How to Choose the Right Coloring Tools for Your Book
The coloring book is just the beginning. The tools you choose will shape your entire experience — from the look of the finished page to how your hands feel after an hour of creative work.
Colored Pencils: The Classic Choice
Best for: Detail work, light shading, beginners
Colored pencils are forgiving, precise, and easy to control. They're great for small areas, fine lines, and subtle gradients. You can layer and blend them to create beautiful effects.
What to look for:
- Wax-based vs. oil-based: Wax-based pencils (like Prismacolor) are softer and blend easily. Oil-based (like Faber-Castell Polychromos) are harder, more precise, and last longer.
- Core thickness: Thicker cores are better for large areas; thinner cores work best for fine details.
Paper consideration: Almost all paper handles colored pencils well. No special prep needed.
Markers: Bold and Vibrant
Best for: Solid fills, bold colors, a polished finished look
Alcohol-based markers like Copic or Ohuhu give incredibly smooth, vivid coverage. However, they bleed through paper more easily.
Key tips:
- Always use single-sided pages when working with markers — all our books are designed with this in mind.
- Work light to dark: it's much easier to add depth than to lighten a color.
- Alcohol markers blend beautifully and dry fast. Water-based markers are safer and more affordable.
Watercolor Pencils: The Best of Both Worlds
Best for: Soft, painterly effects; experienced colorists
Watercolor pencils work like regular colored pencils when dry. Add water with a brush, and they transform into flowing watercolor washes. They're magical for dreamy, atmospheric backgrounds.
Start with less water than you think you need — you can always add more, and let each layer dry completely before adding the next.
Gel Pens: Shine and Pop
Best for: Accents, highlights, dark backgrounds
Gel pens are incredible for finishing touches that make a page sparkle. White gel pens on dark backgrounds, metallic accents on scales and feathers, neon highlights on flowers. Keep a white gel pen on your desk for every session. You'll use it more than you expect.
My Recommendation for Beginners
Start with a quality set of colored pencils (Prismacolor Scholar or Faber-Castell Goldfaber) and a white gel pen for highlights. This combination is affordable, forgiving, and capable of beautiful results.
As you develop your style, expand to markers or watercolor pencils. The most important thing is simply to start.
Browse our coloring books and find the perfect canvas for your chosen medium.