These durable wood-cased pastel pencils have the same pigment used in Cretacolor's Pastel Carré Sticks, a hard pastel, and so are inter-mixable. They give the same brilliant colors and high lightfastness. Exceptionally soft, oil-free strokes characterize pastel pencils. Colors are mixable, wipeable, and water-soluble. Fixing is required. Color-coded tips permit easy identification. Pencils are pre-sharpened.