Adult Coloring Book with COLOR BY NUMBER or NOT
By: C R Gilbert
Rating: 5 of 5
This is a coloring book that is also a book which can help teach you how to color as well. The concept of the book is quite different. There are two versions of each of the 20 designs. The first is a regular line drawing and the second has color numbers placed in each of the segments of the design. These two pages are followed by an additional page which provides the key to the color by number page as well as two additional spots where you can use your own colors to replace the colors for each number. On this page, you are provided two segments of the design in which you can test out your color choices.
I generally don’t do color by number because I can see the numbers through (as I don’t press really hard with my coloring pencils.) I really like the way this book is put together, though. I can follow the key for colors but do it on the version of the design that doesn’t have the numbers printed. For those who can cover those numbers or for those who simply don’t mind, you can use the pre-printed, numbered design.
There are 20 designs in the book and they range from mandalas to repeating patterns to animals. For my first two projects, I chose a fish design. I used the same brand of coloring pencils for each. I did my version of the design first so I would not be influenced by the color by number design and used a wide variety of colors. I then colored the same designs using the pre-printed number page and following the color key which essentially used two colors (red/blue) and left the white as blank. I had fun doing both styles and happy with both results.
This is what I found in coloring, testing and looking through this coloring book:
20 Designs printed in two formats along with 20 test pages as well for a total of 40 coloring opportunities
Printed on one side of the page
Paper is thin, white, slightly rough, non-perforated paper typical of CreateSpace published books
Book is Glue Bound
Designs do not merge into the binding area and either framed with a line or have all elements finished at the edges
Coloring book can open fairly flat for coloring purposes
Alcohol and water-based markers bleed through this paper.
Gel pens and India ink can spot through or leave shadows of color depending on how much I put on the page.
Coloring pencils work well: wax and oil based soft lead lay down color (both with a soft and a firm hand), layer, and blend well; hard lead (like Verithins) dent the back of the page but lay down good color
I received a free sample copy of this coloring book for test and review purposes.