Without doing the chart yet, and just through my experience using both full sets in an artist capacity, Polychromos wins hands down! Lightfastness (there are literally two in 120 that are a bit dodgy so technically Polychromos have more usable colours than Prismas), the beauty of the pencil, the quality of the pencil (you don't need to see the cores because all Polychromos are centred with delicious German efficiency). Polychromos also sharpen like a boss and don't break every five seconds so even if they cost a little more, they are worth it as one tends to chew through Prismas much quicker (false economy with the cheaper ones!). In Australia they're all about the same as each other price wise anyway. In short, I ADORE Polychromos for my art pieces, but I will give it to Prismacolor that the softer waxier pencils are LOVELY for colouring books. I pulled out all the non-lightfast ones (you end up with a decent colour palette with just those) and I use them for colouring so they don't go to waste; they work well, aside from having to sharpen them entirely too often!
+Rebecca Tregear glad to hear you find a way to use the pencils that are not high on the lightfast scale. Sort of feels like they are the kids at school that don’t get picked for the team.
You're not allowed to complain about 100+ year old, world famous manufacturers. You're not allowed to speak about breakages either. That is ridiculous talk. Wood workers have shown you how to sharpen wood. You disrespect them. Wood workers have had no complaints about these pencil brands. Artists are clearly WRONG cause Wood workers don't complain about their tools. Pencils ✏️ have been getting perfectly sharpened for hundreds of years by Wood workers. Artists are sick and delusional and should shut their mouth. You never sand across the wood grain. You never sharpen against the grain. Timber may have cranky grain structure. You adjust your sharpening accordingly. You're WRONG. YOU'RE NOT ALONE in sharpening pencils. You're not allowed to complain!!!! Wood workers use pencils too and THEY don't have a problem. I'm sick of artist idiots causing trouble when it's all their fault. Every day they complain about stuff and it always is their fault.
The most important thing for me when I consider pencil crayons is the quality and the quality control behind prismacolor is not up to my standards... the core isn't centered they break more often than I use them the wood encasing is thinner and the wax bloom bothers me to no end. Polychromos for the money you pay are better quality in my opinion and they're oil based so big plus for me.
They are is no comparison. Faber Castell is some of the best if not the best, while Prismacolour's quality is some of the worse if not the worse. It's literally night ad day...
I liked the more muted colors of polychromos. The bright colors are not something that appeals to me nor does the breakage issues prismas newer sets have.
tita adorno If you have the money (which I don’t), I’d say get care dache luminance (not sure if I spelt this right) or get both polychromos and prismacoour pencils, as they are both good for different things.
Full disclosure: I'm a HUGE Prismacolor Premier fangirl. However, I don't (yet) own a single Polychromos pencil but I've been wondering whether it was worthwhile to buy some. This video fully answered that question. While I agree 100% with all of your results and I still feel that Prismacolor is overall the pencil for me, I am extremely impressed by the Polychromos lightfastness and smoothness. For those reasons alone, I think it's definitely worth investing in at least some key colors from that brand. Thanks so much for the information!!
+theoriginaledi, glad I could help clarify some of your thoughts. It sounds like you’re on the right track. I’m hoping some day the Polychromos will drop in price...a girl can dream.
I would try a few first, like 8-10. I find that every set has some pencils that behave better than others (really EVERY set). You may love the Polys but if you don't you will save a lot of money. I like the Indigo since it is a different color. Um, that is one out of 120... :) The yellow/orange selection is nice but every set seems loaded with those. They do erase better than Prismas.
Cool, thanks for the extra information. I agree about starting slow. I'll probably initially get only 3-5 just to see how they do. It's nice to have some insight on where I might start!
Polychromos are superior. I'm not a coloring book person. I create original artwork. I started with Prismacolors and thought there was no going back. Then I went to my favorite ART (not craft) supply store because I needed more white. I was told that Prismacolors have gone downhill and were going to be replaced in a few months by Polychromos. I don't find the Polychromos to be particularly expensive, especially when you consider how much pencil is wasted when Prismacolors break, and break and break. I found that buying the complete set of Polychromos from Europe was cheaper than anywhere else when I checked eBay too. I probably got them around 60% less than any retailer in the states. Prismacolor does make the best black. I order them by the box from my local office supply store. Where I normally shop online from US based retailer, the Prismacolors are $1.29. The Polychromos $1.69. With the latter, I get to use the whole pencil. I gave away my entire set of Prismacolors and now use Polychromos for the layers of underpinning, and Luminance (also purchased whole set from Europe cheap!) for the top layers which make my work POP! In between I used Colored Pencil Painting Textured Fixative spray to restore tooth to burnished paper. Hope this editorial helps. If you want to lust over anything, it should be the Luminance. They are the greatest colored pencil ever, but cost $3.99 each to replace! It takes so little when you're using them only to add depth to nearly completed work.
I disagree with the color wiping part. I actually had to stop using prismacolors because they smudged too much on my hand or even a white paper if I used that to rest my hand while painting... but with the polychromos I never had that problem. You should have tried on more colors.....
+dianateabag good suggestion. Maybe I could do a video just about the smudging factor. Have you tried laying down waxed paper under your hand to protect your work? It works like a charm for me.
That's interesting. I've seen on someone else's review of these 2 brands that they use paper under their hand when coloring with polychromos but not prismacolor. They basically had the opposite problem as you.
I solved the problem with which is best, I got both sets. I also have a really hard time reading Polychromos gold foil lettering on the pencils. If I had to chose between the two brands then Polychromos is my choice, it is all about the details. In very small spaces where you need control and a very fine point Polychromos wins, there are some colouring pages that I wouldn't even try to use Prismacolors to do . To get similar vibrancy to Prismacolors you have to do many light layers much more than four. So Prismacolors give you a faster lay down where you need just a little extra patience with Polychromos.
I want to get myself a nice set of pencils (for Christmas or my birthday or just a nice treat? Haven't decided yet.) and have been watching a lot of these comparison videos. I've been wanting the Polys for a while, but the Prismas have a larger set of colors and seem to blend really nicely. So I may just have to get both too! lol I currently have the Tombow Irojitens which are nice, but the colors are a bit limited.
Jennifer!! Wow wow wow!! I just discovered you this week and I’m subscribed and joined and TOTALLY blessed! The amount of research and impeccable detail is amazing!! Why you don’t have a million followers is a mystery to me! Your hubbin Steve and sweet pup Rose are also a delight! Blessed to be “blissed”💕👩🏻🎨
A lot of this was subjective or biased. For example, Polychromos is oil-based, so the opacity will be lesser than he wax-based Prisma that layers on thicker. Did you noticed the unevenness of the Prisma vs the Polychromos? Thinner but smoother vs thicker but uneven. And I love he Polychromos presentation, they look like they cost a lot (and admittedly they do).
Thank you for your color pencil comparison in this video, extremely helpful on showing us the differences and tallying up our own points on which brand we should buy. I definitely was surprised on how much I liked the prismacolor's vibrancy over polychromos when you showed the color wheels side by side, this proves that price doesn't determine the preference/quality of materials.
Luminence are better ! Luminence are the best pencils I have used and I have compared them to the Pablo's in the shop. Colors are more vibrant when applied on the same piece of paper.. all colors are lightfast...etc...
