Caran d'Ache Pastel Pencils are made from pure raw materials to create a pastel pencil paste that is fed by hand into round moulding dies, oven-dried in special baskets, carefully glued between two strips of the finest California cedar, and cut into lengths to produce several pencils. Four coats of clear varnish are applied, and great care is taken to exactly match the color cap to the shade of the pastel. As a final step, the pencils are sharpened in a double-cone process, a particularly delicate operation for such a fragile product. Features of these pencils include a large lead diameter (4.7 mm) with a strong point and a rich texture that adheres well to most surfaces. Creamy to apply, the pencils shade easily, while their hexagonal, rounded barrels reduce the risk of breakage from rolling off work surfaces. The color range for the Pastel Pencils includes a well-balanced selection of shades that are vivid, luminous, and respond perfectly to the needs of professional pastelists. Also included is a wide range of neutrals, browns, and shades of Cobalt Blue, Green Earth, Beige, and cold and warm Grays often sought by pastelists who love a variety and depth of shades. Caran d'Ache Pastel Pencils are also exceptionally lightfast. Of the range of colors, 61 keep their intensity and luminosity unchanged for more than 50 years, and some even up to 100 years.