Posca Marker Info Page
Uni Posca Markers are permanent acrylic paint markers. The ‘ink’ is actually paint. Once dry the paint is permanent and waterproof and will resist fading. They don’t dry instantly like alcohol markers but within a few minutes the artwork is usually touch dry. The inks are all non-toxic.
The colours are solid, eye-catching and flat matt in appearance, a look that is very unique to Posca Markers. The colours remain constant through the various sized pens, so a blue in the largest size will be identical to the blue in an ultrafine.
Posca’s have replaceable nibs! All Posca’s except the brush and ultrafine (1mr) can have the nibs replaced. If you’re working on abrasive surfaces the nibs can get trashed fairly quickly. Swapping them over is really easy and quick. Just pull the old one out and slide the new one in. Activate the new nib by depressing it until the ink colours the new nib, and away you go again. See the nibs here.
Posca Markers come in various sizes with different shaped nibs. Line thicknesses vary from a chunky 15mm down to a .7mm (similar to a broad biro). There is also a brush nib for those who prefer using paint strokes. The nibs are made for many different applications. The most popular for rock painting, shoe-art and other small hobby projects is the Fine and Extra Fine. Whereas surfboard and skateboard painters tend to use the Medium Bullet Tip 5M. The Broad Chisel 17K is often used on windows and for larger projects. Colour availability is different for each sized marker.
Make sure to shake your Posca before each use to mix the pigment and solvent. This will give you the best and longest lasting performance.
Posca’s need to be primed before first use. Make sure you give the pens a good shake so the ball-bearing inside is moving around freely. Then follow the instructions to prime the nib ready for use.
Posca’s can be used on many surfaces including metal, wood, glass, most plastics, plaster, canvas and more. Some surfaces can give a better result if primed first. Once dry, the artwork can be sealed with spray or paint-on varnish. This is especially recommended for surfaces that may be subject to wear and tear, like surfboards or skateboards. Also, 2 pack resin can be poured over artwork for a glossy, under-glass look.
Posca artwork can be baked onto ceramics and glass at 160C for about 45 minutes, then varnished once it has cooled. Fixing onto fabrics can be achieved by dry-ironing (not steam) the back of the material, on the flip-side of the artwork. Use baking paper to protect the ironing board, just in case.
To remove old Posca ink from windows or windscreens use a scraper blade at an angle to peel the posca away from the glass. Clean up with window cleaner (Windex works best).
The nibs are shown and the approximate line thickness each pen will draw in one stroke is written in black. The number of colours available changes for each category and is written in red.
Tip: A wet brush can be used to blend and give gradients of colour to Posca ink.
The newest Posca is the Mop’r. It paints the largest line in one swipe (2cm) and the nib applies a lot of ink.
The Mops come in 8 different colours and have the same ink as the other Posca’s but the bottle holds a lot more, making it great for any larger applications. The bottle comes with a ball-bearing inside, and, like other Posca Pens, needs a good shake to mix the liquids before each use.
You can use Posca Markers on windows or glass. To remove, just scrape off with a blade and clean it with a glass cleaner, Windex seems to work the best. Here’s some Posca art we did on the shop window.
