COLOURED PENCIL COMPARISON + DEMONSTRATION 🎨 

I have used Prisma Premier pencils for 5 yrs, not one of them have broken, even when dropped, I know I have been lucky, but at the same time I have never never broken one of my Polychromos , Luminance, or any other brand I may have, and I have many brands. Basically I just take care of my pencils.

nice review! i'm loving my polychromos at the moment but i may switch over to caran d'ache over time or combine them with the polychromos:)

I really wanna try the caran ones. But hot damn, their prices are so high.

Warning: don't get upset, this is called an opinion. The prismacolors had a bit more negativity in the beginning compared to the other brands and I can understand that, but Prismacolors aren't all bad...They are very rich and blend well, and to me it makes no difference that the wood is shown at the end. Of course everyone has their own opinions, but Prismacolor isn't awful like dollar store pencils. I might sound like a defensive piece of crap, but to be honest there are worse brands than Prismacolors. For anyone who longed to hear this sentence, here it is. "Prismacolors are way lower quality." Then again, even if they aren't lightfast and aren't as high quality, they still are worth buying. Just don't sell art made with them! But who is to say they are useless?! Not me, because Prismacolors are worth something and do have great results. As a conclusion: to each their own, but try everything.

Actually having a stroke with how unorganised your pencils are 😧 mine have to remain in the original order they came in (or reluctantly, I'll reorder them by hue and value), in the original packaging, the right way up... How do you even find the colour you need quickly? 😲

I use the polychromos cinnamon for a light flesh. It's less pink than the other flesh tones

Three Tips using Prismacolor: 1. Turning the Sharpener (instead of the Pencil) has helped me a lot I have a both a Staedler and Prismacolor sharpener. 2. Wax Bloom can be removed by using a soft soft to gently buff it away. I did this 2 or 3 times after a drawing was done and never saw wax bloom on the drawing again after that. You can also use a Spray Fixative after a drawing is done. Be warned, some fixative Will intensify some colors. Do a color swatch then spray it with your chosen fixative to see for yourself if it makes enough of a noticeable change. 3. Dropped a Prismacolor? Lead breaking much? You can actually heat a Prismacolor colored pencil in the microwave, try 5-10 seconds. You really can't overdue it or you will literally melt the pencil lead! Heating just until the breaks join is the odjective.

If your prismacolour pencil break use a lakme eye brow pencil sharpener. I use it and it never breaks. Take googd care of them and donot let them fall which shatters the lead. No hate girl prisma colour are soooooo good and you donot need to buy soo expensive carendach luminance.

I use polychromos and prisma pencils in my work.. I use the prisma pencils to get that smooth look

Thank you for this comparison. I had no idea that a lot of Prismacolor pencils don't have light fastness, not that I'm an artist, but I just started trying to draw people and I'd like the pictures of my grandchildren to last several years after I'm gone. Thank you for sharing this video. 🌸🌸🌸

Can you a video solely on the Caran d'Ache pencils covering all the properties of these pencils in the same way that you made the prismacolor vs Faber castell?

Yess im happy there is coming a skin tone tutorial! I love to draw persons but im so bad at skintone

You are an amazing artist. I would give anything to be able to draw like that!!! Wow

this was a great comparison! i want to upgrade from prismacolor not because of the breakage, the breakage can be resolved if you use a hand held crank sharpener (it saved my life lol) but because I want more lightfast pencils. thanks for the great video :)

Hmmmm I can’t say I’ve ever had a lightfastness problem with prismacolors and they never break becuase I use an electric colored pencil sharpeners. Most of the prismacolors come in a tin box it’s only the 150 pack. This video is kind of interesting and I’m now interested in other brands but I just think it’s weird Ive never had the experiences she mentions. Guess I’m lucky👌🏻

Your illustrations are absolutely amazing

Nice presentation and demonstration, I would only add there are some really good colored pencils out there other than these three, you should give Derwent, Koh-I-Noor, Tombow, and Lyra a try. The results might surprise you.

I have a 72 set of prismacolor colored pencils and it comes in a tin box.

