Little bit of history for you :D The signature of pencils started in 18th century and its creator was Josef Hardtmuth and his company Koh-i-noor. H stands for his surname Hardtmuth, B stands for Ceske Budejovice (the city where the company is based) and F stands for Franz who was an inventor for modern pencil producing machine. Sorry, can't help lecturing about this xd PS: Just found your videos and feel totally inspired, thx
Alan George Barstow Your comment just made me laught out loud. You should do some research before insulting anyone. Besides I live in the country where are Koh-i-noor pencils made and everybody here knows them. Dan (and many other English speaking people) uses there letters to help them explain how to use the pencils. And yes, HB stands for Harthmuth Budejovice jfgi
Rather than pressing harder, Dan, something that you should suggest instead is building up in layers. Pressing harder into the paper makes it harder to put future layers down, but if you gradually build up layers it'll get darker and let you correct mistakes more easily.
Can you explain a bit more how you go about this? I assume you would start with harder pencils and work your way down? And how many layers would you typically do?
You can start with harder pencils, or you can start with softer pencils. What pencil you start with, and how many layers you need, depends on how dark you need to be. The real goal is to go very lightly with the pencil to slowly build the tone rather than try to block it all in at once. The harder the pencil you start with, though, the more control you're going to have ultimately. It's something I use when doing colored pencil drawings, and discovered that it carries over to graphite and charcoal drawing as well. Also, since you're not filling in the tooth of the paper, if you need a REALLY dark area and have to use charcoal on top of your graphite, you still have some bite left on the paper to lay down the charcoal without having polished the paper smooth. Helps a lot since graphite is famous for its self-lubricating properties in air.
No problem. If you want to ask me other questions, you're more than welcome to shoot me a message on Twitter, or on my deviantART account if you have one. Same username for both.
I have and use these kind of pencils since secondary school but never actually knew what each grades mean, other than “which one’s the lightest and darkest” lollll. This helps me a lot. Thank you! 😊
I always use my H2 pencil when starting out my drawings with light sketches and building up those light sketches in to basic shapes then full-flesh detailed shapes... and after I am happy with the details I want to keep, I go with at least a HB (its dark but not too dark and smudgy for me unless otherwise) and go over those said details that I want to keep :) and actually showing what the initials of B, H and F stands for really helps fellow traditional beginner artists so well! so good job on pointing that out (even though I didnt know what the B and H stand for... or even heard of the Fine Point pencils... lol)
I am not satisfy even if my sketch is good because every student just like me wants a kind of fame then he/she is satisfy even if his/her sketch is awful.
Thank you my friend. I have been looking for this information for a while. I found a pack of this pencils in the trash! there is some missing but i want to know how to draw and get to use them. Great video!
Thank you so much for teaching , I write children’s literature and the animation on my last two books cost me thousands, I’m going to try to learn how to draw my own animations.
Hey! That is exactly why i am learning to draw! Let me ask you how are your children's books going? I want to start and wonder how is life of a child literature writer.
Thank you! I just bought a set of graphite pencils and being no artist had no idea what any of them meant. This was a well explained video and a great help.
I tend to use only 3 pencils even though I have a set ranging from 8b to 2h. I usually start with a hardest one very lightly to create the rough shapes and then use a somewhat hard one for most of the detailing and the softest one to make shades and darkest lines. I just use finger smudging to get the gradients between the darkest and lightest.
Thank you so much! I am new to realistic graphite drawings, and I just ordered my first set of grade pencils! I looked at so many tutorials on understanding the grades and this one was by far the best! Thanks for making this! Btw I love your handwriting ! Unlike mine it is straight and perfect and readable I LOVE IT!
You are awesome. I am a beginner and just stumbled on your channel and I have learned more in 2 videos than I have the last week watching video after video. Thank you.
