When it comes to drawing and sketching, having the right tools is essential. For many artists, the go-to drawing tool is a simple pencil. Pencils come in a range of grades, from light and hard to dark and soft. One of the darkest and softest pencils available is the 2B. But is 2B really the darkest pencil? Or are there even darker options?
What Do Pencil Grades Mean?
Pencil grades are based on a standardized numbering system that indicates the hardness or softness and darkness of the graphite core. The system ranges from 9H (hardest) to 9B (softest). H stands for hardness, B stands for blackness, and F means that it is between H and B. The higher the number, the harder or darker the pencil is. A standard #2 pencil is right in the middle at HB.
Softer pencils like 2B make darker marks because they have a higher proportion of graphite and less binder material. The soft graphite is also prone to smudging and needs to be sharpened more often. Harder pencils contain more binder and less graphite, so they make lighter marks that are more resistant to smudging.
How Dark is 2B?
A 2B pencil makes a medium-dark mark that is smooth and easy to blend. The soft, thick core lays down a lot of graphite on the paper. Many artists choose 2B as their go-to pencil for sketching, drawing, and shading since it offers a good balance of darkness and strength.
On a scale of 9H (lightest) to 9B (darkest), a 2B pencil falls around the middle range:
| 9H | 8H | 7H | 6H | 5H | 4H | 3H | 2H | H | F | HB | B | 2B | 3B | 4B | 5B | 6B | 7B | 8B | 9B |
| Lightest | Medium | Darkest |
So while a 2B pencil makes a nice dark line, it is not the absolute darkest option. Pencils like 4B, 6B, and 8B will produce even softer, blacker marks.
When to Use a 2B Pencil
Here are some of the main situations when a 2B pencil would be a good choice:
- Making preliminary sketches
- Drawing smooth gradients and blended shading
- Adding depth and definition to drawings
- Any situation where you want a soft, dark mark
- Drawing over large areas since the soft lead won’t scratch the paper
- Artwork where you want rich blacks but also some midtone grays
2B is versatile enough to use for both lighter sketching and adding deep black shading. The soft lead also makes it ideal for shading and blending large areas smoothly.
When to Use an Even Darker Pencil
Some situations where you may want to reach for an even softer, darker pencil than 2B include:
- Drawing very dark lines and blacks
- Adding strong contrast to a drawing
- Creating velvety blacks including for hair, fur, or clothing
- Drawing on toned or dark paper where you need dense blacks
- Emphasizing shadows and making part of a drawing recede
- Any artwork where rich black is the predominant tone
Pencils like 4B-8B will lay down intense, saturated blacks. They can add dramatic contrast and make some elements really stand out. But keep in mind that the ultra-soft cores require frequent sharpening and are prone to smudging.
Choosing the Best Pencil Darkness
Selecting the ideal pencil grade comes down to your specific drawing style and needs. Here are some tips:
- Softer pencils are great for shading, blending, and flowing lines
- Harder pencils allow more control and fine details
- Use harder pencils for preliminary sketching
- Build up dark areas gradually by layering softer pencils
- Try a range of pencils on test paper to see what works best
- Combine different hardness levels for contrast
Many artists use a range of pencils in one piece, choosing harder ones for initial sketching and outlines and softer ones for shading and dark areas. The 2B is a convenient middle ground that can fill both roles.
Other Factors Affecting Darkness
The hardness grade isn’t the only thing affecting how dark a pencil looks on paper. Other factors include:
- Pressure: Bearing down harder deposits more graphite.
- Blending and layering: This darkens by building up graphite.
- Stroke direction: Stroking sideways makes a darker mark than stroking linearly.
- Paper texture: Rough paper grips more graphite so lines appear darker.
- Pencil quality: Softer graphite formula makes a darker mark.
So you can make a 2B pencil produce darker blacks by using heavier pressure, blending, and layering. And you can make a 4B pencil produce lighter grays by using a gentle touch.
Choosing Quality Drawing Pencils
Not all pencils have the same performance and richness. Here’s what to look for in a high-quality pencil:
- Consistent graphite density and smoothness
- Minimal breakage, cracking, or chipping
- Easy to sharpen without crumbling
- Comfortable grip and handling
- Precisely marked grades
- Wide range of hardness levels
- Rich, saturated blacks in soft grades
Top brands like Derwent, Faber-Castell, and Prismacolor offer artist-quality pencils suitable for detailed artwork. Budget student pencils may be inconsistent in their performance.
Conclusion
While a 2B pencil produces nice dark lines, several softer pencil grades exist that will give you denser and richer blacks. But 2B remains a popular choice among artists for its versatility in both sketching lightly and shading darkly. Play around with pencils across the range of hardness to see what suits your personal style and needs.
The grade is not the only factor – pressure, blending, paper, and quality also affect a pencil’s darkness. With the right technique, you can make a 2B pencil achieve rich blacks. And you can pick up even softer pencils like 4B or 6B when you need intense, saturated darkness.
