Derwent CHROMAFLOW vs PRISMACOLOR Premier Colored Pencils

It’s been said that Derwent created the Chromaflow colored pencils to compete directly with the Prismacolor Premier pencils. So how did they do? Watch this head-to-head battle of Chromaflow vs Prismacolor to see if Derwent was able to make a pencil comparable to the popular Prismacolor.

CHAPTER MARKERS
00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
00:00:37 – Derwent Chromaflow Information
00:08:40 – Swatching the Chromaflow Pencils
00:15:05 – Step 1: 10-Color Swatches
00:17:05 – Step 2: White Swatch
00:17:19 – Step 3: Black Swatch
00:17:29 – Step 4: Visible on Black
00:17:49 – Step 5: Layering
00:18:19 – Step 6: Crumbs
00:19:37 – Step 7: Pigment Transfer
00:19:50 – Step 8: Watersolubility
00:20:14 – Step 9: Blending
00:22:51 – Scoring the Battle
00:42:35 – Battle Results & Final Thoughts

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[lisas]

Looked at Derwent uk today and chromaflow is now available openstock in the UK and it has this to say about lightfastness :
Are Derwent Chromaflow Pencils Lightfast?

Derwent uses the Blue Wool test (ISO 105) to evaluate lightfastness. Lightfastness refers to the chemical stability of a pigment under long exposure to light. Derwent Chromaflow are 60% lightfast across 72 colours, LF – Lightfastness rating (6 – GOOD, 7 – VERY GOOD, 8 – EXCELLENT)

[blingqueen]

Thank you for your review, I love the chromaflow, just waiting for the price to come down in the UK. £119 for the 72 set and they are make in GB. I did have the same issues with breakages so I put the lead back in the pencil and left the pencils on the windowsill in the afternoon sun and the pencils is no longer broken.

[kristenfrosch]

Your nails are always so beautiful! And your content on colored pencils is to die for! I'm a long time watcher, first time commenter and must say, you answer all the questions I have and show all the things I want to see when thinking about what colored pencils to try! I really really appreciate your videos and just wanted to say Thank you! Thank you so much for making all of these! :D They're all wonderful!

[vivisteriabloom]

I sharpened mine rotating the pencil instead of the sharpener, fun to see other way of doing things hehe.Thanks for the in-depth review! Been considering to buy one of them :)

[jaynereed]

Great video, Jennifer. Although I do like the Chromaflow, I feel they are overpriced at this point in time. Nice to know how the two brands break down in comparison. Love your content and just became a paying member today 💜🌟🌈

[bethmegansmith]

As of April 15th 2024 they are open stock on Cult Pens and 150 available in the UK thank you for this looks like you had loads of fun, Thank you for sharing

[karensteck]

For me Prisma color pencils are best value. Been using them for years. No matter what other color pencils I have, always go back to Prisma.

[SonyaColors]

Blick carries the larger sets now. I ordered mine on the 8th, they had them for $86+ and I used a discount, and they are currently just under $96 today. They were just delivered and I did a quick swatch and have to say I love the colors. I have yet to sharpen them and i'm hoping I dont experience any issues like you did. Oh! I also picked up the box by the edge of the lid and it didn't come off, yay!

[alisonjohnston]

I do love my prisma colour pencils and enjoy using them but After your review of them I purchased the castle art soft touch pencils and they are my go to pencil now. I really really love them

[pharoahofdreamers]

I feel like your box may have been manhandled during shipping, because mine are sturdy and even though they were clearly bumped hard in transit (the tin was dented badly) I only had 2 of 36 break during sharpening. I also got a lid that snapped shut. I felt that they weren’t as waxy and soft as the Prismacolors, and that they hold their points better. They do tolerate fewer layers, but they work super well with solvent which I use a lot when I color. They are supposed to be Derwent’s budget alternative to the Coloursoft but the exorbitant prices that people are charging because they’re new is ridiculous. Also Derwent manufactures their products in Britain so the cost of making the product is higher than Prismacolor which has a factory in Mexico. Overall, they’re a nice pencil but the price is a little steep right now.

[spifariffic]

I couldn't find lightfast ratings on Prismacolor's website, but I found it on the Blick website's listing. On their prismacolor premier page, scroll down to find the 'resources' tab, and there is a downloadable PDF there to see the lightfast ratings.

