For everyone
Crayons, Colored Pencils or Markers? Choosing Coloring Supplies
What each one is good at, what to buy for kids versus grown-ups, and how to get the best from the paper you print on.
You don't need fancy supplies to enjoy coloring β a box of crayons is enough. But knowing what each tool does well helps you pick the right one for the page and the person.
Crayons
Best for: young children, big spaces, rubbing textures.
- Tough, cheap and hard to break (well, mostly).
- Work on any paper, including thin copy paper.
- Hard to get into small spaces, so pair them with simpler pages.
Tip: peel the paper off an old crayon and use it on its side to color big areas fast.
Colored pencils
Best for: detail, shading and blending β older kids, teens and adults.
- Student pencils are harder and lighter β fine for everyday coloring.
- Artist pencils are softer and richer, and blend more smoothly.
- Layer lightly: several soft layers look better than one heavy one.
Markers
Best for: bold, bright color in a hurry.
- Washable markers are the safe choice for kids.
- Fine-tip markers handle detailed pages and mandalas.
- Alcohol markers blend beautifully but bleed through thin paper β print on cardstock and put a spare sheet underneath.
Gel pens and extras
Gel pens, glitter pens and metallic markers are great for finishing touches β a sparkle on a star, highlights on a dragon's scales.
What to buy
| Who's coloring | A good starter kit |
|---|---|
| Ages 3β5 | Chunky crayons, washable markers |
| Ages 6β12 | Crayons, a 24-pack of colored pencils, washable markers |
| Teens & adults | Soft colored pencils, a set of fine-tip markers, a couple of gel pens |
Match the paper
Markers and heavy layering need thicker paper. See how to print coloring pages that look great for paper weights and printer settings.
