Anyway, there I was all excited about them and then heard of a problem. In response to a comment from another artist who used the pencils in a journal where they had faded, I decide to perform my own, completely non scientific, lightfastness test.
The test was performed on a set of twelve Derwent Graphitint colored pencils. The color names in the set: Storm 18, Midnight Black 20, Chestnut 13, Port 01, Ivy 11, Aubergine 03, Coal Grey 23, Cloud Grey 22, Dark Indigo 04, Cool Brown 15, Slate Green 08, Cocoa 16. (Sorry they’re not in numerical order – it’s the order I put them on the sample card.)
I started August 17, 2008 by placing the sample, with the left side covered, in bright light from a south facing window but no direct sunlight. It was allowed to rest in the window for 14 days. During this time, there were a few more cloudy days than usual due to tropical storms in the area. I live in east central Florida where we have sunshine and bright light most every day of the year.
At the end of this first phase, there appeared to be no change in color of any sample. That’s a good start, but I then decided to subject the sample to direct sunlight for the same time period. While most people don’t display artwork in these conditions, it seemed an extreme test might be useful.
After 14 days of daily exposure to direct morning sunlight, there were two colors that had faded markedly – Chestnut 13 and Ivy 11 – and one that had faded somewhat – Cocoa 16. The two colors that faded the most lost all the apparent color and left only the graphite. The third color, Cocoa, faded some but the original brown color is still discernible. The other colors were unchanged to my eye.
In reviewing my results and the official lightfastness ratings from Derwent, I noticed significant differences in some of the colors. The colors that faded the most in my test are rated as lightfast and one of the colors that they rate quite low on the scale (Aubergine 03) did not fade at all in my test. Also, other colors (Dark Indigo 04 and Storm 18) are rated as not being fully lightfast by Derwent but they also did not fade in my test.
To conclude, I will say again that my method was completely unscientific though it gives me enough confidence to use the pencils in my own artwork. I will take some care with color choices and stay away from those that faded in my test. I’ll also use the ones with the lower Derwent ratings with care. If you are using these pencils and are concerned about fading, please conduct your own tests and review the manufacturer’s ratings for yourself before proceeding.
Now, it’s time to actually make some art!
FAQ
Are Derwent Graphitint pencils lightfast? Mostly, in my own testing — but not uniformly. Through indirect bright light, none of the twelve colors changed. Under 14 days of direct sunlight, Chestnut 13 and Ivy 11 faded badly and Cocoa 16 faded somewhat. Curiously, a few colors Derwent rates as less lightfast held up fine.
Is graphite itself lightfast? Yes — graphite is very stable and doesn’t fade. It’s the added color pigment in Graphitint that can shift. When a color faded in my test, it lost its tint and left the plain graphite behind.
Which Graphitint colors fade the most? In direct sun, Chestnut 13 and Ivy 11 lost their color almost entirely, and Cocoa 16 faded partway. The rest looked unchanged to my eye.
Can I use Graphitint pencils for artwork meant to last? Yes, with a little care: favor the colors that held up, avoid the ones that faded, keep finished work out of direct sunlight, and run your own quick test if longevity really matters to you.
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