They are very user-friendly and the ability to refill 8x for the same cost as buying one new one is one of the major selling points for me. As far as “density” is concerned, I find them better than Prismacolor. It’s been a little over a year since I’ve used Chartpaks so I can’t really compare that at the moment. I can tell you that the transparency is amazing for most colors. Using acid-free/fade proof pens, I can color right over top and it will actually enhance the color of the ink to bring it out instead of just covering it up. If you do it properly, you can even bring most pencil out. They flow very nicely and there is virtually no streaking (although they do dry quickly). The medium tip on the Sketches are firm which is useful for certain design aspect and the brush tip is awesome for the delicate touches. It’s so soft and it really feels like a paintbrush when coloring. So that tip feels extremely “squishy. ”
The darkness depends on what colors you use. Some colors tend to lighten up quite a bit when they dry, but others are meant to stay dark and full like the Prismacolors. The colors on the caps show what color it will be when fully dry. I would still suggest trying to find a couple at your local art store or borrow one from a friend if they have them. Prismacolors were the markers everyone used in my studio until I got my new Copics. Many of my colleagues tried them out and changed to Copics. I can’t stress enough that you try it before you buy it because it is so important to use what’s most comfortable for you. Hope this helps!
