Ohuhu Alcohol Markers are gaining popularity among artists worldwide and are often presented as alternatives to Copic Markers. What exactly does Ohuhu offer, and are their markers actually worth considering?
After testing, without further ado, and to cut a long story short – yes, they are definitely worth considering, and I’m not surprised they’re being presented as an alternative to Copic Markers.
You’ll learn why in this article – where I introduce you to the Ohuhu Honolulu Marker series (320 colors, dual-tip).
Ohuhu alcohol markers HONOLULU series
Ohuhu is a brand offering numerous series of markers and related products (drawing pads/sketchbooks, organizers, fineliners, paints). However, their largest offerings are markers – alcohol, acrylic, and water-based ink, with various tip options.
I won’t go into detail about the other series; in fact, I currently have a set of Honolulu Alcohol Markers – exactly 320 colors with fineliners and a sketchbook, plus a few markers from other brands, including Copic, for comparison.
Below, I discuss the most important issues that arise when choosing art supplies.
Color availability
How many colors are there in Ohuhu markers?
Globally, Ohuhu Honolulu Markers are available in 363 colors. Some sets and colors are exclusive to certain markets (e.g., Japan). However, the largest set of markers available in Europe includes 320 colors.
One of the most distinctive features of Ohuhu markers is their vast color range. From subtle pastels to vibrant primary colors, these markers offer artists endless possibilities. The set also includes a fill-in color chart (as shown in the video).
The difference was usually that the ink in the lighter colors was much more saturated and intense. This wasn’t a problem with some markers, but with the light pastel ones, you have to be careful, and looking at the marker tip color isn’t much help, so it’s best to test them before using them on your work. Below is one of the lighter colors:
That’s why it’s great that these boards are included in the set; we can use them as a reference while coloring. Below, you can see scans of my boards (photo, unfortunately, the scanning ate away the light colors):
As for solving the problem of the ink color discrepancy with the marker, I have seen artists make their own markers – they color a piece of paper – and stick it on the markers.
INK
What kind of ink is in Ohuhu markers?
The ink in Ohuhu markers from the Honolulu series is alcohol-based. Their ink is a professionally formulated blend of alcohol and dye inks, allowing for blending of colors. Each marker holds 3ml of ink.
Can Ohuhu markers be refilled?
Yes. Currently, 51 refillable marker colors are available. You can purchase them on the manufacturer’s website. https://eu.ohuhu.com/collections/ohuhu-refill-for-alcohol-marker
A single bottle contains 16ml, enough for 5 refills. To refill the marker, simply remove the tip with tweezers, pour ink from the bottle into the marker, and reinsert the tip. Tweezers and tips are also available for purchase on the manufacturer’s website: Ohuhu Replacement Brush Nibs Of Honolulu & Honolulu B Series
Can you mix (blend) Ohuhu Markers?
Yes, on appropriate paper, Ohuhu Alcohol Markers can be mixed together. The sets come with a marker with colorless ink – Colorless Blender 0 – designed to make blending colors and creating transitions easier.
Blending is a technique that allows artists to create smooth transitions between colors and gradients—or soften edges in illustrations. Ohuhu markers are perfect for this purpose, thanks to their alcohol-based ink formula, which allows for blending. It’s best to do this immediately after applying the ink, on appropriate paper—for example, watercolor paper usually has a texture that causes the ink to quickly soak in and quickly damage the marker tips. That’s why I emphasize using appropriate marker paper here.
If you don’t have the Colorless Blender 0 marker in your set, you can purchase it separately. It can also be used with other alcohol-based markers.
Below is an example of Colorless Blender 0 2 actions:
When used with markers, it gives them a more “watercolor” look. Personally, I try to use it carefully to avoid watering down the colors, as too much use can dilute the color. For shading, I prefer to gradually use markers with a slightly darker tone, and I use Blender to gently soften the edges between colors.
Marker Tips
What tips do Ohuhu Honolulu markers have? They have dual-tips, so two: “Brush” and “Chisel”. An alternative “Honolulu B” series is also available with “Brush” and “Fine” tips.
Do they have replaceable tips? Yes, they can be purchased on the manufacturer’s website, along with the tweezers.
Ohuhu markers are equipped with dual tips, offering both a wide “Chisel” tip and a smaller “Brush” tip (for detail). There are two Honolulu series – the so-called “Honolulu B” series replaces the wide tip with the smallest (i.e., “Brush” and “Fine”). This is important to note when purchasing, as retailers sometimes omit the “B” suffix in the series description.
This dual-tip option allows artists to easily switch from broad strokes for filling in backgrounds to filling in details with the smaller tip. Whether filling large areas or adding delicate lines, Ohuhu markers provide precision and control, and they can be replaced if worn.
Marker Shape and Markings
The markers are round, lightweight, and generally comfortable to hold. They have handy markings indicating which end is fine or broad. Their caps are colored with the corresponding ink, its number, and name, allowing you to quickly identify the marker’s color. Having the color number also makes it easier to repurchase a missing marker or ink when you run out.
In the case of Ohuhu Honolulu, sometimes the colors on the caps are too light than the ink in reality, so it’s best to fill out a color chart and use it as a sample, or prepare an additional sheet of paper and check the actual shade on it before using the marker.
Available Sets
Ohuhu offers a variety of sets, varying in the number of markers, colors, and marker tips. The largest set contains 320 markers, followed by a smaller set of 216. When choosing even smaller sets, we need to be careful about the exact colors included, as Ohuhu has created sets specifically for skin coloring, a set with shades of gray, or a set exclusively with pastel colors.
The most useful option in my opinion is a set with markers for coloring skin, if someone draws portraits and characters, these colors wear off the fastest 🙂
The smallest set with basic colors offers 24 markers – you can purchase it for around 100 PLN, and then add additional color sets over time. Besides sets, you can also purchase individual colors. There are exactly 320 different shades available, both with Honolulu nibs and markers from the Ohahu series.
Other Ohuhu products
When it comes to alcohol-based markers offered by Ohuhu, there are several “series” of markers available. Honolulu is the one I’m describing here, (there are also series with tip variations like Honolulu B) and Oahu, Kaala, Mokauea, Kauai i Molokai.
The main difference between these series is the marker tips and the marker shape (and, in the case of the Ohahu series, a smaller capacity). The markers from these series can be blended, but unfortunately, the color coding and name are not uniform, with the exception of the sister series, Honolulu B. This series differs from the Honolulu series only in replacing the wide tip with the narrowest possible one (for detailing).
In addition to alcohol markers, there are also markers with water-based ink and acrylic.
What paper to use?
For drawing with alcohol markers, it’s best to use paper specifically designed for markers – smooth, heavyweight paper. This will prevent the ink from bleed-through, allowing you to easily blend colors. Sometimes, we don’t have this type of paper on hand and resort to watercolor paper – I recommend avoiding this. The texture of this paper (which ensures better watercolor penetration) will damage the marker tips more quickly, making blending a thing of the past.
If you can’t find it in your local store, Ohuhu also offers pads and sketchbooks with paper for markers.
Marker Testing in Action
Below are some of my drawings made with Ohuhu markers. I’ve had lot’s of fun and testing, figuring out the best ways to shading with markers, since i don’t use markers as often as i would like to (I mainly draw digitally on tablets).
The hardest part for me was avoiding mistakes, and fixing them. I still haven’t figured out the most optimal fix, but the most crucial thing with coloring with markers is coloring from the lightest – to the darkest colors. Any mistake was quickly treated with Colourless Blender 0, and then with white pencil – it worked well for light colors, but dark ones can’t be really fixed.
