Derwent Chromaflow and Derwent ColourSoft Comparison
Derwent Chromaflow and Derwent ColourSoft Comparison
I have of course reviewed both the Derwent Chromaflow and Derwent ColourSoft separately; if you would like to check out the separate reviews simply click on the appropriate links. I would just like to warn you that the Derwent ColourSoft review was completed right at the beginning of my YouTube journey, reviewing art supplies, that is to say the review may not be as detailed as more recent reviews and if you watch my YouTube review of the ColourSoft, audio and visuals will most certainly lack quality.
The first thing I would like to highlight is the obvious differences and then we can look at the more nuanced differences in each pencil. The first difference is the palette, the Derwent ColourSoft palette is the same as most major Derwent coloured pencil sets and that is a total 72 count. The Derwent Chromaflow on the other hand has very recently been extended to a whopping 150 count.
At the beginning there was a few issues surround the open stock availability of all 150 Derwent Chromaflow Coloured Pencils, however Derwent are in the process of rectifying this issue as they have listened to all of the concerns voiced by their loyal customers. As I write this post (30th of May 2024) Derwent have not made any public announcements as they are working hard to sort the problems without running the risk of upsetting or confusing customers and so once matters have been fully worked out, the outcome will be announced.
On this matter I respect the fact that Derwent have taken into consideration all of the concerns voiced by their customers and I equally respect their desire to resolve the issues and then make public announcements as opposed to create speculation and possibly running the risk of upsetting customers.
The next most noticeable difference is the barrel and core size difference of both the Chromaflow and ColourSoft. The ColourSoft is a chunkier barrelled pencil with a 2.1 mm, give or take core and a 4 mm barrel. The Derwent Chromaflow is a much slimmer pencil with a 1.7 mm core and a 3.5 mm barrel. 0.5 mm may not sound like much of a difference, but when you hold both pencils in your hand, the difference is prominent.
Ordinarily, softer cored colored pencils tend to sport a slightly thicker core only because soft cored pencils tend to experience sharpening issues. It’s obviously not an exact science but it is a feature we find in a lot of similar pencils and pastel pencils.
Derwent ColourSoft and Derwent Chromaflow Testing
I wanted to test and demonstrate both pencils as scientifically as I possibly could, I wanted to perform tests that you guys as the viewer could also witness from the demonstrations the differences displayed. If you check out may YouTube video comparison of both the Chromaflow and ColourSoft, you will be able to watch the tests performed slightly sped up.
The first test was to draw two identical tomatoes and select colors from both sets that were either identical or similar. Obviously with the Chromaflow set I had a more robust set of colors to choose from, but I selected the colors from the ColourSoft set first and then tried to match the colours from the Chromaflow set.
I used Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Velum paper for all the tests conducted, an excellent paper with just the right amount of tooth to layer and smooth enough to help with seamless blending.
After completing both images, I concluded that the Derwent ColourSoft sports a slightly softer core over the Chromaflow. The Chromaflow core is just slightly harder than the ColourSoft, however, whilst I was able to layer beautifully with both pencils, around layer six or seven, the ColourSoft became slightly more resistant whereas the Chromaflow displayed no issues at all.
If you look on the right had side of the ColourSoft tomato, where the light on the tomato is darker, in comparison to the Chromaflow tomato on the same area, the blend from dark to light was more seamless. On the stem of the tomatoes, I was able to achieve darker greens using the Derwent Chromaflow over the Derwent ColourSoft.
I found layering using the Derwent Chromaflow pencil to be slightly more enjoyable, simple things like keeping a sharper point on the core for longer was more achievable than that of the Derwent ColourSoft. I was able to get a good sharp point on the Derwent ColourSoft, but it didn’t take long for that point to wear down and when you are trying to create seamless blends, you really need to do that with a light hand and sharp point.
The saturation levels on both the Derwent Chromaflow and Derwent ColourSoft are just amazing and I think this shows very clearly on the drawing of both tomatoes. I think it is very difficult to select which pencil is better with regards to saturation levels, so I will leave it up to you guys to watch the speed drawing video and still images.
I used odourless mineral spirits on both images at the very end bot I forgot to record this process, so I conducted a separate test displaying how both the Chromaflow and ColourSoft react to OMS. But first I demonstrated how both pencils layer and blend using dark reds all the way to light yellow. Again this demonstration can be seen over in my YouTube video review, but from the images provided, you can see just how close both pencils are.
Looking at this test, I think it is very difficult to select which pencil layered and blended best. The results speak for themselves, the only additional information I can add to this is demonstration is that after six or seven layers the ColourSoft becomes a bit more resistant to further layers, this demonstration didn’t apply that many layers, but you can still see clearly how smooth the blends are.
The final test was two spheres using the same colour scheme, first I applied the colours, gently applying layer after layer until I achieved the illusion of a sphere by applying dark and light tones. Both the ColourSoft and Chromaflow performed beautifully on this test and you can see from the images of both spheres before adding odourless mineral spirits that both final images are very similar.
This Image is Before Applying OMS Odourless Mineral Spirits
Next I applied Zest-It Odourless Mineral Spirits to both images and again, both the ColourSoft and Chromaflow reacted beautifully, the odourless mineral spirits broke the layers down really well to help achieve a smooth transition of colors.
Image After OMS Odourless Mineral Spirits Applies
Derwent Chromaflow and Derwent ColourSoft Conclusion
This was actually quite a difficult comparison to test and demonstrate, I actually conducted other tests on the side that I didn’t record, test such as sharpening both a ColourSoft pencil and a Chromaflow pencil, I then counted 4 cm strokes of each core to see which pencil wore down the fastest. Not a very scientific test at all, however so many of the tests I conducted appeared so similar to me.
There is no doubt that both the Derwent ColourSoft and Derwent Chromaflow provide beautifully saturated colors, in fact, so much so that I now wonder why Derwent just didn’t expand the ColourSoft range from 72 to 150 and compete with Prismacolor on that front. I am not complaining of course that they didn’t just expand the ColourSoft range because we ended up with another beautiful pencil from Derwent.
The only thing that I personally found was the layering ability of the Derwent Chromaflow was slightly better than that of the Derwent ColourSoft. That is of course, not to say that the Derwent ColourSoft doesn’t layer, because they do; it is just the Derwent Chromaflow core holds a point better and slightly longer, thus establishing cleaner and better contact with the velum surface, creating smooth layers and transitions.
Before I completed this test I had not used the Derwent ColourSoft in such a long time, I actually had to borrow this set from my eldest daughter Niamh. I think this is one of the only downsides to being a reviewer, because I am constantly testing, demonstrating and reviewing new products, pencils I love, often get overlooked and not used as much as I would like to. However, using both the ColourSoft and Chromaflow together reminded me just how beautiful the ColourSoft pencil is and how both pencils actually complement each other.