Thanks so much for this video. It seems like you can find just about anything you want to know on TH-cam nowadays. I am new to the different grades of pencils. Until I watched this video, I had know idea of the differences. Thanks again man. I really appreciate the walk through. I definitely got my screenshot 🤝👍👍👍
Dude!!! I just found you and at the moment I am binge watching your videos so helpful and I am happy to find an artist who works primarily with graphite. Thank you for your great content. 😍
Dan Beard thank you for clarifying that. I noticed that as u used my #4 and #5 and harder lead was harder for me to draw with so I went back with my first choices. But now I can use those fine ones as needed.
Thank you so much Dan! I usually only use colored pencils but received a set like the one you're using in this video. Now I understand what I've got. Thanks again!
this was not a video - this was social work! Thank you very much for the help. Just bought a 7-pencil set from Cretacolor in an attempt to develop a new hobby and actually re-remember drawing after 15 years and I needed to understand what is what :D
I just got my first pencil set today and this really helps break it down. I discovered a new passion I never knew I had in drawing and sketching. Thank you for sharing this. Subbed.
Thank you so much. I have had all the pencils (except 'F' which is now on my shopping list) for many years. I have learnt a bit about them through use but did not know all of this stuff. Thank you again for making time to teach people like me.
Thank you for this and now I can differentiate between the B , H , F. To be honest , I don't know what it means , but now i already know and it helps me. 😍😘
I just wandered into your channel, in search of the number of the darkest pencil... and am so glad I did! I found out much more than I was looking for, & I just love learning new things! I subscribed to your channel... and I'm sure it will be a great learning experience, even though some think that 80 is too OLD to learn! Thank you.
this video is very helpful! i had received an art kit at a younger age and i’ve gone on and off with drawing and sketching. i’m interested again (hopefully i can finally commit to it haha) and this is so helpful. i’ve always wondered what all the letters and numbers means. thanks!
According to diffrent brands you can notice diffrent darkness discrepancies , so , on a few I had to re-name their grades , with masking tape on the stamped letter
Nice work. I’ve just started sketching faces after sketching nature, then watercoloring landscapes. I have a set of Faber Castell that are turquoise and seem to have a lot more hard pencils in the set. I’m comparing these to the Prisma Color brand. I think I wanted to stay away from the mess of the darker softer pencils but the more I use them for faces the more I want to use the soft ones. I can change the mood the person is in with one stroke of the pencil. Thank you!
ah. so nice. to have someone explaining pencil gradients on video. so easy. Lucky for kids these days... I remember in Art school i get my fingers whacked by my tutor and had to painstakingly learn my mistakes on my own :)
I just bought a Faber Castell (Goldfaber version) set of 6 Graphite sketch pencils. This video was really helpful and informative! 👍 I have the 2H, HB, B, 2B, 4B and 6B in this particular pack.
I am a beginner. I’m trying to learn to draw. I love your videos!! I was wondering if there is a special sharpener you recommend to sharpen the pencils. Thanks
I'm glad I saw this video. I bought a package of pencils, where the grading is shown in reverse. From 12 B on, it goes from light to dark. So, it shows that 4H is the darkest shade.
Very nice pencils I've just ordered mine off Amazon. love the tutorials, did you apply heavy pressure all the way through. It would have been nice to see a gradient from top to bottom of each box to see what shades they produce for beginners like me to grasp it better. But great vids keep them coming.
Little bit of history for you :D
The signature of pencils started in 18th century and its creator was Josef Hardtmuth and his company Koh-i-noor. H stands for his surname Hardtmuth, B stands for Ceske Budejovice (the city where the company is based) and F stands for Franz who was an inventor for modern pencil producing machine.
Sorry, can't help lecturing about this xd
PS: Just found your videos and feel totally inspired, thx
whoah thats cool, thanks Wendy
Alan George Barstow Your comment just made me laught out loud. You should do some research before insulting anyone. Besides I live in the country where are Koh-i-noor pencils made and everybody here knows them. Dan (and many other English speaking people) uses there letters to help them explain how to use the pencils. And yes, HB stands for Harthmuth Budejovice jfgi
Before insulting somebody, pls make sure you're sure about what you're talking. Not what it normally is interpreted as.
It is still the same, it just a testamony to the person...