LOVE your format in that one can choose for themselves, and was surprised by the color wheel-Prismacolors are more vibrant! Very helpful, and I have subscribed, thanks so much! Nice manicure BTW :)
First of all: thanks a lot for your very thorough testing! I really love your way to be as objective as possible to show the differences! I really appreciate that, because it gives people the right tools to base their decision on. Great work! Now, I own both pencils, I just received my Prismas this week. So I am able to compare the both of them myself. I can confirm almost all the issues and results you talked about, except for the smearing, where my personal impression was that the Prismas smeared more, but maybe that also depends on the colors that one chooses for the test, because the pigments can vary in "performance". From my point of view, most differences result from the difference in "ingredients". Most obviously, both are very good sets, with very much pigment. But while the Polychromos have oil as an ingredient, the Prismas don't. The Prismas are softer, the Polychromos harder. That's why Prismas give off more intense color with less layering, or the Polychromos slightly less intense coloring, but smoother blending. That' also the reason why Prismas tend to break faster and wear down quicker. That's the price you pay for their softness, so to speak. And the Polychromos blend nicer, but you have to work more at them. The list goes on and on. Now, I as a German should actually prefer the Polychromos, right? ;-) But to be honest, I cannot decide. While I prefer the smoother look of the blended Polychromos, I prefer the softness of Prismas. That is a draw for me, I am deadlocked (and glad about it!). Which is why I will be using both sets intensively. By the way, I only bought the Prismas because I couldn't resist. I am not much of an artist and never will be, as much as I would have wished to be one. I am just a person who likes to color every once in a while, and that is why I initially did not think about getting a second set of good pencils. Prismas and Polychromos used to be about the same price for comparable amounts of pencils a year ago (at the German Amazon). At that time, I decided to buy the Polychromos, because I was afraid of the lead breaking issues of the Prismas, since I am not experienced in pencil use. But now, the prices for the Prismas dropped so considerably, that I was able to buy a set of 72 Prismas for 35 Euros, which is almost a fourth (!) of what they were a year ago. One Euro has about the same buying value here as an American Dollar, just to give you a scale. Availability in Germany is good for both of the pencils, with the only difference that I can go to any art store and buy the Polychromos open stock, whereas the open stock Prismas are only available to me online. Again, THANK YOU for your great reviews! Even though I do not need to make any buying decisions any more, I still love to watch all of your tests, simply because they are worth watching!
+ElinT13 thank you for sharing your amazing insights. I really appreciate hearing your thoughts and experiences and your perspective from Germany. I am happy to hear that you enjoy my video so much. 😊❤️
I have a question, i'm looking to buy professional colorpencils. Wich pencils brands would be your top 3? Wich brand would you recommend me? Please excuse my typO's.
Interesting to see your test. I think another 2 tests could be useful 1. long term durability of the pencils. Typically I find that I need to sharpen Prismas more often and so Polys last a longer time even if more layers are needed for saturation. This can then offset long term cost considerations. 2. coverage: I feel I can get more subtle colour graduations with Polys than with Prismas. They go down lighter. Difficult to test objectively perhaps.
+Jane Kerrigan thanks for such specific suggestions! Have you seen my full reviews of these pencils? I try to address your #1 item on that worksheet. Check it out!
Love your videos...always so informative!! Quick question- if I create a piece with all Prismacolor Premier pencils, but then use a protective artwork spray that blocks UV light, it would theoretically keep the pencils from fading....is that right?
I just discovered your channel. Looking forward to learning some new information and techniques.I'm just now starting to branch out into other brands of colored pencils. Been using Prismacolor for 45 years.
Thanks for your video, very helpful as I'm stuck between these two brands. Although Prismacolor scored more for me I think I'll go for the Polychromos as Lightfastness is important to me, also that it doesn't break easily. I also remember you mentioning in another video that the Polychromos core was welded to the barrel so would be less likely to break when sharpening. Besides that, I live in the UK, so they're easier to get hold of. Maybe will try to get a black Prismacolor online as I loved the strong darkness of it.
I feel this is a similar comparison to Ohuhu vs Copic for alcohol markers. Ohuhu is more saturated and will wow you more right off the bat. It's also the cheaper of the two. But there are other arguably more important factors that really explain why Copic is the industry standard. There's superior light fastness, the ability to refill, the easier blendability, the larger pallet of usable colors, the overall quality of the pigment. The list goes on. That's why I think the Polys are overall a better pencil. EDIT: I will also argue that many of the areas in which Polys won are more important than some of the ones that Prisma took. EDIT 2: Also your final test of blending was kinda BS. The test was which blended better, not which was more saturated/vibrant. The Polys clearly blended the best.
Copic, and typically all alcohol based markers aren't lightfast or archival. Markers are meant for digitization and illustration. I believe Copics are dye based, not pigment based, which ccounts for the vibrancy of the color.
Oh! What brand of ruler is that? I’m after a ruler exactly like that with grids in the middle so I can draw lines of 0.6-0.8 on an unlined book that has great paper but I needed it lined and it didn’t come in lined. So yes, what brand of ruler is that please?
Well, that was interesting! I have quite a few Prismacolor pencils from years ago when I started doing CP art. I've been hearing so much about Arteza colored pencils and I've been wondering how they compare to Prismas. Would you do a comparison on those two brands, please?
Thank you for this demonstration, Jennifer. It's appreciated! I own both brands of pencils so that I can follow along with tutorials and have the same and correct tools that an instructor would have. Interesting that Prismacolor is proven more vibrant and had a much larger score. I don't really need to do this test myself, because I perfectly agree with your results. But I do tend to prefer Polychromos...maybe it's because the barrel is more comfortable to hold and that it keeps a sharp point longer. And lol I just wanted to add that I have and use the exact same green soap dish as an art tool, that you used in this demonstration.
This is an interesting and in-depth way of scoring. You get to explore lots of areas to see which one fits better. I adore my Polychromos and those have my heart. However, I love my Prismas and they’re always a breath of fresh air when I come back to them after an absence.
I was extremely surprised by your result. So I did the test and obtained Prisma-5 Polychromos-16. Almost all performance tests were won by polychromos. This makes me wonder if the prismacolor premier 72 set that i bought on amazon france is legit. Plus the core diameter is smaller than those of polychromos.
I think that your test is quite good. I like both sets of pencils for different reasons. If I want brighter than life, I tend to lean towards Prismacolor. If I want a more natural look, I lean towards the Polychromos. I also have a big difference in crumbling than your test, mostly with the blues and reds of Prismacolor. I don't know if what their core is made of, with these colors, makes a difference or not, but this is my personal experience. All in all, the test is subjective. I can easily use either set & be happy. No, I'm not a professional artist, I'm a colorist learning ways to improve my art on a daily basis.
A quick question where can I buy more utrecht colored pencils. I have three from online, went to order more from same site and they didnt have them, thanks.
I tested the Faber castells in the store and I love how smooth they lay down and not grainy at all. I've used Prisma colors and in some coloring books it could be grainy and I would have to always go behind it with a Prisma blender in certain books. Plus I've been running through them. So I'm ready to try the Faber Castells set but I hate that they're so high. I don't want to buy them and think that they're not worth it and I would have to buy the 60pc set because the 24pc don't have any pinks and purples in them. Have you tried Castle Art and if so could they compare??
The point about prismacolor being really easy on the hand for chronic pain is the biggest reason I went for them! I asked around about which coloured pencils are easiest on the hands and the consensus was them, so I bought some recently. Good to see that someone who has chronic pain and uses them thinks they are good for that since I haven't had much chance to use them yet! 😊
As long as you're not using a manual sharpener anyway, and by that I mean one where you have to twist your arms around. Electric or hand crank sharpeners are best for those with hand pains.
@@arcyarcanine Yeah I have a hand crank sharpener 😁. I also have a really good metal manual sharpener that I use when I'm feeling good to get the point I want but the hand crank takes a looot of work out of the process 😊
I would love it if you would do a tutorial on the how to use, when to use Prismacolor Verithin pencils. I just started using them and hope I am using them correctly and in the right situations.
Jennifer, I have Gout in my hands. Prismacolored pencils are my go to.I also love Marco Raffine. But I also own Poloy.Thank you for the time and energy you put into this comparison. My Art station is a desk. Can you give any suggestions on organization?
