Read “Mars Lumograph” and the full family number before comparing a B grade. The ordinary 100 and black 100B are documented as different tonal choices, not the same pencil in differently coloured packaging.
STAEDTLER’s international Lumograph 100 page describes graphite with a subtle metallic lustre and a range from 12B to 10H. Its black 100B page describes high carbon content for matte black tones and lists HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 7B and 8B. These are manufacturer descriptions, not comparative swatches produced by Olive Branch.
A shared grade is only one field
If a tutorial asks for 4B, note which pencil family the artist actually used. A grade without that context does not establish an identical mark, surface appearance or response to erasing. Nor should the family label “100B” be confused with a hardness grade of “100B.”
| Record on a sample | What it prevents |
|---|---|
| 100 or black 100B | Mixing the two documented formulations. |
| Exact grade | Comparing unrelated degrees within a family. |
| Paper and application | Attributing every visible difference to the pencil. |
| Viewing or photographing conditions | Confusing a lighting change with a new material result. |
Choose around the finished drawing
Consider whether you want to explore graphite’s visible lustre or a more matte dark mark. If the work will be photographed, inspect a permitted sample under the intended lighting rather than relying on a single online product image. A matte positioning claim does not guarantee identical reproduction through every camera or screen.
Our approach would be to compare a small number of useful grades on the paper already in use before buying a large assortment. Keep those labelled swatches; they are a clearer guide to the next purchase than remembering that one unlabelled pencil looked darker.
Manufacturer pages checked 24 October 2026. No drawing, erasing, sharpening or reproduction test; no claim that the grades match across brands. Related: comparisons.
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