Pencils - amazing tool, which is used for drawing and drafting work. For the job to be successful, it is important to know everything about the characteristics of this tool. It is necessary to understand what they are, what the hardness of a pencil lead is, and what effects can be obtained when using tools with different characteristics.
Types of pencils
Pencils are divided into two large groups: colored and graphite (simple). They, in turn, are divided into varieties. Let's look at each of them in more detail.
Classification of colored instruments:
- Colored. These are the most common tools that everyone probably used to draw in school. There are hard, soft, soft-hard.
- Watercolor. After painting, they are washed out with water to obtain a watercolor effect.
- Pastel. These are pastel crayons in a wooden frame. They are very soft. They are convenient because they do not stain your hands, are protected from frequent breaking of crayons, and also have a standard size.
Classification of tools with graphite rod:
- Simple. They are most often used in graphics (drawing with pencils). They have many different markings, we’ll talk more about them later.
- Coal. They are pressed charcoal for drawing in a wooden frame. The advantages are the same as pastels.
- Conte. They are almost the same as pastel, but have a different color palette: There are black, gray, brown and other shades. White is also included in the color scheme.
How to determine the hardness of pencils
Now let's take a closer look at the graphite type. They can depict anything, and very realistically. The works turn out “alive” thanks to shading, correct application of tone, and the right pressure on the instrument. Therefore, the entire drawing or drawing as a whole depends on its quality and number.
The circuit is great for determining the hardness of pencils. A table will also work. To visualize and determine the density, you can use a table of pencil softness, and also determine the hardness using a special scale. By the way, you can draw such a scale yourself. To do this, you need to take all the tools that you have and alternately shade small areas of paper with them: from the darkest to the lightest or vice versa, in the middle there will be a marking H. B. Thanks to this scheme, you can easily navigate and remember the type of tool.
Markings and their meaning
First of all, you can see both English and Russian designations for the hardness of pencils. Let's look at both types:
Often, in addition to letters, markings contain numbers that indicate the strength of hardness or softness and tone. For example, there are pencils 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 8B. 2B is the lightest, 8B is the darkest and softest. The digital marking of hard pencils looks similar.
Applying tone to a drawing
Rules for applying tone are very important when drawing. This especially applies to graphics, because in it the work is created exclusively in one color palette: black or gray colors in combination with white additions.
IN everyday life and work, each of us, to one degree or another, needs pencils. For people of such professions as artists, designers and draftsmen, the hardness of a pencil is important.
The history of pencils
In the 13th century, the first prototypes of pencils appeared, made of silver or lead. It was impossible to erase what they had written or drawn. In the 14th century, they began to use a rod made of black shale, which was called the “Italian pencil”.
In the 16th century, in the English town of Cumberland, shepherds accidentally stumbled upon a deposit of a material that looked very similar to lead. They couldn’t get bullets or shells out of it, but they were great at drawing and marking sheep. They began to make thin rods from graphite, sharpened at the end, which were not suitable for writing and became very dirty.
Somewhat later, one of the artists noticed that drawing with graphite sticks fixed in wood is much more convenient. This is how the body of simple slate pencils appeared. Of course, at that time no one had thought about the hardness of a pencil.
Modern pencils
The form in which pencils are known to us today was invented at the end of the 18th century by the French scientist Nicolas Jacques Conte. IN late XIX and the beginning of the 20th century. Several important changes were made to the design of pencils.
Thus, Count Lothar von Fabercastle changed the shape of the pencil body from round to hexagonal. This made it possible to reduce the rolling of pencils from various inclined surfaces used for writing.
And the American inventor Alonso Townsend Cross, thinking about reducing the amount of material consumed, made a pencil with a metal body and a graphite rod that could be extended to the required length.
Why is hardness so important?
Any person who has drawn or sketched something at least a couple of times will say that pencils can leave strokes and lines that differ in color saturation and thickness. Similar characteristics are important for engineering specialties, because first any drawing is made with hard pencils, for example T2, and then final stage- softer, marked M-2M, to increase the clarity of the lines.