+Marie Laveee I hope you are having a low pain day so you can do lots of coloring at your desk ❤️😊. Thanks for suggesting some videos on organizing. I have lots of ideas coming very soon!
I was trying to decide which way I wanted to go on colored pencils; I came across your video and I am going with the Prismacolor Pencils. Thank you, I was trying figure out how to decide with out spending a lot of money on a product I may not like. Thank you so so much.
Great!! Very helpful Thank you. .... one thing ..i wish you had a completed picture x2 the same pic...using the different pencils with your techniques etc to compare.... would have been fascinating. But Thank you all the same! 🤩👏👍
Jennifer, I owned all the colours of the Prismacolor pencils and loved using them. However, when I developed hand pain (from overuse of the computer mouse at work) I found it quite painful to use the Prismacolor pencils. I eventually gave them away to a friend, and I've been on a search for some colouring tool to replace them that does not stress my hand. From your review the Polychromos pencils wouldn't be a good choice. Watercolours are pain-free to use, but since I like Bible journaling watercolours are not the best medium for thin Bible pages. Additionally, I typically do fine, precise colouring. Could you suggest any colouring implement that is easy to use and does not bleed through thin Bible pages.
+ToriMichele Morris please send us an email through our website if you are still having a problem. Our site has recently had a software upgrade and we are frantically working through the last of the glitches. We would love to help you with any issues you are having.
I remember using 2/3 of a prismacolor on a background on a coloring page because it was so soft. I went to black widow and has a firmer core and I don't use up the pencil so much but I then went to using panpastels for the background because it takes forever to do those backgrounds and get the white tooth not to show. However comparing the color the prismacolor looks more velvety.
If its possible, could you do a review of the mitsubishi uni colored pencils? Theyre the ones I use most often, and I absolutely love them. I would like to hear what someone else thinks of them.
+IWillGertrudYourSoul thanks for the suggestion. I don’t have these yet, but I will put them on my wish list for when I am ready to bring in some more brands.
Hey, I’m really interested in learning more. I hope you’ll be able to teach us more about using BOTH on one drawing. I purchased the 120 set on Faber castle and 72 set for prismacolor(the 120 set is coming soon, HAHAHAH I’m kidding myself, it’s probably a month from now) I owned prismacolors for a few months now, never noticed a break in the pencils. I’ve heard people raving and complaining on its breakage and am incredibly afraid of sharpening them. I spent $400 on the polychromos(amazon) while my usual art store was selling them at $1.5k. Do you think both pencils with coordinate toether better? Or should I use one
+THE ANONYMOUS MEE, there are lots of ways to use them together. Dive in and experiment. Make it a goal to use those precious beauties down to the stub so you have an excuse to buy more!
I own both and both have their space and place in my work. I never have a breakage problem with the Prismas, because I use the Derwent Fine Point Sharpener. It works wonders with the prismas. Also sharpen your graphite’s with it in order to keep the sharpener clean. I never attach it to the desk. I just hold it in my hand to sharpen the pencils. To me it’s easier.
Owned both of these. I've never had so many broken pencils as i had with Prismacolor. Horrible pencils. I've only ever had one polychromos pencil break on me, and that was my fault.
Jennifer, I'm really not hating on you but I didn't enjoy this video as much as other videos by you. Personally I think that you were a bit bias to the Prismacolor colored pencils. For example with the color wheel test polychromos deserved to win as some colors were more true than the ones of Prismacolor. One example is the yellow-green was more true for the polychromos than the Prismacolor colored pencils. Another point I'd like to make is that it's kinda unfair to compare the two because one is wax based (Prismacolors) and one is oil based (polychromos). Because polychromos are oil based they obviously won't be as pigmented as Prismacolors.
+Zakiyyah Gangat, thanks for your comment. I appreciate your thoughts on the video. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy this video. I truly thought the Polychromos would win this comparison, but I was pleased to see that the score card truly did show what brand is best for me. That was the purpose of this video...not to show what brand is best overall. I want everyone to discover which brand is best for them, because it is very different for each of us. I hope you’ve had a chance to watch my color wheel videos. They explain why and how each of the colors in those wheels were selected. For this comparison, it was not so much about what colors were in the wheel but more about comparing vibrancy, saturation, and overall appeal. Remember, color is highly subjective and difficult to test especially when different pigments and dyes are involved. Again...that is what is exciting to me about providing the score card...everyone can look at those wheels and choose for themselves. Your second point regarding the core content and unfairly testing them because they are different. This could be said of almost every brand and type of colored pencil. But, in the end, people purchase them to be used for the same purpose so I think it is totally fair to compare these two brands. I did this video because I am constantly asked this question and people want to know how to make this decision for themselves. That is why I chose this format for my video. I want to educate and in the end, let the viewers make up their own mind. I hope this helps clarify my thoughts and feelings.
Coloring Pages Bliss I didn't feel you were biased. You didn't once say, "Prismacolor is the right brand for everyone." You clearly stated they were best for you, and obviously, when creating comparison videos, we can only give our own thoughts and opinions. I appreciate all of the time and effort you put into creating these videos. I learn and absorb so much useful information and utilize the techniques in my own art.
For the people who live in America maybe Prismacolor is the best choice, but for the people who live in Europe the choice is going to be Polychromos. In Europe is very complicated to buy single Prismacolor pencils because there is not open stock, but we have Polychromos open stock, I live in Spain and I can buy a single pencil of Polychromos in several art shops of my city and online shops, but I cannot buy Prismacolor if I only want an spare pencils because they are very expensive because you only can buy them on international shops and the big problem are the shipping rates, even if you buy them in Amazon, for example a green pencil can cost more than 10 euros (around 11,76 dolars). I've Polychromos set of 120 pencils and when I've bought them I had the doubt between them or Prismacolor, I'm glad I've choose the Faber Castell. Thank you soooooooo much for your videos, I'm learning very much about coloring.
After sharpening did you measure the length of the two pencils against each other to see which one lost the most color core in order to get the sharp point? In another video, the Prismacolor lost a noticeably larger amount of its color core. I think that might be good to know. How much am I willing to lose of my color core to get the sharp point I sometimes need? If much more is lost, my pencils will not last as long, and if not available in open stock, but only by buy whole sets, that can really raise the expense of maintaining a complete set.
It's very refreshing to finally find a yt video where we're not supposed to believe in some kind of ULTIMATELY BEST CHOICE FOR EVERYONE. I never ever had a prismacolor in my hand, and since they are extremely expensive here in middle Europe you can't get them onen stock. Most people get them from German Amazon if they want them that badly, so since they're both expensive it makes more sense to get polychromos as a long time investment. Even though they have some flaws. Lately I bought Bruynzeel Design Color pencils, which cost around 70% of polychromos' price and I'm madly in love with them.
+GreyGreenEyes yay!!! So happy that you liked how I did this video! Thanks for the suggestion on Bruynzeel. I have 1 set of their lower grade brand and I have been impressed. Their higher brand is on my wish list. Have a great day in Europe!
GreyGreenEyes I can't be certain about posting to middle Europe but I keep my eyes open with Amazon US for Prismas as they are terribly expensive in Australia and I found them for a third of what we pay for them. Then just a week or so later they'd been increased by $30 at Amazon US after the sale. They were round USD60 for 150 set. I think that's great value or was. Amazon UK is never cheaper for me. I hope that helps you if it's possible 😊
Lo prices at US Amazon can be very low compared to ours, but there are always some shipping costs added to a cart - even when shipping is supposed to be free and I can't say I completely understand it. Also some items just don't ship to Poland at all, so German Amazon is the cheapest possible option so far. Anyways thanks for your comment!
