Prismacolor Verithin Pencils
12-36 count pack
Wax core
Hexagonal barrel
Budget to mid-priced
Pros:
Great for Intricate Details
Good Color for the Applied Area
Cons:
Poor Blending
Somewhat Limited Color Selection
Prismacolor Verithin Colored Pencils Review
Updated by Brandon F. on July 8, 2020
The Verithin line by Prismacolor is made of a harder wax core which is good for working on areas that require great detail. Being a thin and hard material, the wax doesn’t put out the same deep, powerful colors that conventional softer-wax pencils would, but they still have a purpose in any artist toolbox.
Instead, they are designed for highly detailed areas that require a careful hand and precision in the application. Color sets are available in 12 to 36 pack and these pencils have a relatively small core with a hexagonal outside.
Visual Appeal – 3.5/5
The color itself and the color intensity is a bit more subdued with the Prismacolor Verithin Colored Pencils. This is due in part to the harder wax being used as well as the smaller tip diameter. Application results in a semi-transparent sheen, even with a lot of pressure involved. However, where these pencils shine is in the details. They still produce great color relative to their applied area. This makes them great for the highly detailed areas that most colored pencils struggle with.
Blending is also quite difficult with these so your colors are somewhat limited to what you have in your case. And the available colors can be a bit all over the place. For instance, you will find a nice selection of yellows, oranges, and greens but then colors such as a conventional red will be limited. That being said, they are a great addition to an artist toolbox but it won’t be able to meet all of your visual needs on its own.
Usability and Durability – 3/5
The harder wax material can result in scratching your paper if pushed too hard. Because of this, we recommend going with a thicker paper if you decide to try these colored pencils out. And if you prefer thinner paper, let up a bit on how hard you push down until you get a better feel for them.
We have noticed that these pencils will take a bit more practice to get competent with. People who have not yet mastered certain coloring techniques will quickly realize that these pencils will amplify their issues. While somebody very capable with colored pencils can let their impressive skills shine.
Also, the specialized lead can make sharpening them with conventional hand-held sharpeners quite difficult. You may find that they are prone to chip or crack when you get them close to the extra sharp point you are after. The hexagonal core, however, assists in maintaining control which is important when focusing on acute details.
Just don’t bother trying to use them to blend large surfaces. Switch over to your thicker-cored colored pencils for that task.
Packaging and Presentation– 3/5
The Prismacolor Verithin Colored Pencils come in a sort of “sleeved case” that, while adequately holds the pencils in place, do not provide the level of protection that other pencil manufacturers might have, especially on the higher end. This is a bit disappointing as these are thinner pencil cores and we would assume that the added level of protection from a more resilient protective case would be necessary.
The pencils themselves have color-matching wood exteriors with the necessary information stamped onto them. The stamp contains the pencil type, color, Prismacolor color code, brand name, and manufacturer’s origin. This is stamped in either white or black ink, depending on the barrel color. We typically prefer a silver leaf but it is a minor complaint.
Cost – 3.5/5
These are in the budget to mid-price range. This is quite reasonable as you aren’t getting as much “color” with these as you do with some of the more expensive Prismacolor offerings. Also, you aren’t getting to take advantage of their fantastic soft core wax of other Prismacolor sets. But sometimes the job calls for different equipment and these have their place in a serious artist’s toolbox.
Overall Ranking – 3/5
For the particular applications these are designed for, the Prismacolor Verithin Colored Pencils do a good job. They provide good, precise color for such a small application area while still suffering from some of the “shortcomings” that other, harder-wax colored pencils also share. Color selection and blending a bit lacking, however, so make sure that you plan out the layout of your more detailed areas so you don’t run into any issues.
And in cases where you don’t happen to have one of these pencils in the exact color you are after, switch over to a more capable pencil in areas with large consistent color coverage.