Bruynzeel Design pencils have smooth, soft leads which offer dense, permanent color. They have a thick color core and can be used to build several layers of color. The ends of the pencils have been color dipped for easy identification. The pencils have light cedar wood casings as it is considered to be the best wood for sharpening. The casings are glued to the pigment core to ensure that the casing resists separation even when dropped.