Lo that makes sense. I once tried getting a set of 72 because there was a sale, but it turned out I'd have to pay extra ~25 to get them, so they lost my interest. Like I previously mentioned I got a set of 48 Bruynzeel Design colored pencils and I like them very very much. AFAIK they are incredibly expensive in both Australia and US, but they cost the equivalent of 40 USD, and I found them on sale and paid even less than 35. If I'm missing colours I can get some polys open stock,they seem simmiliar to one another in many ways. I seriously wish we all had simmiliar access and prices to all brands, I bet the reviews would be more helpful. Most of my art supplies are either Czech or German :P
GreyGreenEyes I so agree with you. Amazon are coming to Australia and I pray we get good pricing and that they take over the freight. I hope you manage to get whatever you need and I'd love it if we could all have what the US has. All those art suppliers with discounts and coupons and sales. Oh heaven😍😘
After seeing previous reviews, and the fact that they are more readily available in the UK (if rather more expensive) I would probably go for the Faber Castell Polychromos.
I find a lot of these poly vs prisma comparison videos ignore the very glaring issue that their basic makeup is fundamentally different. If you come at the poly from a prisma user standpoint, you miss out on the strengths of the polys. Just sayin.
BTW, got lucky with my new Prismacolor Premiere set of 150-NO breakage, and only a few cores ever so slightly off center. But the lightfast issue UGH! Found a UV fixative that HOPEFULLY will address the issue: Brush and Pencil brand Advanced Colored Pencil FINAL FIXATIVE. Have you had any experience with this? I LOVE Prismacolors, and would really like to continue using them, but hoping to stop the lightfast problem. Thanks in advance!
I really enjoyed your video I think it was to the point pardon the pun ,Very informative,In a great display of what each pencil could or could not do,Thank you for the great video.
Hi could you do a demonstration between Prismacolor vs Derwent studio or colour Derwent soft pencils. Studio- Artist and colour soft are 3 popular Derwent pencils they price about the same as Prismacolor pencils in Australia. I really liked your review so far I am for Prismacolor
Hi, I know it's a long time after the video, but may I ask if your paper starts tearing after so many layers, as mine does? Perhaps I am using the wrong paper, but it does say "Rolfes Drawing Pad - suitable for pencil, coloured pencil, soft pastel, oil pastel, charcoal, pen, ink, markers and also suitable for light washes". Perhaps it is not ideal for coloured pencil layering?
Polys would be easier to read if they used a sans serif font for the printing. Also, the Prismas have teeny-tiny lettering, but that actually helps me read it more easily, because I don’t have to roll the pencil to see the whole letter.
I like the feel of using Polychrome...the pencils seem to gllllllide across the paper! My other favorite is Derwent but I do have tons of other pencils but those are my favs! I have misused the "bloom" term incorrectly but what I was trying to communicate was the HUGE red flower showed shadowed on the cross page where the text of the story is. ICK!!! As I have a new grand niece, your video triggered not only the "ick" memory, but the BOOK! So I've reordered it from Amazon to do again! ("the Faeries of Waterlily Woods") Do you have a method of keeping the color on page from "bleeding" onto the facing page, I'd love to hear it! THANK YOU! I do so love all your video! O, what about doing a video on the cause of my problem and THE FIX! I'm HODGEPODGESPV on your blog.
+sandy vaughan oh yes! I love that glide of the Polychromos! I have had the same problem with colored pages that I don’t store in sheet protectors. I suggest using a spray fixative to seal your work. There are a lot of great brands and types to pick from.
I've watched several of your videos and a few from other artists and after trying a few less than artist grade pencils, decided I "had" to have the full set of Prismacolor pencils.... So I bought them on line. I was a little disappointed that a few of them kept breaking when I sharpened them. I tried the tip of leaving them in the car for a couple hours. They didn't seem to do any mending, but they did "bloom" which really surprised me. After watching your pigment test I "had" to have a set of Blick Studio pencils. So far I like what they're doing better than the Prismacolor :-) .... Now after watching this video I "have" to get a set of Polychromos!!!! They look like they put down a very smooth, even color which I like. I've found my inner artist and am having a lot of fun drawing and coloring with ALL my pencils!!! Thank you for all your work on the videos you post!!
+MZ MRL wow...I’m worried I’m going to break your bank if I keep making art supply reviews 😉. Sounds like you’re having a wonderful time connecting with your creative side. Keep coloring and keep watching. 😊❤️
I haven’t used either of these pencils so my choice is based on watching your comparison. l have chosen the Prismacolor pencils because of the bright colors, how they cover the paper better and how they seem to blend. I have ordered the 72 pencil set off of Amazon. I am excited to try them out.
Without doing the chart yet, and just through my experience using both full sets in an artist capacity, Polychromos wins hands down! Lightfastness (there are literally two in 120 that are a bit dodgy so technically Polychromos have more usable colours than Prismas), the beauty of the pencil, the quality of the pencil (you don't need to see the cores because all Polychromos are centred with delicious German efficiency). Polychromos also sharpen like a boss and don't break every five seconds so even if they cost a little more, they are worth it as one tends to chew through Prismas much quicker (false economy with the cheaper ones!). In Australia they're all about the same as each other price wise anyway. In short, I ADORE Polychromos for my art pieces, but I will give it to Prismacolor that the softer waxier pencils are LOVELY for colouring books. I pulled out all the non-lightfast ones (you end up with a decent colour palette with just those) and I use them for colouring so they don't go to waste; they work well, aside from having to sharpen them entirely too often!
+Rebecca Tregear glad to hear you find a way to use the pencils that are not high on the lightfast scale. Sort of feels like they are the kids at school that don’t get picked for the team.
You're not allowed to complain about 100+ year old, world famous manufacturers.
You're not allowed to speak about breakages either.
That is ridiculous talk.
Wood workers have shown you how to sharpen wood.
You disrespect them.
Wood workers have had no complaints about these pencil brands.
Artists are clearly WRONG cause Wood workers don't complain about their tools.
Pencils ✏️ have been getting perfectly sharpened for hundreds of years by Wood workers.
Artists are sick and delusional and should shut their mouth.
You never sand across the wood grain.
You never sharpen against the grain.
Timber may have cranky grain structure.
You adjust your sharpening accordingly.
You're WRONG.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE in sharpening pencils.
You're not allowed to complain!!!!
Wood workers use pencils too and THEY don't have a problem.
I'm sick of artist idiots causing trouble when it's all their fault.
Every day they complain about stuff and it always is their fault.
Prisma colors are more expensive where I live in fact more expensive than polycromos so idk should I just get the polycromos
Comparison of these two is like comparing apples to oranges waxed based pencil crayons and oil based pencil crayons work differently.
The most important thing for me when I consider pencil crayons is the quality and the quality control behind prismacolor is not up to my standards... the core isn't centered they break more often than I use them the wood encasing is thinner and the wax bloom bothers me to no end. Polychromos for the money you pay are better quality in my opinion and they're oil based so big plus for me.
They are is no comparison. Faber Castell is some of the best if not the best, while Prismacolour's quality is some of the worse if not the worse. It's literally night ad day...
Polychromos actually also come in a beautiful 2 tier wooden box
I like the polycromos best.
+joellzey awesome...did you use the score card? I’d love to know what your scores were...I’m so curious!
Yes there are The best
@@ColoringBliss hi curious
I liked the more muted colors of polychromos. The bright colors are not something that appeals to me nor does the breakage issues prismas newer sets have.
The original comment person left and didn't return.
Typical behaviour from antisocial people.
Neither is better than the other. In fact they compliment each other!
Polychromos by FAR are the BEST hands down. Thanks for the video!!
