Exploring Faber-Castell's Professional Coloured Pencils

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For artists seeking exceptional quality and versatility in their medium, Faber-Castell Polychromos coloured pencils frequently stand out. First introduced to the market in 1908 by Count Alexander von Faber-Castell, these pencils have a long-standing legacy. Renowned for their vibrant hues, superior lightfastness, and distinct oil-based formula, they offer a drawing experience that has made them a firm favourite among professionals and hobbyists alike. This article delves into what makes Polychromos a cornerstone in the art world, exploring their unique characteristics, optimal uses, how they compare to other prominent oil-based pencil lines, and their performance on various popular papers.​

Core Characteristics and Performance

At the core of what makes Polychromos pencils so appealing are several key characteristics. Unlike many common wax-based pencils, Polychromos feature a medium-soft, oil-based lead. This composition offers several advantages: they glide effortlessly across various surfaces, allowing for smooth, consistent colour laydown. The oil binder also facilitates extensive layering without quickly saturating the paper, enabling artists to build up considerable depth and complexity of colour. It's even possible to achieve many layers with these pencils. Another significant benefit is the reduced wax bloom; a common issue with wax-based pencils where a cloudy, white residue can appear over time is largely absent with Polychromos due to their minimal wax content. Once applied, the colours are permanent, water-resistant, and unlikely to smudge.

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Base: ​Oil based

Colours: 120

Lead:  Medium-Firm

Lightfast rating: Blue Wool/Star

Costs: £ - £££

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A crucial factor for artists concerned with the longevity of their artwork is exceptional lightfastness. Polychromos boast superior lightfastness ratings, indicating the colours are highly resistant to fading when exposed to light over time. The majority of the 120-colour range (over 100 colours) carries a *** lightfastness rating, suggesting they will retain their vibrancy for 100+ years. The pencils are also packed with high-quality, acid-free pigments, delivering rich, vibrant, and brilliant colours with excellent saturation.
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Faber-Castell also employs a special "SV bonding" process, securely gluing the lead to the wooden barrel along its entire length. This significantly enhances break resistance, making the pencils durable and less prone to breakage, even when dropped or sharpened. Polychromos are available in a vast spectrum of shades for diverse artistic requirements, from vibrant primaries to subtle earth tones. Furthermore, Faber-Castell is committed to sustainable sourcing; the wood used for Polychromos pencils comes from certified sustainable forestry, and the coating is an environmentally friendly, water-based varnish.
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Price and Availability

Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils are positioned at the premium end of the coloured pencil market, reflecting their professional-grade quality, high pigment concentration, and exceptional lightfastness. While they represent a more significant investment than student-grade alternatives, many artists consider their durability, performance, and archival properties to justify the cost. They are widely available in various set sizes, from introductory tins to the full 120-colour collection. Crucially for artists, individual pencils are also sold as open stock, allowing for the replacement of frequently used colours or the gradual expansion of a collection.

Colour Palette and Range

The Polychromos line provides artists with an expansive spectrum for virtually any creative project. This extensive range includes a rich selection of vibrant primaries, subtle secondary and tertiary hues, a wide array of earth tones, and a versatile selection of greys and blacks. The high pigment load ensures brilliant and saturated colours, while the breadth of the range allows for nuanced colour mixing, precise colour matching, and the creation of complex, multi-layered artwork. The availability of individual pencils further empowers artists to tailor their collection precisely to their specific artistic demands.

Open Stock

Tin of 12

Tin of 24

Tin of 36

Tin of 120

Box set of 120

Colour Chart

Exceptional Lightfastness

A crucial factor for artists concerned with the longevity of their artwork is exceptional lightfastness. Polychromos boast superior lightfastness ratings, meaning the colours are highly resistant to fading when exposed to light over time. Faber-Castell rigorously rates these pencils using the Blue Wool Scale, a traditional and widely recognised method for testing pigment permanence. This involves exposing colour samples alongside standardised blue wool strips of known lightfastness and comparing their fade resistance.

Rather than presenting the full scientific Blue Wool rating directly on each pencil, Faber-Castell employs its own intuitive star rating system. This simplifies the technical data into easily understandable symbols that artists can quickly reference:

• *** (3 stars): Indicates Maximum Lightfastness, equivalent to a 7-8 rating on the Blue Wool Scale, suggesting the colour will retain its vibrancy for over 100 years. The majority of the 120-colour range (over 100 colours) carries this highest rating.
• ** (2 stars): Denotes Very Good Lightfastness, correlating to a 5-6 rating on the Blue Wool Scale, implying over 25 years of fade resistance.
• * (1 star): Signifies Good Lightfastness, equivalent to a 3-4 rating on the Blue Wool Scale, indicating over 5 years of fade resistance.