Wendy Havlíček B is blackness h is hardness ? F is fine point
Rather than pressing harder, Dan, something that you should suggest instead is building up in layers. Pressing harder into the paper makes it harder to put future layers down, but if you gradually build up layers it'll get darker and let you correct mistakes more easily.
Can you explain a bit more how you go about this? I assume you would start with harder pencils and work your way down? And how many layers would you typically do?
You can start with harder pencils, or you can start with softer pencils. What pencil you start with, and how many layers you need, depends on how dark you need to be. The real goal is to go very lightly with the pencil to slowly build the tone rather than try to block it all in at once. The harder the pencil you start with, though, the more control you're going to have ultimately. It's something I use when doing colored pencil drawings, and discovered that it carries over to graphite and charcoal drawing as well. Also, since you're not filling in the tooth of the paper, if you need a REALLY dark area and have to use charcoal on top of your graphite, you still have some bite left on the paper to lay down the charcoal without having polished the paper smooth. Helps a lot since graphite is famous for its self-lubricating properties in air.
Cool thanks that really helps!
No problem. If you want to ask me other questions, you're more than welcome to shoot me a message on Twitter, or on my deviantART account if you have one. Same username for both.
Just followed you on Twitter
Lol. I was getting ready to screenshot it and then he said feel free to screenshot it. I was shook.
Kira I same thing happen to me ........ shook me for a quick second .
same here xD
O.o same here i- its 12 am rn I’m shook-
Same
He knows too much
B=Blackness=softness
H=Hardness= lighter marks on paper
F= fine-point
Ellis Terrell no hardness refers to the softness of the pencil
@@vomitdev hard pencils give lighter value. Soft pencils give darker.
thanks mate
Brittle
Correct
This was the most helpful video I have watched and it helped me out a lot. Who agrees?
I have and use these kind of pencils since secondary school but never actually knew what each grades mean, other than “which one’s the lightest and darkest” lollll. This helps me a lot. Thank you! 😊
That's awesome, I'm happy it helped you!
6:17 I literally said out loud “That’s a good idea!” Then got looked at like I was crazy.
I always use my H2 pencil when starting out my drawings with light sketches and building up those light sketches in to basic shapes then full-flesh detailed shapes... and after I am happy with the details I want to keep, I go with at least a HB (its dark but not too dark and smudgy for me unless otherwise) and go over those said details that I want to keep :)
and actually showing what the initials of B, H and F stands for really helps fellow traditional beginner artists so well! so good job on pointing that out (even though I didnt know what the B and H stand for... or even heard of the Fine Point pencils... lol)
Thank you for the tips
For what i should begin with
And what should use to dark the details that i want to kepp
Thanks a lot 💞
Hii i have a question is b pencil use to make shadows while h for details?
I am not satisfy even if my sketch is good because every student just like me wants a kind of fame then he/she is satisfy even if his/her sketch is awful.
I think you mean 2H
Im suprised you know how to do anatomy and simpleness
Omg I remember when I would get so mad because the pencil was to light I really liked dark pencils
Dxssii same
Same
Lel me too, i remember finding the orange and it was amazing haha
same lol
I love his Handwriting!!!
me too.
Me three
me four
Me fith
I dont.
2:26 Starts, your welcome
Thank you he talks so much
Thanks
Thank you 😊😊
0:01 is the start your welcome ( im on computer you pweny kids )
Thankx
Thank you my friend. I have been looking for this information for a while. I found a pack of this pencils in the trash! there is some missing but i want to know how to draw and get to use them. Great video!
Thank you so much for teaching , I write children’s literature and the animation on my last two books cost me thousands, I’m going to try to learn how to draw my own animations.
Hey! That is exactly why i am learning to draw! Let me ask you how are your children's books going? I want to start and wonder how is life of a child literature writer.
Thank you! I just bought a set of graphite pencils and being no artist had no idea what any of them meant. This was a well explained video and a great help.
Same here! let me know how it goes😊 about to use mine today
Thank You! just started drawing, needed to learn pencil basics. This was very helpful.
I tend to use only 3 pencils even though I have a set ranging from 8b to 2h. I usually start with a hardest one very lightly to create the rough shapes and then use a somewhat hard one for most of the detailing and the softest one to make shades and darkest lines. I just use finger smudging to get the gradients between the darkest and lightest.