I haven't used them. I hope they are better. The current Prismacolors aren't that nice. The old Berol Prismacolors were good.
tita adorno If you have the money (which I don’t), I’d say get care dache luminance (not sure if I spelt this right) or get both polychromos and prismacoour pencils, as they are both good for different things.
How long does it take for the artwork to fade with prisma
@@Mixcky_Shadow pretty quickly,many people have said it takes around a year or even a few month.
Full disclosure: I'm a HUGE Prismacolor Premier fangirl. However, I don't (yet) own a single Polychromos pencil but I've been wondering whether it was worthwhile to buy some. This video fully answered that question. While I agree 100% with all of your results and I still feel that Prismacolor is overall the pencil for me, I am extremely impressed by the Polychromos lightfastness and smoothness. For those reasons alone, I think it's definitely worth investing in at least some key colors from that brand. Thanks so much for the information!!
+theoriginaledi, glad I could help clarify some of your thoughts. It sounds like you’re on the right track. I’m hoping some day the Polychromos will drop in price...a girl can dream.
I would try a few first, like 8-10. I find that every set has some pencils that behave better than others (really EVERY set). You may love the Polys but if you don't you will save a lot of money. I like the Indigo since it is a different color. Um, that is one out of 120... :) The yellow/orange selection is nice but every set seems loaded with those. They do erase better than Prismas.
Cool, thanks for the extra information. I agree about starting slow. I'll probably initially get only 3-5 just to see how they do. It's nice to have some insight on where I might start!
I would like to see you use the spectrum noir color pencils And see what you think about them.
Polychromos are superior. I'm not a coloring book person. I create original artwork. I started with Prismacolors and thought there was no going back. Then I went to my favorite ART (not craft) supply store because I needed more white. I was told that Prismacolors have gone downhill and were going to be replaced in a few months by Polychromos. I don't find the Polychromos to be particularly expensive, especially when you consider how much pencil is wasted when Prismacolors break, and break and break. I found that buying the complete set of Polychromos from Europe was cheaper than anywhere else when I checked eBay too. I probably got them around 60% less than any retailer in the states. Prismacolor does make the best black. I order them by the box from my local office supply store.
Where I normally shop online from US based retailer, the Prismacolors are $1.29. The Polychromos $1.69. With the latter, I get to use the whole pencil. I gave away my entire set of Prismacolors and now use Polychromos for the layers of underpinning, and Luminance (also purchased whole set from Europe cheap!) for the top layers which make my work POP! In between I used Colored Pencil Painting Textured Fixative spray to restore tooth to burnished paper. Hope this editorial helps. If you want to lust over anything, it should be the Luminance. They are the greatest colored pencil ever, but cost $3.99 each to replace! It takes so little when you're using them only to add depth to nearly completed work.
I disagree with the color wiping part. I actually had to stop using prismacolors because they smudged too much on my hand or even a white paper if I used that to rest my hand while painting... but with the polychromos I never had that problem. You should have tried on more colors.....
+dianateabag good suggestion. Maybe I could do a video just about the smudging factor. Have you tried laying down waxed paper under your hand to protect your work? It works like a charm for me.
That's interesting. I've seen on someone else's review of these 2 brands that they use paper under their hand when coloring with polychromos but not prismacolor. They basically had the opposite problem as you.
@@BeautyMommysUnite I find the polychromos smudge badly on Any paper, Love them but the smudging makes drawings look dirty
You can get the full set of Polychromos in a wooden box. Very luxurious ... I love mine very much.
That sounds fab. I will have a look for that.
I solved the problem with which is best, I got both sets. I also have a really hard time reading Polychromos gold foil lettering on the pencils. If I had to chose between the two brands then Polychromos is my choice, it is all about the details. In very small spaces where you need control and a very fine point Polychromos wins, there are some colouring pages that I wouldn't even try to use Prismacolors to do . To get similar vibrancy to Prismacolors you have to do many light layers much more than four. So Prismacolors give you a faster lay down where you need just a little extra patience with Polychromos.
+Bobby John Savage good comment! Thanks for your insights.
I want to get myself a nice set of pencils (for Christmas or my birthday or just a nice treat? Haven't decided yet.) and have been watching a lot of these comparison videos. I've been wanting the Polys for a while, but the Prismas have a larger set of colors and seem to blend really nicely. So I may just have to get both too! lol I currently have the Tombow Irojitens which are nice, but the colors are a bit limited.
Hi Bobby! Have you tried the Prismacolor Verythin pencils? That could help those tiny detail spots!
Hello! Thank you for your great work and so smart testing and rewiev. That was brilliant!
Thank you for finally producing this video, Jen!
It is highly appreciated!
I do think they work best together though! ;)
+Andrea Guatato you’re welcome and thanks for sharing your opinion.
this is so insightful. you deserve more likes on this and also you got yourself a new sub (: keep up the great videos!
Thank you so much for all your useful infos. I learned so much from watching these awesome videos and from reading comments!x
+Tracylee Marcotte you are very welcome. 😊
Jennifer!! Wow wow wow!! I just discovered you this week and I’m subscribed and joined and TOTALLY blessed! The amount of research and impeccable detail is amazing!! Why you don’t have a million followers is a mystery to me!
Your hubbin Steve and sweet pup Rose are also a delight!
Blessed to be “blissed”💕👩🏻🎨
A lot of this was subjective or biased. For example, Polychromos is oil-based, so the opacity will be lesser than he wax-based Prisma that layers on thicker. Did you noticed the unevenness of the Prisma vs the Polychromos? Thinner but smoother vs thicker but uneven. And I love he Polychromos presentation, they look like they cost a lot (and admittedly they do).
Thank you for your color pencil comparison in this video, extremely helpful on showing us the differences and tallying up our own points on which brand we should buy. I definitely was surprised on how much I liked the prismacolor's vibrancy over polychromos when you showed the color wheels side by side, this proves that price doesn't determine the preference/quality of materials.
How about a review on Caran d'Ache Pablo and Caran d'Ache Luminous
Luminence are better ! Luminence are the best pencils I have used and I have compared them to the Pablo's in the shop. Colors are more vibrant when applied on the same piece of paper.. all colors are lightfast...etc...
Lmao they are a waste of money
@@dbachris8075 how?
K S They’re expensive!
I heard the Pablo was like the Prismacolor Verithins.
Awesome test. I have struggled with which of these two sets I should buy. This test was so perfect! Thank you so much!
LOVE your format in that one can choose for themselves, and was surprised by the color wheel-Prismacolors are more vibrant! Very helpful, and I have subscribed, thanks so much! Nice manicure BTW :)
First of all: thanks a lot for your very thorough testing! I really love your way to be as objective as possible to show the differences! I really appreciate that, because it gives people the right tools to base their decision on. Great work!
Now, I own both pencils, I just received my Prismas this week. So I am able to compare the both of them myself. I can confirm almost all the issues and results you talked about, except for the smearing, where my personal impression was that the Prismas smeared more, but maybe that also depends on the colors that one chooses for the test, because the pigments can vary in "performance". From my point of view, most differences result from the difference in "ingredients". Most obviously, both are very good sets, with very much pigment. But while the Polychromos have oil as an ingredient, the Prismas don't. The Prismas are softer, the Polychromos harder. That's why Prismas give off more intense color with less layering, or the Polychromos slightly less intense coloring, but smoother blending. That' also the reason why Prismas tend to break faster and wear down quicker. That's the price you pay for their softness, so to speak. And the Polychromos blend nicer, but you have to work more at them. The list goes on and on.
Now, I as a German should actually prefer the Polychromos, right? ;-) But to be honest, I cannot decide. While I prefer the smoother look of the blended Polychromos, I prefer the softness of Prismas. That is a draw for me, I am deadlocked (and glad about it!). Which is why I will be using both sets intensively.