Remember you don’t need to stick to one pencil brand in a piece, you can mix brands, use softer pencils for blending, then use harder leads for details in the piece, also use ones with more transparency for certain techniques, and more opaque ones for other effects you want to achieve, also if you need a piece to be lightfast, only use the colors that do have good lightfast ratings, for instance I wouldn’t use any prismas in a piece needed to be sold I would use the lightfast ones if it’s a color I want in that piece. It’s not all are nothing, every brand has a place.

I use both and make them both just as smooth. I even use the Lightfast and Albrecht Durer in a non wet surface and it works.

I saw another video where someone suggested to heat the Prismacolor pencils with a hair dryer prior to the first use. I haven't sharpened my pencils yet but I did think the idea made sense in order to help adhere the core of the pencil to the wood and limit breaking when using/ sharpening. I hope this information is useful. Happy creating!🤗

I have had prismacolor pencils for about two years now and I use them quite a lot. They broke on me literally twice throughout that time. I dont know it might be the sharpener that I use. It's called t'gaal and it has got a dial to change the size you want the pencil to be sharpened. I put mine on the lowest so that I dont use too much of the pencil. I can honestly recommend that sharpener If you want to get something for your prismacolors.

Prismacolor will always be my fave 😊 I haven't tried Caran D'ache ones though

Good tip about using translucent Polychromos over watercolour to preserve the transparency feel of the watercolour. Thank you for yet another useful tutorial.

Brilliant! Thank you for the fantastic comparisons! This helps so much- I’m in the process of transitioning from strictly digital for several years into wanting to use color pencils and I’ve tried and compared the Prisma and Faber-Castells as well as a Staedtler and Derwent and I’m getting ready to purchase a smaller set of Caran D’Ache pencils and I wasn’t sure which I should go with, the Luminance or the Pablos, this review helps tons! Thank you so much!!! You’re a Rock Star! 😊👍🏼

Aw, I do want those Prisma Colors. I struggle a lot trying to blend with faberl castell. It's not just very smooth for blending.

I've never had a Prismacolor break

So much information! your experience of all those qualities would have been great if summarised in a picture of your rating chart at the end because I still don't know what to invest in haha.

I have all of these penils. I dropped my tin of Prismacolours and can say for sure they are VERY prone to breakage. Sharpened my pencil about HALF WAY DOWN because it kept breaking off. Think my favourite to use are the Faber Castell.

Hi! I want to ask what colors did you used in polychromos pencils? Thank you, hope you answer my inquiry. 😀😀😀 I'm such a fan of yours

Hello Kirsty.. Im new to coloured pencils and am watching as much as I can on youtube reserching what each make of pencils are best for what. I have just ordered a large set of Caran D'Ache but they are Pablo. Have I made a big mistake? I have individual Faber Castells, Polycromas which I like but keep hearing about Luminance. What is the difference between Pablo and Luminance. What individual colours of Luminance should I get to add to my collection?

I realize this was video was posted a long time ago but I feel compelled to comment because I can absolutely say the Prismacolor quality is far different than it once was. I still have some Prismacolors from a set I bought years ago when they were still owned by Berol and the pencils were manufactured in the United States. Those pencils are much more more highly pigmented and much less likely to break. The new open stock Prismacolors are completely different. I still use Prismacolor for practice and for certain applications, but they are NOT the same pencils they once were. This is an excellent comparison video!

Great video. Very informative. I had to play it twice because I got soooo mesmerized watching you color your art, somewhere along the way I stopped "listening" 😂. You have INCREDIBLE talent!!! WOW!❤

Hands down I love the polychromos !

So... which brand do you recommend? Full set of Prismas for $95, Polychromos for $175, or Luminance for $235? Prices around those right now. I can’t decide.... I have the 48 set of Prismas and some open stock Polychromos (colors have gaps). I’d go Luminance, but the price....

Forgive me if Im wrong but you're not supposed to use a lot of pressure when using oil based pencils because that destroys the paper. You're supposed to use a lot of light layers to build it up.

