Preferences for brands of colored pencils are highly individual, but overall, many people prefer Prismacolor for ease of application, ability to blend, and sustainability of bright color. Conversely, Crayola pencils are far less expensive than Prismacolor while maintaining a reasonable level of coloring pleasure.
Whether Prismacolor Colored Pencils are better than Crayola is mainly in the perception of the user. Prismacolor has a soft core that goes on smooth and creamy. Crayola tends to be a little more complicated, and the darker colors can seem a little scratchy. Prismacolor pencils tend to deliver a more saturated color, especially with repeated layering, and the softcore lends itself well to blending. The added hardness makes Crayola a little better for outlining. Crayola wins hands down if you are strapped for cash but still want to feed your coloring habit.
Ease of Application and Use
The Prismacolor soft core makes it easy to lay down a thick layer of color. The leads will hold up to a steady pressure but are better applied in successive layers. It is inadvisable to attempt to sharpen a Prismacolor colored pencil in a grinder-type pencil sharpener. The softcore will frequently break, to the detriment of pencil and sharpener. Instead, use a hand sharpener, applying gentle pressure to avoid cracking the core.
Crayola pencils are slightly more complicated but will create a nice layer of color, mainly if the side of the lead is used to add the color. However, it is still not a good idea to sharpen them with a grinder-style pencil sharpener. Again, a hand sharpener is a better choice. Because of their slightly greater hardness, Crayola pencils work well for outlining, hatching, and cross-hatching, whereas Prismacolor’s point, will wear down quickly.
Variety of Pencils Available
Prismacolor
It has been around as a professional art pencil for a while, so it has had time to develop several different pencil styles. These include their standard softcore, their Scholar collection formulated for students, Col-Erase – erasable colored pencils, watercolor pencils, portrait colors, manga colors, Verithin (hardcore for lettering and other fine detailing), and Premier (also hardcore). Their collection, however, does not seem to include a set of glitter pencils. Prismacolor pencils will average around $1.00 per pencil, with some collections running a little more.
Crayola
It caters more to the department store shopper rather than the art store shopper. Their featured collections and types of pencils include a set for adult coloring (50 pencils in various colors); sets for school supply use – in counts of 12, 36, or fifty; Erasables; bulk sets for classrooms; Twistables – no sharpening necessary. Crayola pencils have a moderate softness. Like Prismacolor, they should be sharpened using a hand sharpener, both for the sake of the pencils and for the life of the pencil sharpener. As you can see from the available sets, Crayola focuses more on the public school crowd and less on professional art. Fortunately, this does not mean that Crayola pencils are lacking in quality. Quite the contrary. They will give a good coloring experience and are suited to making maps and similar school activities. Crayola pencils will typically cost around Twenty Cents each.
Color Saturation and Durability
When it comes to color saturation and durability, Prismacolor is the winner. Designed for professional artists, it goes on smoothly and maintains its color for quite a long while without fading. With that said, even Prismacolor has a finite lifespan. Colored pencils are not painted.
Crayola goes on relatively smoothly and will beat out several other department store pencils, such as CrazyArt or RoseArt. It will maintain color for quite a while, certainly long enough to get that critical colored pencil map turned in to the history or geography teacher. It goes on sufficiently quickly so as not to frustrate budding artists.
The longevity of all colored pencil pictures can be prolonged by using a spray fixative. Once the fixative is dry, the colors can be preserved by storing the pictures inside a folder or notebook where they are not exposed to sunlight.
The Parts of the Pencil
A standard number 2 pencil comes in four parts: the lead (or core), the wooden barrel, the ferrule, and an eraser. The wooden barrel is usually made in two parts, the core is laid in, and the barrel is then glued together.
Colored pencils are made similarly, but not wholly the same. Most colored pencils have only two parts: the lead and the barrel. The composition of the barrel is essential because it will affect the sharpening. If it is not properly made, the seam where the pencil is glued together can catch during sharpening and pull the pencil apart.
Pencils of all sorts can have slightly different barrel shapes. Both Prismacolor and Crayola tend to have round barrels. However, in addition to round barrels, pencils can also have six-sided barrels, while a few are three-sided or even square. Round pencils are generally considered to be more comfortable for prolonged use, but multisided pencils are thought to be better for developing a firm grip.
Some colored pencils, even though they might not have an eraser, do have a ferrule. The ferrule is the metal part at the top of the pencil. For colored pencils, this is more of a decoration than anything else. For pencils that have erasers, and this holds for colored pencils as well as standard pencils, the ferrule holds the eraser onto the barrel.
Watercolor Pencils
Both Prismacolor and Crayola put out a good grade of watercolor pencil. Watercolor pencils can be a little tricky to apply successfully. A good technique is to apply hatching to the area where you want the color and then brush over the hatching lightly with a clean, damp watercolor brush. Another method of using them is to get the lead wet before applying the color to the page. This will, typically, make the color brighter. However, if injudiciously used, it can tear the paper to which it is being applied.
When using the hatching and damp brush method, watercolor pencils of all brands tend to blend well.
Learn more about watercolor colored pencils HERE.
Which is better, Prismacolor or Crayola?
When comparing only quality, Prismacolor tends to be the better pencil. It goes on more smoothly, creates a more saturated color, and maintains its brightness longer. With that said, Prismacolor is a professional pencil and has a commensurate cost associated with it. It would be ill-advised to purchase a set of Prismacolor pencils for your average school child, who is likely to lose or break most of the colors before the end of the school year.
Crayola colored pencils are a satisfactory coloring choice for most entertainment coloring needs. They are an excellent choice for school use, having a reasonable quality that will not frustrate budding artists, yet they are not so expensive that parents are likely to feel excessively protective of this school supply. They will work very well for adults who are simply coloring for relaxation and who have no aspirations of saving or immortalizing their work.
Both Prismacolor and Crayola are suitable for creating colored sketches when preparing a picture concept that will be turned into part of a larger work, especially if this is planning for an acrylic or oil or setting up a layout for architecture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the erasable pencils erase?
They do a reasonable job of erasing to the extent that you can clean up edges or reduce an unwanted color to the point that it can be colored over. With that said, even erasing drawing pencils tends to damage the finish of the paper, changing the quality of any color placed over it.
For what age might you purchase a set of Prismacolors?
That is one of those variable-laden questions to which there is no particular right answer. Schools generally do not require colored pencils as a school supply before third grade and will more often ask for them around fourth grade. If you purchase a set of Prismacolors for a youthful user, it might be a good idea to also supply an inexpensive school set, such as Crayola, for school use. For adult coloring, there is no set age, but one might keep in mind how often the set would be used and go for one of lesser cost if it is likely to be set on a shelf most of the year. On the other hand, if the recipient/user is someone who appreciates good art supplies but does not frequently get a chance to apply them, the creamy smoothness and variety of colors available through Prismacolor might be more than welcome for those rare leisure moments.
I’m on a restricted budget. Which is my better buy, Prismacolor or Crayola?
Crayola will certainly obtain for you a reasonable set of colors at a much lower cost than Prismacolor. It will deliver a good coloring experience and allow you to enjoy your hobby without a huge investment. On the other hand, even though Prismacolor is more expensive, a small set is not too pricey. With its ability to blend, even a set of twelve colors will provide variety.
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