Shuttle Art 36 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers Review: Are They Worth It?

Finding the perfect acrylic paint markers can be a challenge, especially when you’re looking for a set that offers a good range of colors, consistent quality, and versatility across different surfaces. This was exactly my situation: I had a project in mind that required acrylic paint markers and wanted to try a new product. While my Posca set is quite good, it’s very limited in terms of available colors (I only have the eight-color set).

One thing is clear: not all acrylic markers are created equal. Some sets offer a wide range of colors but lack balance in their selection, leaving you with multiple shades of the same color while missing key hues like red or skin tones. Worse still, the tips can wear out quickly, leading to uneven lines and rough finishes, especially on paper or delicate surfaces. This leaves many creators feeling frustrated and stuck, unable to find markers that deliver the professional or even hobby-grade results they’re aiming for.

After seeing some TikTok videos, I decided to try the markers from the Shuttle Art brand, which I hadn’t heard of before, and do a “Shuttle Art 36 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers Review: Are They Worth It?” article. In this review, I’ll dive into whether this popular set lives up to its claims. I’ll walk you through its pros and cons, how it performs on different surfaces, and whether it’s the right choice for your creative projects.

Last update on 2024-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Note: I am not sponsored by Shuttle Art; I purchased these markers on my own and I am in no way affiliated to them.

Overview of Shuttle Art 36 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers

Shuttle Art offers a range of acrylic markers, with the Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers being one of their more accessible options. However, they also produce other marker types, such as those with brush tips, which are designed for more refined and detailed work. This section focuses on the features of the Dual Tip markers with fine and dot ends.

Dual Tip Design: Dot Tip and Fine Tip

The Shuttle Art 36 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers are equipped with a unique dual-tip design. Each marker has both a dot tip and a fine tip, offering versatility for different styles and applications. The dot tip is perfect for creating bold, rounded strokes, while the fine tip allows for precision in detailing and outlining. 

According to the brand, the tips are made from a special fiber material, making them wear-resistant and durable, ensuring that they last a long time without branching or wearing out easily.

36 Color Set

This set offers a total of 36 unique and vibrant colors, which includes 30 standard shades and 6 metallic ones—metallic gold, silver, blue, green, pink, and purple. With such a variety, the set claims to be ideal for almost any creative project, providing enough options for both basic designs and more complex, multi-layered works. 

However, as I’ll discuss later in the review, the color balance could be better, with an overabundance of certain shades like yellow and pink and a notable lack of red tones and skin-friendly colors.

Multi-Surface Compatibility

One of the standout features of these markers is their versatility on different surfaces. Shuttle Art advertises that these acrylic paint markers work well on various materials, including wood, plastic, glass, ceramic, fabric, stone, metal, and canvas. Whether you’re painting rocks, decorating mugs, or adding designs to Halloween pumpkins, these markers are designed to handle both smooth and porous surfaces with ease. While the markers perform admirably on wood and some other surfaces, the finish on materials like glass and plastic can be uneven, as I’ll cover in the performance section.

Water-Based, Waterproof, and Odorless

These markers use water-based acrylic paint, which makes them more user-friendly and safer than solvent-based alternatives. They are also advertised as waterproof and odorless, which adds to their convenience for indoor projects or extended use. The paint dries relatively quickly compared to other markers, which is great for faster workflows but can make achieving even coverage tricky.

No Need to Shake Before Use

Unlike Posca pens, the Shuttle Art markers don’t require any shaking or tip-pressing to start the ink flow. The paint is already preloaded into the tips, allowing you to start your project as soon as you uncap the marker. However, this convenience comes with a drawback—sometimes the ink flow is uneven, which can affect the final result, particularly with certain colors that may dry inconsistently.

Pros & Cons

In the next section of this article we will discuss in detail the pros & cons of these acrylic markers. However, we have created this handy table for ease to make a quick comparison.

	Pros	Cons
Color range	Wide color selection – The set includes 36 vibrant colors, including 6 metallic shades, offering a diverse palette for various projects.	Unbalanced color selection – Some colors are overrepresented (e.g., multiple shades of yellow and pink) while others are underrepresented (e.g., red, skin tones).
Marker’s Design	Dual tip design – Features both a dot tip and a fine tip, providing versatility for both bold strokes and detailed work.	Inconsistent tip quality – Some fine tips can wear out quickly, leading to rough finishes and uneven application.
Surface compatibility	Multi-surface compatibility – Effective on various surfaces including wood, plastic, glass, ceramic, fabric, stone, metal, canvas, and more.	Poor coverage on some surfaces – Inconsistent results on paper, glass, and plastic, often requiring multiple layers.
Ink and application	Pre-loaded with ink – Ready to use right out of the box without the need for shaking or priming, facilitating immediate application.	Markers dry out quickly – The ink can dry inconsistently or too fast, making it difficult to achieve an even finish.
Packaging	Informative packaging – The box includes helpful instructions for proper use and storage, such as keeping the markers capped to prevent drying out and storing them flat.	Packaging is inconvenient – The box doesn’t hold markers securely and is difficult to use for storage.
Identification	Easy to start – Markers are ready to use immediately without extra preparation, which is convenient for quick projects.	Inadequate color identification – Markers lack names or numbers, making it challenging to track colors or find replacements.
Type of work	Good for casual projects – Ideal for hobbies, DIY crafts, and casual artwork due to the variety of colors and ease of use.	Not suitable for professional finish – Lacks the precision and quality required for high-end, professional artwork.

