Charcoal

Deep black and rubbed gray tonal range are likely to be visible.

Visual traits

• deep black
• powdery rubbing
• broad tonal range

Expected changes

• Black tonal variation and powdery rubbing are more likely to appear

Definition

Charcoal is a drawing material used as black powder or sticks to make lines, areas, and shading. It does not determine fuel, charcoal as a pictured object, a specific drawing technique, or an actual drawing action.

In more detail

It can create deep blacks, rubbed grays, and broad tonal ranges from deposited powder. It is distinct from graphite pencil, black ink, soot, and depictions of fire or burning.

Includes

• Charcoal material character used for drawing

Excludes

• Fuel
• charcoal as a subject
• graphite pencil
• black ink

What this does not imply

• Combustion, embers, graphite pencil, black ink, or a specific drawing technique

Variability

Line sharpness and powder spread can be adjusted separately.

Usage

• Use it as a drawing-material modifier

Distinguish similar expressions

• It does not indicate burning charcoal

Typical uses

• Add charcoal-drawing blacks and rubbed tones

Possible failure modes

• It becomes soot or smoke
• It becomes fixed as pencil drawing