Derwent Lightfast 100 Coloured Pencil Set Swatch & Comparison: Luminance, Prismacolor, Polychromos

[@teekierudite5108]

I really love videos like this because you buy all the different brands of pencils, test them out and compare them for us and we don't have to buy anything. Lol

[@helencryer]

...Or in my case when I'd see a video like this, I'd want to buy all of them... which I very gradually am doing!! 😬

[@E4Alabbasy]

This is the best comparison I've seen so far! Thank you.b

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much! Just my opinion, but it was fun playing with everything!

[@joclairemitchell9591]

Thank you so much for these comparison videos. I am buying selection of pencils, many ala carte so I can try different brands. Having the color comparisons is so helpful in this and other of your videos. Helping me choose! So difficult to see how different color ranges compare otherwise.

[@helencryer]

I'm so happy they're useful! Partly I just love swatching, but partly I know how much I've relied on others swatching art materials in the past.

[@awatercolourist]

Even though I do not use colour pencils, I still liked the graph you made and how you visually presented the information. It’s very effective indeed! Thanks!

[@helencryer]

I'm impressed you even watched a video on pencils then! Thank you!

[@awatercolourist]

@@helencryer Pleasure!

[@helencryer]

Are you not ever tempted into the realms of pencil?

[@awatercolourist]

@@helencryer No, but in the past couple of days I‘ve discovered the joys of a liner brush, sometimes known as a ceramic brush. I‘ll see whether I can use it as a pen/pencil. If it works, then I‘ll definitely look into watercolour pencil techniques.

[@helencryer]

Just went to Instagram to see if I had missed something from you, and I had! The brush looks great (and your painting) - such fine lines!

[@FaithAnnNB]

Wow… so much effort and such an amazing collection of pencils! I found it interesting to see where you slotted the 3 brands I have, compared with all of the brands/lines that I do not have!

[@helencryer]

Admittedly that colour chart ended up being a slightly bigger job than anticipated!! 😂

[@jeanlanz2344]

Wow! Thank you so much for your thorough evaluation of the Derwent Lightfast 100 set over many variables. Your organization skills are wonderful. I appreciate the comparison of the colors across brands. I really liked the way you showed all DLF colors at the end. Well done in evaluating a new high quality set. God bless you!

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@jeanlanz2344]

@@helencryer My pleasure, Helen

[@thescribblequeen]

Thank you for going so in depth with this!

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@PursuingHeaven]

I paid $260 US dollars for my Holbein set of 150 and they were imported from Japan to the US (Blick sells them for a ridiculous price but I do notice they are slowly coming down). That is only about $1.75 per pencil (sorry I didn't do my math right the first time lol). Luminance though is about 300 dollars for 100 pencils which is $3 dollars per pencil. Buying open stock is going to change this but Luminance still is more expensive than Holbein per pencil. Also I compare color to color for lightfast since pigments are really the same and all that is different then are the binders and other materials. Lighter pastel pencils like the beautiful 50 set of Holbein pastels are going to be fairly fugitive but when you compare the basic set of 100 Holbein (the non pastel colors) to the set of Luminance Lightfast the percent is higher. I use both Holbein and Poly Chromos a lot in my work, and find Holbein a little more lightfast than Poly Chromos but slightly less than Luminance and Lightfast. I love Poly Chromos, Holbein and Luminance as well but not a fan of Lightfast. It's really because of their texture and my style, not a complaint about the pencil itself. I feel it takes forever to get anywhere with the Lightfast and with Holbein in just a few layers I already have a solid lightfast foundation to build on.

[@helencryer]

That's really interesting, thanks! Holbein are the most expensive for us here in UK, plus I got my Luminance on sale. I think they're all pretty great pencils! I may be taking a trip to Japan though, so I'm excited to visit an art shop!!

[@demi3115]

I got the Lightfasts for €2/per pencil :P

[@gradeA50]

This was sooo useful, thank you for making it!! I primarily use Prismas now and I love them, but I’ve been really eager to try out some luminance, especially some of the skin tones. Derwent lightfast is on my radar too, and after seeing how well they blended I’m eager to give some a shot soon.

[@helencryer]

I'm so glad, thanks! I love all of them! Different qualities, but each a joy to use in their own way.

[@PaulaScardamalia]

Helen, having just watched this and looking at the Luminance, Polychromos, and Derwent Lightfast or Drawing pencils, do you find yourself most using a certain brand more than others when you are using colored pencils over your watercolors? Trying to decide what to invest in or if I should just buy a few in several brands.