This commitment to lightfastness, coupled with the use of high-quality, acid-free pigments, ensures excellent saturation and lasting brilliance in your artwork. While Polychromos primarily use the Blue Wool scale, it's worth noting that these ratings are considered comparable to aspects of the ASTM D6901 standard used by some other brands, particularly in the US.

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Related articles that may be of interest​

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Find out how the Polychromos pencils compare to other coloured pencil brands.

Read our guide to the Derwent Lightfast coloured pencils

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Comparing Polychromos to other professional oil-based pencils

When comparing Polychromos to popular wax-based pencils like Prismacolor Premier, there are some distinct differences. The primary distinction lies in their binder: Polychromos are oil-based, while Prismacolor are wax-based. This difference contributes to the absence of wax bloom in Polychromos, which can be an issue with wax-based pencils, especially with heavy application of dark colours. In terms of hardness, Polychromos are generally considered medium-soft, whereas Prismacolor are typically softer. The slightly harder nature of Polychromos can facilitate finer details and less point breakage. Both types of pencils blend effectively, but Polychromos excel with oil-based solvents, whereas Prismacolor often respond better to alcohol-based solutions.
​Let's now examine how Polychromos compare to other notable oil-based coloured pencils.

Polychromos v's Caran d'Ache Pablo

​Caran d'Ache Pablo pencils are also primarily oil-based, often feeling a bit firmer and drier than Polychromos, which allows for very fine detail and sharp points. They excel in layering and blending, though some artists find them requiring slightly more effort for seamless transitions compared to Polychromos, and while their lightfastness is good, it's generally not as consistently high across the entire 120-colour range.

Polychromos v's Lyra Polycolor

​Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor pencils are oil-based with a slightly waxier, yet smooth and buttery, feel that's often described as medium-hard, making them comparable to Polychromos in texture. They offer good layering and blend very well, including with solvents, and while they provide lightfastness ratings, these are not as widely detailed or consistently high as Polychromos; their smaller 72-colour range and often lower price point make them a good value option.

Polychromos v's Derwent Lightfast

​Derwent Lightfast pencils stand out as a uniquely soft and creamy oil-based pencil, gliding effortlessly and blending exceptionally well to create seamless transitions, almost like some wax-based pencils but without the risk of wax bloom. Their defining feature is their guaranteed 100% lightfastness across the entire 100-colour range under museum conditions, setting a benchmark for archival quality, though this premium performance is reflected in their typically higher price point.

Polychromos v's Holbein Artists'

Holbein Artists' Coloured Pencils are often perceived as a blend of oil, wax, and fats, resulting in a distinctively softer and more buttery feel than Polychromos, which allows for excellent blending and smooth laydown. While they boast a very extensive and unique 150-colour range, including many beautiful pastel tones, specific lightfastness ratings are not consistently published, and some artists report varying archival performance, making them a premium but potentially less consistently lightfast choice compared to Polychromos.

When choosing between these oil-based pencil lines, artists often weigh the following:

• Hardness/Softness: Do you prefer a harder pencil for fine detail and control (Polychromos, Pablo) or a softer, creamier pencil for quicker laydown and blending (Derwent Lightfast, Holbein)?
• Layering Ability: While all oil pencils layer well, the harder leads of Polychromos and Pablos allow for a greater number of individual layers before saturation.
• Lightfastness: For archival work and professional artists, the documented, high lightfastness of Polychromos and particularly Derwent Lightfast is paramount.
• Colour Palette: Each brand offers a distinct colour range. Polychromos has a comprehensive traditional artist's palette, Pablo has unique greys and earth tones, Derwent Lightfast focuses on highly stable pigments, and Holbein is celebrated for its unique pastel and muted shades.
• Price: There's a clear price hierarchy, with Lyra often being more accessible and Derwent Lightfast and Holbein at the premium end.
• Feel and Application: The subtle differences in how each pencil feels on paper (drier, smoother, creamier) are subjective and often lead to personal preference.

