Colored Pencil Blending Test: 10 colored pencil brands!

[@nolitawineman9073]

Wow! How is this not one of the top videos in searches? So helpful and extensive. I set the playback speed to 75% and watch it comfortably. I can read at full speed but it’s not enough time to process the examples. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@lara-ce2kg]

To this day this is one of the best videos for colored pencil blending comparison

[@AlexandreBavaresco]

This video is perfect! Perfect! Thanks a lot! A big Hi from Brazil!

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Muito obrigado 😉 Thank you, I'm happy you found it interesting!

[@AlexandreBavaresco]

+MORAN ART STUDIO interesting? It's perfect! I had some doubts about Lyra (because I wanted to buy them, no I've already bought them! lol But I have to wait, I'm very anxious here! 👍🏻

[@DANCEYpants95]

Thank you this is really helpful!!!

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

DANCEYpants95 you are very welcome 😉

[@magdalenapiechula6314]

First of all, I found your video extremally helpful, especially since you cover pencils which may not be widely used so it is difficult to find any information on them, like Koh-i-noors or Lyra. But I also have a question - why do you consider coloursoft pencils not good for blending with solvents? From the sample I can see in the video they look really good after blending with solvent. I have a set of coloursoft pencils that I blend with mineral spirit and I noticed it helps me get rid of the wax bloom, but I do not claim it is the best method of blending them and I'm still trying to find out how to get better results with them. I didn't really try to blend any other colored pencils with solvents, so I can't compare my experiences. I am really curious about your opinion.

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Thank you so much Magdalena. I'm glad you found the video interesting. About your question, It's possible that my opinion would be biased, since I analyzed the results for all the brands altogether. In my opinion the solvent is not able to move the coloursoft pencils' pigments far enough (in my hands they become a bit lumpy without a completely color blend). Even so, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't use it with OMS, since I am sure that you still can obtain good results. My recommendation is try to blend them using a stiff brush... Coloursoft pencils have cores that resemble a hard dry pastel and, therefore, physical blending methods (stiff brushes, paper stumps, cotton wool) work better than chemical ones. But remember, all this info is based in my own experience, so don't take them as a unique truth. Only experimenting you will know all your pencil tricks 😉

[@juditharowland3461]

Thank you.This was about the most helpful demo and review I have ever seen, so, I would like to ask a question about the Artist Line! I own a set of Luminance and find I don't care for the lay down. I prefer Lyra and FC Poly's. Do you find the Derwent Artist line to be a harder pencil line? I enjoy Irojiten, and Lyra for their delicate marks and slim design. They are hard and multiple layers produce glowing results for me but finding them can be difficult unless on line. I think of them as about a 2H. Are these about the same hardness?

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

I'm glad you found this video informative and helpful 👍🙂 About the Derwent Artists they are certainly harder than FC Polychromos, but they aren't very pigment. They may be between 2H and 3H. I'm not completely sure they worth the money, since they aren't easy to use. They tend to burnish the paper surface even using a light hand and, therefore, layering is limited. Sometimes they also can produce some wax blooming. On the other hand the limited pigmentation can play nicely if you enjoy to render subtle tones. Their hardness can also be helpful if you like to use sanded or very textured papers, where they perform in a better way. Cheers!

[@lindacolvin2567]

Don't slam the Caran d'Ache Luminance for the results after using a (Prismacolor?) blender. CD makes their own blender. Since some brands are waxed based and some oil based, the same blender won't give equally good results with both types. The results go by too fast!

[@kathypaulus2082]

Just pause it

[@sarahconroy3634]

It was too fast. I am a fast reader and hardly kept up'!

[@jessidse]

Change the speed reproduction

[@sarahconroy3634]

I am sure the material was good, but because it was so fast, I missed quite a lot. How about slowing it down an re-running it? Mary and Sarah, Toronto.

[@stillifepencilarts4804]

Which is best kohinoor polycolor or derwent colorsoft?

[@ArabKatib]

Nice! Thank you! :-)

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

You are welcome :)

[@AB-vb2mm]

Thanks!

[@northernlylitartistry6723]

Great video!

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Thank you so much 😋

[@SusieLaLonde]

Excellent video. I've been wanting some new colored pencils, right now I've got the prismacolor 36 (or 34) piece set and the cheaper Marco Raffine large set. I have to say the prismas are better than the Marco Raffines but for the price of the others if I didn't have the prismacolor's I'd be perfectly happy. But I have been wanting another set that is oil based instead of wax based with really strong pigment so I've been watching a lot of these videos trying to figure a set that I can afford.

