By Jim Hingst
Before putting pencil to paper, you should decide on the best pencils
for your style of drawing. Some of the top brands are on the market are Caran D’ache,
Derwent, Faber-Castell, Prismacolor and Staedtler. Each brand of drawing pencil has its own
characteristics, so you need to do a little experimenting to decide which one
you prefer as well as which fits your budget.
for your style of drawing. Some of the top brands are on the market are Caran D’ache,
Derwent, Faber-Castell, Prismacolor and Staedtler. Each brand of drawing pencil has its own
characteristics, so you need to do a little experimenting to decide which one
you prefer as well as which fits your budget.
Pencils consist of a mixture of clay and graphite. As a rule of
thumb, when the pencil has a higher ratio of clay to graphite, the harder the
pencil lead is. Just so you know, there is no lead in pencil lead.
thumb, when the pencil has a higher ratio of clay to graphite, the harder the
pencil lead is. Just so you know, there is no lead in pencil lead.
Manufacturers grade their drawing pencils using the HB scale. This range of pencils can include as
many as 20 grades of hardness. On one side of the scale are the harder pencils,
which are marked with an H for hard. 9H is the hardest in this grouping. On the
other side of the scale are the softer pencils, which have the B designation. The B represents
blackness. The softest of these pencils is 9B. In the middle of the scale is HB.
many as 20 grades of hardness. On one side of the scale are the harder pencils,
which are marked with an H for hard. 9H is the hardest in this grouping. On the
other side of the scale are the softer pencils, which have the B designation. The B represents
blackness. The softest of these pencils is 9B. In the middle of the scale is HB.
Each pencil in the scale creates a mark with its own value. While you could
buy a full set of drawing pencils, you generally do not need nor will you likely use
every pencil in a set. If your budget is tight, only buy the pencils that you
need.
buy a full set of drawing pencils, you generally do not need nor will you likely use
every pencil in a set. If your budget is tight, only buy the pencils that you
need.
In starting a sketch, you usually make some light lines to indicate
the basic shapes in the drawing. For making
this initial light sketch, you might select 2H and 4H pencils. For creating the
darker values in the drawing, HB, 2B, 4B and 6B usually suffice. Rather than pressing harder to create a
darker mark on your paper, use a softer pencil.
the basic shapes in the drawing. For making
this initial light sketch, you might select 2H and 4H pencils. For creating the
darker values in the drawing, HB, 2B, 4B and 6B usually suffice. Rather than pressing harder to create a
darker mark on your paper, use a softer pencil.
Once you settle on your favorite brand of pencil, stick with it. The
reason is that a particular grade, such as a 4B from one manufacturer, may not
match the value produced from another manufacturer’s 4B.
reason is that a particular grade, such as a 4B from one manufacturer, may not
match the value produced from another manufacturer’s 4B.
If you are working from a picture or photocopy, one way to help pick
the right pencil grade is to use a gray scale and value finder. This value
finder lets you isolate and inspect value of a particular area in the
photograph.
the right pencil grade is to use a gray scale and value finder. This value
finder lets you isolate and inspect value of a particular area in the
photograph.
 |
| A Gray Scale & Value Finder can help you match the pencil you need to reproduce a value in your drawing. |
To lighten up a value on your drawing, which is too dark, a kneaded eraser
is indispensable. The softness of the eraser allows you to press it over an
area of your drawing to gently lift off a slight amount of graphite. This malleable
eraser also allows you to mold it into a number of shapes to create a narrow
highlight or a suggestion of reflected light.
is indispensable. The softness of the eraser allows you to press it over an
area of your drawing to gently lift off a slight amount of graphite. This malleable
eraser also allows you to mold it into a number of shapes to create a narrow
highlight or a suggestion of reflected light.
The gray scale value that a pencil grade produces will depend on the particular pencil manufacturer. In other words, these values will vary from one brand to another. Below are the gray scale values that I produced in testing one brand. In your testing you should create a chart for yourself.
|
Gray Scale
Value
|
Pencil Grade
|
|
1 – 100% Black
|
9xxB
|
|
2
|
6B
|
|
3
|
4B
|
|
4
|
2B
|
|
5
|
HB
|
|
6
|
2H
|
|
7
|
4H
|
|
8
|
6H
|
|
9
|
9H
|
|
10 Pure White
|
–
|
About Jim Hingst: Sign business authority on vehicle wraps, vinyl graphics, screen printing, marketing, sales, gold leaf, woodcarving and painting.
After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.
Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer. Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.
Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 190 articles for publications, such as Signs Canada, SignCraft, Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 500 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published. Vinyl Sign Techniques is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon.
© 2019 Jim Hingst, All Rights Reserved.
