More lightfastness test

I have a lot of colored pencils that I for different reasons wanted to put to a lightfastness test. Some just because they lack a lightfastness rating in CPSA or the company them self (in this case Derwent) had given their own pencil a lower rating then CPSA had.

They have been in a window facing south for a year. The samples are made on paper from Stonehenge and Fabriano.

So here are the results:

Faber-Castell

Faber Castell: Paynes Grey                

I don´t se any changes in this color.

Derwent colorsoft

Derwent colorsoft Red C120

I can see a small change. It has become ever so slightly lighter, but it is just barely visible.

Derwent colorsoft Soft Pink C170

This color has lost both in hue as well as in value. It has gone from a light pink to a very light yellow tone.

Derwent colorsoft Cloud Blue C360

This color has changed more in hue then in value. It went from a bluer gray to a greener gray.

Derwent colorsoft Ultramarine C290

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.

Lyra

Lyra Silver Grey warm

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.

Lyra Light Grey Warm

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.

Lyra Medium Grey Warm

There is a small change in value. It has become lighter.

Lyra Dark Grey Warm

There is a small change in value. It has become lighter.

Lyra Black Hard

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.

Lyra Black Soft

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.

Lyra Light Flesh

This color has change a lot. It is much lighter after a year in facing south.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

126 Persian Orange

This color has change a lot. It is much lighter after a year in facing south.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

131 French Pink

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

170 Pyrrole Red

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

177 Lilac Violet

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

178 Reddish Violet

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

179 Bluish Violet

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

180 Lavender Violet Dark

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

181 Windsor Violet

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

182 Dark Violet

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

207 Burnt Sienna

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

212 Caput Mortuum

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

214 Earth Brown Dark

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

350 Medium Flesh

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

351 Reddish Flesh

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

352 Blush Pink

This color has change a lot. It is much lighter after a year in facing south.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

354 Pink Orange

This color has change a lot. It is barely visible anymore.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

355 Peach Orange

This color has change a lot. It is barely visible anymore.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

401 Cool Grey 1

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

403 Cool Grey 3

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

405 Cool Grey 5

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

406 Cool Grey 6

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

408 Cool Grey 8

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

409 Cool Grey 9

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

451 Warm Grey 1

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

452 Warm Grey 2

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

453 Warm Grey 3

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

455 Warm Grey 5

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

456 Warm Grey 6

This color has become slightly lighter.

Koh-I-Noor Polycolor

458 Warm Grey 8

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter.

Prismacolor

Prismacolor Mediterranean Blue1022

Prismacolor Moss Green 1097

Prismacolor China Blue 1100

Prismacolor Green Ochre 1091

Prismacolor Eggshell 140

Prismacolor Sap Green Light 120

Prismacolor Permanent Red 122

Prismacolor Cobalt Blue Hue133

Prismacolor Pomegranate 195

Prismacolor Cadmium Orange hue 118

Prismacolor Dioxazine Purple hue 132

Prismacolor Indanthrone blue 208

Prismacolor Cerulean Blue 103

Prismacolor Cobalt turquoise 105

Prismacolor Grey Green Light 289

Prismacolor Prussian Green 109

Prismacolor Carmine Red 126

All Prismacolor looked the same except for Moss Green that has lost some of the original yellow tone and now look dark grey instead.

When I compare the result to CPSA, I could not find two of the pencils I have. Maybe they are too new (or too old?).  There is a “Thio Violet LF195” (now discontinued) that might have been the precursor to my Pomegranate 195, but my “Green Ochre” is not included on CPSA (workbook 7) list.  When I compare my result (keep in mind, I am of course an amateur that use my window for lightfast tests) to CPSA most conclusions are the same but two pencils deviated from their result, one did better and the other did much worse. I think that Prismacolor has been around for so long and seems to change all the time so my pencils might not have the same pigment as the one’s tested by CPSA. Maybe? 

Holbein´s luminous color (from the 100 set):

Holbein Opera

This color has change a lot. It is a bit lighter and has lost the luminosity. It has also changed in hue. 

Holbein Orange

This color has change. It is lighter after a year in facing south.

Holbein Green

This color has become slightly lighter.

Holbein Lemon

This color has become slightly lighter.

Holbein´s metallic colors (from the 100 set):

Holbein Silver

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Copper

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Gold

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Pale Gold

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein´s grey colors (from the 100 set):

Holbein Cool Grey 5

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Cool Grey 3

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Warm Grey 5

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Warm Grey 3

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein´s colors (from the 100 set):

Holbein Chartreuse Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Lemon

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Holly Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Malachite

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Emerald Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Surf Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Sap Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Leaf Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Fresh Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Apple Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Misty Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Olive Yellow

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Lettuce Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Opal Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Willow Green

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Forest Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Fit Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Viridian

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Jasper Green

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter and a slight hue change. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Olive Green

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Moss Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Cobalt Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Ice Green

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Peacock Blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Porcelain Blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Horizon Blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Sky Mist

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Aqua

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Turquoise Blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Sky Blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Saxe Blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Smoke Blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Cerulean Blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Royal Blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Ultra blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Cobalt Blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Prussian Blue

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Indigo

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Lavender Blue

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Violet

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Smalt Blue

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them one star.