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Thank you Susie, I'm happy you found it informative. If you are looking for a good oil based colored pencil of good quality and price, then I think Lyra Rembrandt Polycolors are a very good option for you. They are cheaper than Polychromos or Pablos, but most of them are lightfast and are a great upgrade from Raffine or Prismas. Cheers!

[@SusieLaLonde]

That's great information about the Lyra Rembrandt pencils and I'll surely give them a try when I get the cash to buy pencils. Thanks a bunch!

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

+Susie LaLonde you're welcome 😉

[@juditharowland3461]

+Susie LaLonde Hi..........Look on Amazon for the Lyra. I've bought 3 sets. All for under $75. The price is rising fast.......They are now $109 at Dick Blick. These are the same quality as Faber Castell Poly's. They are a smaller line too. Only 72 in a complete set. High end pencils are a much better value in the long run. Higher pigment content and better construction mean that you don't wear them down as easily and they don't break as often when sharpened causing you to loose more pencil. I have 150 Prisma. Mine are well made which is rare in Prisma today....... but my Lyra's last 2x longer and they are smaller in size. Core is the same size and that's what counts. Invest a bit in what works and you'll be much happier with your results.

[@SusieLaLonde]

Thanks Judith, that's helpful and informative.

[@ms.abracadabra1195]

waldorf's schools use the lyra pencils!! waldorf student here

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

That's great 👍

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

JAJA. Si a si es

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

excelente video¡que opinas de los lápices MARCO RENOIR?por sus características?

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

+Mariaraquel Oliver muchas gracias por el comentario. Yo no he probado los Marco Renoir, ya que aqui donde vivo son muy difíciles de conseguir. Sin embargo recuerdo haber leido que estos lápices podrían ser fabricados o ser iguales (solo comercializados con otro nombre) a los Bruynzeel Design Fullcolor - Sakura. Ambos comparten la misma numeración y códigos de barra, el estilo, grosor, etc. De ser así, te puedo decir que serían bastante buenos. Yo tengo los Bruynzeel y los encuentro bastante diferentes a las otras marcas. Me gusta especialmente que tienen una variedad de colores que no encontraras en otras marcas, como naranjas, amarillos y turquesas apastelados. Esto hace que funcionen muy bien sobre papeles de color o negro. Son debase de cera y no especialmente duros. Lo que no sabría decirte es que tan resistentes a la luz sean. Personalmente creo que estarían en un rango semiprofesional. Espero te haya sido de alguna ayuda. Saludos! 🙂

[@TheAtosan]

Caran d'ache > Faber Castell > Prismacolor > all the others

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

I think that is the favorite Top 3 for many people 🙂

[@SHINee35]

Holbein > Caran d'ache > Faber Castell > Prismacolor > all the others (imo)

[@TutoriialesVale]

Prismacolor o Holbein Artist?

[@traceyarena6027]

I wish I could find reviews of colored pencils that are not so expensive. I am not an artist, I just enjoy coloring. I do want the highest quality possible so I can shade and blend easily. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

I understand you. I know that most of the KZbin reviews about colored pencils include the top quality brands. Even so, if you want my opinion there are some interesting options. FaberCastell Artgrip pencils are superior student quality and work really Nice. If you can afford go for a limited set of the Lyra Rembrandt Polycolors. They are top quality and not so expensive as the competitors. Other option are the pentel colored pencils... they are professional quality at the cheapest price (but with limited color range). Good luck in your search. I'm sure you will find the perfect ones for you!

[@UTleochi]

Although this comment is a year old I'd still like to suggest you try the new Faber Castell Goldfaber pencil line. They're basically the "little brothers" of the Polychromos. They come in 48 colours that match the Polychromos and they feel very similar to them. Their price is more affordable, too. www.amazon.com/Faber-Castell-Creative-Goldfaber-Watercolor-Pencils/dp/B074GXNK3S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1523749766&sr=8-3&keywords=goldfaber+faber+castell+colored+pencils&dpID=51EWhDHDe8L&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

busco colores intensos y brillamtes. Que me aconsejad en cantncon Pablo... la gama de colores es más amplia que prisma color?. empezar por 30 con Pablo y 48 prisma?

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Prismacolor tiene hasta 150 colores y Pablo hasta 120. Los Prismacolor son en general más intensos y más brillantes, básicamente porque son a base de cera. Los Pablos son más translucidos y de tonalidades más suaves y naturales. Ambos valen la pena, así que tener ambos será una gran suerte sin importar cuantos compres, pero ten en mente que son casi como dos polos opuestos. Te vas a divertir mucho, eso tenlo por seguro 😉

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Entre los videos de mi canal hay algunos ejemplos de trabajos hechos con Pablos y con Prismas, date un paseo. Mira las descripciones de cada uno ya que alli puedes ver todo el material usado, seguro y te ayuda con tu elección. Mucha suerte!

