What is a non photo blue pencil? Why use it?

Today we’re going to be talking about what’s so special about non-photo blue pencils, what it is and why use it!

The unique quality of these pencils is that their markings do not reproduce when scanned or photocopied using standard equipment. Typically uses a light blue color that falls outside the range of colors that standard black-and-white copiers and scanners can detect

Featuring: Cezanne non-photo blue pencils

Article has a video and images

Non photo blue pencils are perfect for drawing initial sketches
Non photo blue pencils are perfect for drawing initial sketches

What is a non photo blue pencil? Why use it?

Purpose: It allows artists to draw construction lines or preliminary sketches without the need to erase them later, as they won’t appear in the final scanned or copied image


What makes this pencil unique is that it was specifically created for sketching before an ink layer and they erase easily!

Illustrators and comic artists originally reached for non-photo blue pencils because, as their name implied, when they were originally created, scanners and copy machines weren’t able to pick up on this particular shade of blue. Unfortunately, modern day scanners do pick up on the shade of blue, but there’s still many reasons that illustrators and comic artists reach for non-photo blue pencils.

One of the reasons they still reach for non-photo blue pencils is because of how easy they are to erase.

VIDEO: Jerry’s resident artist Mot Tuman, talks about what’s so special about non-photo blue pencils.

A Common uses for a non-photo blue pencils

Non photo blue pencils are commonly utilized for sketching and under-drawing during the initial phases of creating art. The light blue color enables artists to make sketches without concerns about the lines appearing in the piece and are easily erasable.

This proves useful when artists aim to concentrate on composition, proportions or layout without being bothered by pencil marks

light blue color enables artists to make sketches

They’ll almost create kind of a resist that will block the ink from seeping into the paper.

Non-photo blue pencils have just the right amount of wax where they’re not going to resist any ink applied over top.

ink applied over non photo blue pencil

Cezanne non-photo blue pencils are still the go -to tool for illustrators and artists alike.

The reason, behind its name “non-photo” blue

The reason, behind its name “non-photo” blue is due to its distinct shade of blue that for most black and white or color photocopiers and scanners could not detect. Even though non -photo blue can be picked up on modern day scanners, it’s still very easy to edit out digitally.


Questions and Answers, FAQs

What are the benefits of blue pencils?

A: Non-photo blue pencils offer artists a versatile tool for preliminary sketching, planning, and marking on artwork, with the added benefit of easy removal or concealment in the final stages of the creative process.

What is a non-photo blue pencil used for?

A: Non photo blue pencils are commonly utilized for sketching and under-drawing during the initial phases of creating art. The light blue color enables artists to make sketches without concerns about the lines appearing in the piece and are easily erasable.

Why do artists use non-photo blue pencils?

A: They are easy to edit or ink over since the blue lines don’t interfere with later layers of ink or pencil. They’re ideal for making changes and adding final lines. Artists can draw over them in ink, knowing that only the inked lines will show up in reproductions.


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