Copic Marker Sets for Beginners: Ciao vs Sketch, Set Size, and Expansion

Buying your first Copic set is not only a question of how many colors you want. You are also choosing a marker body, a starting palette, and a path for adding colors later.

This guide compares four current U.S. starting points: the guided Copic Ciao My First Starter Set, the Ciao 12PC Basic Set, the Ciao 24PC Basic Set, and the Sketch 12PC Marker Set. The comparison uses current Copic product documentation and exact included-color lists. It is not based on hands-on testing, and it does not rank blending performance or artistic results.

Disclosure: This guide contains Amazon affiliate links for products with verified exact Amazon identities. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The My First Starter Set links directly to Copic U.S. because a trustworthy exact Amazon ASIN was not established for the current official package.

Color-coded marker swatches and organized art tools representing a guide to choosing a first Copic marker set.

What is Copic?

Copic is a Japanese art-materials brand developed within the Too Group. Its marker system includes Ciao, Sketch, and Classic marker bodies, a shared color-code system, refill ink, and replaceable nibs.

That Japanese company relationship should not be confused with package-level origin. This guide does not claim that every selected U.S. package is made in Japan because that was not verified for each exact package.

For a beginner, the main choice is usually between Ciao and Sketch. Ciao is Copic’s entry-level marker family with a round body and 180 available colors. Sketch has an oval body and access to all 358 Copic colors. Both use Super Brush and Medium Broad nibs, and both are refillable with Copic Ink.

Quick answer: which starting point should you look at?

Choose the Copic Ciao: My First Starter Set if you want a guided bundle

It includes 10 Ciao markers, two 0.3 mm Multiliners, practice paper, line-art sheets, and a technique booklet. It is the only selected option designed as a broader learning package rather than a marker-only set.

Choose the Ciao 12PC Basic Set if you want the smallest marker-only Ciao start

Its 12 colors emphasize basic and primary shades. It shares no marker colors with the selected My First set, so those two sets create a 22-color Ciao collection without duplicate color codes.

Choose the Ciao 24PC Basic Set if you already expect to want a broader Ciao palette

It begins with 24 Ciao colors. It is not simply the 12PC set plus 12 more colors: only seven colors appear in both sets.

Choose the Sketch 12PC Marker Set if you specifically want to start in the Sketch system

It is the smallest selected entry into the oval Sketch body and the full 358-color Sketch range. Choose it for that system decision—not because this guide has established that it feels or performs better.

Ciao vs Sketch: what actually changes?

The two families share more than their appearance may suggest:

Both come with a Super Brush nib and a Medium Broad nib.
Both can be refilled with the common Copic Ink system.
A shared color code represents the same Copic color identity across the two bodies.

The verified differences relevant to a first purchase are:

Body: Ciao is round; Sketch is oval.
Available marker colors: Ciao is offered in 180 colors; Sketch in 358.
Manufacturer refill guidance: Copic lists about 1.4 ml per refill for Ciao and about 1.8 ml for Sketch.
Optional nib path: the standard Super Brush and Medium Broad nibs serve both families; Copic also lists a Sketch Fine optional nib for the Sketch body.
Airbrush system: Copic documents Sketch as compatible and Ciao as not compatible.

Those specifications do not prove which marker is more comfortable, blends better, or lasts longer in a particular person’s work. They define the system you are buying into.

Quick comparison: four current entry points

Copic Ciao: My First Starter Set

Format: Guided bundle
Markers: 10 Ciao
Also included: Two 0.3 mm Multiliners, eight sheets of Premium Bond Paper, three line-art sheets, and a technique booklet
Best fit in this guide: A buyer who values guided practice and included materials
Amazon identity: No trustworthy exact Amazon ASIN was established for the current official package

See the current set at Copic U.S.

Copic Ciao 12PC Basic Set

Format: Marker-only basic set
Markers: 12 Ciao
Best fit in this guide: A compact Ciao start with basic and primary colors
Expansion note: Zero duplicates with My First; seven duplicates with Ciao 24

Check on Amazon (paid link)

Copic Ciao 24PC Basic Set

Format: Larger marker-only basic set
Markers: 24 Ciao
Best fit in this guide: A buyer who wants a broader Ciao palette from the first purchase
Expansion note: Six duplicates with My First; seven with Ciao 12; three with Sketch 12

Check on Amazon (paid link)

Copic Sketch 12PC Marker Set

Format: Marker-only basic set
Markers: 12 Sketch
Best fit in this guide: A compact first purchase for someone intentionally choosing the Sketch body and color system
Expansion note: Zero duplicates with My First; four with Ciao 12; three with Ciao 24

Check on Amazon (paid link)

What exactly comes in each set?

The color code is the most reliable way to identify a Copic color. Names below follow Copic’s current global color records where a U.S. set page differs.

My First Starter Set: exact marker colors

BV00 Mauve Shadow, RV02 Sugared Almond Pink, RV10 Pale Pink, Y00 Barium Yellow, YG23 New Leaf, G00 Jade Green, B00 Frost Blue, E00 Cotton Pearl, E33 Sand, and C-2 Cool Gray No. 2.

The package also includes a black 0.3 mm Multiliner, a sepia 0.3 mm Multiliner, eight sheets of Premium Bond Paper, three line-art sheets, and a technique booklet.

Ciao 12PC Basic Set: exact marker colors

B29 Ultramarine, BG09 Blue Green, G17 Forest Green, YG06 Yellowish Green, Y06 Yellow, YR07 Cadmium Orange, R29 Lipstick Red, RV04 Shock Pink, V09 Violet, BV08 Blue Violet, E29 Burnt Umber, and 100 Black.

