Watercolourists should be aware that these paints are opaque, though some rich colours can be made in combination with gouache and so it doesn't matter about being opaque then. Simply add a little water to your Graphitint sketch and a hint of colour in your sketch becomes a rich, vibrant colour. Derwent Graphitint has been designed to combine the colour qualities of a graphite pencil with a hint of soft subtle colour. My review today focuses on the popular Derwent Graphitint range, the range is relatively small in numbers, however the colours are to die for and unsurpassed by many other watersoluable pencils on the market; but are they worth the investment?

When used dry, Graphitint provides just a hint of colour but adding water transforms the tint into rich, shimmering shades with an underlying, graphite sheen. They don't offer the same silvery sheen as graphite pencils do and they feel heavier in application. The same goes for the white pencil but always ensure the painting is fully dry before applying dry pencil applications to avoid scratching the surface as already mentioned. The more water applied to each colour, the less lightfast it becomes - be careful around colours such as pinks and purples that have low lightfast numbers as these will fade far quicker than stronger colours.One thing I have noticed in my time reviewing Derwent products, quality control is most certainly not an issue.

After the colours had fully dried, I began applying fine details with the Ocean Blue pencil to create the 'stipple' effect on the wings. Used dry Graphitint produces just a suggestion of colour, but add water to wash out the lines and make the colour much more vibrant.Graphitint will appeal to artists looking for something a little bit different but with all the familiar qualities of their favourite graphite pencils. When used dry the graphite is the strongest tone with a suggestion of colour, once wetted the colour becomes more vibrant and changes into rich earthy tones. The colours are not vibrant like the Inktense ones but each colour has a graphite undertone hence the 'Graphitint' title.

For the most part, the colours in this set are similar to their counterparts in the Derwent Graphitint pencil range once they’ve been activated with water, though not all are an exact match and some (especially a few of the blues) are quite different). I also found it was best to let the colours completely dry before applying another layer over the top as the hardness of the pencil can scrape the underlayers away. Contains the following colours: Port, Juniper, Aubergine, Dark Indigo, Shadow, Steel Blue, Ocean Blue, Slate Green, Grren Grey, Meadow, Ivy, Sage, Chestunut, Russet, Cool Brown, Cocoa, Autumn Brown, Storm, Warn Grey, Midnight Black, Mountain Grey, Cloud Grey, Cool Grey and White.

Once dry it turns into a dark grey and it may be best to apply the black pencil dry to keep it's strength. To soften edges/transitions apply a damp brush to the area so as not to over saturate and drag too much pigment around which can muddy the effect. Next is the name of the company; Derwent, closely followed by the name of the pencil brand; Graphitint, after which is a small icon depicting a paintbrush, indicating to the user that they are using a watersoluable pencil.

It's available in a range of 24 subtle shades, from soft greys, blues and greens to glowing russets, plums and browns.

The first thing I noticed is that the Pastelmat paper grabbed the colour immediately, I did not need to apply a heavy application of colour however although this will vary if using other types of paper. The Derwent Graphitint Paint Pan Set includes 12 pans of water-soluble paint made from a unique blend of graphite with colour. For instance, Inktense, a unique water-soluble pencil that’s permanent when dry, or Lightfast the oil-based pencil that ensures vibrancy for over 100 years.