Uni Posca PC-17K Extra Broad vs Tombow Dual Brush Pen Review: The UK's Best Art Markers for Bold & Brush Work 2026
Jun 29, 2026
Uni Posca PC-17K Extra Broad vs Tombow Dual Brush Pen Review: The UK's Best Art Markers for Bold & Brush Work 2026
For artists who work on a large scale or want expressive, bold marks, the choice of marker is critical. In this review, we compare two outstanding art markers that excel at bold, expressive work: the Uni Posca PC-17K, the largest and boldest marker in the legendary Posca range with a 15mm extra broad tip, and the Tombow Dual Brush Pen, a dual-tip marker with a flexible brush tip and a fine tip that is beloved by calligraphers, illustrators, and journallers worldwide. Both are available from TTPEN UK.
Uni Posca PC-17K — The Boldest Posca, for the Biggest Statements
The Uni Posca PC-17K Paint Marker 15mm Extra Broad Tip is the largest marker in the Posca family — a range that has become the gold standard in water-based paint markers for artists, street artists, and crafters worldwide. At £8.00 per marker, it delivers Posca's legendary opaque, water-based paint in the boldest possible format: a 15mm chisel tip that can cover large areas quickly and create bold, graphic marks that command attention.
The Posca Legacy
Posca markers have been a staple of the art world since their introduction in the 1980s. Their water-based, pigment-rich paint is opaque on virtually any surface — paper, canvas, wood, glass, metal, plastic, fabric, and more — and dries to a vibrant, matte finish that is lightfast and water-resistant. The paint can be reactivated with water when wet, allowing for blending and correction, but becomes permanent once fully dry.
The PC-17K's 15mm chisel tip is the largest in the Posca range, making it ideal for large-scale work: street art, mural painting, large canvas pieces, signage, and any project where bold, graphic coverage is required. The chisel tip can be used at different angles to produce lines of varying widths, from a broad flat stroke to a narrower edge stroke.
Colour and Opacity
Posca's paint is renowned for its exceptional opacity — it covers dark surfaces as effectively as light ones, making it one of the few markers that can produce truly vibrant colours on black paper or dark surfaces. The pigment concentration is high, resulting in colours that are rich, saturated, and true to the cap colour. The PC-17K is available in a wide range of colours, from classic primaries to metallics and fluorescents.
Who Is the Posca PC-17K For?
The PC-17K is for artists who work on a large scale and need a bold, opaque paint marker that can cover large areas quickly. Street artists, muralists, sign painters, and anyone who creates large-format art will find it an indispensable tool. It's also excellent for large lettering, bold graphic design, and any project where maximum visual impact is required.
Price: £8.00 — Buy the Uni Posca PC-17K at TTPEN UK
Tombow Dual Brush Pen — The Artist's Brush in a Pen
The Tombow Dual Brush Pen Grayscale 1-Pack Brush and Fine Tip Marker is one of the most versatile and beloved art markers in the world. At £7.00, it offers two tips in a single pen — a flexible brush tip that mimics the behaviour of a real paintbrush, and a fine tip for precise detail work — making it an extraordinarily versatile tool for calligraphy, illustration, journalling, and mixed-media art.
The Dual Tip System
The Tombow ABT's dual tip system is its defining feature. The brush tip is made from flexible nylon fibres that respond to pressure like a real paintbrush — light pressure produces a fine line, heavy pressure produces a broad stroke. This pressure sensitivity allows for the kind of expressive, variable line work that is essential for calligraphy, brush lettering, and expressive illustration.
The fine tip at the other end of the pen provides a consistent, precise 0.8mm line that is ideal for outlines, details, and any work that requires a controlled, consistent mark. The combination of brush and fine tip in a single pen makes the Tombow ABT one of the most versatile art markers available.
The Grayscale Advantage
The grayscale version of the Tombow ABT is particularly popular with illustrators and comic artists who work in black and white. The grayscale range provides a selection of neutral tones from warm black to cool light grey, allowing for sophisticated tonal work without colour. Grayscale markers are essential for creating depth, shadow, and dimension in black-and-white illustration, and the Tombow ABT's brush tip makes blending and gradation effortless.
The water-based ink is also blendable with water and with other Tombow ABT markers, allowing for smooth gradations and colour mixing. This blendability is one of the most valued features of the Tombow ABT system among professional illustrators and calligraphers.
Who Is the Tombow Dual Brush Pen For?
The Tombow ABT is for calligraphers, brush lettering artists, illustrators, journallers, and anyone who wants the expressive qualities of a brush in a convenient, mess-free pen format. It's also an excellent introduction to brush lettering for beginners, as the flexible tip is forgiving and responsive to pressure.
Price: £7.00 — Buy the Tombow Dual Brush Pen at TTPEN UK
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Uni Posca PC-17K | Tombow Dual Brush Pen |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £8.00 | £7.00 |
| Tip Type | 15mm chisel (extra broad) | Flexible brush + 0.8mm fine |
| Ink Type | Opaque water-based paint | Water-based, blendable ink |
| Surface Compatibility | Any surface (glass, metal, plastic) | Paper primarily |
| Best For | Large-scale art, murals, bold graphics | Calligraphy, illustration, journalling |
Bold Coverage or Expressive Brush — Which Art Marker Is Right for You?
The Uni Posca PC-17K and Tombow Dual Brush Pen serve very different artistic needs. The Posca PC-17K is for artists who need maximum coverage and bold, opaque colour on any surface — its 15mm chisel tip and opaque paint make it the tool of choice for large-scale work and bold graphic statements.
The Tombow Dual Brush Pen is for artists who want expressive, pressure-sensitive brush marks and the versatility of a dual-tip system — its flexible brush tip and blendable ink make it the ideal tool for calligraphy, illustration, and detailed creative work.
Both are available from TTPEN UK with fast UK delivery. Visit www.ttpen.co.uk to browse our full range of art markers, brush pens, and paint markers.
Final Verdict
The Uni Posca PC-17K and Tombow Dual Brush Pen are two of the finest art markers available in the UK market. The Posca wins on coverage, opacity, and surface versatility; the Tombow wins on expressiveness, blendability, and dual-tip versatility. Both earn our highest recommendation for UK artists and crafters. Visit TTPEN UK today.
