An in-depth look at the world’s leading brands — from student sets to professional grade — with honest pros, cons, and guidance on where each truly excels.
What Makes a Great Coloured Pencil?
Not all coloured pencils are created equal. The difference between a budget student set and a professional tin goes far beyond marketing — it’s in the pigment load, core hardness, lightfastness ratings, barrel quality, and how the pencil interacts with paper.
This guide covers seven major brands across three quality tiers, examining what each does well, where they fall short, and the specific tasks they’re best suited to. Whether you’re a beginner finding your feet or a professional illustrator demanding museum-quality lightfastness, the right pencil makes all the difference.
Quality Tiers:
Student — Entry-level. Good for learning, schools, and casual use. Lower pigment load.
Artist — Mid-to-high grade. Higher pigment load, better lightfastness, wider colour range.
Professional — Museum quality. Maximum pigment purity, excellent lightfastness, archival grade.
BRAND 01 · Germany · PROFESSIONAL
Faber-Castell Polychromos
Faber-Castell · Stein, Germany · Est. 1761
| CORE TYPEOil-based | CORE DIAMETER3.8mm | COLOUR RANGE120 colours | LIGHTFASTNESSExcellent (I–II) |
PROS
- Oil-based core is exceptionally hard and break-resistant — survives drops and sharpening well
- Outstanding lightfastness (rated I or II on ASTM scale) — colours resist fading for decades
- Superb layering ability — colours build up beautifully without waxing over
- 120 colours in the full range, with many unique earth tones and subtle hues
- Consistent quality across the entire range — no ‘weak’ colours
- Compatible with solvents for painterly effects
- Cedar wood barrel sharpens cleanly and reliably
CONS
- Harder core requires more pressure or layering to achieve deep saturation
- Blending by hand alone is more difficult than wax-based alternatives
- Premium price point, though single open-stock purchases are available
- Wax-based blending pencils from other brands don’t always work seamlessly
BEST FOR
Detailed botanical illustration, architectural rendering, and any work requiring fine line work on top of existing layers. The oil-based core excels for building multiple layers without waxing over — ideal for hyperrealistic portraits and scientific illustration.
TAGS
[Botanical Art] [Illustration] [Layering] [Archival Work] [Portraits]
RATINGS
Blendability █░░░░░░░░░ 7/10
Pigment Load █░░░░░░░░░ 9/10
Value █░░░░░░░░░ 7/10
BRAND 02 · USA · ARTIST GRADE
Prismacolor Premier
Sanford / Newell Brands · USA · Est. 1938
| CORE TYPEWax-based | CORE DIAMETER4mm (thick) | COLOUR RANGE150 colours | LIGHTFASTNESSGood (variable) |
PROS
- Thick, soft wax-based core lays down rich, creamy colour with minimal pressure
- Unparalleled blendability — colours meld together with ease, ideal for smooth gradients
- Exceptional coverage — can fill large areas quickly and evenly
- Large range of 150 colours including many unique flesh tones and subtle blending shades
- Widely available and relatively affordable for the quality
- Brilliant, vivid colour saturation straight from the pencil
CONS
- Notoriously brittle — cores snap frequently during sharpening or if dropped
- Wax bloom develops over time (a white haze on finished work)
- Softer cores wear down quickly, reducing pencil lifespan
- Inconsistent quality control — some pencils have off-centre cores
- Lower lightfastness ratings than Polychromos; some colours fade over time
- Difficult to add fine detail on top of heavily waxed layers
BEST FOR
Fan art, character illustration, manga colouring, and any style that benefits from smooth, velvety colour fields. Prismacolor’s incredible blendability makes them the go-to for artists who prioritise rich saturation and seamless colour transitions over technical precision.
