Hey everyone, Katie here, and today I wanted to put together a guide to talk about all of the differences in Tombow’s marker range and what would be the best for your project!
Dual Brush Pens:
This is everyone’s favorite marker for a reason! There are currently 108 gorgeous colors to choose from, and as the name suggests, it has 2 tips—one is a juicy brush tip that’s perfect for hand lettering and coloring in big spaces, and the other is a bullet tip, great for detailed line art or bullet journaling. My favorite thing is how beautifully they blend! You can use the colorless blender to create smooth gradients or mix colors together right on the page. Or, because they’re water based, add a little water for that dreamy watercolor effect. They’re such a versatile tool and you can letter, draw, paint, and blend all with the same marker. Here are a few projects from the Tombow USA blog you may like using these markers:
- Creative Lettering Workshop with Tombow Dual Brush Pens
- How to Create a Still Life with Dual Brush Pens
- How to Get a Watercolor Effect with Dual Brush Pens
Twin Tones:
These are like the cool little siblings of the Dual Brush Pens. They’re dual-tipped too, but with a bullet tip on one end and an extra-fine tip on the other. They’re my go-to for adding little details in my planners or doodling in my sketchbook without overwhelming the page. The colors are so bright and cheerful. They also can blend similarly to the Dual Brush Pens.
Here are a few projects from the Tombow USA blog you may like using these markers:
- 5 Ways to Use Tombow TwinTones in Your Planner
- Three Envelope Designs with TwinTone Palettes
- DIY Geometric Rainbow Art
MONO Drawing Pens:
These are my ride-or-die for line work. I use them for inking illustrations, outlining watercolor art, and even drawing teeny tiny little details in nature sketches. They’re archival, water-based pigment ink, so they won’t smudge if you go over them with Dual Brush Pens or watercolor. Perfect for those illustrations when you want crisp, clean lines. They come in 8 tip sizes in black, which I use all of the time, and they now also come in 8 colors!!
Here are a few projects from the Tombow USA blog you may like using these markers:
Fudenosuke Brush Pens:
If the Dual Brush Pens are for big, sweeping lettering, the Fudenosuke is for the small, elegant stuff. The original Fudenosuke Brush Pens come in both hard and soft tips. They now ALSO come in a rainbow of color, from bright, to pastels, to neon! There’s even a white one. Besides hand lettering, They’re also amazing for drawing and adding a varied line width to your drawings.
Here are a few projects from the Tombow USA blog you may like using these markers:
MONO Twin Permanent Markers:
These markers mean business. They’ve ALSO got two tips, fine and broad, and the ink is permanent, so you can draw on basically anything: wood, plastic, paper, you name it. I love using them when I’m working on mixed-media pieces or DIYs where I need something that’s not going to smudge or fade.
Here are a few projects from the Tombow USA blog you may like using these markers:
- Monoline Travel Coasters
- Customize Your Tombow Zippered Marker Storage Case
- DIY Fall Leaves Doodle Frame Mat
MONO Edge Highlighters:
These highlighters come in the most fun colors. The chisel tip has a clear edge so you can see what you’re highlighting, which is genius, and they’ve also got a extra fine tip for writing or doodling. I use them for adding bold pops of color to my sketchbook, or of course, highlighting notes!
Here are a few projects from the Tombow USA blog you may like using these markers:
- Bright DIY Pocket Cards with the MONO Edge Highlighters
- Create Five Fun Backgrounds with MONO Edge Highlighters
No matter what kind of project you’re working on, whether it’s lettering, illustration, painting, planning, or just doodling for fun, there’s a Tombow marker that’s perfect for the job. I love mixing and matching them depending on what I’m creating, and honestly, part of the fun is experimenting to see what works best for your style. For me, I LOVE starting with line art using the MONO Drawing Pens, and then adding color with Dual Brush Pens, but I love experimenting with the others too.
Hopefully this little guide helps you pick the right tool for your next idea… and maybe inspires you to try something new in the process.