How to choose specific candidate colors for C0–C2, B2–B4, and C5–C7
１）Explanation of the symbols (C0–C2, B2–B4, C5–C7)
- C = Cool Gray（Cool Gray: a bluish-toned gray.）
- B = Blue Gray（Blue Gray: a gray with a stronger blue tone.）
- Number = depth/value (light → dark).
- C0〜C2：A very light cool gray (used for underpainting and base layers)
- B2〜B4：A medium blue gray (used to add shading and surface variation)
- C5〜C7：A very dark cool gray (used for the deepest shadows and darkest accents)
２）If you’re unsure, use this simple test to choose your colors:
Draw three identical shapes (such as squares) on the edge of your paper…
- ①Fill the first with the lightest gray (for base layers).
- ②Layer a bluish gray over it to test shading and depth.
- ③Add the darkest gray with fine lines to represent the deepest shadow areas.
３）Introduce substitute colors from the colored pencil set you are using.
| Germany | Faber-Castell (Japan Spec) | Faber-Castell since 1976 24 Colors | Light Blue (Light pressure) | Grey + Light Blue (Layering) | Dark Blue + Dark Brown (Blending) | White, Yellow, Pale Orange, Orange, Scarlet Red, Red, Madder Red, Crimson, Pink, Purple, Deep Purple, Blue, Indigo, Light Blue, Bamboo Green, Pine Green, Green, Yellow Green, Brown, Red Brown, Dark Brown, Gold, Gray, Black |
| USA | Prismacolor | Premier 24 Colors | Light Blue (or True Blue very light) | White + True Blue (Substitute if no Gray) | Indigo Blue + Dark Brown (Soft core, easy to blend) | White、Black、Canary Yellow、Yellow Orange、Orange、Crimson Red、Scarlet Lake、Carmine Red、Magenta、Violet、Violet Blue、True Blue、Ultramarine、Indigo Blue、Light Aqua、Parrot Green、Grass Green、Dark Green、Burnt Ochre、Sienna Brown、Dark Umber、Warm Grey、Peach、Light Peach |
| USA | Prismacolor | Karisma 24 Colors | Non-Photo Blue (If available, otherwise Lt.Blue) | Cool Grey ＋ Light Blue | Indigo Blue ＋ Dark Brown | 901 Indigo Blue、933 Violet Blue、902 Ultramarine、903 True Blue、908 Dark Green、911 Olive Green、912 Apple Green、913 Spring Green、989 Chartreuse、914 Cream、916 Canary Yellow、1003 Spanish Orange、942 Yellow Ochre、1032 Pumpkin Orange、922 Poppy Red、924 Crimson Red、1029 Mahogany Red、994 Process Red、928 Blush Pink、1017 Gray Rose、945 Sienna Brown、946 Dark Brown、935 Black、938 White |
| Germany | Faber-Castell | Polychromos 24 Colors | Light Ultramarine (Light pressure) | Cold Grey IV ＋ Light Blue | Dark Indigo or Dark Sepia | White(101)、Cadmium Yellow Lemon(105)、Cadmium Yellow(107)、Cadmium Orange(111)、Pale Geranium Lake(121)、Middle Cadmium Red(115)、Dark Red(226)、Magenta(133)、Helio Cerulean(143)、Phthalo Blue(110)、Helio Turquoise(153)、Cadmium Green(173)、Emerald Green(176)、Light Phthalo Green(168)、Dark Sepia(175)、Burnt Umber(180)、Warm Grey V(274)、Cold Grey IV(233)、Cold Grey I(231)、Black(199)、Gold(250) |
| Germany | Faber-Castell | Classic 24 Colors | Grey(290) (Light pressure, 1-2 layers) | Light Blue(145) lightly → Grey(290) lightly over it | Grey(290) + Blue(146) (Thinly only for the darkest part) | Yellow(103)、Orange(128)、Red(114)、Rose(125)、Pink(129)、Violet(137)、Blue(146)、Light Blue(145)、Green(161)、Light Green(158)、Dark Green(171)、Brown(180)、Dark Brown(181)、Grey(290)、Black(199)、White(101)、Gold(251)、Silver(252)、Light Ochre(182)、Van Dyck Brown(189)、May Green(165)、Sap Green(174) |
