www.penciltopics.co.uk
THIS PAGE IS PART OF THE SECTION DEALING WITH
This link will take you direct to the main contents page for the site
THIS SECTION ALSO CONTAINS PAGES COVERING :
THE CHARTS
All these charts were prepared on the same paper ( Fabriano Accademia 200gm )
Scanned on the same scanner ( Hewlett Packard G4010 )
and adjusted to the same settings.
Any variation in colour between one shown on the chart and one done by yourself with the same brand and colour, will show an identical variation through all the charts.
If you have a problem printing, and getting an accurate colour image
Email me at
And I will see if there is a possible cure
Version 1
Single sheet charts
Faber Castell Polychromos
Caran d’Ache Pablo
Derwent Coloursoft
Derwent Artists
Karisma / Prismacolor
Prismacolor lightfast
This chart initially added June 2011
I Need to re scan to get colour to match the
other charts for accuracy
Caran d’Ache Luminance
Lyra Polycolor
Version 2
A set of charts on one A4 sheet
Charts have not yet been prepared for the following brands
Daler Rowney Aquarelles,
Derwent Tinted Charcoal
Caran d’Ache Supracolor aquarelles **
and
Faber-
** NOTE : Faber-
Differences will only occur between dry pencil and aquarelles that have been wet.
It was intended to include the charts for these two major brands, but to date ( Dec 2011 ) there has been no request from readers of the site for me to do so. It is over a year since the data was posted, so I assume that the current range of charts meets reader’s needs.
If I do further Aquarelle charts, It is my intention to show any difference between dry colour and wet colour for all aquarelles.
Derwent Studio and Artists pencils share a colour range although the Studio pencils have fewer in the full set.
Brands not included here or not currently planned, have not had full sets of pencils reviewed by the site up to the current date.
MANUFACTURERS PLEASE NOTE
This page has one of the highest readership counts for pages on this site,
with over 250 readers a month ( 4,500 up to December 20th 2011 ).
If your product is NOT shown here with a comparative chart, and you would like one to be included,
Please get in touch with me.
DRY POINT ( Non Soluble ) PENCILS
AQUARELLE ( Watercolour -
Derwent Watercolour ( 2010 )
Derwent Inktense
Cretacolor Aqua Monolith
Staedtler karat Aquarelles
If you have a selection of boxes of pencils to choose from,
how do you know which colour in which box is just a bit lighter
or darker than the one you are using ?
If you are following a tutorial and the tutor is using Prismacolor,
and you have Polychromos or Pablo, how do you know which colour to use ?
We don’t have the perfect answer, but we can give you a clue.
The Charts published below (in 2010) have been prepared from the actual pencils
and worked on a standard chart format on the same paper.
They have then been scanned on the same scanner settings
and colour balanced in an identical way.
They may not print on your printer and paper exactly as they are on the master copies,
but any variation will be similar across all the charts, so picking colours that are either similar, or greener, bluer, redder etc than the one you are working with, will be easier.
If you are planning to buy a new box of pencils, then the colour range may be important.
These charts will show you which brands have the most reds, browns, greens etc.
Watercolour pencils shown ( Aquarelles) also show the dry colour after wetting,
This shows any increase in colour intensity and any change in tint.
Simply print off the PDF file of the chart you are wanting,
cut along the edge of the colour blocks on each side,
and compare the samples.
Two sizes of charts are available, the A4 single sheet chart is the easiest to use as the colour sample is larger. This chart is the same size as the master copy.
The charts described as ‘sets’ are combined so that a set of charts appears on a single sheet.
The colour samples are smaller and these are really more suitable for assessing the colour ranges in the brands than selecting an individual colour
Colour Comparison Charts 2010 versions
Links to PDF Files to download
NOTE
Some printing tips are shown below to help you get the best match.
-
when downloading PDF Files
Some are large files and take some time to download,
your screen may appear to freeze
or your Computer may indicate that the download is not responding.
You may need to allow more time than you think.
SOME PRINTING SUGGESTIONS
To help you get the best colour match with the charts
I have the advantage of the original charts
to check the way the copies print on my printer.
( An HP Officejet Pro 8000 machine )
The colour comes off exactly right when printed on to an inexpensive
matt ‘colour inkjet’ paper
-
From the Aldi Supermarket chain costing less than 2p a sheet.
There can be a difference in the darkness of the colour depending on the paper you choose
and the paper ‘quality and print’ settings when setting the printer going.
In my case I set the paper as ‘Presentation Quality’
If I were to print on ‘normal’ setting, the colour will come out darker.
It also comes out darker using ordinary copy paper and ‘normal’ settings
Gloss Photo paper can produce a colour cast depending on the paper so I tend to avoid glossy paper
It is trial and error, I am afraid.
I suggest you do a sample colour block with a known pencil colour on cartridge paper
and match the colour to the appropriate chart you have printed out.
The best match setting for your sample should be a close match for the others.
Latest revision Dec 2011
The original colour charts compiled by Bob Ebdon for the UKCPS have been largely superceded as they were designed to provide a straight comparison between Prismacolor and the nearest available colour in other brands. They were not updated for new makes of pencils coming on the market and didn’t provide a comprehensive review of all the competing colours available. The charts are still available to anyone working from a basis of Prismacolor, by sending me an Email to the address on the site contact page.
Details of price etc with payment & despatch arrangements will be provided.
They are sent out for little more than the cost of the paper, printing and postage
DO YOU HAVE PROBLEMS FINDING THE COLOUR YOU WANT ?
BRANDS
LIGHTFASTNESS of pencils 1 and LIGHTFASTNESS 2 ( some test5s carried out in strong sunlight by a reader
PRICE & CONTENT of Coloured Pencils : COLOUR COMPARISONS between brands :
and a listing page by page of the various manufacturers selling Coloured Pencils in the United Kingdom and in Europe.
DERWENT ; FABER-
DALER ROWNEY ; CONTE ; CRETACOLOR.