Pencil hardness is no less important for both professional and amateur artists. Pencils with soft leads are used to create sketches and outlines, and harder ones are used to finalize the work.
What types of pencils are there?
All pencils can be divided into two large groups: simple and colored.
A simple pencil has this name because it is structurally very simple, and it writes with the most ordinary graphite lead, without any additives. All other types of pencils have a more complex structure and the mandatory introduction of various dyes into the composition.
There are quite a few types, the most common are:
- ordinary colored ones, which can be either single-sided or double-sided;
- wax;
- coal;
- watercolor;
- pastel.
Classification of simple graphite pencils
As already mentioned, in simple pencils graphite stylus installed. An indicator such as the hardness of a pencil lead is the basis for their classification.
IN different countries Various markings have been adopted to indicate the hardness of pencils, of which the most widely used are European, Russian and American.
Russian and European markings of black lead pencils, as simple pencils are also called, differ from American ones in the presence of both letter and digital designations.
To indicate the hardness of a pencil in the Russian marking system, it is accepted that: T - hard, M - soft, TM - medium. To clarify the degree of softness or hardness, numerical values are introduced next to the letter ones.
IN European countries The hardness of simple pencils is also indicated by letters taken from words characterizing hardness. So, for soft pencils the letter “B” is used from the word blackness (blackness), and for hard pencils the letter “H” is used from the English word hardness (hardness). In addition, there is also a marking F, coming from the English fine point (subtlety) and indicating the average type of pencil. It is the European system of marking hardness with letters that is considered the world standard and is the most widespread.
And in the American system, which determines the hardness of pencils, the designation is carried out only in numbers. Where 1 is soft, 2 is medium, and 3 is hard.
If there is no marking on the pencil, then by default it is of the hard-soft (TM, HB) type.
What does hardness depend on?
Today for making lead graphite pencil graphite is also used. The hardness of the pencil depends on the proportions of these substances mixed at the initial stages of production. The more white kaolin clay is added, the harder the pencil turns out. If the amount of graphite is increased, the lead will be softer.
After mixing all the necessary components, the resulting mixture is fed into the extruder. It is in it that rods of a given size are formed. Then the graphite rods are fired in a special furnace, the temperature in which reaches 10,000 0 C. After firing, the rods are immersed in a special oil solution, which creates a surface protective film.
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Whether you're creating a masterpiece or just passing a test, choosing a pencil is a very important step. And to do it, narrow your goal to one of two categories: writing or drawing. If it is important for you to have lines of different quality, make your choice based on the hardness of the lead (from the softest 9M to the hardest 9T). It is the hardness of the lead that determines how dark or light the lines will be.
Steps
Choosing a pencil for writing
Select wooden pencil, if you need something inexpensive and durable. Traditional wooden pencils, with or without an eraser, are some of the cheapest writing utensils available. If you have a limited budget, give them preference. A wooden pencil is also preferable if you put a lot of pressure on the pencil while writing, as the graphite in them can withstand that pressure.
Choose a mechanical pencil if you want something convenient. This pencil does not need to be sharpened, and its lead is usually replaceable. Read on the packaging what length and thickness of lead is suitable for this pencil. A mechanical pencil is also good choice for passing standard tests, since its thin stylus is convenient for filling in small answer cells.
Select a pencil with a medium-hard lead (TM) for general use. These are wooden or mechanical pencils with a lead of regular medium hardness. It can be used to write an essay or fill out model test answers.
Choose a mechanical pencil for drawing drawings. A mechanical pencil leaves finer, more consistent lines. For the preparatory sketch, a pencil with a lead thickness of 0.5 mm is enough. If the drawing will be more detailed, choose a pencil with a thinner lead (about 0.3 mm).
Keep pencils of varying degrees of hardness on hand. Drawing involves creating a variety of lines and shades. Use T-marked pencils for thin lines. solid lines that you don't want to smear. Give preference to pencils marked M if you want to draw shadows or other components of the drawing that need to be blurred. Pencils marked M also allow you to make lines and shades darker.