I use the Prismacolor almost exclusively as I am price sensitive...I have never had ANY complaints on fade on any of my sold works. If a person that buys a piece of art doesnt mount it and frame it properly even an oil painting will fade and crack and an acrylic with peel...there is no such thing as beginner or advanced colored pencil sets...Just because the Caran D'ache are the most expensive that doesnt make them the best and just because Crayolas are the cheapest doesnt make them the worst...I think there was way too much emphasis on the fade years amd months after a piece is sold...got news for you if you buy a black toaster from Walmart you cant wait years and months to go back to Walmart and complain that the toaster is now grey...is the same concept to me

Very inspiring indeed! Thanks for sharing this 🌹

You do Fabulous work Kirsty!

Your artwork is amazing!!

New Subscriber. I don't have the Caranache pencils, but I do like my Prismacolored Pencils and love my Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils.

This is really great information. Thanks for producing this video and explaining so well.

I use all 3 color pencils sets Caran D'Ache Luminance and Faber Castell polychromos and Prismacolors pencils,even Windsor & Newton, you can never have enough color pencils.

What an awesome video! You are so talented and I love watching your videos!💕

Do you store all of your pencil brands together or do you separate by the brand? Thank you for all your videos.

Excellent tutorial, Kirsty. One quick question, why do you keep the pencil shavings after sharpening? 😅

Luminance far superior pencil quality overall. I love the Luminance packaging better than the tin. Each pencil is cradled in foam. The Polychromos are nice also but not the cheap tin they come in. Thanks so much for your review.

I have a small set of the Caran D'ache, but colored pencil isn't really my media of choice so I don't know much about it. What do you mean when you say you "glaze the colors over the top"?

Many thanks for doing this - good review and comparison and really useful to hear your advice and opinions. Looking forward to the skin tone tutorial.

Very useful. U save my money.... i just bought prismacolor 150, and planning to buy polychromos. But i will buy caran dache first

First can't lightfastneds be improved with a fixative? Secondly, what about the brand Derwent - how do they compare? Thirdly, are the Caran's really a pastel pencil?

I use elf setting spray on my charcoal work. Doesnt fade or transfer. Don't know how it'll work on colored pencils but the stuff is pretty cheap so it's worth a try for someone who is looking for a possible solution to fading issues.

Your talent is mind blowing!

Great comparison! Really helped.

My biggest complaint about the Faber Castell Polychromos is that I bought the 36 pencils set, and I was surprised that there was no skin tone color that I could use and I use that the most for portraits. So frustrating. :(

Your tutorials are so amazingly amazing

Do you have or can you please make a video on the best colored pencils for black paper or even the best pastel pencils? If you have one and I just can’t find it would you mind please linking me to it? Love your videos for colors pencils best in all of youtube by the way💕 your very talented and pleasant to watch. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge 😁

Hi Kirsty I’ve just came across your Chanel . It’s brilliant and full of helpful information! Would the Faber castle water colour pencils be ok to use over watercolour paint ? Instead of the Faber-Castell Polychromos ? I already have a wide range of the watercolour pencils Thank you 😊

WOW! just found your channel, great video, very informative, and fantastic artwork, love it!!

I tried my aunt's Prismacolor Premiers once. And they're just as outstanding as others said.

I love your art.. what drawing papers are best for color pencils? And what website you go to order your materials?

I have compositions that are 25 years old that I did with Prismacolors that look just as good as the day I made the piece. I've never had a Prismacolor pencil break from falling neither... maybe the tip but not the whole pencil. You don't have to just use the layering of pencil colors to blend. You can use turpentine. I wonder how many people Caran D'ache sponsors?

Fantastically informative, thank you! 💕

You are really talented❤️❤️❤️❤️

This is so informative thanks for sharing this tips.❤😊

This really helped me ‘cause i actually have the 36 faber castell brand ,so thank you!!! Do you think the se are good for portraits?????

Very helpful for a beginner like me!

I just shouted myself the full set of Prismacolor. Here in New Zealand they're $500.00, but it was on sale for $400. Next is the full set of F-C. The Luminance ones look interesting ... not sure if we can get them here.

Great video - very informative - thanks! P.S: Just curious, what do you do with the shavings you've saved? An art project?

