DERWENT STUDIO colored pencils are PROFESSIONAL ARTIST quality colored pencils, featuring their HARDEST colored lead. They are not student grade or a lesser quality than Derwent ColourSoft or Prismacolor Premier.
Derwent ARTIST is softer than Studios and is their middle firm/soft lead.
Derwent COLOURSOFT is the softest and creamiest of their color pencil leads.
ALL of these have lightfastness ratings and are made for the professional artist.
STUDIOs should not be compared to soft leads as these are meant for DETAILS. Soft Leads require frequent sharpening as they lose their point quickly.
Studios sharpen to a long point which does not wear down fast (I used a manual hand sharpener)
The sharp point resists breaking
Ideal for DETAILS or small designs
Lays down rich color
Color lays down smoothly
Layers better than any colored pencil I have used.
Derwent blender did not seem to work as well on these.....these pencils seem made to be layered
Dark colors erase "somewhat". All the dark that I have attempted to erase, left more color on the paper than any pencil I have used.
Comparable to Prismacolor Verithins but there are 72 colors - hoo ray!
Not buttery like Verithins
Dryer and "scratchier" than Coloursoft and PrismaColor Premier but Studios are easier to control for layering and, once again, details!
I quickly adjusted to the dryer texture
No Wax Bloom
Different color palette than Coloursoft
Set of 72 has 4 colors useful for pale skin tones
Fewer greys in this selection of 72
Less problem of uneven pencil marks - did not need to use the blender as much
Lightfastness is listed on the Derwent color chart
No duplicate colors
Gold and Silver were not metallic
Since I prefer doing tiny details and subtle color changes (layering!), these are perfect for me. Colored a post card from Enchanted Forest & found I had superb control of the sharp tip.
The wood box - cost only $4 more than the tin container at the time I purchased this through Amazon (Sept 2016). What an amazing bargain! Is elegantly made with lovely medium stained wood. Magnets are utilized to hold box shut and to hold wood bars over the pencils. Foam padding strips are in place for protection of the lead points. Has formed slots with a faux slightly velvet type of finish. Wood is lightweight, feels hard to touch. I will put a layer of protective varnish on the box to protect from the many scratches that they get from use. Wood box did not completely protect the pencils during shipping. One bar & foam pad came loose and pencils had enough room to break free from their slots. There were NO broken lead points.
Quality control: 1 pencil had a split barrel during manufacturing. It was painted & coated with the others and will not affect the use of the pencil. The finish on the pencils allows the roughness of the wood and dents to be visible. Does not affect the use of the pencils.
This concluded my search for a hard leaded color pencil for detail work. I love my Prismacolor Verithins but their 36 colors is too limiting for me. Studios layer better than the Verithins, which, in turn, produces even more colors. I'm delighted with Derwent Studios. They will not replace my beloved soft leads but they will be my number ONE choice for details and layering.
Get the wood box, too.
| Manufacturer | ACCO Brands |
|---|---|
| Brand | Derwent |
| Item Weight | 13.1 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 9.3 x 0.55 x 7.8 inches |
| Item model number | 32197 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Material Type | Metal |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Size | 24 Count |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 32197 |
