Derwent's softest coloured pencil — and when a company with nearly 200 years of pencil-making heritage in the Lake District makes that claim, it means something. The Coloursoft range was developed specifically around a single quality: maximum softness combined with maximum pigment saturation. The result is a pencil that lays down colour with a velvety, creamy quality that feels immediately different from a standard coloured pencil — richer, more responsive, and significantly easier to blend.
The 4mm wide core is considerably broader than the standard coloured pencil core, which is a direct contributor to the Coloursoft's distinctive handling. More core means more pigment contact with the paper per stroke, which means denser, more saturated colour applied more quickly and with less effort. The softness of the formulation means the colour blends and layers under light pressure, and the pencil can be sharpened to a fine point for detailed work without breaking. The round barrel is comfortable in the hand for extended sessions, and the end of each pencil is colour-coded to match the shade inside.
Pigments are vibrant and highly saturated — Derwent describe the Coloursoft as offering the boldest colour range in their pencil collection. The pencils are lightfast tested and acid-free, bloom-resistant, and the colours are consistent and reliable across layers. They work on cartridge paper, watercolour paper, pastel paper, and most standard drawing surfaces.
The tin of 12 contains a well-chosen core palette: Deep Cadmium, Bright Orange, Red, Deep Fuchsia, Indigo, Blue, Green, Lime Green, Dark Brown, Dark Terracotta, Black, and White. It is an ideal starting set that covers the primary and secondary colours, warm and cool darks, and both black and white for mixing and highlights — with no redundant or near-duplicate colours wasting space.
Made in the Lake District, UK, by Derwent. Supplied in a sturdy metal presentation tin.
Core diameter: 4mm Colours: 12 Contents: Deep Cadmium, Bright Orange, Red, Deep Fuchsia, Indigo, Blue, Green, Lime Green, Dark Brown, Dark Terracotta, Black, White Lightfast: Yes Made in: UK
What makes Coloursoft different from other Derwent coloured pencils? Coloursoft has the softest core formulation in the Derwent range and the widest colour core at 4mm, giving the quickest, densest application of colour of any Derwent pencil. It is specifically designed for bold, rich colour application and easy blending — if you want smooth, rapid coverage and creamy blending rather than fine detail building, Coloursoft is the Derwent pencil for you.
Can Coloursoft pencils be sharpened to a fine point? Yes — despite the soft formulation, Coloursoft pencils sharpen well and hold a fine point for detailed work. The softness means the point will wear more quickly than a harder pencil under sustained pressure, but for mixed use between broad coverage and detail work they are fully capable.
Are they suitable for blending and layering? Yes — this is the Coloursoft's strongest quality. The soft, creamy core blends easily under light pressure, and colours layer smoothly without excessive wax bloom. A blending pencil or tortillon can be used to further soften transitions between colours.
What is the full Coloursoft range? The full Coloursoft range extends to 72 colours. The tin of 12 contains a core palette covering the essential working colours — the range is also available in tins of 24, 36, and 72 for artists who want a broader colour selection.
Are they lightfast? Yes — all Coloursoft pencils are lightfast tested and acid-free, making them suitable for finished artwork intended to last.