I would like some reviews of other cheap brands of colored pencils, maybe in the range of the prismacolor or even cheaper.. I'm a beginner and I would like to get a set of colors to experiment, but I'm not sure I want to spend a lot of money on a set, while I would still like to have a wider set of pencils..

Thank you so much for doing this excellent idea Kirsty,it's been really informative and helpful on a subject I need a lot of advice on. merry Christmas to you too!🎅

I am using polychromos currently. Switched to these from Prismacolor. I completely agree that these are way better than prisma. I struggle to get that really smooth skin tone with it. These dont blend so smoothly. Applying too much pressure damages the paper sometimes. I think I will be switching to caran dache for portraits. The eyes and hair strokes would be better with Polychromos , but the skin would be better with caran d ache

The reason Prismalcolor pencils brake more often, is not because they are thinner. Faber Castel and Caran d'Ache use a different method to glue the pigment stick into the wood. They glue the whole thing, so there is no part of the pigment that isnt glued to the wood. Prismacolor reduces costs by not doing that and just glueing part of the pigment. So if you sharpen your pencil and the pigment broke its going to fall out.

This art is brilliant!!!

2 words............ Bloody Fantastic! x

You are so talented 0_o !! I only wish I could draw like you !

Ummm how is prismacolors cheap 🤣

😍😍😍 tysm for this video, you are so helpful and talented !

on any type of paper,? or which one is better than what paper do you suggest ...? beautiful 😊

Hi Kristy! I use prismacolor colored pencils, but I frequently run out of the white pencil. Which would you say is better (better for blending and more opaque), Caran D'ache Luminance or Prismacolor white pencil?

Hi Kirsty, I'm so thankful for you for uploading this video, it contains all the stuff I was curious about. One question: From which artsupplies store can you buy Luminaces the cheapest?? I'm planning to buy a few pencils, just to try them out.. Thank you in advance!! 😇💕

I have purchased 3 full sets of Prismas, in the last 5 years, I have never had one broken pencil,. Also the same for when I purchased the Polys, Lumi’s, and Holbein, not to mention various budget pencils. Have I just been lucky? Who knows.

My favs are the Luminance. I wish they had more colors though as I’m not good at mixing colors.

In my country... the 36 count prismacolor is like spending 200 dollars on it... and the polychromos is like 80 dollar for the 12 count one... and they dont even sell caran d'ache here... tis is the life of living in a country with small currencies. we need to spend 4-5 times more just to get the same thing. Same with Lego. And the saddest thing is you need to like your own comment cuz u r the only one who reads it... whats happening wth my life??

Please could you make a review on Creta colours because I have them and I would like an artist to rate compared to prisma cause I'm thinking of changing

I know this was made 3 years ago but witch one is better for animal portraits

awwwwwww olaf is my favorite! did you sell that art?

Is there a great pencil extender you recommend that works with all three of these brands?

Great comparison, thank you!

i counted the excellent light fastness rated pencils in the prismacolor 150 set and they have 60 colors rated 1 or excellent...i think this is more then enough variety to make sellable art that wont fade..or am i wrong?.... went back and counted the number 2 "very good" color fastness rating and they have 19 of those..

What about Derwent? Where do they rank?

Great review and demo! Thank you very much!

I saw another video by another artist who said the Caran d'Ache had the better blending and white pencils, but the Polychromos had the better black, seems like it is best to buy both sets and apparently they work really well together. I have Prismacolour and dislike them so much! I hate the heavy wax bloom, as well as the fact that the pencil leads shatter and the sharpening of them makes them crumble. Other than that, I love their buttery colour, but it comes at a huge price! Better to spend more and get better pencils.

Love your art. TY for doing this video. TYFS

Prismacolor is my favorite pencil also I never had one break

I have all prisma sets...12, 24, 42, 72, 132, 150...and not one pencil broke on me. And I use a cheap sharpener.😁 I also have polychromos 36 set. But I think I prefer Prismas. I havent tried Luminance.

Very good,my favorite is faber castellano polychromos

Which pencils would you recommend for colouring stamped images on Kraft card please?

Thank you so much for this video ❤

I have a few prismas laying around and the only ones that have ever broken on me are the verithins. I think they were dropped at one point and the harder lead shattered.