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

los vi están muy lindos¡

[@estoyechaunbicho]

estoy en dudas para comprar las koh i nor, puedes darme algun consejo???

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Hola estoyechaunbicho. Pues los Koh-i-Noor Polycolor son en general muy buenos. Tal vez un poco más duros que otras marcas pero se puede trabajar muy bien con ellos sobre papeles claros (en papeles oscuros tienden a transparentar un poco y por tanto no son la mejor opción). Los Koh-i-Noor Progresso (que son solo barra de color, sin envoltura de madera) son muy buenos para cubrir áreas grandes pero la selección de colores es limitada y son en general más duros que los Polycolor (tampoco dan grandes resultados en papeles oscuros). Y finalmente la línea acuarelable Mondeluz son francamente muy buenos, con una alta pigmentación y buena solubilidad; también los puedes usar en seco pero debes tener cuidado porque si se frota al contacto con la piel manchará el papel... Pero como ves en general creo que son una muy buena opción, incluso en calidad precio, tienen buena pigmentación y resistencia a la luz. Espero te haya sido de ayuda. Saludos 😉

[@estoyechaunbicho]

+MORAN ART STUDIO GRACIAS¡¡¡ Y ENHORABUENA POR TUS DIBUJOS. La verdad es ahora mismo los uso para colorear los famosos libros para adultos, dibujo muy bien a lápiz y carboncillo pero jamás me atrevido con el color, así que nunca es tarde para aprender. tengo los mondeluz y estoy encantada pero les uso solo para pico a poco aprender a acuarelar. también tengo 12 polycromos de faber...pero comprar mas de 36 colores es un presupuestazo.

[@estoyechaunbicho]

+MORAN ART STUDIO ...la última duda, los koh son de base de aceite???...con el presupuesto que voy a emplear tengo estas dos opciones prisma premier 48 o koh i nor 72

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

+estoyechaunbicho Pues los Polycolor son a base de aceite (pero en realidad todos tienen ceras y esos son definitivamente más densos y producen capas más opacas que los FC Polychromos). Eso si son totalmente diferentes de los Prismacolor. Los Prismas pueden ser un poco más delicados ya que tienden a romper las puntas si se usan de forma agresiva o errónea, pero dicho esto la cremosidad que tienen no la tiene ninguna otra marca que yo haya probado. Pero si vas por los Polycolor no creo que te arrepientas ya que son bastante buenos y creo perfectos para comenzar con el color. Suerte 😉

[@estoyechaunbicho]

+MORAN ART STUDIO gracias, lo meditare bien...quizás con 48 colores me sobra y además me gusta pintar con la mano muy suelta y no tener que apretar y odio ver rayas y huecos

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

Muchas gracias por tus consejos serán puestos en práctica. con respecto al aplicar por capas es lo que hago generalmente en realidad es una elección dura. para estar en la misma línea de lápices Pablo a quien acompaña y prisma color a quien acompaña?

[@Novastrike7]

+Mariaraquel Oliver yo compre los Pablo de 40 y los polychromos de24 quedan perfecta la combinacion la suavidad de los pablo y la intensidad en los acabados de polychromos y como ambos son de aceite se mezclan muy bien

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

muchas gracias por tus consejos

[@mkelly4617]

too fast...

[@FoxtrotMouse]

Pause it.

[@KittyLovesGlover]

i like the fact that he just got to it. tired of watching 1/2 hr long review videos.

[@kelseyforkner]

This is a really fun video. After all that testing, which brand or brands are your favorite?

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Thanks 🙂 I really love Pablos and Prismas. If I need to consider lightfastness I try to include Luminance and Polychromos or Lyras. I love all my pencils 😅, so is difficult to answer. All depends on the surface and the kind of drawing I have in mind... Each brand has its pros and cons!

[@kelseyforkner]

That's good to know. Thanks again for making and sharing this wonderful video!

