Due to rumors of individual Prismacolor pencils possibly being phased out, I've been trying to find replacements for the 150(+ the discontinued LightFlesh and Metallic Copper) colors. (Best case scenario- I get to greatly expand my palette- and who doesn't love more colors?)
But it's turned out to be a far more difficult task than expected, so I'm starting this thread both to share what I've learned and to see if anyone has any matches or dupes I have yet to uncover.
Pencils I have:
Full Sets:
Derwent Procolour (72/72)
Derwent Inktense (72/72)
Holbien (150/150)
Partial Sets/Individuals:
Derwent Metallic (12/20)
Derwent Coloursoft (2/72) Pale Blue 370, Bright Purple 240
Derwent Drawing (1/24) Yellow Ochre 5720
FaberCastell Albrecht Durer (1/120) Ivory 103
FaberCastell Polychromos (2/120) Ivory 103, Orange Glaze 113
Cretacolor MegaColor (1/36) Dark Grey 35
Koh-i-nor Polycolor (1/72) Dark Blue 19
Koh-i-nor Progresso (1/24) Dark Blue 7
Arteza Watercolor (1/120) Lilac 62
Cezanne (1/120) Periwinkle 27
The List:
(colors in bold being ones I commonly use and need replacements for the most)
Cream 914
Eggshell 140
Ginger Root 1084
Artichoke 1098
Deco Yellow 1011
Lemon Yellow 915
Canary Yellow 916- Holbein 147
Yellowed Orange 1002- Holbein 140, Derwent Inktense 230
Jasmine 1012
Yellow Ochre 942- Holbein 153
Spanish Orange 1003
Goldenrod 1034
Sunburst Yellow 917- Holbein 143
Sand 940- Derwent Drawing 5720
Mineral Orange 1033- Holbein 59
Orange 918- Polychromos 113
Pale Vermilion 921
Cadmium Orange Hue 118
Pumpkin Orange 1032
Poppy Red 922- Holbein 44
Carmine Red 926
Permanent Red 122
Scarlet Lake 923-Derwent Procolour 12
Crimson Red 924
Crimson Lake 925
Pomegranate 195
Magenta 930
Process Red 994
Mulberry 995- Derwent Coloursoft 240
Hot Pink 993
Pink 929
Nectar 1092
Blush Pink 928
Pink Rose 1018
Deco Pink 1014
Deco Peach 1013
Light Peach 927
Peach Beige 1085
Seashell Pink 1093
Salmon Pink 1001
Beige 997
Peach 993
Rosy Beige 1019
Clay Rose 1017
Beige Sienna 1080
Chestnut 1081
Raspberry 1030-Holbein 60
Mahogany Red 1029-Derwent Procolour 15
Dark Purple 931
Black Raspberry 1095
Black Cherry 1078
Grayed Lavender 1026
Lavender 934
Lilac 956
Dahlia Purple 1009
Parma Violet 1008
Black Grape 996
Dioxazine Purple Hue 132-Derwent Procolour 27
Violet 932
Imperial Violet 1007
Blue Violet Lake 1079
Violet Blue 933
Indanthrone Blue 208
Ultramarine 902
Cobalt Blue Hue 133
China Blue 1100
Copenhagen Blue 906-Koh-i-noor Polycolor 19, Koh-i-noor Progresso 7
Electric Blue 1040
Denim Blue 1101
True Blue 903-Holbein 335
Sky Blue Light 1086
Light Cerulean Blue 904
Cerulean Blue 103
Mediterranean Blue 1022
Peacock Blue 1027
Powder Blue 1087
Caribbean Sea 1103
Periwinkle 1025
Cloud Blue 1023
Blue Lake 1102
Blue Slate 1024-Holbein 326
Indigo Blue 901
Non-Photo Blue 919
Light Aqua 992
Aquamarine 905
Cobalt Turquoise 105
Light Green 920
Parrot Green 1006
Grey Green Light 289
Pale Sage 1089
Yellow Chartreuse 1004
Chartreuse 989
Lime Peel 1005
Moss Green 1097
Green Ochre 1091
Spring Green 913
Apple Green 912
Sap Green Light 120
True Green 210
Kelly Green 1096
Grass Green 909
Olive Green 911
Prussian Green 109
Dark Green 908
Kelp Green 1090
Sandbar Brown 1094
Sepia 948
Marine Green 988
Celadon Green 1020
Jade Green 1021
Muted Turquoise 1088
Peacock Green 907
Putty Beige 1083
Light Umber 943
Chocolate 1082
Burnt Ochre 943
Sienna Brown 945-Derwent Procolour 63
Terra Cotta 944
Henna 1031
Tuscan Red 937
Espresso 1099-Holbein 182
Dark Umber 947
Dark Brown 946
10% Warm Gray 1050
20% Warm Gray 1051
30% Warm Gray 1052
50% Warm Gray 1054
70% Warm Gray 1056
90% Warm Gray 1058
10% Cool Gray 1059
20% Cool Gray 1060
30% Cool Gray 1061