By the way, I only bought the Prismas because I couldn't resist. I am not much of an artist and never will be, as much as I would have wished to be one. I am just a person who likes to color every once in a while, and that is why I initially did not think about getting a second set of good pencils. Prismas and Polychromos used to be about the same price for comparable amounts of pencils a year ago (at the German Amazon). At that time, I decided to buy the Polychromos, because I was afraid of the lead breaking issues of the Prismas, since I am not experienced in pencil use. But now, the prices for the Prismas dropped so considerably, that I was able to buy a set of 72 Prismas for 35 Euros, which is almost a fourth (!) of what they were a year ago. One Euro has about the same buying value here as an American Dollar, just to give you a scale. Availability in Germany is good for both of the pencils, with the only difference that I can go to any art store and buy the Polychromos open stock, whereas the open stock Prismas are only available to me online.
Again, THANK YOU for your great reviews! Even though I do not need to make any buying decisions any more, I still love to watch all of your tests, simply because they are worth watching!
+ElinT13 thank you for sharing your amazing insights. I really appreciate hearing your thoughts and experiences and your perspective from Germany. I am happy to hear that you enjoy my video so much. 😊❤️
Very informative! Thanks so much!
I have a question, i'm looking to buy professional colorpencils.
Wich pencils brands would be your top 3?
Wich brand would you recommend me?
Please excuse my typO's.
Clearly from the start, you prefer Prisma. Lol
Interesting to see your test. I think another 2 tests could be useful
1. long term durability of the pencils. Typically I find that I need to sharpen Prismas more often and so Polys last a longer time even if more layers are needed for saturation. This can then offset long term cost considerations.
2. coverage: I feel I can get more subtle colour graduations with Polys than with Prismas. They go down lighter. Difficult to test objectively perhaps.
+Jane Kerrigan thanks for such specific suggestions! Have you seen my full reviews of these pencils? I try to address your #1 item on that worksheet. Check it out!
Love your videos...always so informative!! Quick question- if I create a piece with all Prismacolor Premier pencils, but then use a protective artwork spray that blocks UV light, it would theoretically keep the pencils from fading....is that right?
I just discovered your channel. Looking forward to learning some new information and techniques.I'm just now starting to branch out into other brands of colored pencils. Been using Prismacolor for 45 years.
I’d be interested in a review of the 150 Holbeins ❤️
Thanks for your video, very helpful as I'm stuck between these two brands. Although Prismacolor scored more for me I think I'll go for the Polychromos as Lightfastness is important to me, also that it doesn't break easily. I also remember you mentioning in another video that the Polychromos core was welded to the barrel so would be less likely to break when sharpening. Besides that, I live in the UK, so they're easier to get hold of. Maybe will try to get a black Prismacolor online as I loved the strong darkness of it.
I feel this is a similar comparison to Ohuhu vs Copic for alcohol markers. Ohuhu is more saturated and will wow you more right off the bat. It's also the cheaper of the two. But there are other arguably more important factors that really explain why Copic is the industry standard. There's superior light fastness, the ability to refill, the easier blendability, the larger pallet of usable colors, the overall quality of the pigment. The list goes on. That's why I think the Polys are overall a better pencil.
EDIT: I will also argue that many of the areas in which Polys won are more important than some of the ones that Prisma took.
EDIT 2: Also your final test of blending was kinda BS. The test was which blended better, not which was more saturated/vibrant. The Polys clearly blended the best.
Copic, and typically all alcohol based markers aren't lightfast or archival. Markers are meant for digitization and illustration. I believe Copics are dye based, not pigment based, which ccounts for the vibrancy of the color.
I think also this test was more subjective than objective!
Oh! What brand of ruler is that? I’m after a ruler exactly like that with grids in the middle so I can draw lines of 0.6-0.8 on an unlined book that has great paper but I needed it lined and it didn’t come in lined. So yes, what brand of ruler is that please?
Well, that was interesting! I have quite a few Prismacolor pencils from years ago when I started doing CP art. I've been hearing so much about Arteza colored pencils and I've been wondering how they compare to Prismas. Would you do a comparison on those two brands, please?
Thank you for this demonstration, Jennifer. It's appreciated! I own both brands of pencils so that I can follow along with tutorials and have the same and correct tools that an instructor would have. Interesting that Prismacolor is proven more vibrant and had a much larger score.
I don't really need to do this test myself, because I perfectly agree with your results. But I do tend to prefer Polychromos...maybe it's because the barrel is more comfortable to hold and that it keeps a sharp point longer.
And lol I just wanted to add that I have and use the exact same green soap dish as an art tool, that you used in this demonstration.
+Paperdreamer Art wow! The same soap dish?! I can’t even remember where I got it! But I do love it and I think it looks pretty on camera.
what paper did you use for this test ?
This was great. This really helped me.
This is an interesting and in-depth way of scoring. You get to explore lots of areas to see which one fits better. I adore my Polychromos and those have my heart. However, I love my Prismas and they’re always a breath of fresh air when I come back to them after an absence.
best comparison i have seen, thanks for that! :)
I was extremely surprised by your result. So I did the test and obtained Prisma-5 Polychromos-16. Almost all performance tests were won by polychromos. This makes me wonder if the prismacolor premier 72 set that i bought on amazon france is legit. Plus the core diameter is smaller than those of polychromos.
I think that your test is quite good. I like both sets of pencils for different reasons. If I want brighter than life, I tend to lean towards Prismacolor. If I want a more natural look, I lean towards the Polychromos. I also have a big difference in crumbling than your test, mostly with the blues and reds of Prismacolor. I don't know if what their core is made of, with these colors, makes a difference or not, but this is my personal experience. All in all, the test is subjective. I can easily use either set & be happy.
No, I'm not a professional artist, I'm a colorist learning ways to improve my art on a daily basis.
Hi thank you for your help with this. Can you use solvent to blend the prismacolour pencils?
The answer to that question....Polychromos of course!!! 🤗👍
+Melody Jones did you do a score card? I’d love to know your scores?
Coloring Pages Bliss I learned from the experience of using both pencils.
Thank you so much for the video . What do you think about DERWENT COLOURSOFTS ? Do you like to do a comparison with them ?
A quick question where can I buy more utrecht colored pencils. I have three from online, went to order more from same site and they didnt have them, thanks.
Great idea for the comparison. I always wonder how to compare pencils that I use for a piece of art.
Still waiting for the review of the Caran d'ache Pablo and Blick Studio colored pencils.
I tested the Faber castells in the store and I love how smooth they lay down and not grainy at all. I've used Prisma colors and in some coloring books it could be grainy and I would have to always go behind it with a Prisma blender in certain books. Plus I've been running through them. So I'm ready to try the Faber Castells set but I hate that they're so high. I don't want to buy them and think that they're not worth it and I would have to buy the 60pc set because the 24pc don't have any pinks and purples in them. Have you tried Castle Art and if so could they compare??
I think this was a great compare. I enjoy your talent and knowledge!!
The point about prismacolor being really easy on the hand for chronic pain is the biggest reason I went for them!
I asked around about which coloured pencils are easiest on the hands and the consensus was them, so I bought some recently. Good to see that someone who has chronic pain and uses them thinks they are good for that since I haven't had much chance to use them yet! 😊
As long as you're not using a manual sharpener anyway, and by that I mean one where you have to twist your arms around. Electric or hand crank sharpeners are best for those with hand pains.
@@arcyarcanine Yeah I have a hand crank sharpener 😁. I also have a really good metal manual sharpener that I use when I'm feeling good to get the point I want but the hand crank takes a looot of work out of the process 😊
Where did you get that stencil sheet you were using, please?
Excellent comparison video loved it
+The Art Gear Guide thank you. 😊👍
I would love it if you would do a tutorial on the how to use, when to use Prismacolor Verithin pencils. I just started using them and hope I am using them correctly and in the right situations.