TAGS
[Fan Art] [Character Design] [Manga] [Blending] [Illustration]
RATINGS
Blendability █░░░░░░░░░ 10/10
Pigment Load █░░░░░░░░░ 8/10
Value █░░░░░░░░░ 8/10
BRAND 03 · Switzerland · PROFESSIONAL
Caran d’Ache Luminance 6901
Caran d’Ache · Geneva, Switzerland · Est. 1915
| CORE TYPEWax-based | CORE DIAMETER3.8mm | COLOUR RANGE76 colours | LIGHTFASTNESSExceptional (I) |
PROS
- Exceptional lightfastness — some of the highest-rated colours in the entire industry
- Creamy, soft texture that blends almost as well as Prismacolor but with far better durability
- Vibrant yet nuanced colour range with excellent neutrals and skin tones
- Virtually no wax bloom despite wax-based composition
- High pigment concentration means colours are true and don’t muddy when layered
- Premium Swiss build quality — ergonomic hexagonal barrel
- Excellent for both light and dark papers
CONS
- Among the most expensive coloured pencils available — a significant investment
- Relatively limited range of only 76 colours compared to competitors
- Softer core wears down more quickly than oil-based alternatives
- Not always easy to find in physical stores outside major cities
BEST FOR
Fine art portraits, gallery-quality work, and any piece that will be framed and displayed long-term. The extraordinary lightfastness makes Luminance the definitive choice for commissioned work or illustrations intended to last generations without fading.
TAGS
[Fine Art] [Portraits] [Archival] [Commissions] [Gallery Work]
RATINGS
Blendability █░░░░░░░░░ 9/10
Pigment Load █░░░░░░░░░ 9.5/10
Value █░░░░░░░░░ 5/10
BRAND 04 · England · ARTIST / STUDENT
Derwent (Coloursoft & Lightfast)
ACCO Brands · Keswick, England · Est. 1832
| CORE TYPEWax-based | CORE DIAMETER3.5mm | COLOUR RANGE72–100 colours | LIGHTFASTNESSVariable (I–III) |
PROS
- Coloursoft range offers a very soft, velvety texture — among the smoothest for blending
- Lightfast range addresses archival concerns with strong ASTM ratings
- Wide variety of specialist ranges (watercolour, inktense, graphic) within one brand
- Slimline barrel is comfortable for extended drawing sessions
- Broad colour range with excellent pastel and muted tones
- British heritage brand with long institutional trust in art education
CONS
- Coloursoft cores are prone to breakage under pressure — less robust than Polychromos
- Standard Coloursoft lightfastness is inconsistent across the colour range
- Lightfast range has a limited palette (100 colours only)
- Can be difficult to add fine line work on heavily saturated layers
- Colour names can be inconsistent with actual hue appearance
BEST FOR
Landscape and nature studies, soft-focus portraiture, and illustration where a painterly, atmospheric feel is desired. The Coloursoft range is beloved for its almost pastel-like quality. The Inktense sub-range is uniquely suited to mixed-media work and watercolour-style washes on wet paper.
TAGS
[Landscapes] [Soft Portraiture] [Mixed Media] [Education] [Watercolour Look]
RATINGS
Blendability █░░░░░░░░░ 8/10
Pigment Load █░░░░░░░░░ 7.5/10
Value █░░░░░░░░░ 8/10
BRAND 05 · Germany · STUDENT
Staedtler Ergosoft & Noris
Staedtler · Nuremberg, Germany · Est. 1835
| CORE TYPEWax-based | CORE DIAMETER3mm | COLOUR RANGE36–48 colours | LIGHTFASTNESSNot rated |
PROS
- Triangular barrel with soft-grip zone is genuinely ergonomic — ideal for young learners
- Break-resistant core holds up well to classroom use and heavy-handed application
- Competitively priced — excellent value for schools and hobbyists
- Consistent colour rendering across the range
- Available in large classroom sets affordably
- Sharpens reliably without crumbling
CONS
- Core is harder than artist-grade pencils — less colour payoff per stroke
- Blending is poor compared to wax-heavy artist pencils
- No lightfastness data provided — not suitable for archival work
- Colour range limited to 36–48 colours
- Pigment load noticeably lower than artist-grade alternatives
BEST FOR
School use, children learning to draw, adult colouring books, and casual hobbyists who want a reliable, affordable pencil. The ergonomic design is genuinely helpful for younger users or those with grip difficulties. Not recommended for serious artistic work where colour accuracy and longevity matter.
