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The Copic Ciao. Like the Italian, pronounced like ‘chow’, we assume. No, we’re not sure why, but they’re great markers. Copic’s markers were very popular with professional graphic artists, and they had the features and prices to match that professional standard. But they appealed hugely to a lot of more casual users, who wanted that huge colour range and the flexibility of two tips, so one marker could do multiple jobs. But they were quite an investment.
Enter the Ciao. Compared to the Sketch markers, the features it loses aren’t too important to most people - no colour codes on the cap ends, and a slightly smaller ink capacity. But they’re still top quality markers, with the same tips and the same ink. The simpler round body makes them a bit more familiar to most of us, too.
And with that same ink comes the same great ability to blend colours, fading from one colour to another, or building up subtle shading, adding gentle hints of colour, or bright vivid blasts, whatever you need at the time. For the professionals, the extra cost of the Sketch is probably worth it; but for most people, the Copic Ciao is a bargain.