Prismacolor Pencils: An In-Depth Review and Comparison

Prismacolor Pencils: An In-Depth Review and Comparison

Prismacolors are some of the best pencils for coloring. They are used by professional artists and illustrators all around the world. They are top-quality alcohol-based markers that are designed to last a lifetime. However, these benefits do not come without a price. It can be difficult to decide which type of Copic to buy since they are a larger investment than other art supplies.

Table of Contents

Click to learn about each marker:

Prismacolor Premier Soft Core

Prismacolor Premiers are some of the most popular pencils for coloring, and for good reason. They’re fantastic pencils. The soft core make them easy to blend with and let you lay down bolder colors very quickly.

Prismacolor Premier Blue Slate Pencil

150 Colors

With 150 available colors, Prismacolor Premiers have the largest variety of colors. These pencils are also fantastic for blending, allowing you to combine different pencils to create completely new colors.

Soft Wax Core for Amazing Blending

The reason Prismacolors are so popular is the pigment core. It is wax-based and soft, especially when compared to the brittle lead of Crayolas. This lets these pencils spread like butter! When you blend with Prismacolor Premiers, it’s almost like you’re mixing the two colors together rather than layering one over the other.

Cost

While they’re more expensive than Crayolas, Premier’s are cheaper than lots of professional pencils and are a great bang for the buck. You can often find them on sale on Amazon. Lots of shops also stock these pencils; I’ve seen them at Walmart, Target, and other places you wouldn’t expect.

Pros

  • Excellent for Blending / Shading
  • Largest Color Variety
Blending Prismacolor Pencils Prismacolor Premiers are some of the best colored pencils for blending and shading.

Cons

  • Wear Down Quickly
  • Fragile

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Prismacolor Premier Verithin

Prismacolor Verithins are the perfect complement to the Soft Cores. These are perfect for fine detail work and getting into tight spaces. Once you’ve filed in the big areas, the Verithins will add the details that bring your coloring to life.

Prismacolor Verithin Olive Green Pencil

36 Colors

Prismacolor Verithins have a pretty limited color selection. They don’t come in very many colors, making them a good pencil to use in combination with a more colorful pencil set.

Hard Core That Stays Sharp

These pencils have a much harder core than the Premiers. This means that you can sharpen them to a very fine point. A sharp tip helps you fill each nook and cranny and create clean, crisp lines and edges. It takes a little longer to build up colors, but the result is well worth it.

Cost

While Verithins are a bit more expensive than Soft Cores, they only come in 36 colors, so buying the full set isn’t too hard on your wallet. Since they are harder, they also last a bit longer, especially if you only use them for detail work.

Overall, the Verithins aren’t the best all around colored pencils, but are a great addition to your existing collection. They really shine when used in combination with other types of colored pencils.

Pros

  • Perfect for Details and Crisp Edges
  • Can be Sharpened to a Fine Point
  • Long-Lasting
Prismacolor Verithins can be sharpened to a  fine, long-lasting tip Prismacolor Verithins are perfect for small spaces, fine details, and clean, crisp edges.

Cons

  • Bad For Blending
  • Takes Time to Build Color

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Prismacolor Scholar

Prismacolor Scholars are the recommended pencils for student artists. They’re more affordable than some of the other Prismacolor lines, and they are great all around pencils. Their versatility make them a favorite alternative to Premiers.

Prismacolor Scholar Orange Pencil

60 Colors

Prismacolor Scholars come in 60 different colors. There is a pretty decent variety of colors, but they do not have the huge selection of the Premier Soft Cores. Still, there are more than enough colors to decide whether or not you like Prismacolors. If you do, then you can upgrade to a pencil type with a larger color selection.

Medium-Soft Core for Versatility

Scholars are harder than Premiers but softer than Verithins. It’s a good middle ground which means you can use them for blending and shading as well as fine detailed work.

Cost

If you’re looking for an affordable all-around pencil, the Scholars are a perfect match. They are perfect for students or anyone who wants to try Prismacolor pencils without spending too much money.

Pros

  • Decent all-around pencils for blending and detailed work
  • Cheaper than other Prismacolor pencils
Prismacolor Scholar pencils are versatile enough for blending and detailing The Scholars are good for blending and detailing, and are the most versatile Prismacolors

Cons

  • Don’t excel in any particular area

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Prismacolor Watercolor

Watercolor pencils aren’t for everybody, but when used correctly, they are even more blendable than the Soft Cores. Unlike normal colored pencils, once you finish coloring with these, you can go over your work with a wet brush to blend the colors right on the page.

Prismacolor Watercolor Copenhagen Pencil

36 Colors

Prismacolor Watercolors come in 36 different colors. The initial color selection is fairly limited. However, these pencils are meant for blending. Mixing different colors together can create completely new hues, making the actual color variety practically unlimited.

Water-Soluble Core for Unique Blending

The core of these pencils are really unique. They remind me of the dry watercolor paints you would use as a kid. When the pigment gets wet, it dissolves and spreads evenly through the liquid. This can make for some amazing blends and coloring effects.