TAGS
[Schools] [Children] [Hobbyists] [Colouring Books] [Budget]
RATINGS
Blendability ░░░░░░░░░░ 4/10
Pigment Load ░░░░░░░░░░ 4.5/10
Value █░░░░░░░░░ 9.5/10
BRAND 06 · Japan · PROFESSIONAL
Holbein Artists’ Coloured Pencils
Holbein Works · Osaka, Japan · Est. 1900
| CORE TYPEOil-based | CORE DIAMETER3.8mm | COLOUR RANGE150 colours | LIGHTFASTNESSGood (I–II) |
PROS
- Extraordinary range of 150 colours including uniquely nuanced, subtle hues rarely found elsewhere
- Oil-based core provides excellent durability and layering capability
- Colour formulation is exceptionally consistent and true-to-name
- Superb for fine detail work — maintains a sharp point exceptionally well
- Highly regarded in the professional illustration community, especially in manga/anime art
- Consistent Japanese manufacturing quality throughout
CONS
- Harder core means less immediate colour intensity — requires layering for vibrancy
- Relatively expensive and harder to source outside Japan and specialist retailers
- Blending is less effortless than Prismacolor or Luminance
- Lightfastness data is available but less comprehensively published than European competitors
BEST FOR
Manga and anime illustration, fine-detail work, and artists seeking a broad range of subtle, unusual colours. The 150-colour range includes gradations and colour variations that allow for extraordinarily nuanced work — particularly popular for skin tones and atmospheric colour studies.
TAGS
[Manga / Anime] [Fine Detail] [Colour Studies] [Illustration] [Layering]
RATINGS
Blendability █░░░░░░░░░ 6.5/10
Pigment Load █░░░░░░░░░ 8.5/10
Value █░░░░░░░░░ 6/10
BRAND 07 · Switzerland · ARTIST / PROFESSIONAL
Caran d’Ache Pablo
Caran d’Ache · Geneva, Switzerland · Est. 1927
| CORE TYPEOil-based | CORE DIAMETER3.8mm | COLOUR RANGE120 colours | LIGHTFASTNESSExcellent (I–II) |
PROS
- Oil-based core strikes an excellent balance — harder than Luminance but softer than Polychromos, offering great versatility
- Superb colour vibrancy and saturation; pigments are rich and true even in a single pass
- Outstanding lightfastness throughout the range — most colours rated ASTM I or II
- Excellent layering capability; accepts many layers without filling the paper tooth prematurely
- Can be used dry, with water (on damp paper for a watercolour effect), or with solvents
- The widest colour range of any Caran d’Ache pencil — 120 colours with beautiful, nuanced hues
- Pairs exceptionally well with Luminance pencils for blending final layers over Pablo linework
- Swiss-made with premium build quality; robust barrel resists breaking on impact
CONS
- Oil-based core requires more effort to blend compared to the Luminance or Prismacolor softness
- Premium Swiss pricing — more expensive than Derwent or Prismacolor though less than Luminance
- Less widely stocked than Faber-Castell or Derwent in mainstream art stores
- 120-colour range, while impressive, is smaller than Holbein or Prismacolor’s 150-colour offerings
- The water-solubility, while a bonus, is subtle — not a replacement for dedicated watercolour pencils
BEST FOR
A remarkably versatile all-rounder — the Pablo sits comfortably between the technical precision of Polychromos and the creamy blendability of Luminance. Ideal for artists who want a single premium set that handles portraiture, illustration, and detailed rendering without constantly switching pencil types. Particularly well-suited to vibrant colour work, architectural illustration, and mixed dry/solvent techniques.
