Graphite pencils come in a range from 9H, 8H etc to 1H, and H. It then moves into HB and then B1, B2 etc towards B9. B9 is the softest and darkest.
In the past, pencil makers have used combinations of letters to tell us more information about the graphite; a pencil marked HB is both hard and black, a pencil marked HH is very hard, and a pencil marked BB” is very black.
Generally, an HB grade about the middle of the scale is considered to be equivalent to a #2 pencil using the U.S. numbering system. In reality however, there is no specific industry standard for the darkness of the mark to be left within the HB or any other hardness grade scale.
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From there, pencils are graded as “B” through “10B” for softer, darker pencils that contain more graphite, and H through 10H for harder, lighter pencils that contain more clay.
Pencil makers manufacture Nos. 1, 2, 2.5, 3, and 4 pencils—and sometimes other intermediate numbers. The higher the number, the harder the core and lighter the markings. (No. 1 pencils produce darker markings, which have been preferred by editors and people working in publishing.)
The degree of soft black, hard, hard black, and firm are then further classified by numbers, the higher the number the higher the intensity. The 19 degrees of graphite pencil hardness are: 14B, 12B, 10B, 8B, 7B, 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H, and 6H.
Staedtler Mars Lumograph Pencil 12B. The Staedtler Mars Lumograph 12B pencil is the graphite pencil that has the highest B rating of any pencil on the graphite scale. Which in theory makes it the darkest wooden drawing pencil that there is.
As you can see in the image, the higher the H value, the lighter the result but the finer the point, while at the other end, the higher the B value, the darker the blackness of the graphite and wider the point.
As you move downwards from B to 2B, you'll find that the graphite core will be softer at each point. Keeping this in mind, the lead of a 6B lead will be much softer than a 2B and hence, will produce a blacker impression. HB enjoys middle status.
Numbers are then used to indicate the degree of softness - the higher the number the softer the lead and the blacker the mark. For example, a 2B lead is softer than a B lead and will produce a blacker mark.
The H stands for hard and the B stands for blackness. H pencils are harder and produce lighter lines because they contain more filler and less graphite. Pencils that fall into the B grade, on the other hand, make a darker mark because they're softer and don't contain as much filler.
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Generally, an HB grade about the middle of the scale is considered to be equivalent to a #2 pencil using the U.S. numbering system.
Being light in shade, these pencils are easy to erase, which makes it a favorite among the children who use it to improve their 'penmanship' in school. On the other hand, 2H pencils are used for more technical purposes. The 2H pencils have a hard lead, which means they are lighter in shade.
Softer pencils make darker marks since more of the material is released. Therefore, a "4H" pencil will produce lighter marks than an "2H" pencil while a "4B" pencil will make darker marks than a "2B" pencil.
For graphite drawing pencils on the market, the lightest is 6H, while the darkest available is 8B. The higher the number in each grade, the lighter or darker it is. So a 6H will be lighter and harder than a 2H, and a 8B will be much darker and softer than a 2B. F and HB are middle-grade pencils.
12B is the softest of the B leads and is great for creating super dark values. You can use the soft 12B lead to create a wide gradient of values from a light mark to a dark heavy impression.
Graphite pencils are the most common type of pencil used for drawing, but charcoal pencils, pastel pencils, colored pencils, and watercolor pencils are also popular choices for drawing and can be used to achieve different effects.
Most modern pencils use the HB Graphite Scale, and are given a grade to indicate the level of hardness. The grades run from 9H, the softest and lightest lead, through to 9B which is the darkest lead.
What is an F pencil used for? F pencils are optimal tools to use for writing just as HB pencils are. Since the tip of an F pencil is slightly pointier and harder than the tip of an HB pencil, you can also use the F pencil for any kind of precise freehand drawing.
2/HB core that makes smooth, dark marks. Even though darkness and hardness varies among brands, No. 2 and/or HB pencils are widely considered to be the ideal lead grade for writing (and they're required for many standardized tests), which makes this Golden Bear pencil a perfect choice for elementary school and beyond.
The Staedtler Mars Lumograph Pencil for writing, drawing and sketching on paper and matt drafting film. It is the ideal tool for artists and graphic designers.
It is designated as simply B. The next pencil is a 2B, then 3B, 4B and so on, up to as high as 12B. Although 12B is considered a very dark pencil, you can actually get a darker mark with charcoal pencils.