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For Him / Her / Kids
POSCA Paint Markers, 29-Color PC-5M Set — acrylic paint in a pen
POSCA PC-5M Paint Markers (29-Color Set)
Reviewed by the WhyToBuyThis team · Updated September 2026 · How we choose
Perfect for
- Mixed-media artists
- Rock & wood painters
- Lettering & customizing
- Teens & adults
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Price: $49.00
Price may change on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This won't cost you anything extra.
- Great gift ideaChosen for real-world gifting
- Hand-pickedCurated, not scraped
- Honest reviewThe catch, not just the hype
Why this gift works
POSCA markers are paint pens made in Japan by uni (Mitsubishi Pencil), and this is the full 29-color set of the PC-5M, the medium size most people start with. The paint is water-based and opaque - POSCA's US distributor describes it as water-based acrylic - and the 1.8-2.5 mm bullet tip can be pulled out and flipped when one end wears.
POSCA paint markers work on more than 50 surfaces, from paper, canvas and wood to rock, metal, glass and fabric, and light colors cover dark ones, which is what artists love about them. They are low-odor and dry fast. A full POSCA markers set gives every shade at once instead of a collection built one pen at a time - a favorite gift for artists, rock painters and anyone customizing shoes or jackets.
Who is this gift for?
Great for
- Someone who paints rocks and wooden signs
- A sketchbook artist who likes bold lettering
Think twice if
- They want fine-line detail pens
- They need permanent marks on glass without sealing
The catch
The paint is permanent on porous surfaces like wood, canvas and paper but can wipe off smooth ones like glass and plastic unless it is sealed with a varnish - and each marker needs shaking and priming before first use.
Skip for someone who wants fine-line detail pens; the medium tip is for bold lines and fills.
Key specs
| Brand | uni POSCA (Mitsubishi Pencil) |
|---|---|
| Model | PC-5M, medium |
| Colors | 29 |
| Tip | Reversible bullet tip, 1.8-2.5 mm |
| Paint | Water-based acrylic, opaque, low odor |
| Surfaces | 50+, including paper, canvas, wood, rock, metal, glass and fabric |
| Permanence | Permanent on porous surfaces; removable from most smooth ones until sealed |
| Safety | ACMI certified |
| Made in | Japan |
Worth knowing before you buy
- Shake and prime each marker before first use.
- Seal work on smooth surfaces so it doesn't wipe off.
Why we like it
- Opaque color that covers dark surfaces
- Works on paper, canvas, wood, rock and more
- No brushes, water or cleanup
- Twenty-nine colors at once
How to start a new POSCA marker
- With the cap on tightly, shake the marker firmly for a few seconds so the ball inside mixes the paint.
- Take the cap off and press the tip down on scrap paper several times, until the tip is full of paint.
- Test the color on scrap, then draw with light pressure. If it starts to fade, shake again and give the tip a couple more presses.
- Cap the marker after use so the tip does not dry out.
- On glass, plastic or metal, finish with a water-based spray varnish; on fabric, iron the design inside out with no steam.
Questions people ask
More than 50, including paper, canvas, wood, rock, metal, fabric, plastic, ceramic and glass.
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