Toison D’or pencils are the pinnacle of graphite drawing instruments. Encased in California cedar, they can be identified by their black lacquer and cream, gold, and black bands. California cedar is one of the best woods for pencil making because it is a renewable resource that prevents warpage.
What a 5B Pencil Does Best:
- Produces dark values: Lays down a lot of graphite easily. You do not need to press hard.
- Creates soft shading: The soft core helps you fill in dark areas and shadows smoothly.
- Blends easily: The high graphite content lets you smudge or blend tones to make gradients.