Coloring markers are one category of the medium known as markers, felt-tips or felt-tipped markers. Markers are drawing instruments with an ink reservoir and a tip through which the ink is wicked for application. They are distinguished from felt-tipped pens or marking pens, calligraphy markers, dry- and wet-erase markers, and highlighters, all of which are intended to have the qualities necessary for writing instruments and usually have less color variety available. Coloring markers are often an item found on lists of children’s school supplies. When buying markers, especially for children, make sure to find out if the markers are non-toxic and washable.

There are many kinds of coloring markers. Here is information about some of them:

Archival Markers. Designed for scrapbooks and memory books, archival markers are acid-free, and they may also be used for marking photographs and art prints. They may fade if exposed to ultra-violet light.

Brush Markers. This variety of marker, sometimes called a brush pen, has a brush that may be a foam brush, synthetic sable, or a flexible nylon fiber brush tip. Brush markers come in a wide array of colors. Some may have a double tip, the other end being a narrow fiber tip for fine-line drawing. Whether single- or double-ended, they are sold singly and in sets. Metallic colors are also available, and brush markers can be used with rubber stamps. There are varieties of brush markers that deliver watercolors through the brushes.

Layout Markers. These professional markers are used for cartoon illustration, fashion, animation, engineering, illustration, and storyboard production. These coloring markers may be either water-based or solvent-based, and are available in a wide variety of colors, as well as many shades of gray. At least some layout markers have mixable colors, and some are refillable and have interchangeable tips to provide a range of strokes from brush to superfine.

Overhead Projector Markers. These markers are made for both drawing and writing on transparencies, and may feature a choice of fine, medium, and broad tips. There are water-soluble varieties and permanent colors available as well.

Permanent or Solvent-Based Markers. Some permanent and solvent-based markers are coloring markers, specially designed not to bleed through paper, for example. Others are made for labeling, sign-making, and other writing applications, and may even be labeled as industrial markers. There are metallic versions in gold, silver, and other colors. Note that the range of colors in both regular and metallic is far more limited than for layout markers, for example. The solvent-based ink in permanent markers may be non-toxic or toxic, and the labeling should be consulted for details.

Scented Markers. Scented coloring markers are non-toxic colored markers for children that each have a fragrance. The scent often has an association with the color of the marker, so an orange marker will likely have an orange scent, the yellow marker will be lemon, the black marker licorice, and so on. Some dry erase markers also have a scent added.

Washable, Water-Based, and Water-soluble Markers. Washable markers are made specifically to wash easily off of skin and, in many cases, off of washable clothes. Although water-based markers use water-soluble ink, they are not necessarily washable. Read labels carefully to distinguish between different types.

Specialized Markers. Fabric markers are permanent, non-toxic markers specially formulated for decorating clothing and other fabric items, such as handbags, hats, pillowcases, and so on. Some require a stint in the dryer or some ironing to set them. Furniture and picture-framing touch-up markers are quick-drying permanent markers, meant to be used individually or by combining colors to cover up nicks and scratches in picture frames, wooden furniture, cabinets, trim, and other wood products. They come in a variety of wood tones.

Crayola® claims to be the only company currently offering erasable coloring markers. The eraser is built-in, and, they claim, can be used to change work and also to create various effects, such as reverse drawing with the eraser. There are also special body markers made for skin designs, and these are removable with soap and water or cold cream.