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

+Kelsey Forkner You're welcome 🙂

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

muchísimas gracias!. lo comenté porque un amigo de Australia que pronto nos visitará como sabe mi amor por los lápices me pregunto que lápices quería y el cómo no conoce del tema vio por i Bay estos y me comentó. yo tengo faber castle policromos y Derwent son color. mi sueño son los Pablo de cara dache por 120colores se que los Prisma color son buenos no como los anteriores pero quisiera que me aconsejed que podría pedirle a nuestro amigo. estoy en Argentina y aquí estamos mal con la inflación por eso cuando algún amigo del extranjero viene a visitarnos o viaja les encargó ya que están por la mitad de precio. espero tu opinión y Consejo. yo estuve pensando en pedir los Prisma color por 48 y los Pablo aún no decido que cantidad.... mi sueñi 120. saludos

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Te entiendo perfectamente. Para mi definitivamente los Pablo están en el Top 3 🙂 A mi me encantan, pero debes considerar que técnicas quieres usar, ya que los Pablos son muy buenos para usar capa sobre capa y no tanto para aplicaciones firmes o bruñidas (son de mina firme). Si prefieres colores más cremosos que se mezclen con mayor facilidad entonces los prismacolor están muy bien. Yo se que mucha gente se queja de que son muy frágiles, pero en mi experiencia todo depende de cómo los uses y los cuides, además de que la gama de colores es muy amplia. Si ya utilizas los FC polychromos entonces algo intermedio entre los prismacolor y los polychromos son los Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor. Estos son bastante más económicos que los Pablos o incluso los FC Polychromos y tienen muy buena resistencia a la luz, son a base de aceite pero son mas suaves que los Pablos y se mezclan bien con cualquier técnica. Vaya, tienes una decisión difícil por delante. Yo amo todos mis lápices!

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

en el orden de escala quienes ocupan el primer lugar según tu experiencia?

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

+Mariaraquel Oliver esto es complicado porque todo depende de lo que quiera dibujar. Pero en todo caso me encantan los Pablo, los Derwent Drawing (pero son solo colores terrosos y claros) y los Prismas. Si quieres la mejor calidad y permanencia en el tiempo (mayor resistencia a la luz) tienes los Caran d'Ache Luminance. Son los mas caros del mercado... Pero yo aun no consigo acostumbrarme del todo.

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

Voy por los Pablo y prisma a ver que pasa

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

Me gusta mucho dar colores intensos. No tengo problemas con los faber policromos pero quería probar otros como Pablo o prisma...

[@jasonfrost2487]

I take it that English is not your first language. Adding "ing" to "difficult" makes a non-existent word, "difficulting". You may consider simplifying your usage for better understanding by those whose native tongue is English. I enjoyed your video and the results of your test.

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Thank you Jason for your comment. You're right, English is not my native language and sometimes it is tricky for me. I am sorry by this mistake. When your language -Spanish for me- is super rich in vocabulary and grammar complexity it is not always easy to simplify the way you construct a sentence. But I perfectly understand that english natives get upset when find these kind of mistakes. It also happens to me when I'm reading or listening a foreigner destroying the Spanish beauty. Then, please accept my apologies.

[@jasonfrost2487]

+MORAN ART STUDIO, you are most gracious. An apology is not necessary... unless it is from me for being so hasty to comment on your English. I wish you continued success in your career with health and happiness.

[@olgarosenblum1942]

Jason, I understand your point. However, someone told me to praise in public and correct in private. I have been doing it and it is much kinder and better for all.

[@heatherleisure]

The Prismacolor blender pencil ruins Polychromos, Luminance and Irojiten layers every single time. Every single time. Paper doesn't matter, number of layers doesn't matter. Even using it with Prismacolor soft core pencils is a risk. The Prismacolor blender pencil is the worst of all of the colorless pencils. I ended up throwing mine away since they were sitting permanently unused. The Caran d'Ache blender and the Lyra blender pencils do a terrific job though. The Derwent blender isn't too bad either, if you're low on choices.

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

It is good to know about your experience. I think everyone has a favorite colorless pencil blender and tend to use the others always in the same way getting bad results... For me each one can be used to achieve different results and techniques (I am thinking to make a video reviewing several blenders). Even so it's funny, because this topic always create great controversy. What is important is that you found the ones that work well for you. Cheers, 🙂

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

no te entendí de capa por capa con los pablo

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Capa a capa quiere decir que vas aplicando los colores suavemente uno sobre otro hasta alcanzar la mezcla de color que quieres. Lo contrario es directamente aplicar el color con firmeza y eliminando el grano o textura del papel. Los Pablo son un poco duros, casi como los Polychromos, asi que dependiendo de como los apliques pueden dejar marcas en el papel difícil de eliminar o corregir. Pero supongo que como todo es experimentar y aprender y estoy seguro que los vas a amar...

[@crystalfranklin2583]

This video was too fast for me. I would have to pause every few seconds if i want to learn anything. My brain just cannot process information that fast. I understand the need to speed up for time limitations, but when it's too fast, some people get very little or nothing from it. Your blending looks beautiful, but the video is just too fast-paced.

[@MORANARTSTUDIO]

Crystal Franklin I am sorry you found it difficult to follow. I will take your advice for future videos 😉