What Are Acrylic Markers – Ink Composition, Tip Sizing and More | Kaywin (2025)

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Nothing compares to the capability of expressing yourself and sharing your vision with the world. You can make this possible with markers that can unleash your inner creative self, and one of today’s trendiest types are acrylic pens or markers.

Acrylic paint markers are water-based paint pens, whose popularity and growth are primarily driven by the increasing demand for non-toxic art supplies, so their users are safe all the time. They are also gaining popularity because of their ease of use, versatility, and flexibility. Let’s learn more about what an acrylic market set is in this guide that will tackle the following:

What Are Acrylic Markers – Ink Composition, Tip Sizing and More | Kaywin (1)

– Their ink composition

– Various barrel shapes and sizes

– Different tip sizes

– Direct liquid acrylic pens vs. cotton-core acrylic pens

The Ink Composition of Acrylic Pens

Since it is water-based, an acrylic market pen contains pigments or dyes, humectants such as glycerin to avoid drying, acrylic resin for adhesion, and additives to guarantee smooth flow and durability. Journey across the amazing ink composition of these acrylic pens:

  • Acrylic polymer emulsion: The most important ink composition, or the pen won’t be able to give the acrylic effect. This emulsion forms the paint base, responsible for the adhesion and film formation.
  • Pigments: Then, you also have these pigments, which take charge of giving color to your strokes, such as black paint pens or a golden acrylic marker. The higher their quality, the better the color saturation and lightfastness are.
  • Additives: Just like food, especially the packaged ones, you cannot enjoy their complete taste with additives as ingredients. Additives in the ink of acrylic pens include flow improvers and drying retardants to adjust the properties of the paint.
  • Water: Believe it or not, the ink has to have sufficient moisture, in the form of water that acts as the solvent, to make the marker less toxic and odor-free, compared to oil-based markers.

The rest of the components are resin, plasticizers, solvents, and surfactants.

The Variety of Barrel Shapes and Sizes

Like how it is in vapes, acrylic markers also have barrels. A barrel for these pens is the cylindrical component that contains and directs the ink’s flow. Imagine the long, slim container that houses the ink of your regular pen. This barrel is typically made of metal or plastic, housing the ink reservoir, valve mechanism, and writing tip.

Such barrels have a wide range of shapes and sizes:

Shapes

  • Round barrels: The most common of all, providing a comfy grip that their users will love.
  • Triangular barrels: Then, you also have the triangular shapes that feature ergonomic designs for better control, making them super ideal for artists who need more precision.
  • Hexagonal barrels: Quite revolutionary, these prevent markers from rolling off surfaces, guaranteeing stability when working on flat areas.

Sizes

  • Slim barrels: Very lightweight and easy to move, making them ideal for crafting finer details and intricate artwork.
  • Standard barrels: Offer a more balanced grip, catering to general use across a massive array of art and craft projects.
  • Thick barrels: Best for those looking for a firmer hold, and they typically contain more ink, making them ideal for extended creative outbursts.
What Are Acrylic Markers – Ink Composition, Tip Sizing and More | Kaywin (2)

Acrylic Markers: Tip Sizes

Whether you are using acrylic markers to write letters, or to create drawings on a sketch pad, choosing the right tip size is vital.

1. Fine Tips

Fine tips are typically one millimeter or tinier, which means this tip is ideal when you are adding detail to your artwork, or writing thin calligraphic strokes. Use this tip when you need to outline, pattern, or add fine embellishments to your artwork. Such tips are perfect for smooth surfaces where precision is key.

2. Medium Tips

Medium tips are slightly larger than fine tips, at between two to four millimeters, offering versatility, making them suitable for detailed work as well, which necessitates moderate coverage. Use them for general crafting, hand lettering, and crafting bold outlines. Aside from championing precision, they are also very efficient.

3. Broad Tips

The largest of these general tip sizes, broad tips are usually six millimeters or wider, designed to cover larger areas quickly. When you want to create simple signage or reminders for your shop or business, as well as murals, you must choose these markers with broad tips. Bold strokes for that excellent art style.

Direct Liquid Acrylic Pens vs. Cotton-Core Acrylic Pens

An acrylic market set may also be differentiated depending on its ink delivery systems and design mechanisms. There are direct liquid acrylic pens and then there are cotton-core acrylic pens.

Ink Delivery System

In terms of their ink delivery systems, direct liquid acrylic pens have a direct supply system wherein the liquid acrylic flows directly from the reservoir to the nib, so ink flow is consistent and there’s minimal waste.

Meanwhile, in a cotton-core acrylic pen, a cotton or fiber core is soaked with ink, gradually feeding the nib. This design results in slower ink delivery and potential drying out through time.

Ink Capacity

This difference is also crucial as it determines how limited or extended you can use your marker. Direct liquid acrylic pens can be used for extended periods because of their larger ink reservoir, while cotton-core acrylic pens are the opposite.

Performance and Maintenance

Strike the balance here. Direct liquid acrylic pens may provide smooth and uninterrupted strokes, but they require careful handling against leakage. Cotton-core pens are easier to maintain, but the ink flow can be uneven since the core tends to dry out often.

What Are Acrylic Markers – Ink Composition, Tip Sizing and More | Kaywin (3)

Our Acrylic Paint Marker Sets

Kaywin Color Pen is a global leader in creating pens that break the toughest of boundaries when it comes to unleashing your inner, lasting creativity. Our acrylic paint market sets say it all. We have been in the business for quite a long time, so we know what our customers need. With over 300 different variations of our products, what more could you ask for? Get to know more about our story. To supply your business with our acrylic markets, speak with our team today.

References:

A Brief Introduction to Using Acrylic Pens

Top 10 Most Popular Chinese Acrylic Paint Marker Pens Brands

What Are Acrylic Markers – Ink Composition, Tip Sizing and More | Kaywin (2025)

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