Use colored pencils to outline or sketch shapes on paper. If you're drawing on lined or folded paper, stick to the cheapest brand of pencils, like Crayola. Sharpen them like a regular wooden pencil for finer lines, or blunt them for thicker lines.
Choose a charcoal pencil if you want rich black or gray lines. Like regular stick charcoal, the lead of this pencil is made of wood that has been charred to the point where only the carbon remains. Unlike regular charcoal, these pencils provide smoother strokes. Press down on the pencil to draw thicker black lines. Moderate the amount of pressure to make the lines thinner. Charcoal pencils, like graphite pencils, have varying degrees of hardness. You can buy them at any art supply store.
Buy a carbon pencil if you want to draw smooth black lines. Choose this pencil if you want to achieve a truly black color that cannot be achieved with graphite. These pencils are made from lamp black, a byproduct of burning oil. Carbon pencils also come in varying degrees of hardness and are sometimes sold in stick form. You can buy them at an art supply store.
Use grease pencils for glossy surfaces. These pencils are also called wax pencils and are made from a waxy material similar to that used for crayons. Use this pencil if you want to make temporary marks on smooth surfaces such as ceramic, metal and plastic. To sharpen the pencil, pull the thread to expose the waxy part. These pencils can be purchased at an art supply store.
The filling in pencils can be different:sanguine, sepia, sauce, pastel, chalk...
I use a chalk pencil to apply highlights on tinted (colored) paper and craft paper.
I also like charcoal in pencil form.. And your hands are clean, and it’s easier to draw an accurate line. And it doesn’t creak :)
But in this article we'll talk
about simple pencils
You will learn:
- how to mark the hardness of a pencil(T, M, TM, H, B, HB and F)
- how to find out the capabilities of your pencils(video)
- Why do artists need hard, soft and hard-soft pencils?
- how to lighten pencil on paper(nag and bread)
- How to secure the drawing so that the pencil does not fall off(the method is also suitable for charcoal, chalk and pastel).
- and how to quickly learn to draw with a pencil
.
We call a pencil “simple”, but it is graphite or black graphite, that is, it has graphite in the middle. Artists distinguish graphite pencils by the hardness of the lead. Pencils can be soft, hard, or soft.
How to find out the hardness of a pencil
Look at Russian pencils and notice the marking letters:
M - soft
T - hard
TM - hard-soft
Europeans also sign pencils with letters:
H (Hardness "hard") - hard,
B (Blackness "black") - soft,
HB - medium,
F (Fine point "detail") - in terms of rigidity it is between hard-soft and hard.
Both Russians and Europeans put numbers in front of letters. This shows how hard or soft the pencil is:
2M and 2B are softer than soft.
3M is softer than 2M
2T and 2H are harder than solid.
3T is harder than 2T
WATCH THE VIDEO:https://youtu.be/rMlWE8KCInI
In the days of shortages, it was difficult to imagine pencils with a softness greater than 2 M (2B).And a few years ago I saw pencils up to 8B softness on sale. For drawing and graphics, these pencils are simply great.
How to Know the Capabilities of the Pencils You Have
Don't rush to the store for new pencils. Take the ones you have at home. Different tones can be conveyed with one pencil, if you know what a pencil is capable of.
Watch the video on how to test the pencils you have.
You will also learn: why sharpen a long lead and how to shading.
Why do artists need hard, soft and hard-soft pencils?
Hard pencils: from 2T (2H) to 9T (9H):
Hard pencils are paler and the lines are sharper.
Artists use hard pencils for three things: light colors, subtle sketching, and detailing. But be careful with pencils harder than 3H, they can scratch the paper.
If you want to make a light sketch, do not press on the pencil. Then pencils are drawn with thin, light lines, almost imperceptible. Before sketching, check on test paper that the pencils do not scratch.
If you have already completed pencil drawing, but if you want to make the contours clearer, outline them with a hard pencil. If you want to highlight details or texture: strands of hair in a drawing, or show the hardness of a stone, a hard pencil will also help you.
