Every brand guide
Each brand page covers the tips, ink base and refill options from the maker, what independent reviews found (with links), who the brand suits, and Amazon links to listings we checked by hand. Brand pages with a folder of their own, like Posca and Sharpie, have child pages for their sets and sub-lines.
- Brand Arrtx Arrtx acrylic markers explained: brush, dual tip, direct-ink and 90-color sets, what an independent reviewer found, and which Arrtx set fits your projects.
- Brand Artistro paint pens Artistro acrylic paint pens line by line: extra fine, medium, jumbo, brush and dual tip, with what an independent review found and better-value swaps.
- Brand Caliart markers Caliart markers explained: the alcohol art markers and the water-based dual brush pens, what one big independent review found, and when to buy something else.
- Brand Enmy acrylic markers Enmy acrylic markers explained: the Ink Control direct-ink set a reviewer named her favorite, the weaker cotton core set, and where both struggle.
- Brand Grabie acrylic markers Grabie acrylic markers explained: the 0.7 mm extra fine pump sets, dual tone and dual tip brush pens, what an independent review found, and who should buy them.
- Brand Guangna acrylic markers Guangna acrylic marker sets explained: the direct-ink brush markers sold under many names, the GN code to spot them, what an independent review found, and tips.
- Brand JusArt acrylic markers JusArt acrylic markers explained: the direct-ink brush and dual tip sets, what an independent review found, how they compare with Posca, and who they suit.
- Brand KINGART King Art markers explained: KINGART acrylic paint markers, watercolor brush markers and alcohol sketch markers, what each does, bleed-through, and which to buy.
- Brand languo acrylic markers languo acrylic markers explained: the direct liquid ink brush sets from 60 to 240 colors, what the listings claim, what we could not verify, and alternatives.
- Brand Molotow Molotow paint markers explained: ONE4ALL acrylic markers from about 1 to 15 mm, refills and empty markers, independent review results, and who should buy them.
- Brand Ohuhu Ohuhu acrylic markers explained: the Nahuku, Akaka, Waikiki, Ulu and Hilo paint marker sets, what each tip and mechanism means, and which set to buy.
- Brand Posca Posca markers explained: what the paint is, every tip from PC-1M to PC-17K, where it sticks or wipes off, and which Posca paint marker to buy first.
- Brand Posca vs Molotow Posca vs Molotow ONE4ALL compared on ink, tips, refills, opacity, layering and cost, using maker specs and an independent hands-on comparison.
- Brand Sharpie Sharpie paint markers explained: the oil-based paint pens, the water-based acrylic Creative markers and Stained fabric markers, and which one fits your project.
- Brand Tulip Tulip fabric markers explained: fine, brush, dual, graffiti and paint marker packs, which work on dark fabric, and Tulip’s own steps for washing and drying.
The brands at a glance
Specs from maker pages; review notes from Sarah Renae Clark’s 2026 comparison
| Brand | Mechanism | Tip range | Refillable | Price tier | What reviews found |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Posca | Pump-action valve | 0.7 to 15 mm, plus brush tips | No | Mid | Highest overall score in Sarah Renae Clark’s pump-action review; spilled a few times. Search Amazon for Posca |
| Pilot Pintor | Pump-action valve | Several sizes, including extra fine | Not stated | Mid | A close second to Posca in many of the same review’s trials; very opaque, smooth flow. Search Amazon for Pilot Pintor |
| Molotow ONE4ALL | Pump-action valve | About 1 to 15 mm | Yes | Premium | Above average on every trial in the review; can lift dried paint when layered over other media. Search Amazon for Molotow ONE4ALL |
| Montana Acrylic | Pump-action valve | 0.7, 2, 15, 30 and 50 mm | Yes | Mid | No published hands-on verdict found; maker says weatherproof when dry. Search Amazon for Montana Acrylic |
| Liquitex Acrylic Marker | Pump-action valve | 2 and 15 mm | Replaceable nibs | Mid | Among the lowest scores in the same review: watery, unmixed, streaky. Search Amazon for Liquitex Acrylic Marker |
| Artistro | Pump-action and cotton core | 0.7, 3 and 15 mm, plus dual brush | No | Budget | White extra fine is a standout; other colors and the brush set disappointed. Search Amazon for Artistro |
| Enmy | Direct ink and cotton core | Fine and brush styles | No | Budget | Ink Control set was the reviewer’s favorite of all; soaked into rocks. Search Amazon for Enmy |
| Tooli-Art Extra Fine | Pump-action valve | Extra fine | No | Budget | A stand-out fine tip and one of the most opaque markers in the review. Search Amazon for Tooli-Art Extra Fine |
How to read a paint marker brand
- Mechanism. Pump-action markers (Posca, Molotow, Montana, Pilot Pintor) give the most opaque paint; direct-ink markers (Enmy Ink Control, some Ohuhu lines) need no pumping; cotton core sets (many budget dual tips) are tidy but more translucent.
- Ink base. Water-based pigment for porous surfaces and layering, oil-based for glass, metal and plastic. See acrylic vs oil-based paint markers.
- Refills and spare tips. Molotow and Montana sell refills; Posca tips reverse but the pens are not refillable.
Weighing the two big names? Read Posca vs Molotow, or shop by job on the paint marker categories page.
Questions people ask
What markers do artists use?
Artists who work in paint markers mostly use pump-action water-based pigment markers: Posca for opacity and range, Molotow ONE4ALL and Montana Acrylic when they want refills and wide tips. For illustration, many pair them with fineliners for line work and alcohol markers for blending.
What’s the difference between paint pens and markers?
A paint pen holds opaque paint (pigment in a binder) that sits on top of a surface, so it covers dark and slick surfaces. A regular marker holds dye ink that soaks in and stays translucent. Paint pens need shaking and priming; ordinary markers write straight away.
What’s in paint marker?
Pigment, a binder that holds it to the surface, and a carrier that evaporates: water in water-based acrylic or pigment markers such as Posca, solvents in oil-based and enamel markers such as Sharpie oil-based. Most pump markers also hold a small mixing ball that rattles when you shake them.
What’s the best acrylic paint marker?
In the largest independent comparison we found, Posca had the highest overall score among pump-action markers and Pilot Pintor came a close second, while Enmy Ink Control was the reviewer’s favorite of all for paper. The best one depends on the surface: see the brand pages below.