Thank you so much! I am new to realistic graphite drawings, and I just ordered my first set of grade pencils! I looked at so many tutorials on understanding the grades and this one was by far the best! Thanks for making this! Btw I love your handwriting ! Unlike mine it is straight and perfect and readable I LOVE IT!
very well explained and grate for beginners ........
I loved how simple, modest and straight to the point your presentation are!
Subscribing
You are awesome. I am a beginner and just stumbled on your channel and I have learned more in 2 videos than I have the last week watching video after video. Thank you.
Thanks so much for this video. It seems like you can find just about anything you want to know on TH-cam nowadays. I am new to the different grades of pencils. Until I watched this video, I had know idea of the differences. Thanks again man. I really appreciate the walk through. I definitely got my screenshot 🤝👍👍👍
Thank you for your class it is really help us in the world
Thank you for posting this Dan. Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Dude!!! I just found you and at the moment I am binge watching your videos so helpful and I am happy to find an artist who works primarily with graphite. Thank you for your great content. 😍
Dan Beard thank you for clarifying that. I noticed that as u used my #4 and #5 and harder lead was harder for me to draw with so I went back with my first choices. But now I can use those fine ones as needed.
Thank you so much Dan! I usually only use colored pencils but received a set like the one you're using in this video. Now I understand what I've got. Thanks again!
Super helpful. I took a drawing class many years ago and didn’t learn the differences between the pencils until now. Thank you.
Great vid it helped me a lot its exactley the explanation that i was looing for
this was not a video - this was social work!
Thank you very much for the help. Just bought a 7-pencil set from Cretacolor in an attempt to develop a new hobby and actually re-remember drawing after 15 years and I needed to understand what is what :D
I just got my first pencil set today and this really helps break it down. I discovered a new passion I never knew I had in drawing and sketching. Thank you for sharing this.
Subbed.
Explanation and actual laying down of lead really helpful.
GREAT Tutorial and Guidance. With much Gratitude for your Teachings. Thank Your!
I have just started a beginners Art Class & my first 'homework' was to draw out a Pencil Grading chart! Your video was perfect - thank you 😊
Thank you so much. I have had all the pencils (except 'F' which is now on my shopping list) for many years. I have learnt a bit about them through use but did not know all of this stuff. Thank you again for making time to teach people like me.
Thank you for this and now I can differentiate between the B , H , F. To be honest , I don't know what it means , but now i already know and it helps me. 😍😘
Thank you! That was just what I needed to know.
Excellent demonstration of pencils knowledge.
Thank you so much
Many a times we don't know basics and there's no one to teach because they assume we know
Thank you bro, this video helps a lot!
I just wandered into your channel, in search of the number of the darkest pencil... and am so glad I did! I found out much more than I was looking for, & I just love learning new things!
I subscribed to your channel... and I'm sure it
will be a great learning experience, even though
some think that 80 is too OLD to learn! Thank you.
This was very helpful. Thanks
You are incredibly talented not only drawing but making it simple to understand!
YOU HELPED ME ALOT!!! I HAD NO FRIGGGIN IDEA!!
i really like his presentation style. straight to the point. im a sub for sure. thanks for the great vid
i just recently got a bunch of art supplies from my aunt and was confused on how to use these pencils, thanks alot this helped me quite a bit
I bought a set recently.... and this video was on point in explaining. Thanks
Thank you so much for this - thorough, but explained beautifully and simply !!
Ty for this!! I was searching for this! You literally answered my question.🙏
great demonstration and explanation, thank you!
This is great reference. Thank you for showing each box get filled in too
this was so helpful I'm trying to teach myself art thank you for making this
Very helpful.Thanks alot and keep uploading.👍🏻
Thx for the video. I showed it to my 7 year old drawing fanatic so she’d know about the different pencil types ✏️👍🎉💥
Thanks mate this has been helpful, have an nice day dude.
