Great for lighter sketching. I use these pencils to sketch and then trace my sketch with ink afterwards. With these harder grade pencils I can amend my sketch as much as I want without worrying about leaving noticeable pencil marks after inking and going over it with a vinyl/foam eraser. I didn't have any problem with them scratching my paper as another reviewer stated but I generally use ink friendly heavier mixed media paper. My only problem with these pencils is that the individual ones I bought came in pre-sharpened. Roughly, pre-sharpened. So I had to sharpen them anyways.

My favorite purchase! I love this set and am having a great time trying out the various grades of pencils. The pencils are of a superb quality and sharpen easily and precisely. I do wish the tin was plain on the top though and maybe had the advertisement on just the bottom.

Best thing next to Charcoal

I was looking for a colored pencil that was really a dark black. This is the best I could find that wasn't a charcoal pencil. It draws beautifully and is not messy like charcoal but seems to have the same effect on paper. I would purchase again!

Great pencils for sketching!

These are great, inexpensive pencils for sketching. The 2B and 4B are my go-tos. I sharpen them with a knife to get a large flat edge when sketching. They are sturdy with minimal smudging. They were recommended to me by an instructor of a drawing course.

J. Rodney Dennis

I am a professional painter who studied Classical Painting at an Atelier in Boston. The Staedtler Lomograph Drawing pencil #2 was the standard issue apparatus that I use to this very day. Consistent quality that allows me to execute my studies precision.

My favorite drawing pencils

Staedtler Lumograph are my favorite drawing pencils that are readily available open stock in Blick stores. This set of 12 in a tin is a bargain compared to the price of the 12 pencils bought separately. However, the set is not available in stores, which is why I give it 4 stars. The price of shipping cancels out the savings.

My favorite pencils

Lovely pencils for sketching and drawing. I use the HB the most, but also 2B and 4B when I want a thicker layer of graphite. I prefer wood pencils over mechanical pencils. These sharpen nicely and the leads have never broken inside the pencil for me. There is no eraser on the top but that's OK; I use a separate eraser anyway. Will purchase again and again!#sweepstakes

The best drawing pencils.

Out of all drawing pencils, these have always been my favorite. My go-to pencil as it were. Good quality and rarely break. Smooth drawing and sharpening. Every other pencil pales in comparison to these, in my opinion. I have so many 3/4 inch nubs from using them to the end and i hate when I have to throw them away, haha!

This is an excellent product

I know this product first hand. I've seen them being manufactured and know the extreme measures these pencils go through in the manufacturing process. It is easy to understand why the quality of these exceptional pencils is so much appreciated. After all, the Staedtler name in pencil manufacturing has been around since the 1600's. From the finest ingredients to the utmost care in producing the exact hardness time after time results in a product that performs consistently well. I also use these pencils exclusively.

Wonderful full range drawing set plus 4 Mars "black" pencils

My favorite drawing pencils. Have bought various hodgepodge mix of other brands but I kept finding myself reaching again and again for the Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils. So I finally bought the complete set for a drawing class. Awesome. Consistent gradations and very even application. Love the bonus 4 pencils of Mars Lumograph Black with luscious darks you don't get with regular graphite pencils. Highly recommended. Good value and good range set for various applications. Comes in a convenient tin for storage.