PanPastel 20-Color Extra Dark Shades Set: High-Density Tonal Foundations
The PanPastel Extra Dark Shades Set is a professional-grade collection featuring the complete 20-color range of PanPastel’s most intense, low-value pigments. These "Extra Dark" formulations are engineered by increasing the pigment concentration while minimizing the white filler, resulting in profound, saturated colors that replace the need for black in shadow work. This set is a technical essential for artists who require maximum contrast, structural depth, and a rich tonal foundation for underpainting or dramatic chiaroscuro effects.
Key Features and Artistic Benefits
- Maximum Pigment Sensity: These colors represent the deepest possible iteration of each hue, providing a high-impact alternative to standard black for creating "colorful" shadows that maintain their chromatic integrity.
- Comprehensive Value Ladder: The 20-color spectrum covers every major color group—from Hansa Yellow Extra Dark to Permanent Green Extra Dark—enabling the artist to establish a complete low-value structure for any composition.
- Atmospheric Depth and Mood: Ideal for night scenes, deep forest landscapes, and high-realism portraiture where subtle, dark nuances like Payne's Gray Extra Dark or Raw Umber Extra Dark are required.
- Unrivaled Blendability: Despite their intense saturation, these pigments maintain the signature PanPastel ultra-soft, low-dust consistency, allowing for seamless gradients into mid-tones and highlights.
- Comprehensive Application Kit: Equipped with a robust selection of Sofft Tools, including the Big Oval Sponge for broad background blocking and Painting Knives for precise structural definition.
Application and Technical Guidelines
- Chromatic Shadow Construction: Instead of using pure black, utilize Ultramarine Blue Extra Dark or Violet Extra Dark to create "cool" shadows, or Burnt Sienna Extra Dark for "warm" shadows. This technique adds professional-grade vibrancy and life to darkened areas.
- High-Contrast Underpainting: Use the Sofft Big Oval Sponge to map out the darkest regions of your composition first. These Extra Darks "bite" into the paper tooth, providing a stable foundation for subsequent layers of tints and shades.
- Mixed Media Detailing: These pigments are exceptionally effective as a base for dark-colored pencils or pastel sticks. The smooth PanPastel layer reduces "wax bloom" and allows for finer detail work on top.
- Modular Storage: The set includes 4 storage jars for organized stacking, ensuring that these high-density pigments remain protected and accessible within a modular studio workflow.
Technical Specifications
- Product Identification: PanPastel 20-Color Extra Dark Shades Set
- Contents: 20 PanPastel Colors (9 ml each), 2 Painting Knives (No.1 & No.2), 10 Knife Covers, 2 Sponge Bars, 3 Mini Applicators, 1 Big Oval Sponge, 4 Storage Jars
- Included Tones: Complete ".1" Color Series (e.g., 220.1 through 820.1)
- Primary Application: Underpainting, Shadow Work, High-Contrast Rendering, Nightscapes
- Product Grade: Professional Artist Quality