[meomie]

Love your channel! Just purchased your swatch book. I have been looking for one for a while and yours was perfect. <3

[VynilNostalgia]

Thanks for the interesting review! I got the Chromaflows last week and I love their pigmentation and laydown BUT: I have much higher breakage issues than with the Prismas! I would never have expected that. So Prisma is still unbeaten for me (and of course they have many more colours!)

[neilallen]

Also, I was fortunate to get my hands on a very good condition 60 set of vintage Berol Prismacolors. If you love Prismacolor a lot, I HIGHLY recommend Berols if you haven't tried them. They are definitely superior to the Premiers by a decent margin. You can instantly tell just by holding them and looking at them that they are sturdier pencils. They are like the Premiers, but better in about every way as far as performance. I don't think the Premiers are bad, and I don't think the Berols are 10000% better, but I do feel they are noticeably better.

[eBookHoarder]

I agree. I like my Derwent 24. I have small sets of most of what Derwent has to offer with a couple of full sets. They offer so much. I have the Prismacolor Premier, Verithin, Nupastel, Colerase and Watercolor to satisfy my full set syndrome.

[NatalieRalston]

Hi, I found the best sharpener for Chromaflow is Derwent Super Sharp manual sharpener, it sharpens pencils to a point. The wood is a tad odd but the pencils work a treat! No breakage with fine point - really lovely to use!
Oh and I did a similar test and used Acid free paper, 150 gsm and found the Chromaflow to go further, the colours are soooo vibrant and are great to use with Prismacolor as the tones are slightly different so add as the under or over tone - blend really beautifully🩷

[Dorie]

Love your head to head videos, Jennifer!!! This one was particularly interesting to me as I have been wondering about those chromoflow pencils. It does seem like Derwent needs to create a much larger number of colors in order to compete with Prismacolor. Plus, the breakage is disappointing as that is an issue that I have repeatedly encountered with Prismas. I was hoping for an inexpensive line to compete with Prisma, but Chromoflow pencils just don't manage it - at least not yet! Thank you so much for doing this one!

[TheBicycleLadyThings]

Great job on the video!! Some great information and real time testing. I have been wondering and thinking about the Derwent Chromoflow and I think I stay with the what I have . I still love the Derwent lightfast pencils and a very good pencil company over all.

[createwithalyformerlycolor]

Great video! I wasn’t surprised by the results. I also just wanted to say your thumbnails for your videos always crack me up! 🤣

[StarBarksU]

Awesome video as always! Thank you and Steve (Sweet Rose too 🐾♥️)for all that you do!...As much as I love Derwent...I think I have every complete set now except the 72 Chromaflow...I have to agree with your results! I've been using Prismacolor Pencils since the Dark Ages..I've been a professional Artist since the late 70s upon graduating from Art Schoo/College...which means not all that much since most of what I truly have learned was from myself watching and learning from others...especially in my recent years by watching great folks like you Jen! They still don't teach a out colored pencils as much as they should in Art classes except that they are like another medium such as pastels...and you can forget about coloring...they don't teach that because it's a hobby in most Art instructors eyes....Anyway I'm going off on a tangent here...my point is asmuch as I love my Derwents and as much as I have had numerous issues with my breaking Prismas I honestly feel Derwent has many of the same breakage issues!!! I use to think the Coloursoft pencils were bad at breaking until I started using the Chromaflow set!!! I have gone thru so many pencils by sharpening until there was hardly any pencil left! And if that wasn't bad enough when I emailed Derwent they didn't even get back to me! Which really makes me want to start my own YouTube channel more than ever now ...because if it helps others in the Art and Coloring community I'm all for that!...so my bottom line is this...Prismacolor has had .any issues in the past and still to this day...But Derwent really needs to get their act together on these pencils!!! They keep treating them like they are some mysterious product...first coming out over a year ago with the little 24 set with no other info or plans announced and now with the almost unavailable 72 set!?! What's up with that? For such an illusive pencil they sure break a lot!!! Thank you again Jennifer! You guys ROCK! God Bless.and happy belated Mother's Day....Rus from Pennsylvania ♥️🖌🐾🎨🤓