Cost

The Premier Watercolors can be hard to find and as such are on the more expensive side. You may want to try watercolor out to see if it’s for you before purchasing a set. However, if you decide you like it, these pencils are high-quality a great choice (like all Prismacolors).

Pros

  • Extremely Smooth Blends
  • Fun to Use and Experiment With
Prismacolor Watercolor pencils are water-soluble Adding water to the Prismacolor Watercolors creates a unique blending effect

Cons

  • Specific Uses
  • Require Water
  • Watercolor Techniques Take Practice

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Prismacolor Col-Erase

If you’ve ever planned a whole color scheme for a page, only to mess it up halfway through, then you need to try the Prismacolor Col-Erase pencils. While other erasable colored pencils often feel cheap or don’t color well, the Col-Erase bring the same high-quality you expect from the brand.

Prismacolor Col-Erase Carmine Red Pencil

24 Colors

The Col-Erase pencils only come in 24 colors. They have the smallest variety of colors of any Prismacolor pencil. These pencils aren’t great for blending, so the lack of color variety is the biggest drawback for these pencils.

Medium-Hard Core for Erasability

In order to stay erasable, the Col-Erase have to be on the harder side. Most people find these pencils most comparable to the Verithins. The harder lead means it takes longer to fill in large areas, but that’s the price you pay for an erasable colored pencil.

Cost

These are less popular and a bit harder to find than other Prismacolors. However, if you’re looking for them, you should be able to find a pack at a decent price. Since there are only 24 colors in this line, you won’t break the bank getting the full set.

Pros

  • Artist-Quality Erasable Pencils
Primsacolor Col-Erase pencils are erasable Col-Erase are designed for perfectionists who want an artist-quality erasable colored pencil

Cons

  • Poor Color Variety

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Differences Between Prismacolors

Each type of Prismacolor has a specific use, and unique strengths and weaknesses. Some are versatile and do a lot of things well. Others are more specialized and are some of the best pencils for what they do. Whatever your style, there’s a pencil for you.

Color Variety

You should always consider color variety when adding new colored pencils to your collection. You might like the way a certain pencil colors, only to find out that it only comes in a few colors.

Most people agree that more color options are better. Knowing that, it’s pretty easy to pick a best and worst Prismacolor line when it comes to color choice:

Most Color Options

Premier Soft Core Set of 72

Prismacolor Premier Soft Core
150 Colors

Fewest Color Options

Col-Erase Set of 12

Prismacolor Col-Erase
24 Colors

Pigment Type

The term “pigment” refers to the colored core of the pencil. The makeup of the pigment determines how the pencil colors, and defines its strengths and weaknesses.

The reason Premier Soft Cores blend so well is in the name. The softer pigment used in these pencil spreads, whereas harder pigments crumble. The soft, spreadable pigment makes it easier to mix different color pigments on the page.

Harder pigments are more resistant and don’t wear down as quickly. This means that you can sharpen them to a finer point, and they’ll keep that point for longer. This is especially useful when coloring fine details or in tight spaces.

Using our knowledge of pigments, we’ve selected the best Prismacolors for specific coloring techniques:

Best For Blending and Shading

Premier Soft Core Set of 72

Prismacolor Premier Soft Core
Soft Pigment for Great Blending

Honorable Mention

Watercolor Set of 24

Prismacolor Watercolor
Unique Blending Effects


Best For Details

Premier Verithin Set of 12

Prismacolor Verithin
Hardest Pigment For The Sharpest Point

Honorable Mention

Scholar Set of 48

Prismacolor Scholar
Slightly Softer, But More Versatile


Most Versatile
Scholar Set of 48

Prismacolor Scholar
Hard Enough For Detailing, Soft Enough For Blending

Honorable Mention
Col-Erase Set of 12

Prismacolor Col-Erase
A Surprisingly Versatile Erasable Colored Pencil


Alternatives to Prismacolor Pencils

Not everything lives up to the hype. Prismacolors are popular, but some colorists still like other pencils better. Below you’ll find our recommendations if you decide these pencils aren’t for you.

A tin of Faber Castell Polychromos pencils, an alternative to Prismacolor pencils
Faber Castell Polychromos

The Rolls Royce of colored pencils. These are serious, artist-grade tools. The pigment is harder than Prismacolor Soft-Cores, which some people prefer. This means blending will take a bit more effort. Still, Polychromos are prized for their rich colors and their smooth feel. They are top of the line pencils, with a top of the line price tag; you’ll be lucky to find a them for less than a dollar apiece.


A set of Marco Raffine pencils
Marco Raffine

If you want an easy-to-blend soft-core pencil but can’t afford Prismacolors, try the Marco Raffines out. They’re a bit cheaper, and like the Premier Soft-Cores, they have a waxier pigment that is easier to blend that other colored pencils. You can get essentially the same feel at a lower price tag. Some people even prefer the Marcos!