Light colors are conveyed with hard pencils. To get dark tone, beginning artists diligently press on a hard pencil, tear and scratch the paper. If you want darker lines, take a softer pencil.
What to draw H (hard) and HB (hard-soft):
Pencils with softness H or HB are good for drawing under any paint in painting, because they do not smear and do not stain the paint.
Artists also use them to draw a base for a pencil drawing. And then they add dark and light tones with soft and hard pencils.
What to draw with soft pencils (2B and above):
Use a 2B pencil to draw clear lines, highlight dark areas and highlight details.
The softer the pencil, the darker and bolder the mark it leaves. The softest pencils leave fuzzy lines and show the texture of the paper. They convey blackness and thick shadow.
Soft pencils are easier to shade. To shade means to smear, to rub. Artists shade with a napkin, an eraser, a special shading tool and a finger. Tone transitions become smoother. And the volume looks more realistic.
Some art teachers prohibit students from shading strokes - don't limit your creativity. There can be no prohibitions in creativity. Otherwise it is not creativity.
As soon as you have the question “is it possible...?”, then immediately answer yourself - IT IS POSSIBLE!
Experiment!
You can shade, you can shade, and most importantly, you can break any prohibitions if it does not harm you and other people.
Let's go back to our pencils :)
Sharpen 7B, 8B and 9B pencils carefully because the lead is soft and cuts like butter. A still soft pencil crumbles from the drawing, like chalk, pastel and charcoal. I will write at the end of the article how to secure them.
How to lighten pencil on paper
To lighten the pencil on paper and not smear it, they came up with a kneaded eraser.
Roll the nag into a ball and roll the ball over the area you want to lighten.
If there is no nag, then take a crumb of bread. But first, check on a piece of paper to see if the bread leaves greasy marks. This is what artists did before the invention of the nag.
What is a nag:
Special soft elastic band. A klyachka is a very soft eraser like plasticine. It is sold in art stores.
An ordinary eraser ruins the paper, but a kneading eraser does not. The nag removes the graphite, but does not remove the top layer of paper. Artists use it to remove dirt from the sheet, highlight it, and erase it. You can also fashion a long, sharp tip from it and use it to erase fine lines and small details.
Draw carefully with soft and hard pencils.
The softer the pencil, the more difficult it is to erase it with a regular eraser. It will spread across the sheet and leave stains.
Use a nag.
How to secure the drawing so that the pencil does not fall off
To prevent the design from smearing and crumbling, you can cover it with a fixative. But since the fixative is expensive, I often cover it with a simple colorless hairspray.
Drawings made with soft pencils, chalk, sauce, charcoal, as well as pastels are best covered with a special fixative, or sprinkled with clear hairspray. But only when the drawing is completed, because it is difficult or impossible to complete the drawing using the fixative.
Sometimes hairspray will darken light colors, so test on a sample sheet of light colors before spraying.
Spray the varnish carefully, do not bring the can too close to the painting.
Quality depends on the correct selection of pencil hardness.
Hard pencils with a sharpened and dry point can be used to draw grayish lines. Such pencils usually have the letter H (from the English hard - “hard”). They are good for high-precision images, such as line drawings or drawings. Hard leads, unlike soft ones, produce fine lines and do not leave excessive marks on the paper.
Soft pencils have lead on oil based. By drawing with such a pencil and lightly pressing on the lead, you can get more dark and thick lines. They are marked with the letter B (from the English bold - “fat”). IN artistic drawing the use of soft pencils allows you to add greater expressiveness and expressiveness to the artist’s work.
- A well-sharpened pencil lead marked 6B allows you to make a good sketch. The basis of the sketch is applied with a soft stylus. To get pale lines, you should tilt the pencil.
- As you create a drawing, you need to gradually add new strokes to the previous ones to deepen the shadows and expand the midtones. Lightened areas on white paper remain unpainted, that is, there is no need to apply strokes to them.
