Let’s be logical. When you use a marker, you take ink out of the marker and put it on paper. The ink leaves the marker and doesn’t come back.

Every time you color, your marker weighs a little less.

This can’t keep going on forever!

So this bad advice doesn’t hinge on years or any kind of time measurement.

The question is how much use can a marker endure before it requires more ink?

That depends upon you.

If you’re making itty-bitty images for teeny-tiny cards, maybe you can go years between refills.

If you only color once a month, that might also extend the lifespan.

But me? I color images as large as 18 inches. I color daily. I use a lot of ink! I can’t go years between refills. My YG03 and B60 can’t even last a full week!

The myth is wrong. If you color large or frequently, you will need to refill your favorite markers more than once a year.

The other bad advice here: running dry.

If you’re waiting for a marker to run dry before you refill it, then honey, you’ve been coloring badly for a good long time.

Blending requires a generous application of ink. You can not blend well without adequate moisture!

A Copic Marker comes from the factory weighing a little over 14 grams. In my testing, the blending reaction is compromised when markers reach about 13.7 grams. Blending is noticeably harder at 13.5 grams and almost impossible at 13.2 grams.

.8 grams is not a lot of ink and yet it makes a difference.

I bring a pocket scale to all my local classes. When a student has difficulty blending, one of the first things we do is weigh their marker. I’ve had students with markers as low as 11 grams!

Most people don’t have blending problems, they have thirsty markers.

And I know that you know this! I hear people all the time talk about that wonderful “new marker feel!”

Folks, new markers feel new because they’re full!

You can have that new marker feel every darned day if you keep your markers properly filled.

I get it, Copics are expensive. The last thing you want to hear after you’ve blown $100 on a small handful of markers is that now you have to buy all the corresponding refills.

So when someone says “relax, I never refill anything” that sounds great!

But it’s bad advice.

Buy the refills. Use the refills.

For more info on ink levels and correct marker weights, see my article here.