Opaque Paint Markers

Permapaque and DecoColor Paint Markers

You will love, love, love using opaque paint markers with your creative projects! The markers described on this page are Permapaque acrylic and Deco Color oil based paint marker. Be sure to include some with your arts and crafts supplies.

Craft tip: It's so easy to draw and write with these markers. They are a great alternative to painting with a thin brush for many projects.

I just started using paint markers a few years ago. I saw them one day in a crafts store and ended up buying a package on impulse. Now I use them all the time!

The first paint pens I bought were DecoColor™ markers by Marvy Uchida. I also have used Permapaque™ markers by Sakura. I have been very pleased with both brands.

I have found, however, that the white and yellow Permapaque markers are not truly opaque when used on dark surfaces. DecoColor markers, on the other hand, are truly opaque even on dark surfaces. Both brands work well on light surfaces.

Some markers need to be shaken.

The main difference between the DecoColor and Permapaque markers is that the DecoColor markers need to be shaken before use.

For information on how to shake a paint marker to "activate" it, see the Acrylic and Oil Based Paint Marker page.

Marker tips come in different widths.

Another difference between the two brands is that DecoColor's oil-based marker product line includes markers with extra fine tips.

As far as I know, the narrowest tip available with Permapaque markers is fine.

More recently, I also have tried Sharpie® pens oil-based paint markers and have been very happy with them too.

The photos below demonstrate the difference between lines drawn with a fine tip and lines drawn with an extra fine tip.

I used black and white paint markers to add the detail work to these Halloween jack-o-lantern ornaments. I used DecoColor extra-fine tip oil-based markers for the ornament in the left photo, and Permapaque fine tip markers for the ornament in the right photo.

I think both look great! It's just a matter of what look you are going for at the moment -- or what supplies you happen to have on hand!

Drawing these details using the markers was so much easier than it would have been painting it all on with a brush!

Other arts and crafts projects I used opaque paint markers for are the clown ornament, glass snowman ornament, Halloween spider ornament, Christmas party favors, painted baby shoes, and alpine painted skates.

I am so delighted I discovered opaque paint markers. Do give them a try!

For more product information and to purchase DecoColor and Permapaque opaque markers, visit my Dick Blick affiliate links*:

Visit this Decocolor Paint Markers page to purchase individual or sets of DecoColor oil-based markers in assorted colors, including hot colors, metallics, primary colors, and pastel colors. A Paint Marker Remover also is available. (Caution: DecoColor paint markers are not rated safe for children.)

See Decocolor Acrylic Paint Markers to purchase DecoColor water-based acrylic paint markers. They are available individually in many colors and in sets of bright colors, metallics, and primary colors.

Also available are DecoColor Glitter Markers, in a Set of 6.

Sakura Permapaque Opaque Paint Markers are available individually and in sets of four or sixteen.

(*Click here for FTC disclosure information on my affiliate links compensation.)

For other general painting tips, see the Arts and Craft Tip and Technique page.