Prismacolor Premier 72 Colored Pencils: Build Color in Layers

A flower drawing can have a crisp petal edge beside a gradual change from pink into shadow. Those two areas ask different things of a colored pencil. Prismacolor Premier Soft Core pencils offer a sharpenable point for a defined mark and a soft colored core intended for shading, blending, and layering.

The selected 3599TN tin contains 72 assorted pencils. Its appeal is the combination of that drawing behavior with a broad palette already at hand. It is a substantial set for someone who returns to coloring pages or illustrations regularly, especially when changing color gradually is part of the work.

Let layers do some of the work

Prismacolor describes the soft wax in Premier Soft Core as the reason for its smooth, creamy color application. The practical benefit is having a pencil designed for building and blending color, rather than judging the set only by the number of shades on the lid.

Try a small section on spare paper before starting the finished page. Use a light first pass, add another color where you want a transition, and compare the result before increasing pressure. The manufacturer's coloring guidance recommends practice sheets, color swatches, and varying pressure to build color gradually.

That gives a learner a manageable question: what changes when the same two pencils overlap? It also gives a regular colorist a way to plan a repeatable blend for several similar shapes. You can write the color names or numbers beside the sample and keep it with the drawing.

A sharper point can return to an edge or small detail after broader shading. Softness does not automatically make every mark precise, and a large assortment does not replace control of the hand. If your main task is fine ruled annotation rather than shaded color, this set's central benefit may have little work to do.

Arrange the palette around the picture

The original package image shows the 72 pencils in three trays with a metal tin. Spreading the trays out makes the selection visible while you choose; putting them back gives the collection a defined home between sessions.

The larger palette is useful when you want nearby shades ready to compare. A drawing with foliage, fabric, and a background may call for several different color relationships. Having more starting colors can reduce the need to build every choice from the same small basic group, while still leaving room to blend.

Use a few pencils at a time for the section in front of you. Swatch those colors on the same kind of paper as the project instead of relying only on the painted barrels. Keep the selected group together until that area is finished, then return it to the trays.

Seventy-two colors are a choice, not a requirement for learning. A smaller set may be enough for limited palettes or occasional coloring. Someone who already owns many Premier colors should compare the included assortment with the pencils actually missing, rather than buying another large tin solely for its count.

Plan for marks that do not erase easily

Prismacolor's FAQ says Premier Soft Core pencils are wax based and are not designed to erase easily. That changes the way to approach a page: settle the placement and test uncertain colors before building a strong layer. An ordinary eraser should not be treated as a reset button for every finished area.

Keep the distinction between product families clear when shopping. Soft Core, Watercolor, and Col-Erase are different Prismacolor lines. Choose the medium for the intended process; this 72-count Soft Core tin is not a promise of water-activated painting or easy erasing.

The manufacturer also advises keeping these pencils away from heat and direct sunlight during storage. Return loose pencils to an organized place where their points are protected, and include suitable paper and a sharpener in the supplies you plan to use.

The purchase is most convincing when you want to spend time on shaded transitions and return to a larger palette across several drawings. Match the current price to that repeated use. The strongest case for this tin is a working collection you can organize, test, and revisit as drawings develop.