Tips & Tricks
Techniques, advice, and things I've learned along the way.
1. Buy Some Books
Pick a mystery/color-by-number book that excites you. That's what'll keep you coming back to finish it. Note: this hobby has only recently started growing in America, so most colorers in America purchase the French versions from Lireka. Some of the French editions have been published in English and are now available on US Amazon, which you can view here.
1a. Beginner Books
Some of the Disney mystery coloring books are much more "advanced" than others. It's generally recommended that beginners start with some of the simpler books. These include: Babies , Portraits, and Pixar to name a few.
2. Buy Some Markers
For beginners who are serious about the hobby, the Guangna 240 set is probably the best starting option. Guangna is one of the most popular and loved brand of Acrylic markers among mystery colorers. Check out the supplies page for more recommended products - don't forget to get a good fine point black for outlining - Posca's 1mr (.7mm) never fails!
View Guangna 240 set on Amazon3. Create Swatch Cards
A true, tested reference for every marker in your set makes choosing colors far easier and more accurate. See the full how-to in Choosing Colors below.
4. Use Paliko to build your color codes
Assign a marker to every symbol once, and you'll never have to guess or re-figure out what color goes where.
5. Layer, layer, layer
The best finished pages have at least two layers of each color. Let each layer dry completely before adding the next.
6. Keep a reference image nearby
Find a finished version of your page online and keep it visible while you color, so you can check you're on track. Super tip: on an iPad, open the reference photo and Paliko side by side so you can see both at once.