Holbein Iris

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them one star.

Holbein Azalea

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Magenta

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Strawberry

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Carnation

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Wine Red

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Carmine

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Signal Red

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Scarlet

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Vermilion

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Orange

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Marigold

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Light Red

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Crimson

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Mahogany

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Dandelion

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Canary Yellow

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Yellow Ochre

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Khaki

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Mustard

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Lilac

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them one star.

Holbein Mauve

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Sea Fog

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Cosmos

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them one star.

Holbein Pink

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Rose Pink

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them one star.

Holbein Cream

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Salmon Pink

The color has lost the yellowish tone and has become lighter. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them one star.

Holbein Naples Yellow

It has become slightly lighter. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Jaune Brilliant

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Ash Rose

I can barely see the change, but it has become ever so slightly lighter. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Cherry Blossom

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Sand

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Beige

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Cork

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them two stars.

Holbein Cinnamon

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Burnt Sienna

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Brown

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Raw Umber

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Raisin

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Chocolate

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Burnt Umber

I cannot see any changes at all in this color. Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Sepia

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Lamp Black

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

Holbein Black

I cannot see any changes at all in this color.  Holbein own lightfastness rating gives them three stars.

I am so impressed with the result of my Holbein test, almost so much that I wonder if there is something wrong with the testing. Except for the luminous colors there is only one color that I would avoid (Salmon pink). Very few had any changes and those that had were just barely visible.

A comparison between Pablo and Polychromos

Pablo vs. Polychromos

Similarities

It is interesting to compare these two brands since they have so many similarities. Both have a range of 120 colors. For both, three of them are gold, silver and bronze/copper (Pablo/Polychromos). 

In large I would say that they perform similar to each other. They both have some colors that are very smooth and creamy and some that are a bit harder (depending on the pigment). Some few colors in the Pablo range have a bit of a waxy feeling to them.

Difference

A large difference is the shape of the pencil. Pablo has a hexagon shape and Polychromos are round. I know that a round pencil can be a bit irritating for some people since it has a tendency to roll away, and Polychromos that has a thick varnish on their pencils that is shinny and slippery do roll around. However, it isn’t a huge problem, put a bit of a felt under or keep them in a jar and that problem is solved.

Color range

Pablo has a little more greys then Polychromos. And they also have a lot of different grey hues. In Polychromos you get few different hues but a lot of different values of them (they have six warm grey and six cool grey). The warm grey are a close match to Pablos “beige” colors. Polychromos has some other colors using the same principle, as Phthalo (both blue and green) that comes in three values, from light to dark. So if you need help in finding colors that blend good together Polychromos gives you an easy recipe.

They both have about the same range and quantity of pinks and reddish browns that are useful for light skin tones. The Polychromos have them even named “flesh” but the “dark flesh” is really not so much a flesh color as it is a pink color.

The Pablos have a little more earth colors. Both have a lot of olive greens. But Polychromos has a green that looks a lot like what terra verte usually looks like (they also called it Earth green) which is a bit bluer and toned down color. Pablo does not have anything like that. Also Polychromos has a “Pompeian red” that Pablo does not have.

Polychromos has a lot more red and pink colors then Pablo, almost twice as many, but I do not feel that mean so much because the reds are very close to each other in hue, saturation and value. So far Pablo has more earth tones and Polychromos more vibrant colors, but when it comes to turquoise colors, Polychromos really lacking, while Pablo has a large range (even though some colors are a bit to look alike, like “light green” and “turquoise green”).

Complement each other

If you have a set of Faber-Castell Polychromos and only want some colors from Pablo to complement to that, I would recommend following colors: Apricot, olive brown, cocoa and brownish beige (cocoa are darker version of the brownish beige), brownish orange (close to caput mortuum, but has more white), light lemon yellow or pale yellow (colder yellow then the Polychromos Cream), salmon, aubergine, night blue, jade green (Polychromos don´t have anything close), turquoise green or light green, spring green or lime green.

            If you have the Caran d’ache Pablo and want to complement with some Polychromos, I would recommend following: indian red, Pompeian red, middle carmine red, Dark red, pink carmine, light magenta, fuchsia, dark indigo, leaf green, permanent green, chrome oxide green (a dark natural green), earth green (terra verte) and grass green.

Color names

I appreciate that Polychromos use so many traditional color names, however, some are not used the way I would. Most disturbing is the Alizarin crimson that is far too red in my opinion.  Pablo uses less of the traditional pigment names.

Lightfastness

84 of the 120 colors that Polychromos offer are lightfast according to CPSA, while only 42 of the 120 colors of Pablo are lightfast (according to CPSA). That is a huge difference.