| UK | Derwent | Chromaflow 24 Colors | Light Blue | White + Blue (or thin layer of Blue) | Dark Blue ＋ Natural Brown | Sun Yellow、Amber Gold、Golden Sun、Flame、Scarlet、Strawberry、Salmon、Blush Pink、Magenta、Lilac、Violet、Denim、Blue、Light Blue、Turquoise Green、Basil、Foliage、Grass Green、Burnt Sienna、Raisin、Natural Brown、Platinum、Black、White |
| Germany | STAEDTLER | Ergosoft 24 Colors | Light Blue | Gray + Light Blue | Blue + Vandyke Brown (Tighten with Brown tones) | White(0), Yellow(1), Light Yellow(10), Golden Ochre(16), Red(2), Magenta(20), Bordeaux(23), Pink(25), Blue(3), Light Blue(30), Cobalt Blue(33), Cyan(37), Sea Green(38), Orange(4), Peach(43), Green(5), Willow Green(50), Light Olive(56), Violet(6), Dark Mauve(61), Burnt Sienna(73), Vandyke Brown(76), Light Gray(80), Black(9) |
| Germany | STAEDTLER | Karat Aquarell Colors | Gray(188) (Light pressure, 1-2 layers) | Gray(188) lightly → Cobalt Blue(145) lightly over it | Sapphire Blue(146) + Gray(188) (Only for the core of the shadow) | White(0), Cadmium Lemon(108), Yellow(103), Orange(120), Carmine(115), Pink(128), Violet(135), Cobalt Blue(145), Sapphire Blue(146), Turquoise(147), Emerald Green(156), Dark Green(171), Sepia(176), Burnt Sienna(180), Amber Brown(184), Gray(188), Black(199), Light Yellow(104), Cadmium Yellow(107), Cadmium Orange(111), Dark Carmine(118), Magenta(133), Ultramarine Blue(140), Sapphire Green(157) |
| Switzerland | Caran d'Ache | Pablo 24 Colors | Light Blue | Grey ＋ Light Blue | Blue ＋ Brown | White(001)、Yellow(010)、Yellow Ochre(022)、Orange(030)、Carmine Red(042)、Purple(050)、Violet(053)、Phthalo Blue(148)、Bright Cobalt Blue(166)、Emerald Green(249)、Sap Green(262)、Burnt Sienna(275)、Sepia(179)、Payne's Grey(501)、Light Grey(611)、Grey(702)、Black(800)、Lemon Yellow(011)、Golden Yellow(020)、Naples Yellow(023)、Helios Purple(051)、Ultramarine(144)、Cobalt Blue(165)、Viridian(248) |
| Czech | Koh-I-Noor | Polycolor 24 Colors | Light Blue | Grey ＋ Light Blue | Dark Blue ＋ Dark Brown | White(98)、Yellow(8141)、Cadmium Yellow(8215)、Orange(8340)、Carmine Red(8425)、Magenta(8710)、Violet(8650)、Ultramarine(8435)、Cobalt Blue(8100)、Prussian Blue(8160)、Emerald Green(8690)、Sap Green(8780)、Dark Green(8820)、Burnt Sienna(8930)、Van Dyck Brown(8980)、Raw Umber(8915)、Payne's Grey(9970)、Light Grey(9950)、Medium Grey(9960)、Black(9900)、Lemon Yellow(8150)、Golden Ochre(8250)、Vermilion(8370)、Purple Violet(8640) |
| Germany | Faber-Castell (Japan Spec) | Faber-Castell since 1976 24 Colors | Light Blue (Light pressure) | Grey + Light Blue (Layering) | Dark Blue + Dark Brown (Blending) | White, Yellow, Pale Orange, Orange, Scarlet Red, Red, Madder Red, Crimson, Pink, Purple, Deep Purple, Blue, Indigo, Light Blue, Bamboo Green, Pine Green, Green, Yellow Green, Brown, Red Brown, Dark Brown, Gold, Gray, Black |