TAGS
[All-Rounder] [Portraits] [Illustration] [Mixed Media] [Beginners to Pro] [Vibrant Colour]
RATINGS
Blendability █░░░░░░░░░ 7.5/10
Pigment Load █░░░░░░░░░ 9/10
Value █░░░░░░░░░ 6.5/10
Quick Comparison Table
| Brand | Tier | Core | Colours | Blendability | Lightfastness | Durability | Value | Open Stock |
| Polychromos | Pro | Oil | 120 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Yes |
| Prismacolor Premier | Artist | Wax | 150 | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | Yes |
| Luminance 6901 | Pro | Wax | 76 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | Yes |
| Derwent Coloursoft | Artist | Wax | 72 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | Yes |
| Staedtler Ergosoft | Student | Wax | 48 | ★★☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | No |
| Holbein Artists’ | Pro | Oil | 150 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | Yes |
| Caran d’Ache Pablo | Artist | Oil | 120 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | Yes |
Which Pencil for Which Task?
Realistic Portraits
Skin tones require subtle blending, a wide value range, and lightfast pigments that won’t shift over time.
Recommended: Luminance 6901 or Polychromos
Botanical Illustration
Demands fine detail, repeatable colour accuracy, and archival lightfastness for printed publications.
Recommended: Polychromos
Landscapes & Nature
Atmospheric blending, broad strokes, and rich earth tones are the priority here.
Recommended: Derwent Coloursoft or Prismacolor
Manga / Anime Art
Vibrant colours, smooth gradients, and a wide range of subtle skin and hair tones.
Recommended: Holbein or Prismacolor Premier
Gallery / Archival Work
Work that will be framed, displayed, and expected to last 50–100+ years without colour shift.
Recommended: Luminance 6901
Students & Learners
Durable, easy to use, affordable — won’t frustrate beginners with brittleness or poor sharpening.
Recommended: Staedtler Ergosoft or Derwent
Mixed Media & Texture
Compatibility with solvents, water, and other media for experimental, layered artwork.
Recommended: Polychromos + Derwent Inktense
Professional Commissions
Clients expect longevity, accuracy, and quality. Your tools must match your reputation.
Recommended: Polychromos or Luminance 6901
Versatile All-Rounder
Superb balance of blendability, layering, lightfastness, and build quality in a single range.
Recommended: Caran d’Ache Pablo
Essential Tips for Every Level
Mix Brands Strategically
Many professionals use Polychromos for detailed layering and fine line work, then switch to Prismacolor or Luminance for burnishing and blending final layers. The harder oil-based pencil goes first; the softer wax-based pencil finishes on top.
Paper Matters as Much as Pencils
Artist-grade pencils perform poorly on cheap copy paper. Invest in a textured, acid-free surface like Stonehenge, Canson Mi-Teintes, or Strathmore 400 Series. The paper’s tooth holds pigment and allows for more layering before the surface fills.
Check Lightfastness Before You Buy
ASTM ratings of I or II are what you want for lasting work. If a brand doesn’t publish lightfastness data at all (like many student lines), assume the colours will fade. For anything displayed or sold, lightfastness is non-negotiable.
Wax Bloom: Prevention & Cure
Wax-based pencils (especially Prismacolor) develop a white haze over time. Prevent it by applying a final layer of oil-based pencil, or fix it by gently buffing with a soft cloth. A workable fixative spray can also seal layers between sessions.
Solvents Unlock New Techniques
Colourless blenders, odourless mineral spirits, or rubbing alcohol can dissolve wax and oil-based pigments, creating painterly washes and seamless blends. This works particularly well with Polychromos — test solvents on a scrap piece first.
Buy Open Stock When Possible
Most professional brands sell individual pencils so you can replace only what you’ve used. This is far more economical than buying full sets repeatedly. Build a custom palette over time by purchasing open-stock colours that suit your specific subject matter.