50% Cool Gray 1063
70% Cool Gray 1065
90% Cool Gray 1067
Black 936-Derwent Inktense 2200, Holbein 510
10% French Gray 1068
20% French Gray 1069
30% French Gray 1070
50% French Gray 1072
70% French Gray 1074
90% French Gray 1076
Slate Gray 936
White 938-Derwent Procolour 72, Derwent Inktense 2300, Holbein 500
Metallic Silver 949-Holbein 640
Metallic Gold 950
Bronze 1028
Neon Yellow 1035-Holbein 740
Neon Orange 1036-Holbein 730
Neon Pink 1038
Light Flesh 927
Metallic Copper 951-Holbein 630
If you have any pencils that are sold individually that match, please let me know.
Current matches: 24/152
(21 from the initial 3 tins)
- Additional Colors gained: 177
- Total Colors: 305
- Basics covered: 9 /34
Additional notes:
- The Dandelion color from Holbein is the exact color of the discontinued Dandelion crayon from Crayola. This doesn't really help, but it's a nice color at least.
- Despite having no less than three metallic golds, none of the metallic pencils from the Holbein brand match the Prismacolor brand. The consistency and metallic sheen between the two lines, however, is virtually identical.
- According to this post, both Lilac 956 and Lavender 934 Prismacolors are being discontinued entirely.
https://thefrugalcrafter.wordpress.com/2022/12/16/2-prismacolor-pencil-colors-are-being-discontinued-here-are-substitutes/. Though I can't confirm this, the suggested matches of Cezanne 27 Periwinkle and Arteza Watercolor Lilac 62 are not as close as they could be. They are in a similar range of purple but otherwise are not very close, but they are both good colors and good consistencies. Maybe these brands have a match elsewhere?
- Derwent Drawing and Derwent Coloursoft are slightly thicker than usual in comparison to other pencils. The Cretacolor MegaColor is massive. I currently don't know how to sharpen it as it's bordering on novelty pencil size.
- Koh-i-noor Progresso are woodless, so on the one hand there is more color available to use, but on the other these tend to be more delicate and can break if dropped.
- For clarification purposes none of these pencils are being used with water. This is especially important to note for Derwent Inktense and other watercolor pencils, as the introduction of water can drastically change the appearance of the pigment.
- Though not my top priority, I am more than happy to hear about dupes for any other discontinued Prismacolor colors.
- Though they have the largest range of metallic pencils available that I've ever seen at 50 total colors, matches from Arteza metallic are not very helpful as for some reason they are the only Arteza line that isn't sold individually.
- The 20 metallic Derwent colors are nice, but do not match the luster of the Prismacolor metallics sufficiently to be a true match. (I still want to get the other eight, though.)
- Arteza and Cezanne individual color refills are multiple pencils, with Arteza watercolor refills containing three and Cezanne providing six.
- Koh-i-noor Polycolor and Progresso, and Faber Castell Polychromos and Albrecht-Durer have remarkable color consistency between their lines.
- Contrastingly, each line of Derwent pencils has a very different color palette.
- Derwent Inktense also come in block form, which greatly resembles the discontinued Prismacolor Artstix, which were solid blocks of the colored pencil lead useful for filling large areas. (Not to be confused with the chalk pastel lineNupastel, which is doing just fine.)
- I personally prefer pencils with a consistency closer to Prismacolors- more of a smooth rather than chalky consistency- but I am more than happy to hear of any matches regardless.