Jennifer, I have Gout in my hands. Prismacolored pencils are my go to.I also love Marco Raffine. But I also own Poloy.Thank you for the time and energy you put into this comparison. My Art station is a desk. Can you give any suggestions on organization?
+Marie Laveee I hope you are having a low pain day so you can do lots of coloring at your desk ❤️😊. Thanks for suggesting some videos on organizing. I have lots of ideas coming very soon!
I was trying to decide which way I wanted to go on colored pencils; I came across your video and I am going with the Prismacolor Pencils. Thank you, I was trying figure out how to decide with out spending a lot of money on a product I may not like. Thank you so so much.
your presentation on comparison of prismacolor vs polychromos was great.
What brand is the stencil i would lovw to get one xxx
Great!! Very helpful Thank you. .... one thing ..i wish you had a completed picture x2 the same pic...using the different pencils with your techniques etc to compare.... would have been fascinating. But Thank you all the same! 🤩👏👍
Jennifer,
I owned all the colours of the Prismacolor pencils and loved using them. However, when I developed hand pain (from overuse of the computer mouse at work) I found it quite painful to use the Prismacolor pencils. I eventually gave them away to a friend, and I've been on a search for some colouring tool to replace them that does not stress my hand. From your review the Polychromos pencils wouldn't be a good choice. Watercolours are pain-free to use, but since I like Bible journaling watercolours are not the best medium for thin Bible pages. Additionally, I typically do fine, precise colouring. Could you suggest any colouring implement that is easy to use and does not bleed through thin Bible pages.
Hi. I signed up on your website & tried to download this sheet, but it wouldn’t give me the download button. Can you help please? Thk u ❤️
+ToriMichele Morris please send us an email through our website if you are still having a problem. Our site has recently had a software upgrade and we are frantically working through the last of the glitches. We would love to help you with any issues you are having.
I remember using 2/3 of a prismacolor on a background on a coloring page because it was so soft. I went to black widow and has a firmer core and I don't use up the pencil so much but I then went to using panpastels for the background because it takes forever to do those backgrounds and get the white tooth not to show. However comparing the color the prismacolor looks more velvety.
Thanks for getting to the point about the points points points.
You should try the brand SOHO Professional coloring pencils compared to one of them or in general.
Where is the link to the prismacolour website for the colour/lightfast chart?
Thanks. Very helpful
For me it's Prismacolors: 8 and Polychromos: 12, but since I already have Prismas, I'm gonna stick with them! At least for now... :)
+rovenka great to hear your scores...thanks for sharing.
If its possible, could you do a review of the mitsubishi uni colored pencils? Theyre the ones I use most often, and I absolutely love them. I would like to hear what someone else thinks of them.
+IWillGertrudYourSoul thanks for the suggestion. I don’t have these yet, but I will put them on my wish list for when I am ready to bring in some more brands.
Hey, I’m really interested in learning more. I hope you’ll be able to teach us more about using BOTH on one drawing. I purchased the 120 set on Faber castle and 72 set for prismacolor(the 120 set is coming soon, HAHAHAH I’m kidding myself, it’s probably a month from now) I owned prismacolors for a few months now, never noticed a break in the pencils. I’ve heard people raving and complaining on its breakage and am incredibly afraid of sharpening them. I spent $400 on the polychromos(amazon) while my usual art store was selling them at $1.5k. Do you think both pencils with coordinate toether better? Or should I use one
+THE ANONYMOUS MEE, there are lots of ways to use them together. Dive in and experiment. Make it a goal to use those precious beauties down to the stub so you have an excuse to buy more!
great comparison...thank you :)
I own both and both have their space and place in my work. I never have a breakage problem with the Prismas, because I use the Derwent Fine Point Sharpener. It works wonders with the prismas. Also sharpen your graphite’s with it in order to keep the sharpener clean. I never attach it to the desk. I just hold it in my hand to sharpen the pencils. To me it’s easier.
Owned both of these. I've never had so many broken pencils as i had with Prismacolor. Horrible pencils. I've only ever had one polychromos pencil break on me, and that was my fault.
I had my prisma colors break in half and struggle when sharpening them. I do like the vibrancy but its not worth the risks. A shame
You did such a wonderful Job.
Jennifer, I'm really not hating on you but I didn't enjoy this video as much as other videos by you. Personally I think that you were a bit bias to the Prismacolor colored pencils. For example with the color wheel test polychromos deserved to win as some colors were more true than the ones of Prismacolor. One example is the yellow-green was more true for the polychromos than the Prismacolor colored pencils.
Another point I'd like to make is that it's kinda unfair to compare the two because one is wax based (Prismacolors) and one is oil based (polychromos). Because polychromos are oil based they obviously won't be as pigmented as Prismacolors.
+Zakiyyah Gangat, thanks for your comment. I appreciate your thoughts on the video. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy this video. I truly thought the Polychromos would win this comparison, but I was pleased to see that the score card truly did show what brand is best for me. That was the purpose of this video...not to show what brand is best overall. I want everyone to discover which brand is best for them, because it is very different for each of us.
I hope you’ve had a chance to watch my color wheel videos. They explain why and how each of the colors in those wheels were selected. For this comparison, it was not so much about what colors were in the wheel but more about comparing vibrancy, saturation, and overall appeal. Remember, color is highly subjective and difficult to test especially when different pigments and dyes are involved. Again...that is what is exciting to me about providing the score card...everyone can look at those wheels and choose for themselves.
Your second point regarding the core content and unfairly testing them because they are different. This could be said of almost every brand and type of colored pencil. But, in the end, people purchase them to be used for the same purpose so I think it is totally fair to compare these two brands.
I did this video because I am constantly asked this question and people want to know how to make this decision for themselves. That is why I chose this format for my video. I want to educate and in the end, let the viewers make up their own mind.
I hope this helps clarify my thoughts and feelings.
Coloring Pages Bliss I didn't feel you were biased. You didn't once say, "Prismacolor is the right brand for everyone." You clearly stated they were best for you, and obviously, when creating comparison videos, we can only give our own thoughts and opinions. I appreciate all of the time and effort you put into creating these videos. I learn and absorb so much useful information and utilize the techniques in my own art.
Coloring Pages Bliss It's fine. 😂 It's not like I'm gonna stop watching you. I just like to add my 2 cents to everything. 😂
+Crystal Franklin thanks! I do my best and I am glad it my efforts are helpful to you. 😊❤️
Well, you shouldn't name the video "which is best" then, as this seems to be overall for everyone. The Title is kinda misleading.
For the people who live in America maybe Prismacolor is the best choice, but for the people who live in Europe the choice is going to be Polychromos. In Europe is very complicated to buy single Prismacolor pencils because there is not open stock, but we have Polychromos open stock, I live in Spain and I can buy a single pencil of Polychromos in several art shops of my city and online shops, but I cannot buy Prismacolor if I only want an spare pencils because they are very expensive because you only can buy them on international shops and the big problem are the shipping rates, even if you buy them in Amazon, for example a green pencil can cost more than 10 euros (around 11,76 dolars). I've Polychromos set of 120 pencils and when I've bought them I had the doubt between them or Prismacolor, I'm glad I've choose the Faber Castell. Thank you soooooooo much for your videos, I'm learning very much about coloring.
After sharpening did you measure the length of the two pencils against each other to see which one lost the most color core in order to get the sharp point? In another video, the Prismacolor lost a noticeably larger amount of its color core. I think that might be good to know. How much am I willing to lose of my color core to get the sharp point I sometimes need? If much more is lost, my pencils will not last as long, and if not available in open stock, but only by buy whole sets, that can really raise the expense of maintaining a complete set.