[@helencryer]

Unless I was a set collector, I'd definitely go for some from a variety of brands, though if Luminance had all the colours I wanted I'd probably go just for them (with the addition of some Polychromos). In addition to Luminance I like the Lightfast for the natural greens and dark blues, Holbein for some of the pastels, and definitely the Soft White, and Drawing for some of the beautiful muted colours. Then depending on if you want to do much detailed pencil work, some Polychromos in colours you'd be adding details in.

[@PaulaScardamalia]

@@helencryer thank you, that was very helpful.

[@NinaQueena]

I LOVE YOUR REVIEWS ❤ Youre the best 😊

[@helencryer]

Thanks!!

[@bookishindian]

Thank you for this comparison. Would love your thoughts on the Lyra polycolor too!

[@helencryer]

I'm really sorry, I've never used them or even seen them in use.

[@Tullyontheterrace]

Brilliant video! Super useful. Thanks for making this.

[@helencryer]

Thank you!!

[@triciabennetts6578]

Thankyou Helen, helped clear up some of my confusion with all the different pencils! 😊 I need me some Derwent light fast I think 🤔 I noticed the lovely points you have on your pencils, which my sharpener fails to achieve - what sharpener do you recommend please?

[@helencryer]

That's great! For the long points, I use the Derwent mechanical sharpener, for on the go I use the Kum double hole little silver one, and for shorter points on softer pencils I use the Dahle 133 mechanical sharpener. The latter is my favourite overall.

[@triciabennetts6578]

@@helencryer Thankyou Helen 😄

[@julieannestaub1502]

Loved this video! Curious where your Pablos would fit in these comparisons. Thank you for great info. 😊

[@helencryer]

I don't have any Pablos, I'm afraid! Never tried them!

[@clairebradbury11]

Gosh, what a lot of work!! Do you do whole drawings with just pencils or use them with paint? I don't think Ive used coloured pencils since I was about 10, I need to lood into them.

[@helencryer]

If you can call mucking about with coloured pencils work! 😁 I only very occasionally do a full picture in pencil (and it's usually birds for some reason!), most often at the moment it's mixed media.

[@lluna9375]

I loved this video! So precise, thank you!

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@twingytwango6971]

Fabulously done, thank you!

[@helencryer]

Thanks so much!

[@drendelous]

that is a superb overview

[@helencryer]

Thank you!

[@racechick2033]

I enjoyed watching and listening to this. The Derwent Lightfast have a lovely range of colours (apart from the paler blues). Me likey. 😊 Thank you. ❤

[@helencryer]

Yes - it was their natural greens which sucked me in!!

[@racechick2033]

@@helencryer I have noticed that you have been seeking more natural greens of late. Hahaha. Sorry I missed you on Saturday. 😊 💕

[@helencryer]

And I don't even like green!! It's just because I keep painting blinkin' landscapes 😂 Hope you are OK xxx

[@jenwilly7260]

The Lightfast pencils blend really nicely...

[@Dawnasy]

Well done! Thank you very helpful

[@helencryer]

Thanks! I'm glad!

[@lyndaasmith8786]

Thank you for such a great video. I have the Luminance 100 set, but want to expand it by adding Derwent Lightfast. In particular, I feel that Luminance is really lacking in greens so your colour comparison chart is hugely helpful in helping me decide which Lightfasts to buy open stock. There are some lovely colours that when added to Luminance will make a gorgeous mixed set. Do you think they will blend well together? 😊🪻

[@helencryer]

Sorry for my delayed reply - I wanted to get both sets out and have a go at blending them together before answering. Yes, they play really nicely together! I tried layering with different pencils on top/bottom, and the blending was all fine.

[@lyndaasmith8786]

@@helencryer Thanks so much for testing these two brands of pencils together. I am so pleased that they play well together, I will definitely expand my luminance with the addition of the Derwent Lightfast. 😀🌺

[@silkspinner7010]

Third time lucky I hope as my two previous comments seem to have vanished. Great video thanks for the comparison. Derwent Lightfast work really well with mineral spirits to blend out.

[@helencryer]

Thank you! I'm glad you persevered! I love blending coloured pencil! Haven't used mineral spirits, but use Zest-it.

