DERWENT INKTENSE Product Review - Is it Permanent? | Using Inktense on Fabric | Lightfastness Rating

In this Derwent Inktense art supply review, we'll discuss Derwent's lightfastness ratings and demonstrate the use of Inktense pencils on fabric. Derwent claims that the pigments are permanent when dry. In this video, we'll run tests to prove if this is true. I'll create swatches and show a few blending techniques, and test how durable the cores are when sharpened.

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[Llamanescent]

The lightfast rating discrepancy is due to the fact that the original lightfast ratings were based on the pencils being dry. The lower ratings are the accurate ones when activated with water, which is disappointing, but at least they are being honest. The original chart was the one with the higher ratings and the other one was put out more recently.

Derwent says on their website that the pigment needs to be dissolved fully in order to be permanent. If you want them to be permanent, it is best to work in light layers and make sure the pigment is fully dissolved, or use another method to get the pigment onto the paper like touching a wet brush to the tip of the pencil or using a palette made for watercolor pencils. I have heard the pans are much easier to work with if you want them to be permanent, but I haven't tried those yet.

The other thing is that a lot of things are permanent when dry but not if you try to rewet them too quickly. When using these or similar products, I treat them like ink and give them at least an hour before going over them if I need them to stay put. The time needed will depend on things like how much water was used and what paper you are using.

[orchdork]

I've heard people say that you have to use less pencil in order to make it permanent, and if you lay down too much pencil and/or not use enough water, then not all of the pigment will become activated. It would be interesting to see you experiment with that and see if putting less pencil down, or changing how much water you use could actually affect how permanent it is.

[RamoArt]

You seem very knowledgeable and unbiased! I feel like you presented the facts so I can make up my own mind instead of pushing your opinion on me.

My take on the permanency issue: nothing is truly permanent on watercolor paper. Even India ink will lift if you scrub it with a wet brush. At least this has been my experience and I attribute it to the sizing of the paper. I do think they are more permanent than other watercolor pencils, but it doesn't really matter to me anyway.

My favorite thing to do with Inktense pencils is drawing with them like regular colored pencils and then misting the drawing with water. The color explodes and you get a really unique effect that no other watercolor pencil provides.

I've been debating getting the 72 set (that's why I'm here in the first place!), but I can't really justify spending so much money on something that isn't lightfast. :(

[ArtBrain]

What I've found with most watercolor pencils/crayons I've used (Derwent Inktense, Albrecht Durer and Neocolor II's) is that they tend to only be permanent when I don't want them to be! Ha, Murphy's Law. My 40 set of Neocolor II are the most cooperative and easy to work with, I think. My very small Derwent set is 2nd and I was thoroughly underwhelmed by the few Albrecht Durer I picked up to try, much to my surprise. When I bought the Albrecht Durer, I also bought a few Polychromos and like those far more. I'm still enamored with my old Prismacolor non-watercolor pencils for their price/performance balance, but my watercolor pencil test may lead to me skipping getting any more watercolor pencils and unstead buying a few Polychromos for detail work, which is where the Prismacolor struggles. Thanks for your information, always a blessing of help.

[grahamekellermeier]

Good vidio bought a set of 72 years ago just bought a set of 100 they are great to use.

[emilyerdbeere]

Ginger, your tutorials are wonderful, so informative and honest 🌸 No advertising!
I am also confused about those two lightfastness charts. Did you notice fading/loss of vibrancy of your paintings in the sketchbook? I want to store my paintings in a drawer because the colours are not highly lightfast

[jirikir]

Lightfastness are mostly be different betwenn dry and wet. That could explain the two ratings. There are some watercoler pencil rating are only tested dry, too. But you have to ask the Company get These infomation Most times.

[smartymuller]

Thanks for your thoroughly testing and opinion on those pencils! Came here after watching your review on Luminance/ Polychromos/ Prismacolors (which I also own and love for each of their pros). Subscribed afterwards 🤗
I bought the Inktense a few weeks ago and was a little disappointed, also because I think that their claim (to be permanent after being activated with water and fully dried) isn’t true, but also because to me I thought there aren’t enough bright colours, they all seem very dark. What are your opinions on that? Anyone agree?

[natantrivellato]

The charts about the lighfastness ratings are different because inktense was released years ago, and developed the brand since then changing the pigments etc

[MoonSpinners]

I wish I’d watched this before spending a lot of money on a 36 set. They are NOT permanent. It doesn’t matter how I use them, I can reactivate the colour when dry. I’m so disappointed.

[siag]

I agree, Derwent is lying about permanency. It rewets on paper, a little less than regular watercolour or watercolour pencil, but rewet. I tryed it on 100% cotton fabrick and it washed out 50% after first washing (instead of textile markers, which are bright and permanent).
About vividness and brightness of their colours. I don´t agree. There is difference between dry state, where inktense pencils are dark and dull, and after wetting they become somewhat bright. But regular watercolour pencils are bright even when dry, that´s why the wetting doesn´t make that huge difference.
About acting like an ink. I realy disagree, it was next huge disappointment, when I bought them. They don´t move (not even remotely) like an ink when activated with water. You must move them with a brush and they behave ... strangely. Many of them are not clearly transparent and after drying they don´t seem to me so bright, but somewhat chalky/muddy. My watercolours or watercolour pencils are much better in brightness, transparency and vividness after drying than inktense pencils or blocks.
If I have to suggest better replacement, I am suggesting Caran d´Ache Neocolor II (water-soluble wax pastels), which act not like an ink, but near as watercolours. They are creamy, many of them transparent, nice colours, moving in a similar way like watercolours when used wet in wet., not permanent (but they don´t claim it :-) and with published lightfastness in their chart.
These are my experiences.

[fazestorm]

Very good tutorial you would not necessarily need to sharpen it to a sharp point though so use a hand sharpener

[claritzairosario]

I did the test, on a old stain, of this colors, and it don't moves. You have to let it dry more than a few minutes. They are permanent. I respect your opinion, but it's true, there are permanent.

[janinejohnson]

Ty not purchasing them I am not a great artist anyways.