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I have always wondered how to blend well with colored pencils. What kind of pencils for one and how? I try again and again, but I can't seem to figure out the trick. I'm actually not sure if anyone still uses colored pencils because everyone seems to have photoshop. I happen to not have it and I'm not sure if you can blend with it, but I'm still wondering if anyone could give me some suggestions on blending.
When I color, I use crayola colored pencils and that's really what I stick with. I think crayola is a good pencil brand and all, but it'd be helpful if they mace a book on how to blend!:lol: Back to my question, how do you blend. Painting blending is easy, but I need to know how to blend with colored pencils. I'm going crazy here! Please, I beg you, and I rarely do that, help me! PLEASE!

Question: How do you blend with colored pencils?

I had the same problem -- but I have a solution!!! I am not so good with Crayolas... I can blend them, but it has to do with all the lightly coloring the edges of what will blend, and then lightly adding the other color from the other angle, and blah blah blah...


The pencils I use fo rthis are called "Prismacolor Pencils." Prismacolor sells a "Colorless Blender," that you can use along with the colored pencils: It blends SO easily, I'm still amazed! They are unlimitingly fun, usefull, and very helpful... there is an artist on DeviantART who does their art with them. I'll post the link when I find it...

So, if you want pencils, try out Prismacolor and their colorless blender -- they work like magic!!!!

Oh and for computer prgrams - photoshop is mostly for photographs - changing/editing/modifying photos, colors, and the like. Many many people use it as a coloring program, but I know a professional Graphic artist, and she said to use a program called "Corel Painter IX," she has both, and says she rarely uses Photoshop... it's mostly for working with photos, and if you're going to get Photoshop, you may as well add the extra $400 and get Photoshop elements. SHe said that Corel Painter is the best drawing/art program that she has ever used.

But for blending pencils: I say Prismacolor! I wa sthinking of making a topic about Corel and Prisma... I may still do it, if this helps you!

Good luck!!!!

well...........I guess you just put one color after another and just use your imagination^^

Colour pencil blending is hard to explain I might just make a video tutorial on this rather then try to type it out.

yeah that will be a good idea^^

for shadeing use the side of the penicle.

Balto Claw if only it was that simple, colour pencil consists of various techniques. You can use a blender from your Prismacolours yes but not everyone has these so sort of have to use it your own way. As for Photoshop you can obtain a cheaper version off Ebay.

I suggest going with 7.0 if you want the full PS version as it is the cheapest to find probably. But if your just starting out you can also go with Photoshop Elements 3.0, which sells for about 100 dollars and will do the job just find for you. Photoshop is not mostly for photos anymore it is really now a days more of an artists tool. Corel Painter IX is an amazing program but much harder to find the PS and not to mention it works much differently.

Might I also add that Painter IX cost close to 500 hundred dollars and if you do want the newest version of Photoshop and do not wish to buy it VIA Ebay its going to cost you close to 700 Dollars.

I use photoshop 7.0 myself.

Okay. well I don't have photoshop so let's get off that. What would be the best technique to blend color pencils.


Kodiwolf>--Thanks! I'll look into prisma colored pencils and I think I know what artist you're talking about.

Drew>--Thank you for that info. but I don't have photoshop, the right computer or time at the moment. (It's a piece of shi*, if you know what I mean.) Thank you none the less.

Could you guys suggest some techniques to try?

I will attempt to make a simple video for you with my camera and post it soon.

That'd be great Drew thanks! Can I repay you in anyway? Drawing, picture, anything...

Well, I have version 6.0 and 7.0. I use 7.0 more often because it has ALOT of helpful features I use layer blending when I try. Kinda cool... but I can't draw so... turns out pretty bad. But Im working at it though When I do It I go to Layer then I select Layer Style which brings you up a little menu, Click on Blending Options and then I just experiment. To bad I give vague instructions though.

Yeah, I know... but Corel painter was made by some of the people who created Photoshop, and was specifically made for art... photoshop was intended as a photograph editor. But both do work, the graphic artist I know said that Photoshop wasn't worth all the money, and that Corel Painter was the best art program she had worked with... and that she never really uses photoshop, mostly Corel because it's easier for her, and has more.

OK, great! Hope you find them... if there is a Michael's store near you, I'd go there first.