[@silkspinner7010]

Zest it was the one I would have said to use, I left it off cause I thought maybe KZbin didn’t like me adding a brand name. 🤔

[@silkspinner7010]

I think Zest it brightens and intensifies the colours in the Derwent Lightfast range. I haven’t had that experience so strongly with other coloured pencils.

[@helencryer]

Oh brilliant! Well we got there in the end!

[@ericakauffman5786]

Clearly, a lot of work went into this review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@helencryer]

It did take a while, but I'm never happier than when playing with colour pencils!

[@norasmith4939]

That blends like a dream. The lightfast. The drawing set not so much. Love this. Do you recommend them?

[@helencryer]

I do like them a lot, but still probably prefer the Caran D'Ache Luminance, and Prismacolors for sheer enjoyment of colouring. In reality I use a mixture because of the different colours available in different ranges.

[@norasmith4939]

@helencryer prismacolor here is more expensive then the lightfast though so I think I'm gonna focus on the caran d'ache and derwent lightfast, I do have 20 luminance and love them

[@norasmith4939]

Prismacolor 239 euro for full set, though yes 100 lightfast 176 euro

[@helencryer]

The Prismacolor aren't all lightfast either, if that's an issue. You definitely won't go wrong with the Lightfast though - both the Lightfast and Luminance are high quality pencils.

[@norasmith4939]

@helencryer lightfast isn't an issue, I just wish prismacolor was cheaper here

[@demi3115]

Nice video! Why compare inktense - a watersoluble pencil - with these?

[@helencryer]

Thanks! I occasionally use the Inktense pencils without water, just because they have some lovely deep colours in their own right, so I wanted to compare them.

[@greekveteran2715]

I'm searching for nice blue color for skies., from either Luninance or Derwent Lightfast, to compliment my Polychromos set. Same goes for greens for trees, grass etc. :Lightfast has some unique dark greens, but on some videos they look great, on other they look almost like black with a slight green undertone! I d appreciate any recomendations, for sky blues or greens!

[@helencryer]

I like Forest, Ivy and Forest quite a lot from the Lightfast greens, but also Seaweed as a very dark green - they're all very natural looking greens to me. For the sky, I like Luminance Light Cobalt Blue, and Genuine Cobalt Blue. You can see comparisons with Polychromos for the greens in this video here: 29:10 but I can't give comparisons for the blues with Polychromos because I'm away from home and don't have them with me to check.

[@Albireo8]

Is that a Lamy fountain pen I saw? I own one and it`s the best of the 3-4 that I own - and one of the cheapest.

[@helencryer]

It is! I used to have one before with a Fine nib and mediocre ink, and didn't like it much, but now I have one with a Medium nib and Platinum Carbon Black ink, and LOVE it! Glad to hear you think so.

[@twingytwango6971]

How did you find the lightfast ratings for the Holbein pencils? I have heard that it’s near impossible because the Japanese maker isn’t giving out the information.

[@helencryer]

Holbein have given Lightfast ratings, but I don't think they are ASTM or Blue wool ratings, so not necessarily trustworthy. There's a summary included here: www.bestcoloredpencils.com/colored-pencil-lightfast-ratings/

[@twingytwango6971]

What about the Pablo’s and Derwent Artists, Aren’t they comparable to the Polychromos ?

[@helencryer]

I haven't used either of these, I'm afraid.

[@pamr.3723]

Buyer beware i finally got around to swatching my derwent lightfast pencils. To my surprise my box of 100 pencils was missing pencils and found duplicates in their place. Total bummer! So, check them upon arrival.

[@helencryer]

Oh no! I've never heard of that before! Total bummer indeed!

[@NinaQueena]

Do you think that the Derwent lightfast are NOT good for Details cause they are so soft?

[@helencryer]

You can get detail with them, though you'll need to keep sharpening them, but it's just easier to keep a finer point for details with a harder pencil like the Polychromos.

[@NinaQueena]

@@helencryer thank you SO much for your quick answer! Cause the thing is: i am currently in the process of buying a bigger set colored pencils- and i cant decide between Derwent lightfast set of 100 and Carandache PABLO set of 120. Have you happened to have any experience with the Pablos colored pencils? Could you maybe give me a tip or can you tell me what you like about the lightfasts and what you dont like? Best regards 🫶

[@helencryer]

I've never used the Pablos or seen much about them, sorry. I think the Lightfast are beautiful quality and as I like their softness and blendability (plus I need Lightfastness for things I sell). The downsides are that I feel I like to have harder pencils as well as these for details, plus the colour range is missing quite a few colours I'd like - so I'd take a good close look at the colours you use, and if they are included.

