The point here is that for each effect you want to achieve, and subject you want to accurately portray, there is a type of graphite you should use. This drawing pencils numbers explained guide will tell you anything and everything you need to know about different types of graphite and how you should use each of them. Once you know what type of artwork you need the pencil for, you need to understand the different grades of graphite pencils. Even though we often refer to lead in pencils, there is actually no component of lead used in them. Whereas colored pencils are made with wax and pigment, graphite pencils are a mixture of graphite and clay. The combination of these two components allows for smooth strokes, but graphite pencils will give different lines depending on how much clay is present. Generally, the more clay in the pencil, the harder the pencil—and lighter the stroke—will be.

In this lesson, we'll take a look at the different grades of graphite, why they are designated as they are, and which pencils you may need (and the ones you don't) to find success with graphite drawing. Graphite Grades An H pencil corresponds to a #4 pencil on the American grading system, which places it a few spots further up the hardness scale over a #2 pencil. While an H pencil will create lighter lines than the more common #2 pencil, it is possible to create lines that are moderately dark by using a lot of pressure. If you like to have a detailed sketch done before you do a finished drawing or painting, an H pencil can work very well for you. It’s still a hard graphite lead, but it’s softer and can be used to create darker lines than other hard pencils. The numeric graphite scale uses numbers such as 1, 2, 3, or 4 to represent how hard a pencil’s core is. The strength of pencil lead increase with the diameter of the pencil size, i.e., 0.7 mm lead has a greater diameter than 0.5 mm lead and is, therefore, more robust. Tilt your pencil and fill the fur sketch shape with gray. Don't press too hard to achieve a uniform effect. You can simulate the flow of the fur drawing with your strokes, but it's not necessary. Step 3Because it is soft, it leaves more graphite on a drawing surface allowing it to produce dark shades. Time for the mechanical pencil. Use it to add tiny shadows within the clumps (the big clumps are made of smaller clumps, after all). Be very, very careful—too much of it may destroy the effect. Feel free to copy the shapes of the shadows you see in my drawing. Step 16

When a pencil core is made of lower proportions of clay, it becomes softer and produces darker marks. The grading scale used to measure the core of a pencil comes in two ways. The Numerical Graphite Scale – The lead in an H pencil is tightly compacted and contains more filler resulting in the H pencils releasing a little amount of graphite when in use. Let's draw the base of a lion's tail as an example. Again, imagine it bends on top. Draw it with the HB pencil. Step 2

International websites

Secondly, in front of those draw a curved line, beginning at the bottom of the ball and end three-quarters of the way across your cylinder. Then draw a line coming from your cube, beginning at the corner facing you and ending at the edge of the paper, at around a 75 degree angle. These lines will form the constraints of your shadows. You can then work in the same way for the lid of the cylinder, with strokes going from left to right, as the light will hit the top differently than the curvature on the main surface. You could see that the HB, B, and H pencils have unique and distinguishing features even though they fall under the same pencil set. Choose a sheet of paper. While any paper will do in a pinch, using a smoother paper will give you more precise control as you add graphite to create values. Take the eraser to add some highlights to the illuminated side. If you have a kneader eraser, you can actually draw some hair with it—if not, a normal eraser will do. Step 15