These pastel pencils feature buttery smooth color lay-down providing excellent color opacity. Each pencil contains the highest quality pigments for unsurpassed lightfastness. They can be blended for layered effects, highlights and transitions. The extra-thick 4.3mm lead is housed in California cedar wood casing with SV bonding to strengthen lead and prevent breakage, while providing sharp fine lines and excellent point retention. They can be wiped like ordinary pastels, and are ideal for mixed media. Gentle fixing is recommended. Each set includes a variety of pastel pencils in a convenient storage tin.