How do these compare with Faber-Castell Polychromos?

Premier cores are softer and wax-based, so they blend faster and lay down color more heavily. Polychromos are oil-based and harder, holding a fine point longer for detailed work.

Are the leads prone to breaking?

The soft cores can snap if the pencil is dropped or sharpened aggressively. Use a sharpener with a sharp blade and avoid long drops to reduce breakage.

Can you blend these with solvents?

Yes. The wax binder responds to odorless mineral spirits and blending pencils, which smooth out strokes. Test on scrap first to control the effect.

What is in the 48-pack?

The set contains 48 colored pencils spanning a broad range of hues for mixing and shading. It does not include a sharpener or case.

Are they good for adult coloring books?

Yes. The soft cores cover paper texture well and blend easily, which suits coloring books. The trade-off is faster wear and more sharpening.

Do they work for fine detail?

They can be sharpened to a precise point for detail, but the soft lead dulls quickly. Harder pencils hold a fine point longer for very small linework.

What do buyers say about the Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 48 Pack?

Rated 4.1 out of 5 from 8 ratings.

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 48 Pack

Best price now

$29.70at WalmartChecked Nov 8

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Walmart

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 48 Pack

Best price now

$29.70at WalmartChecked Nov 8

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Walmart

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Price facts

Last seen at $29.70 at Walmart on Nov 8.

Our take on the Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 48 Pack

Prismacolor Premier are wax-based colored pencils with soft, creamy cores built for blending, layering and shading. The 48-pack covers a broad spread of hues and is the standard step-up set for artists moving past student-grade pencils. Against harder rivals like Faber-Castell Polychromos, the Premier cores lay down color faster and blend more easily, but they wear down quicker and need frequent sharpening. Reviewers consistently rate the pigment strength and blendability highly; the common complaints are breakage in shipping and brittle leads when sharpened to a fine point.

Best forColored pencil artists who blend and layerAdult coloring and illustration workStudents upgrading from budget pencilsPortrait and shading work needing soft transitions

Pros

Soft, creamy cores blend and layer smoothly
Strong, vivid pigment payoff
Wide 48-color range for mixing
Takes a fine point for detail work
Widely used and trusted by working artists

Cons

Soft leads wear down fast and need frequent sharpening
Leads can snap, especially if dropped or roughly sharpened
Some buyers report broken cores on arrival
Wax bloom can appear on finished work
Not ideal for very fine technical linework

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 48 Pack prices at every store

WalmartNew
In stockSold by Doudou shopReturns: Sold by a Walmart Marketplace seller; returns go to the seller under the seller's returns policy.
$29.70Free shippingChecked Nov 8
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What reviewers say

Artists and colorists praise the rich pigment and easy blending, calling them a reliable workhorse for illustration and shading. Complaints center on soft leads breaking or arriving cracked and on how quickly the pencils wear down.

What people mention

BlendabilityPraisedOwners say the soft cores blend and layer with little effort, which suits shading and gradients.
PigmentPraisedReviewers describe the colors as rich and saturated with strong coverage.
Lead breakageCriticisedSeveral buyers report cracked or broken cores, sometimes straight out of the box.
SharpeningMixedThe soft lead takes a fine point but dulls and wears down quickly, so sharpening is frequent.
Wax bloomCriticisedSome artists note a whitish haze appearing on finished drawings over time.

About the Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 48 Pack

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils have soft, creamy cores made for blending, shading and layering. This set includes 48 colored pencils.

The pencils use high-quality pigments. The leads are strong enough to be sharpened to a precision point, so you can switch between bold lines, delicate blends and soft shadowing.

Count: 48 colored pencils
Core: Soft, creamy
Color: Multicolor
Brand: Prismacolor

Specifications

color: MulticolorSource

Questions and answers

How do these compare with Faber-Castell Polychromos?: Premier cores are softer and wax-based, so they blend faster and lay down color more heavily. Polychromos are oil-based and harder, holding a fine point longer for detailed work.
Are the leads prone to breaking?: The soft cores can snap if the pencil is dropped or sharpened aggressively. Use a sharpener with a sharp blade and avoid long drops to reduce breakage.
Can you blend these with solvents?: Yes. The wax binder responds to odorless mineral spirits and blending pencils, which smooth out strokes. Test on scrap first to control the effect.
What is in the 48-pack?: The set contains 48 colored pencils spanning a broad range of hues for mixing and shading. It does not include a sharpener or case.
Are they good for adult coloring books?: Yes. The soft cores cover paper texture well and blend easily, which suits coloring books. The trade-off is faster wear and more sharpening.
Do they work for fine detail?: They can be sharpened to a precise point for detail, but the soft lead dulls quickly. Harder pencils hold a fine point longer for very small linework.
Where is the Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 48 Pack cheapest?: At Walmart, for $29.70, as of our latest check.
What do buyers say about the Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 48 Pack?: Rated 4.1 out of 5 from 8 ratings.