In summary, while Faber-Castell Polychromos stand as a robust, reliable, and highly lightfast choice, the world of oil-based coloured pencils offers excellent alternatives. Caran d'Ache Pablos provide a similar firm feel with a slightly different palette, Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor offers good performance at a slightly lower price point, Derwent Lightfast prioritises ultimate archival quality with a softer lead, and Holbein brings a unique, very soft touch and an extensive, distinctive colour range, albeit with varying lightfastness information. Ultimately, experimenting with individual pencils from different brands can help an artist discover their perfect match. Alternatively, explore our in-depth article comparing popular coloured pencil ranges, covering both oil-based and wax-based options, and highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Related articles that may be of interest​

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Read our article about the oil-based Lyra Polycolor grey tones set

Review of Strathmore 500 Bristol Vellum and Plate paper surfaces

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Surface Testing

Polychromos also adhere well to a variety of surfaces beyond standard drawing paper, including sketch paper, drawing paper, bristol vellum, pastel papers like Pastelmat, cardboard, wood, stone, leather, and metal. While Polychromos are adaptable, certain papers can genuinely enhance their performance. Papers like Strathmore Bristol Vellum and art boards provide good tooth for the pencils to grip, allowing for effective layering and blending. Canson Colorline Papers are another suitable option due to their texture. For those seeking superior blending and layering, UArt 800 Grit Pastel Paper and Pastelmat are highly regarded for Polychromos, enabling smooth layering and straightforward blending with a paper stump or brush. Hot press watercolour paper offers a smooth surface that can work well, particularly for detailed work. While Polychromos can be used on smooth papers (like Bristol Smooth), some artists find it more challenging to layer extensively, as the pencils tend to glide off more easily. To understand their versatility, we tested Polychromos pencils on a selection of six distinct paper types to see how each influences their application and finish.

Polychromos on Strathmore 500 Bristol Plate surface

• Description: Known for its exceptionally smooth, almost glossy surface.
• Performance: Polychromos pigments can be challenging to apply effectively, as the paper offers little "tooth" for the pencil to grip, resulting in less vibrant colour laydown. However, this smoothness can be beneficial for achieving incredibly seamless, subtle colour gradations where a very soft touch is used.
• Suitability: 2 out of 5

Polychromos on Strathmore 500 Bristol Vellum surface

​Bristol Vellum

• Description: Features a slight, uniform texture with a matt finish.
• Performance: This paper consistently yields the most vibrant results with Polychromos. Pencils apply smoothly and effortlessly, allowing for excellent pigment transfer and deep saturation. It's a highly versatile surface for detailed work and strong colour application.
• Suitability: 5 out of 5

Polychromos on Bockingford NOT watercolour paper (grey tint)

• ​Description: A cold-pressed watercolour paper with a noticeable, slightly bumpy texture. (Note: Bockingford is also available in a hot-pressed version, which has a smoother surface and might be preferred if you dislike prominent texture.)
• Performance: Polychromos apply easily, and the texture helps the paper "grab" the pigment, leading to strong colours. However, the distinct texture means achieving perfectly smooth, seamless gradations can be difficult, as the paper's grain will remain visible.
• Suitability: 4 out of 5

Polychromos on Saunders Waterford hot-pressed paper

• Description: A hot-pressed watercolour paper with a smooth, matt finish, offering a subtle texture.
• Performance: Polychromos pencils glide on beautifully, allowing for smooth blending and vibrant pigment application. This paper is excellent for creating seamless colour transitions and offers an easy, consistent application experience.
• Suitability: 4.5 out of 5

Polychromos on Fabriano Artistico hot-pressed paper

• Description: Another hot-pressed watercolour paper, characterised by a subtle, weave-like texture.
• Performance: You may feel a slight resistance when applying Polychromos to this paper. Colours can appear marginally more muted compared to the vibrancy achieved on Saunders Waterford or Bristol Vellum, but the texture does allow for good pigment adherence.
• Suitability: 3 out of 5

Polychromos on Clairfontaine Pastelmat surface

• Description: A unique, sanded pastel paper with a fine, velvety texture. (Note: Using a grey base will naturally influence how colours appear.)​
• Performance: The abrasive surface of Pastelmat excels at "grabbing" and holding significant amounts of pigment, allowing for intense colour saturation and layering without slickness. However, on a grey base, it will naturally darken the tones of the applied pigments compared to a white surface.
• Suitability: 4 out of 5

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Conclusions

These pencils offer a unique blend of control, vibrant pigment, and durability, making them incredibly versatile for detailed botanical illustrations, rich portraits, or expansive landscapes. While personal preference in art supplies is always paramount – as seen in the varied experiences artists have with their hardness compared to softer alternatives – Polychromos consistently deliver on their promise of professional-grade performance and archival quality.

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Polychromos pencils are generally considered vegan-friendly, as Faber-Castell confirms their pencil leads use no animal-derived ingredients or animal testing, relying instead on inorganic, synthetic, or vegetable raw materials. They also stand out as an environmentally conscious choice, made with wood from sustainable forestry, coated with eco-friendly water-based varnish, and backed by Faber-Castell's broader commitment to carbon-neutral production and biodiversity.