The Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matt is a graphite pencil built to solve a problem every pencil artist knows: glare. Where ordinary graphite develops a silvery sheen in the darker grades, this range carries a deep matt lacquer that all but eliminates light reflection — so fine detail stays readable from every angle, and photographing or scanning a finished drawing becomes genuinely simple. The result is monochrome work with exceptional tonal depth and no distracting shine.
The range runs to eight degrees of hardness — HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B, 10B, 12B and 14B — giving you the full sweep from a controlled mid-grey through to an extraordinarily deep black. The 10B, 12B and 14B grades are recent additions to the Faber-Castell line, and the 14B is a world first: an intensely dark, soft graphite that reaches the kind of blacks artists would previously have turned to charcoal or carbon to achieve, all while staying in a single medium.
As with every Faber-Castell pencil, the lead is SV-bonded along its full length for outstanding break resistance, holds a point well, and is lightfast for work meant to last. The wood casing is finished in an environmentally friendly water-based varnish, the cedar is responsibly sourced, and the pencils come from climate-neutral production. The matt lacquer has a practical bonus, too — the grades are easy to tell apart at a glance on a busy desk.
Sold here as individual pencils so you can buy exactly the grades you work with, or build the full tonal set one pencil at a time. A natural choice for portrait and wildlife artists, illustrators, and anyone whose drawings are destined to be displayed, framed or reproduced.
Frequently asked questions
What makes the Pitt Graphite Matt different from an ordinary graphite pencil?
Its matt lacquer finish produces very little or no light reflection. Ordinary graphite, especially in soft dark grades, develops a shiny sheen that causes glare and hides detail; the matt formula removes that, so tones read clearly from any angle and the work is easy to photograph or scan.
Which grades are available, and which should I choose?
Eight grades, from HB through 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B, 10B and 12B to 14B. The higher the B number, the softer and darker the laydown. HB and 2B suit lighter linework and initial sketching; 6B to 14B give the deep, rich blacks used for shadow and contrast. The 14B is the darkest Faber-Castell has ever made.
Are these suitable for professional work?
Yes. The lead is artist quality, break-resistant and lightfast, making the range well suited to fine art drawing, portraiture, illustration and any work intended for display or reproduction.
Can I mix them with other graphite pencils?
Absolutely. Many artists pair the matt range with traditional glossy graphite such as the Castell 9000 to play matt and sheen against each other within a single drawing.
Are they sustainably made?
Yes. The pencils are produced in Germany under climate-neutral conditions, using responsibly sourced cedar wood and an environmentally friendly water-based varnish.
