Prismacolor Vs Polychromos - Which Colored Pencils Should You Buy?

In some ways, Polychromos and Prismacolor pencils are just opposite sides of the same coin. They both have things they excel which may steer you to one over the other. Let's take an in-depth look at both and what I like about them.

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[winterrain]

This was a really good comparison video. I have both brands and I agree.
If I had to give up ALL of the pencils I own right now, and start all over again from the beginning with new pencils, I would start with the 72 set of the prismacolors, and either the 36 or 60 set of the polychromos, depending on how much money I could spend.

[UJB]

Oil vs Wax .... Oil (Polychromos) takes more patience when it comes to blending/layering. Wax (Prisma) is easier and beginner friendlier.

[MrTripletts]

I find the reason for breakage on the prismas is the lead is offset on some of them. If you look at the flat end of a handful of them you can usually see a couple where the lead is off center in the wood. Quality control issue? Also sharpen them by hand not in and electric sharpener

[ofraar]

Very professional and efficient! Your art is amazing🤓

[gemmabest]

This is the video I've been waiting for. I've always used prismas but so hard to get in the UK for a good price. I've just got the polychromos set and can't work with them

[AcornFox]

I saved up and bought both. I like the Prismas for my colouring books, but for drawing I *much* prefer the Polychromos. I think Faber Castell’s products are superior and excellent quality, I have their watercolour pencils, pastel pencils and watercolour paints. Prismas are great for blending and colour blocking areas smoothly, but Polychromos, for me at least, feel, handle and look better and produce results I am happier with.

[tabethafrick]

One other thing to consider is the type of paper. I mostly work on sanded papers and personally find Polychromo pencils work better. However, when working on smoother surfaces I do enjoy that almost buttery quality of the Prisma pencils.

[DianaPucci-fweq]

Has anyone mixed the two types of pencils in the same drawing, do they blend well or somehow one repels the other? Like using the prisma as the initial base color and the oil-based pencil for the detail work?

[SathishKumar-pwfu]

Prismacolr is expensive everywhete except USA.

[TravisBrady-wnfr]

Yea i saved and saved. Im getting the polys in the wooden case and the full prismacolor set. Im really redicovering my art side again. Thanks for video.

[jerrimendellkelly]

Can they be mixed..use each brand in a drawing?

[FernCurtis]

I keep hearing about wax bloom problem with the Prismas, as well. have used them for a long time now and in all honesty, I got wax bloom once and only once and that was the very first time I used them. I used only a few layers because a) obviously, I was used to them and was getting a feel for them and b) the paper quality I was using and again, I wasn’t use to it either. It wasn’t horrible per se’, but it isn’t the greatest either (NOT createspace/Amazon paper.)

I could be totally wrong about this, but based off of my own experience, plus listening to/reading comments by others who also love layering and who also don’t get wax bloom from their Prismas, in my opinion, the main reason that so many have this problem is because the vast majority of people who use them, are either a) heavy handed, b) don’t like layering (or at least don’t like layering with these, while they have no problem doing do with say, Polychromos). I believe that it is when you use only 1 to say only a few thicker layers that cause the wax bloom.
I have also heard of people finding it coming back up through the image, several years later, unless they spray fixative on the images. I can truthfully say, that I have never seen that happen with my images…not even with the very first image that I did, where I did initially get some wax bloom and I don’t spray my images…

[mafaldamaluka]

In Poland and Brazil: Prismacolor is more expensive than policromos

[burghbrat]

I use Prismacolor because it's the pencil that feels right in my hand, it layers and blends nicely, and it's the brand most easily available in open stock at the art supply stores in my area.

[lorisaunders]

Thanks Gemma…very good information. I have only been drawing for a short time, so any tips are valuable!💕🇨🇦

[kai.byroade]

I'm going to be blunt: Prisma colors are garbage.

Back in the early 2000s they were great, But they're manufacturing methods and location have changed and they are now a complete waste of money, No matter how cheap you find them.

If you want, oil-based, Go for Polychromos. If you do realism and you want wax based, Go for Caran D'ache. If you want the best of both worlds— A phenomenal mixture of wax and oil, for any type of drawing—go for Holbein.

[the-red-ghost]

That's actually true i keep hearing people saying prsma is cheaper its around 30 dollars for 72 pencils while in my country the 72 set is more than 100 dollars

[Gingerforlifeeee]

Is the key to getting detail with the prisma color keeping the pencils sharp, Or do you have another method?

[aliciajohnson]

I prefer prismacolor but I agree polychromos is better for animals. What do you think of Caran d’ ache luminance?

[ingridjobst]

There is also a nice video here on YT on the Faber Castell website showing how the pencils are made. Very interesting to watch.