Pros of Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Markers

Wide Color Selection

The Shuttle Art 36 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers offer a range of 36 vibrant colors, including 6 metallic shades. This diverse palette provides a good range for various creative projects. The inclusion of metallic hues like gold and silver, as well as other metallized versions gives enough options to enhance your illustrations. The below is the color swatch that Shuttle Art share on their own webpage:

Dual Tip Design

These markers feature a dual-tip design with both a dot tip and a fine tip for versatility. The dot tip is perfect for creating bold, rounded strokes as well as for painting bigger sections, while the fine tip allows for more detailed lines. 

Multi-Surface Compatibility

Shuttle Art markers are advertised as being able to adhere to various surfaces like wood, plastic, glass, ceramic, fabric, stone, metal, and canvas. We tested on paper, plastic, metal, and wood on this occasion and we can confirm that overall there is a good adherence to most surfaces.

Pre-Loaded with Ink

Convenience is a key advantage with these markers, and unlike Posca and other acrylic markers they come pre-loaded with ink, eliminating the need for shaking or priming before use. This allows for immediate application, making them an excellent choice for quick projects and spontaneous creativity.

Informative Packaging

The markers are packaged with informative instructions that guide proper use and storage. The packaging includes tips on keeping the markers capped to prevent drying out and storing them flat to maintain color consistency. This ensures that the markers remain in good condition and are ready for use whenever needed.

Easy to Start

With the markers being ready to use straight out of the box, there is no need for extra preparation. This ease of use is particularly convenient for quick projects, allowing you to start your creative work immediately without additional setup time.

Good for Casual Projects

These markers are well-suited for beginners, hobbyists, and casual artists. They are ideal for hobbies, DIY crafts, and less formal artwork due to their variety of colors and user-friendly design. 

Cons of Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Markers

Unbalanced Color Selection

The Shuttle Art 36 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers feature an unbalanced color selection. While the set includes multiple shades of colors like yellow and pink, it lacks a diverse range of essential hues, such as red and skin tones. This color selection can seriously limit your ability for the creation of certain illustrations.

Inconsistent Tip Quality

Some of the fine tips on these markers can wear out quickly, leading to rough finishes and uneven application. This inconsistency in tip quality can be problematic, especially for detailed work, and may result in less precise lines and textures than desired. Not only that; in some cases the color that came out of the fine tip was quite different than the one on the round tip, so using the fine tip for delineation and the round tip to fill in the area would show different colors.

Poor Coverage on Some Surfaces

The markers can provide inconsistent coverage on certain surfaces, such as paper, glass, and plastic. Achieving full coverage often requires applying multiple layers, which can be time-consuming and may still result in uneven finishes. We will talk about this in more detail in the next section.

Markers Dry Out Quickly

The ink in these markers tends to dry out quickly, sometimes resulting in inconsistent or patchy application. This quick drying can make it challenging to achieve an even finish and may require frequent reapplication to get the desired effect. I used these markers for a couple of projects and some of the tips are already drying out.

Inconvenient Packaging

The packaging for these markers is somewhat inconvenient, as it does not securely hold the markers in place and can be difficult to use for storage. Another reason for this is the fact that the caps for fine and dotted ends have different sizes, which makes it cumbersome to put them all away.

Inadequate Color Identification

A big drawback for me is the lack of names or numbers on the markers, which complicates tracking which colors have been used and finding replacements. This absence of color identification can be frustrating for users who need to manage their supplies and maintain consistency in their work. Moreover, the color of the marker’s cap does not really translate to the color you will get when using such a marker, which makes it even more difficult to identify.

Not Suitable for Professional Finish

These markers may not meet the standards required for high-end, professional artwork. The lack of precision and quality in some aspects of the markers’ performance makes them better suited for casual use rather than professional-grade projects.

Surface-Specific Performance

When it comes to multi-surface usage, the Shuttle Art 36 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers are marketed as versatile tools for various materials like wood, plastic, glass, metal, ceramic, and more. While the markers can indeed be used on these surfaces, the performance across different materials is inconsistent. I tried the Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Markers on wood, plastic, glass, paper, and metal. 

Another really important note is that the finishing on each of these materials varied a lot depending on the specific marker I was using. Some of them seemed to do a better job than others—while some of the blue colors gave really good coverage, other markers like some of the greens were not doing such a good job to cover. 

Tip: Whichever surface you use, ensure it is clean and dry before application. In general it is important to prepare any surface you are going to be working on. We have some tips on link to How to Prevent Acrylic Paint from Peeling here.

