The main difference between a paint marker and a regular marker is that a paint marker uses liquid paint that sits on top of any art surface, while a regular marker uses ink that absorbs into porous materials like paper, poster board or construction paper. Art markers are best used to create designs on surfaces like canvas, glass boards, metal and plastic.

The terms paint pen and paint marker refer to the same art tool. Both describe a pen-shaped tool that’s filled with paint instead of ink like a regular marker. Both paint pens and paint markers feature a valve that when pressed down releases paint smoothly onto an art surface. The only small difference is that paint pens generally have a finer tip to work with compared to paint markers.

Paint markers offer extra versatility for artists looking to add fine details to their artwork. They can deliver bold and vibrant paint colours while giving artists the precision and mess-free experience of using a standard pen. Art markers are a good option for working on unconventional materials like glass, mirrors, ceramics, plastic and metal. They can also be used for personalizing belongings like clothing, shoes and even skateboards.

Generally, paint pens will not completely wash off clothes. Paint pens are designed to be permanent on porous surfaces like fabrics and other craft materials. The paint pigment will bond to the fabric fibres and stain them permanently instead of washing away. For acrylic paint pens, you may be able to rinse the paint off with cold water if the paint is still wet. If the paint is dry you won’t be able to wash it off.