| Japan | Sakura Color Products | Coupy Colored Pencil 24 Colors | Light Blue (Ultra-light pressure) | Mouse Gray + Light Blue (Apply Mouse Gray first) | Blue + Brown (Tighten with Brown without using Black) | Yellow, Yellow Ocher, Orange, Pale Orange (Flesh), Brown, Red Brown, Olive, Vermilion, Red, Pink, Blue, Light Blue, Ultramarine, Green, Yellow Green, Deep Green, Purple, Red Violet, Gray, Black, Gold, Silver, Blue Green, Red Violet |
| Japan | Mitsubishi Pencil (uni) | Colored Pencil 880 24 Colors | Light Blue (Ultra-light pressure) | Mouse Gray + Light Blue (Layer to add blue tone) | Ultramarine + Dark Brown (Create deep shadow) | White, Yellow, Yellow Ocher, Orange, Yellow Green, Green, Deep Green, Light Blue, Ultramarine, Red Violet, Purple, Pink, Crimson, Red, Vermilion, Pale Orange, Olive, Red Brown, Brown, Gray, Black, Gold, Silver, Blue |
| Japan | Mitsubishi Pencil (uni) | Polycolor 24 Colors | Light Blue (Ultra-light pressure) | Mouse Gray + Light Blue (Smooth blending) | Prussian Blue + Dark Brown (More natural dark area than Black) | White, Yellow, Yellow Ocher, Orange, Yellow Green, Green, Deep Green, Light Blue, Ultramarine, Red Violet, Purple, Pink, Crimson, Red, Vermilion, Pale Orange, Olive, Red Brown, Brown, Gray, Black, Gold, Silver, Blue |
| Japan | Sakura Color Products | Watercolor Colored Pencil 24 Colors | Light Blue (Thin with water) | Gray + Light Blue (Blend with water brush) | Blue + Dark Brown (Deep color with less water) | Lemon Yellow, Deep Yellow, Orange, Vermilion, Carmine, Coral Red, Dark Rose, Magenta, Violet, Cobalt Blue, Sapphire Blue, Ultramarine, Prussian Blue, Pale Green, Yellow Green, Emerald Green, Deep Green, Yellow Ocher, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Vandyke Brown, Black, Silver Gray, White |
| Japan | Mitsubishi Pencil (uni) | uni ARTERASE 24 Colors | Light Blue (Light application, adjust by erasing) | Gray + Light Blue | Prussian Blue + Brown | White, Lemon Yellow, Sun Orange, Crimson, Cupid Pink, Pansy Violet, Blue, Aqua, Sap Green, Lime Green, Burnt Sienna, Black, Geranium, Fresh, Heliotrope, Raspberry, Cobalt Blue, Nile Green, Dark Green, Leaf Green, Ocher, Vandyke Brown, Sky Gray, Stone Gray |
| Japan | Tombow | ippo! 24 Colors | Light Blue (Ultra-light pressure) | Mouse Gray + Light Blue | Blue + Dark Brown (Do not use black) | White, Yellow, Yellow Ocher, Orange, Yellow Green, Green, Deep Green, Light Blue, Ultramarine, Red Violet, Purple, Pink, Crimson, Red, Vermilion, Gray Green, Olive, Red Brown, Brown, Dark Brown, Gray, Black, Blue, Pale Orange |
| Japan | Tombow | Colored Pencil Set NQ 24 Colors | Light Blue (Ultra-light pressure) | Mouse Gray + Light Blue | Ultramarine + Dark Brown (Add depth with Brown) | Yellow, Yellow Green, Green, Light Blue, Blue, Purple, Pink, Red, Orange, Pale Orange, Brown, Black, White, Yellow Ocher, Olive, Deep Green, Ultramarine, Violet, Red Violet, Vermilion, Dark Brown, Gray, Silver, Gold |
| Japan | Raymay Fujii | Teacher's Recommendation 24 Colors | Light Blue (Ultra-light pressure) | Mouse Gray + Light Blue | Blue + Dark Brown | Silver, Gold, Black, Gray, Dark Brown, Brown, Red Brown, Olive, Vermilion, Red, Orange, Yellow Ocher, Yellow, Pale Orange, Yellow Green, Green, Deep Green, Light Blue, Red, Ultramarine, Purple, Red Violet, Pink, White |