Wood

On wood, the markers deliver surprisingly solid results. A single layer provides good coverage, and the paint adheres smoothly, making it a satisfying surface to work with. For instance, using metallic colors like gold and silver on wood brings out a decent sheen, although these shades don’t stand out as much as they do on other materials. Despite this, wood remains one of the best-performing surfaces for these markers, allowing for more vibrant and even applications, especially with colors from the regular palette.

Plastic

Plastic offers a more mixed experience. While the paint adheres well to plastic surfaces, such as a water bottle I tested, it’s the finishing that poses a challenge. The markers leave behind very visible strokes, and creating an even layer can be difficult. However, the paint itself is durable, holding up well even after washing the bottle. There was minor chipping when I scratched it with my nails shortly after applying the paint, indicating that while the adhesion is decent, the finish isn’t entirely professional-grade. Perhaps a protective film may be needed on top of the painted area, but I did not want to fix the design on my water bottle.

Glass

On glass, the performance is less than convincing. The paint tends to leave streaks, and achieving a smooth, even finish is nearly impossible without multiple layers. Even with careful strokes, the final layer reveals the marks from previous lines, making it unsuitable for projects requiring a polished look. A second coat can improve the situation slightly, but the finish remains subpar, and the uneven texture detracts from the overall aesthetic. I waited for the second layer to fully dry to do a third one, but if you’re not careful with your application you will scrap the previous layers.

Paper

I struggled with the paper application. Although the markers claim to work well on this surface, they can feel rough and require two or more layers to achieve sufficient coverage. The quick-drying nature of the paint sometimes results in uneven application, particularly when using thinner tips. Even on specialized acid-free paper, the rough finish and need for layering make them impractical for projects where paper is the primary medium.

Metal

The results on metal were similarly inconsistent. Some colors, particularly the metallics, performed better than others, though I noticed that smooth, even coverage was still a challenge. As with glass, multiple layers helped, but the finish was often streaky or patchy. 

Final Thoughts: Cost, Sustainability, and Recommendation

Cost

The Shuttle Art 36 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers are priced affordably (at the review moment, this pack costs $24.99, which is $0.69 per marker), especially when considering the number of colors included in the set. At around $44.99 for a larger pack like the 60-marker set with brush and fine tip (which comes at $0.74 per marker), they are budget-friendly compared to higher-end acrylic paint markers. However, it’s important to note that the price per marker actually increases with larger sets, which is unusual for bulk purchases.

Additionally, the inability to purchase individual markers as replacements means that if a single color runs out or malfunctions, you’ll be forced to buy an entire new set. This limits their value in the long run, especially for users who rely on specific shades frequently.

I hadn’t noticed on the cost issues until it was pointed out by todooi on their own review of the markers. Also, seeing this video made me realize I was not alone, and that most of the TikTok hype was… hype.

Eco-Friendliness

While these markers are advertised as non-toxic, water-based, and acid-free, their overall eco-friendliness is still a concern. Acrylic markers often contain synthetic pigments and solvents that are not particularly environmentally friendly. The production and disposal of these materials contribute to pollution and waste, which is something to consider if sustainability is a priority for you.

The markers’ durability also affects their environmental impact—the need to replace whole sets when individual markers dry out prematurely or are unusable is not ideal from a sustainability perspective. While they may be a safer choice compared to harsher chemicals in other art supplies, they are not inherently “green” or eco-friendly.

But more than the issue of the materials that compose the acrylic painting, the fact that we are using a whole piece of plastic that is the marker is the real issue here. From this standpoint, I do not believe I will be purchasing them again.

Final Recommendation

For those looking for a versatile, budget-friendly option for casual projects, the Shuttle Art Acrylic Markers with a fine and dot tip can be a reasonable choice. Their range of colors and ease of use make them fun for hobbies, crafts, and informal art projects. However, these markers are not suitable for professional-grade work. The inconsistency in coverage, quick tip deterioration, and difficulty in achieving a smooth finish on some surfaces mean that they fall short for detailed or high-quality work.

If you’re a professional artist or need materials for a project requiring a polished, high-end finish, these markers will likely leave you disappointed. The Shuttle Art markers are best reserved for beginners, hobbyists, or casual projects where precision and longevity are less of a concern. While they offer decent value for the price, they simply do not have the quality or durability needed to satisfy more advanced or professional demands.

So to answer the question: Shuttle Art 36 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers Review: Are They Worth It? I would say no. I will not be buying these markers again, and I’m now on the lookout for better acrylic paint markers for my project that offer a better finish and color range.

Sources

• Amazon: Shuttle Art 36 Colors Dual Tip Acrylic Paint Markers, Dot Tip and Fine Tip Acrylic Paint Pens for Rock Painting, Ceramic, Wood, Canvas, Plastic, Glass, Stone, Calligraphy, Card Making, DIY Crafts
• Reddit: Are acrylic and oil paints environmentally friendly?
• Shuttle Art: Acrylic Paint Markers
• todooi: shuttle art acrylic paint marker review🌈🍀 // sketchbook draw w me📒 // todooi✏️