ensure each layer is dry before applying another separate colour. To blend paint you must ensure your paint is still wet, as if it is dry the colours will not mix. When the paint is wet it is mixable, allowing you to create gradient-like effects or mix colours fluidly. For additional effects apply a slightly wet painting brush to the POSCA paint.
7. Reshake if necessary, if the paint stops or stops flowing as smoothly reshaking the pen will provide a more consistent flow, just ensure that the cap is securely back on.
8. Use a lacquer varnish spray, for wooden, plastic, metal, stone or ceramic surfaces if you wish to preserve and protect your creation. A clear lacquer spray over your pen artwork is excellent for adding depth and enhancing colours. It is not necessary to apply a spray varnish to every type of surface.
9. Use a heat press or iron, for textile or fabric surfaces to ensure your creation is secured. 
10. Clean by rinsing the tip in water if you feel it is necessary.

The versatility of POSCA markers across industries

These paint markers are not exclusive to the creative arts. Industries such as the automotive, education, industrial manufacturing, fashion and interior design industry find the use of this quick-drying marker convenient. POSCA markers are an excellent choice for commercial display purposes for automotive traders, trade shows, restaurants and car hire companies to display information or promotional discounts.



Unlock the unlimited uses of POSCA

• Painting and drawing: As POSCA markers are available in many sizes they are perfect for drawing detailed graphics, illustration artwork and designs. Their vibrant colours add great colour depth to creations. The wider and larger size POSCA markers are ideal for covering larger-scale painting surfaces.
• Calligraphy and sign writing: Use POSCA markers to create modern or traditional style calligraphy. Paint pens are often used to create flourishes and embellishments to enhance your calligraphy pieces. Use paint pens for chalkboard calligraphy perfect for streetside display. Personalise gifts, cards, invites or seating arrangement cards.
• Retail display: Mural window display design is an attractive and clear way to brighten up or display information for shop use, in cafes or restaurants. In order to remove POSCA paint from a surface like glass, metal or plastic in your retail space use a solvent like a mild alcohol or diluted acetone with a soft cleaning pad or cloth to rub the ink off.
• Labelling: POSCA pens are ideal for use as a way to easily identify and label things at home or in the workplace.
• Artistic creations: POSCA paint pens are perfect for drawing, sketching, colouring, and adding details to your artwork. DIY projects: Personalise and customise objects like mugs, t-shirts, shoes, bags, and more. Create happy stones with colours, patterns and words.
• Home décor and up-cycling: POSCA markers can transform your home by adding designs and patterns to furniture, glass, ceramics, lampshades, and other home décor items. Create decorations and revamp your interiors.
• Office supplies: These markers can be used to label, highlight and mark different items like files, folders, and containers. Paint pens are also ideal for the personalisation of belongings in your office workspace. Educational purposes: Teachers and students can use POSCA markers for creating murals, group work, illustrative posters, charts, and presentations.

Other Useful Products

Edding Spray paints

Fine Liners

Sketchbooks

  Common questions  

What types of POSCA markers are there?

There are many types and sizes of POSCA markers. Everything from extra fine tip perfect for intricately detailed designs to super bold thick tip ideal for large-scale creations. The diverse range suits many different styles, needs and applications:

• POSCA brush markers: allows for brush-like painterly strokes. These are perfect for sign writing, lettering, calligraphy and illustration. POSCA PC-1MR marker has a fine bullet tip. ‘R’ standing for retractable means that the tip can retract when not in use.
• POSCA PC-1MR marker: has an extra fine tip of 0.7mm allowing you to make create intricate details and clean lines.
• POSCA PC-1MC marker: is an ultra-fine pen, it has a 0.7mm-1mm tip perfect for precision and detailed work. POSCA PC-3M marker has a fine tip with a 0.9-1.3mm bullet-shaped nib.
• POSCA PC-5M marker: The smooth surface allows for precise and detailed lines.
• POSCA PC-8K marker: has a medium size tip with a size of 8mm, perfect for an option of both precision and coverage.
• POSCA glitter marker: are like regular POSCA pens except the acrylic paint formula is infused with super fine glitter particles providing sparkling accents to your artwork.
• POSCA multi-coloured sets: Bristol paper thickness prevents ink bleed-through and provides durability for layering colours. Bristol paper ensures high colour saturation which is ideal for use with POSCA pen ink.
• POSCA metallic marker: sets are a collection of pens with metallic colours including gold, silver, bronze, copper and more.

Regardless of tip size, these paint markers provide great vibrance, opaque coverage and an acrylic water-based formula that works almost on any surface.

What types of paper are suitable for POSCA markers?

