If you’ve picked up a fresh colouring book and can’t wait to dive in, one question usually comes first: what markers should I use? With so many options — from budget-friendly brands to professional tools — it’s hard to know where to start.
Here’s your guide to the most popular marker types, including Ohuhu, Artxx, Chen Rui, Sakura, Uni-ball, and Grabbie, and how to choose the best fit for your style.
🖊️ Alcohol-Based Markers
Alcohol markers are professional-style markers that use alcohol-based ink. They’re smooth, vibrant, and blendable, making them a favourite among hobby colourists and professional artists. They can create gradients and shading that is so satisfying to watch.
Best brands to try:
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Ohuhu Markers → wide shade range, used by professional artists and is rated THE BEST.... but can be out of stock and pricey for beginners
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Artxx Markers → growing popularity, solid mid-range option
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Chen Rui Markers → budget-friendly starter set (great for beginners) and been told as the Ohuhu "Dupe"
Pros:
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Smooth blending for gradients
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Huge colour variety
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Professional results
Cons:
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Can bleed through thinner paper
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Stronger odour
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Higher price for premium sets
💡 Our Zoopeez Colouring Books use thicker paper stock, making them ideal for alcohol markers like Ohuhu or Artxx.
🖌️Acrylic Markers
Acrylic markers use opaque, paint-like ink for solid coverage. They’re perfect for creative effects, textures, and bold highlights.
Best brands to try:
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Artxx Acrylic Markers → Versatile and budget-friendly
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Ohuhu Acrylic Markers → smooth coverage with opaque finish with higher price range
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Grabbie Acrylic Markers → Fun colours, great for mixed media and very beginner friendly with the lowest price range
Pros:
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Great for shading, textures, and lettering
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Opaque acrylic pens add solid pops of colour
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Flexible nibs create line variety
Cons:
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Brush tips need practice
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Acrylic markers can dry out if not capped tightly
Tip: Use acrylic pens to add bold highlights or cover mistakes on finished colouring pages.
💡 Perfect for adding extra pop to Dog Colouring Books where you want bold fur colours or textured grass backgrounds.
✨ White Gel Pens for Highlights
White gel pens are must-haves for finishing touches. They add highlights, sparkles, or reflective details, bringing your colouring pages to life.
Best brands to try:
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Sakura Gelly Roll → Smooth, consistent ink flow and comes in different point sizes!
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Uni-ball Signo → Strong opacity, great for fine details
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You can use a white acrylic marker alternative for bolder highlights too!
Pros:
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Easy to add depth and light effects
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Affordable and simple to use
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Work on top of most marker and pencil layers
Cons:
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Ink flow can skip if pens are stored incorrectly
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Not ideal for large areas
Tip: Use white gel pens to add “catchlights” to eyes or sparkle effects on fur, collars, or stars in your Zoopeez Dog Colouring Books.
🖍️ Gel Pens & Fineliners
Gel pens and fineliners aren’t markers, but they’re fantastic for details. Gel pens come in metallic, glitter, and neon inks, while fineliners are perfect for sharp outlines and tiny spaces.
Best brands to try:
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Sakura Gelly Roll Metallics → A must for creating metal and shine effects!
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Shuttle Art Gel Pens → Basic Gel Pens great for adding effects on top of your colouring. Great affordable option for beginners
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Staedtler Fineliners → Crisp lines, that are long-lasting! This is good to add any extra drawings to your colouring or fixing up details.
- Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust → Great for adding sparkling and glittering effects
Pros:
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Add sparkle, metallics, or fine detail
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Layer beautifully with markers
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Affordable and widely available
Cons:
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Gel pens may run out quickly if used heavily
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Fineliners don’t cover large areas well
Tip: Use gel pens for sparkle details and fine liners for tiny outlines to make your Zoopeez illustrations pop.
How to Choose the Right One for You
✔ Want professional blending & vibrancy? → Try Ohuhu or Artxx alcohol markers
✔ Want a budget-friendly start? → Try Chen Rui markers
✔ Want opaque details & texture? → Try Grabbie or Ohuhu acrylic pens
✔ Want highlights & details? → Add a Sakura or Uni-ball white gel pen
Final Thoughts
The right markers can completely transform your colouring pages. From bold alcohol markers to delicate gel pens, experimenting with different tools is part of the fun.
✨ No matter what markers you choose, they shine best on the right paper. Our Zoopeez Colouring Books are printed on thick, quality pages that handle alcohol markers, brush pens, gel pens, and more — making them the perfect match for your creative toolkit.