[@helencryer]

To be honest, if I was starting out with coloured pencils, I'd buy a smaller set of my favourite brand (probably Luminance) then just pick open stock for the additional colours I personally liked and I'd buy across different brands to get the colours I wanted. I'd go for a mixture of Luminance, Lightfast (for dark blues and greens) and Derwent Drawing (for muted colours) and Polychromos for details. If lightfastness doesn't matter, I'd add in some Polychromos (some gorgeous muted colours and darker shades) and Holbeins (for pastels and Soft White) too.

[@NinaQueena]

@@helencryer The thing is: you are completly right, its always better to buy some Single colored pencils from different brands and then looking for a bigger set! But the problem in this special case is: there is a big sale in THIS MOMENT and exact the sets of this 2 brands I always wanted to make a closer look, are so cheap that I know I never will get them so cheap again! So suddenly I have to make my desicion between the Derwent Lightfast and the caran'dache Pablos and this as quick as possible 🙈 At first I thought, i'll go with the lightfasts, cause of their creamy Buttery consistance, but they are also be able to hold their point (I heard) - but then I saw their COLOUR RANGE! And even they are 100 colored pencils , there are so few LIGHT and BRIGHT colours, the most colours are muted and in the darker range... thats also VERY BEAUTIFUL , but is it the RIGHT choise for me?? Cause the thing is, in the past I only drew Portraits and people but nowadays I am completly in love with flower and botanical art ❤️ And Do you really think that the colour range of the lightfasts are good for such kind of art? On the other hand the Pablos -I dont know much about them, only that they are firmer then the lightfasts, near to the polychromos. And there colour range is MUCH brighter. Their colours would be better for botanical art maybe, but I still think that the consistancy of the Lightfasts- that creaminess- I would prefer more? What DO YOU personally think? Because of that sale the time to decide is running of🙈 So I am really absolutly thankful for every little tip you can give me!

[@rajniherbalrattan7913]

What kind of paper we have to use for these colours..

[@helencryer]

You can use them on pretty much any paper. Derwent's Lightfast paper pad which they produce for use with these pencils is hot pressed (smooth) 100% cotton paper, and think I used Baohong 100% cotton paper for the tests in this video.

[@The_oneand_Only1]

Thank you for this, I can now select the Derwent lightfast colours that my Luminance & Polychromos don’t have instead of getting a full set 😊

[@helencryer]

Oh, I'm so glad if it's been helpful!

[@meganesergerie5382]

@helencryer Same here! I am planning to buy some Lightfast from Derwent now that your splendid review has conviced me I am needing those, lol. I too own the Polychromos and some Luminance from Caran d'Ache. I am looking to complete my collection with the Lightfast also. Thank you so much, Helen, for this review! I am a new subscriber to your channel and I enjoy watching a couple of your older videos every day. I find them very inspiring! Thank You!

[@helencryer]

I'm really pleased that it can be helpful for you, and thanks so much for subscribing! I really appreciate it!

[@apocalypse92]

holbeins arent lightfast, if its not ASTM or blue wool, its not lightfast, and I do infact own the derwent lightfast 100 as well. Hands down, nightshade. I use it under all my blacks, it makes it super rich and beautiful. I LOOVEEEEE nightshade

[@helencryer]

Yes, it's definitely true that Holbein's lightfast claims haven't been verified - thanks for raising that. I shall make sure I have a good play with Nightshade!!

[@apocalypse92]

@helencryer Lisa made a video on it of how holbein treated her (she didn't tell them she was on youtube) so that's how they treat 'regular' people. They don't use astm or blue wool(she shows the email conversations about it). You can watch it for yourself if you're interested. I thought about buying them one day, but after that video I don't want to buy from a company like that who overcharges for such pencils too. But yeah definitely play around with nightshade I wouldn't steer you wrong! Try it under the blacks. I love the lightfast pencils, such unique colors I can't find anywhere else in my luminance or polychromos.

[@helencryer]

Oh, thanks! That doesn't sound great. I just have a handful of theirs, but no plans for any more. Will do, thank you!

[@JessicaCEP]

That tip crunch…yikes!

[@helencryer]

Not lovely!!

[@awatercolourist]

First!

[@helencryer]

Back on top form!

[@awatercolourist]

@@helencryer Yup 😂