When the supply of natural graphite from Borrowdale ran short, the graphite was thinned down with other materials. ExaminersarepeoplejustlikeyouandIandrecognisetheimportanceofexamsindeterminingyourfuture,theywillnotjustthrowallsensetothewindandnotmarkyourpapersbecauseyouhaveusedthewrongpenciltype.

though, according to this site, there's no "industry standard" so one company's HB may not be the same as another's. The special lead formulation of our artists pencils provides results with a metallic lustre in a wide variety of grey tones for expressive sketches and drawings.AndreallyIwasmoreconcernedthattheywouldn'tevenrealiseIhadattemptedadiagramratherthanthemchoosingtoignoreit. As the pencil core becomes softer (through the use of lower proportions of clay) it leaves a darker mark as it deposits more graphite material on the paper. Finding what works best for your own artistic and writing needs is generally a matter of personal preference and experimentation with different brands of pencils. AlliwaswonderingiswhetherIwouldget0forthosespecificmarksbctheymightnotrealisethatIhadansweredthequestion. To complement our standard drawing pencils, which are characterised by lead with a silvery lustre, the Mars Lumograph black (available in six hardness grades) has a high proportion of carbon and is recommended for matt, jet black results.

Today, however, most pencils using the HB system are designated by a number such as 2B, 4B or 2H to indicate the degree of hardness. Likewise, a pencil maker might use the letter “B” to designate the blackness of the pencil’s mark, indicating a softer lead. Using this scale, the hardness of the core is often marked on the pencil — look for a number (such as “2” “2-1/2” or “3”).andidkifyou'rejustmisunderstandingmebutineversaidwritingwithadifferentpencilwouldcauseaUgrade(isaidwritingafullwrittenexaminpencilhasleadtoUs,notdrawingdiagramsinanon-HBpencilwhichiswhatidid). Rather than bonding pieces of wood together in several stages, as in the case of traditional graphite and coloured pencils, pencils made from WOPEX are produced in a mould. It is therefore suitable for artists, particularly for drawing and shading, as well as for expressive sketches and portraits. They're perfect for pencil drawings as artists can take advantage of the brush-like expressions, especially in the higher B grades. They are available in a wider range of finely graded degrees of hardness; however, unlike our classic Noris pencil, the dipped end is not colour coded.