Thanks for this comprehensive comparison. I own full set of both brands. I agree with your findings 100% and I love my Prismas!
+ml benson thanks for watching. I’m glad the comparison was interesting to you.
Yes plz include core content on the test. To me, I prefer oil based vs wax base colored pencils.
Realy like this video. I would like a video about prismacolor vs. derwent coloursoft :)
And Derwent Lightfast pencils.
It's very refreshing to finally find a yt video where we're not supposed to believe in some kind of ULTIMATELY BEST CHOICE FOR EVERYONE.
I never ever had a prismacolor in my hand, and since they are extremely expensive here in middle Europe you can't get them onen stock. Most people get them from German Amazon if they want them that badly, so since they're both expensive it makes more sense to get polychromos as a long time investment. Even though they have some flaws.
Lately I bought Bruynzeel Design Color pencils, which cost around 70% of polychromos' price and I'm madly in love with them.
+GreyGreenEyes yay!!! So happy that you liked how I did this video!
Thanks for the suggestion on Bruynzeel. I have 1 set of their lower grade brand and I have been impressed. Their higher brand is on my wish list. Have a great day in Europe!
GreyGreenEyes
I can't be certain about posting to middle Europe but I keep my eyes open with Amazon US for Prismas as they are terribly expensive in Australia and I found them for a third of what we pay for them. Then just a week or so later they'd been increased by $30 at Amazon US after the sale. They were round USD60 for 150 set. I think that's great value or was. Amazon UK is never cheaper for me.
I hope that helps you if it's possible 😊
Lo prices at US Amazon can be very low compared to ours, but there are always some shipping costs added to a cart - even when shipping is supposed to be free and I can't say I completely understand it. Also some items just don't ship to Poland at all, so German Amazon is the cheapest possible option so far. Anyways thanks for your comment!
Lo that makes sense. I once tried getting a set of 72 because there was a sale, but it turned out I'd have to pay extra ~25 to get them, so they lost my interest. Like I previously mentioned I got a set of 48 Bruynzeel Design colored pencils and I like them very very much. AFAIK they are incredibly expensive in both Australia and US, but they cost the equivalent of 40 USD, and I found them on sale and paid even less than 35. If I'm missing colours I can get some polys open stock,they seem simmiliar to one another in many ways.
I seriously wish we all had simmiliar access and prices to all brands, I bet the reviews would be more helpful. Most of my art supplies are either Czech or German :P
GreyGreenEyes I so agree with you. Amazon are coming to Australia and I pray we get good pricing and that they take over the freight.
I hope you manage to get whatever you need and I'd love it if we could all have what the US has. All those art suppliers with discounts and coupons and sales. Oh heaven😍😘
Your right, this is the best way to test out color pencils much different too
Have you tried out the Schiprerr Farben colored pencils?
Holbien v prisma colour please! (I love holbien pastels particularly)
+Jane Kokoszko great suggestion. Thanks.
I second that
After seeing previous reviews, and the fact that they are more readily available in the UK (if rather more expensive) I would probably go for the Faber Castell Polychromos.
I find a lot of these poly vs prisma comparison videos ignore the very glaring issue that their basic makeup is fundamentally different. If you come at the poly from a prisma user standpoint, you miss out on the strengths of the polys. Just sayin.
+froggy art studio That´s a very valid and important
observation!
BTW, got lucky with my new Prismacolor Premiere set of 150-NO breakage, and only a few cores ever so slightly off center. But the lightfast issue UGH! Found a UV fixative that HOPEFULLY will address the issue: Brush and Pencil brand Advanced Colored Pencil FINAL FIXATIVE. Have you had any experience with this? I LOVE Prismacolors, and would really like to continue using them, but hoping to stop the lightfast problem. Thanks in advance!
Jennifer what colors have added to your set of 60 polychromos pencils?
+Susan Neidlinger that’s a great question...several people have asked me. I will do a little video about it soon.
I really enjoyed your video I think it was to the point pardon the pun ,Very informative,In a great display of what each pencil could or could not do,Thank you for the great video.
Thornton's and Sudee Stile are two colored pencil brands I would like to see reviewed. Please and thank you.
Have you reviewed the Felissimo 500? Would love your honest opinion
+kaop2015 I hav never heard of these. Where can I learn about them?
Hi could you do a demonstration between Prismacolor vs Derwent studio or colour Derwent soft pencils. Studio- Artist and colour soft are 3 popular Derwent pencils they price about the same as Prismacolor pencils in Australia. I really liked your review so far I am for Prismacolor
Thank you for the lightfast info. Many do not give lightfastness the attention it needs and I think it's vital.
Hi, I know it's a long time after the video, but may I ask if your paper starts tearing after so many layers, as mine does? Perhaps I am using the wrong paper, but it does say "Rolfes Drawing Pad - suitable for pencil, coloured pencil, soft pastel, oil pastel, charcoal, pen, ink, markers and also suitable for light washes". Perhaps it is not ideal for coloured pencil layering?
Late answer but i can highly recommend hot pressed watercolor paper! It can take tons and tons of layer with colored pencils!
Could you review Guanghui Hero pencils? I heard they're good, but I haven't found any demonstrations of what they're capable of.
+Shadow's Corner thanks for the suggestion. I will check them out.
Polys would be easier to read if they used a sans serif font for the printing. Also, the Prismas have teeny-tiny lettering, but that actually helps me read it more easily, because I don’t have to roll the pencil to see the whole letter.
Thanks for this in depth information. I'm justified in my love of Prismacolor!
I like the feel of using Polychrome...the pencils seem to gllllllide across the paper! My other favorite is Derwent but I do have tons of other pencils but those are my favs! I have misused the "bloom" term incorrectly but what I was trying to communicate was the HUGE red flower showed shadowed on the cross page where the text of the story is. ICK!!! As I have a new grand niece, your video triggered not only the "ick" memory, but the BOOK! So I've reordered it from Amazon to do again! ("the Faeries of Waterlily Woods") Do you have a method of keeping the color on page from "bleeding" onto the facing page, I'd love to hear it! THANK YOU! I do so love all your video!
O, what about doing a video on the cause of my problem and THE FIX!
I'm HODGEPODGESPV on your blog.
+sandy vaughan oh yes! I love that glide of the Polychromos!
I have had the same problem with colored pages that I don’t store in sheet protectors. I suggest using a spray fixative to seal your work. There are a lot of great brands and types to pick from.
I've watched several of your videos and a few from other artists and after trying a few less than artist grade pencils, decided I "had" to have the full set of Prismacolor pencils.... So I bought them on line. I was a little disappointed that a few of them kept breaking when I sharpened them. I tried the tip of leaving them in the car for a couple hours. They didn't seem to do any mending, but they did "bloom" which really surprised me. After watching your pigment test I "had" to have a set of Blick Studio pencils. So far I like what they're doing better than the Prismacolor :-) .... Now after watching this video I "have" to get a set of Polychromos!!!! They look like they put down a very smooth, even color which I like. I've found my inner artist and am having a lot of fun drawing and coloring with ALL my pencils!!! Thank you for all your work on the videos you post!!
+MZ MRL wow...I’m worried I’m going to break your bank if I keep making art supply reviews 😉. Sounds like you’re having a wonderful time connecting with your creative side. Keep coloring and keep watching. 😊❤️
I haven’t used either of these pencils so my choice is based on watching your comparison. l have chosen the Prismacolor pencils because of the bright colors, how they cover the paper better and how they seem to blend. I have ordered the 72 pencil set off of Amazon. I am excited to try them out.
The sharpener has a lot to do with it...where did you get that one?
Hey I mostly just draw animals but I don’t know which colors I should use so is it better to use polychromos or prisma?
Have you tried Arteza pencils