Using a hard leaded pencil

**mtw** · December 9th, 2002, 12:04 AM

So I bought an 8H pencil, but I'm not liking it right now. It makes a dent into the paper so that if you make a mark over it with a softer leaded pencil, it will make the dent visible. That happens unless I draw so lightly that I can't even see the mark I'm making. Do I need to find a different material to draw on?

Sadclown · December 9th, 2002, 12:48 AM

Well, the harder the lead, the lighter the tone you'll get from it. 8H is REALLY REALLY light. the hardest I ever go is 4H and that's when I'm laying down a quick sketch or something. Now I'm not that experienced, but I can't even see a use for a pencil like that. but it's all about preference really. If you can't see the line you're making without a huge effort, I'd use something darker.
just my two cents.

**Blackwell** · December 10th, 2002, 12:07 AM

Yeah, 8H is very, very hard - not something I typically use to sketch with. The last time I used anything that hard was doing drafting work on vellum. Stick with softer leads and vary your pressure to get lighter strokes, rather than using a very hard lead that you have to press into the paper to get any kind of mark...

**Patton Art** · December 10th, 2002, 06:20 PM

yeah, 8h is REALLY light.. I haven't used an H in a loooong time...
I used to sketch anywhere between 4h and 2h really lightly and then go in with hb then keep darkening up, up to 6b.
Now I usually start out with HB or 2B, block in what I'm doing, then use between 6b-9b to put in my darks.
I don't ever use H's anymore, but I heard they're good for really light parts by highlights.
I was just thinkin about this a few minutes ago...
If I'm trying to shade a sphere, and I use a 2B and try to draw it really light even up to by the highlight it looks wrong... so... I'd draw the dark part, then use an HB or 2h to draw that light-but-not-quite-a-highlight part.

**amphex** · December 10th, 2002, 10:44 PM

Is there any actual use for an 8H?
I just dont see any point in its existence

But maybe like architectural or some other sort 0f technical drawings?

**mtw** · December 10th, 2002, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by amphex
Is there any actual use for an 8H?

I figured that I could use it when I want white lines (other colors too). I'll draw an outline on paper with the 8H and then swipe over those marks with some pencil. I'm not sure when I'll want to do this, though.