Water-based acrylic paint is suitable for most types of paper. However, they work best on some paper depending on paper texture and weight. Below we list the best types of paper for paint markers:

• Sketchbooks: High-quality paper that is both thick and heavy in weight allows POSCA paint to remain vivid and opaque in colour.
• Tracing paper: The smooth surface of tracing paper allows for a consistent and smooth flow of paint. The transparency allows for easy replication and layering effects.
• Photo paper: The smooth surface of photo paper allows for precise control of paint flow. The durability of the paper ensures the creation is long-lasting.
• Marker paper: The smooth surface allows for precise and detailed lines.
• Bristol paper: Bristol paper thickness prevents ink bleed-through and provides durability for layering colours. Bristol paper ensures high colour saturation which is ideal for use with POSCA pen ink.

Paper that is sturdy and that has minimal bleed-through is the most suitable for these paint markers. However, most paper including standard printing paper, drawing paper, watercolour paper and mixed media paper can be used with these paint markers. Different papers offer different textures and outcomes to your creation. It’s important to consider what is the desired or intended outcome and experiment with different paper types.

What surfaces can you use POSCA markers on?

POSCA pens are known for their versatility and can be applied to a huge range of surfaces. They are suitable for surfaces like:

• Fabric: POSCA adheres well to cotton fabrics like t-shirts or canvas tote bags and they withstand machine washing especially if they are treated with a heat press before. They work on denim fabric, clothing or accessories. Synthetic fabrics also works well with POSCA. Fabrics like polyester or nylon are ideal. POSCA also works on silk and linen. It is advisable for the application of POSCA to delicate textiles to handwash rather than machine wash. It is also advisable to heat-press or iron your creation to achieve water resistance.
• Glass: Clear glass, frosted glass and mirrors can be used with POSCA markers.
• Metal: Stainless steel, aluminium, brass and copper work well with POSCA markers.
• Stone: POSCA adheres well to granite, marble, slate and pebbles.
• Ceramic: Porcelain, stoneware, bone china, terracotta,
• Leather: Full grain leather, suede leather, tanned leather and synthetic leather are ideal to use with POSCA pens.
• Paper: Printing paper, sketchbook paper, graph paper, carbon paper, calligraphy paper, marker paper, watercolour paper, tracing paper, tissue paper, rice paper, parchment paper, mixed media paper, vellum paper and pastel paper. They work well on lightweight paper (60gsm to 90gsm) and medium-weight paper (90gsm to 120gsm). Card: POSCA paint pens work on matte card, glossy card, mounting card, bristol board, kraft card, watercolour card. They work well on light weight card (176gsm), medium weight card (216gsm), heavyweight card (270gsm) and extra heavy weight card (350gsm).
• Canvas: POSCA pens work on stretched canvas, stretched canvas board, unprimed canvas, primed canvas, linen canvas, herringbone canvas, canvas panels, canvas rolls and canvas paper.

Unleash your creativity onto almost any surface. POSCA pens allow you to transform everyday objects into works of art! Renowned for their permanence, these POSCA paint pens can create artworks that stand the test of time. No matter the medium your creation will have long-lasting results.

Are POSCA markers waterproof?

POSCA pens are waterproof and resistant to fading, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. Once the paint has dried, it becomes waterproof. This feature makes them suitable for various applications, such as creating art pieces that will be displayed outside or labelling items that will be used in wet environments.

While POSCA pens are water-resistant, they are not entirely waterproof and may still show signs of wear and tear over time when exposed to extreme weather conditions. POSCA pens are perfectly suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. For outdoor use, it is recommended to fix your creation with a water-based varnish in either gloss or matte.

Can you use POSCA markers on cars?

Yes, you can use POSCA markers to touch up or add customisations to your car. They are ideal for minor touch-ups on scratches and chips. They are also perfect for customisation and adding designs to your vehicle. The versatile nature of POSCA means you can also touch up or customise vans, bicycles and motorbikes. Seal and preserve your creation with the additional use of an aerosol varnish spray.

Can you use POSCA markers on glass?

Yes, you can use POSCA pens on glass. POSCA pens are perfect for creating window displays in shops, cafes or restaurants. Personalise glassware, glass Christmas ornaments or glass photo frames. Create beautiful glass art by crafting stained glass effect outlines and blocks of colour onto glass.

Once you apply paint to glass and ensure it is dry remember that it is only resistant to light handling and wear. If you wish to ensure it withstands wear and tear apply a liquid non-toxic varnish or aerosol varnish.

Contact us with any POSCA questions

Unleash your creativity by adding a pop of colour to your designs and artwork. Whether you're a professional artist or someone exploring your creative side, POSCA pens can be a great addition to your toolkit.

If you have any further questions about POSCA don’t hesitate to get in touch!