Ciao 24PC Basic Set: exact marker colors

B00 Frost Blue, B24 Sky, B29 Ultramarine, BG09 Blue Green, BG23 Coral Sea, BV00 Mauve Shadow, BV02 Prune, E00 Cotton Pearl, E21 Soft Sun, E29 Burnt Umber, E37 Sepia, G00 Jade Green, G05 Emerald Green, R20 Blush, R29 Lipstick Red, RV02 Sugared Almond Pink, Y00 Barium Yellow, Y08 Acid Yellow, YG03 Yellow Green, YG06 Yellowish Green, YR02 Light Orange, YR07 Cadmium Orange, C-3 Cool Gray No. 3, and 100 Black.

Sketch 12PC Marker Set: exact marker colors

V09 Violet, RV11 Pink, E09 Burnt Sienna, R08 Vermilion, YR04 Chrome Orange, Y13 Lemon Yellow, YG03 Yellow Green, G17 Forest Green, B14 Light Blue, B29 Ultramarine, B39 Prussian Blue, and 100 Black.

Duplicate colors and expansion paths

The overlap numbers below come from comparing official color-code lists. They do not estimate colors by looking at packaging.

My First + Ciao 12: 0 duplicates

These two selected Ciao sets contain 22 different marker colors in total. My First leans toward lighter and practice-oriented colors, while Ciao 12 supplies a more basic/primary selection. This is the clearest selected all-Ciao path when avoiding duplicates is the priority.

My First + Ciao 24: 6 duplicates

The repeated codes are B00, BV00, E00, G00, RV02, and Y00. Adding Ciao 24 after My First introduces 18 new colors, for 28 unique marker colors across the two sets.

My First + Sketch 12: 0 duplicates

The combined purchase contains 22 unique colors. The trade-off is structural rather than color overlap: you would own both Ciao and Sketch bodies.

Ciao 12 + Ciao 24: 7 duplicates

The repeated codes are 100, B29, BG09, E29, R29, YG06, and YR07. Adding Ciao 24 after Ciao 12 introduces 17 new colors, for 29 unique colors in total.

If you already expect to want the 24-color Ciao palette, starting with Ciao 24 may be more direct than buying Ciao 12 first and later repurchasing those seven codes.

Ciao 12 + Sketch 12: 4 duplicates

The repeated codes are 100, B29, G17, and V09. Sketch 12 adds eight new colors to the Ciao 12 collection. The repeated colors may still be acceptable if your goal is to move into the Sketch body rather than only accumulate new colors.

Ciao 24 + Sketch 12: 3 duplicates

The repeated codes are 100, B29, and YG03. Sketch 12 adds nine new colors, producing 33 unique codes across the pair.

How to choose your first Copic set

Start with My First when included learning materials matter

This is the only selected package with Multiliners, paper, line art, and a technique booklet. It makes the most sense when the bundle itself is useful. If you only need markers, compare the marker-only sets instead.

Start with Ciao 12 when you want a smaller marker-only commitment

Ciao 12 gives you a compact basic palette. Its strongest expansion advantage within this selected group is zero overlap with My First. It is less direct if you already know you will soon buy Ciao 24, because those two sets repeat seven colors.

Start with Ciao 24 when you want more Ciao colors immediately

Ciao 24 offers twice as many markers as Ciao 12, but with a different selection rather than a simple nested set. It is the more direct choice for a buyer who already wants that broader official palette and wants to avoid the Ciao 12-to-24 repurchase.

Start with Sketch 12 when the Sketch system is the decision

Sketch 12 is the selected route into the oval Sketch body and the complete 358-color Sketch range. It is not automatically the best first set. Its case depends on wanting the Sketch system enough to accept a higher-commitment body line and possible overlap with later Ciao purchases.

Where does Copic Classic fit?

Copic Classic is a separate refillable family with a square body, 214 available colors, and Broad and Fine nibs. It is not one of the four selected entry points because this guide is limited to the Ciao-versus-Sketch first-purchase decision. A full three-family encyclopedia would make the first-purchase answer less clear.

What this guide cannot establish without hands-on testing

Official specifications can establish marker family, body shape, nib types, refill system, set contents, and color overlap. They cannot establish for every reader:

which body feels more comfortable;
which set blends better in practice;
which colors suit a particular art style;
how long a marker will last in normal use;
which purchase is the best value at a changing price.

Those questions depend on use, paper, technique, and current price. This guide therefore recommends by starting point and system—not by invented performance testing.

FAQ

Is Copic Ciao intended for beginners?

Yes. Copic describes Ciao as its entry-level model. It uses the same standard Super Brush and Medium Broad nib types as Sketch, but has a simpler round body, lower stated ink/refill quantity, and a 180-color marker range.

Do Copic Ciao and Sketch use the same refill ink?

Yes. Copic documents Copic Ink as the common refill system for both. When the same color code is available in both families, the code identifies the same Copic color.

Is the Ciao 24PC Basic Set just the Ciao 12PC set plus 12 more colors?

No. Only seven of the 12 Ciao 12 colors also appear in Ciao 24. The combined pair contains 29 unique colors, not 24.

Which selected combinations have no duplicate marker colors?

My First plus Ciao 12 and My First plus Sketch 12 both have zero duplicate color codes. That does not make either combination universally best; the included materials and marker body still differ.

Is there an exact Amazon link for the My First Starter Set?

This guide did not identify a trustworthy Amazon ASIN matching the current official U.S. package. The product link therefore goes to Copic U.S. rather than to a similarly named Amazon set.

Are these exact packages made in Japan?

Copic is a Japanese brand within the Too Group, but exact manufacturing country was not verified for each selected U.S. package. This guide does not make a package-level Made in Japan claim.

Research sources

Research checked: August 16, 2026. Marketplace availability, seller, price, and package presentation can change.