Many thanks for Clearing the air with the different kinds of grades of drawing pencils mate
thank you for this video! I found it very helpful as a beginner! Will save it! Really had no idea so I’m glad I saw this before purchasing my pencils.
That deserves a like. Very simple, easy to percept. Overall a great insight for these grades.
YOU DESERVE A like!
this video is very helpful! i had received an art kit at a younger age and i’ve gone on and off with drawing and sketching. i’m interested again (hopefully i can finally commit to it haha) and this is so helpful. i’ve always wondered what all the letters and numbers means. thanks!
According to diffrent brands you can notice diffrent darkness discrepancies , so , on a few I had to re-name their grades , with masking tape on the stamped letter
Never understood what the letters stand for. I used to draw with HB and I was fine with it. You really did a good job explaining it m8. Thanks!
Nice work. I’ve just started sketching faces after sketching nature, then watercoloring landscapes. I have a set of Faber Castell that are turquoise and seem to have a lot more hard pencils in the set. I’m comparing these to the Prisma Color brand. I think I wanted to stay away from the mess of the darker softer pencils but the more I use them for faces the more I want to use the soft ones. I can change the mood the person is in with one stroke of the pencil. Thank you!
Thanks! I found myself teaching a practical art class and I need this kind of advice.
Iam beginner and this is soo help full for me ! thanks
Thanks for the awesome explanation. I am looking for a darker pencil to work on crossword puzzles. Now I know exactly what I want.
Great video. Thanks
It cleared up a bit of things for me. Thank you for sharing
This video really helped clarify a tricky concept for me.
thank you for coming out with this video. I finally understand my pencils
Just looove your accent. Wonderful highly explanatory video! Thank you!
Nice and easy explanation with example, Thank you.
Great video! Very concise and to the point. Thanks for clearing up what has, up to now, been a very confusing topic for me.
Thank you for the simple clarification.
Thank you! I decided to pick up drawing again but can't remember what I learned in my art classes in college 20 years ago. Great video! 👍
Thanks a lot. ❤️
*_This is my firsr time, when i'm in yout channel! I think you are awesome and i will subscribe!_* 🙂
Thanks for sharing this with us 🎨
Perfect Video. Answered all my questions 😃
Thanks for your videos Dan. Very helpful
Thanks for your expertise.
ah. so nice. to have someone explaining pencil gradients on video. so easy. Lucky for kids these days...
I remember in Art school i get my fingers whacked by my tutor and had to painstakingly learn my mistakes on my own :)
I also just discovered his videos and this is the first one I am watching!
Thank you for letting us know....🙂😇
I just bought a Faber Castell (Goldfaber version) set of 6 Graphite sketch pencils. This video was really helpful and informative! 👍
I have the 2H, HB, B, 2B, 4B and 6B in this particular pack.
his handwriting is better than a poetry artist
I am a beginner. I’m trying to learn to draw. I love your videos!!
I was wondering if there is a special sharpener you recommend to sharpen the pencils.
Thanks
Wow, thanks. This is a great way to practice and teach gray scale.
This definitely cleared a couple of things up for me. Thanks.
Thank you 🙏🏻
M a sketch artist n i always wanted to use these pencil n afterall i have them n ur video was really worthy
So thnkz men, keep up the gud work
👍
I'm glad I saw this video. I bought a package of pencils, where the grading is shown in reverse. From 12 B on, it goes from light to dark. So, it shows that 4H is the darkest shade.
Very much appreciate the lesson! It's the first time I've had it explained to me, so thank you!!
This was really educational thank you!
Very nice pencils I've just ordered mine off Amazon. love the tutorials, did you apply heavy pressure all the way through. It would have been nice to see a gradient from top to bottom of each box to see what shades they produce for beginners like me to grasp it better. But great vids keep them coming.
1:44 gave me goosebumps, what a shot 😍
This was a great explanation, thanks! I subbed
Doodle Stuff thanks man!
Extremely well explained
I’ve been looking for a video like this, I’ll definitely check out your other content. Also thanks for getting that hair.
Thanks for the explanation ! was totally lost about the letters and numbers
Thanks for making this video it really did help me keep it up man