The lead of MILAN colour pencils is formed by a blend of pigments, chalks and binding agents. Each lead has been previously treated and impregnated in a warm bath before being bonded to the wood. As a result, the leads are more resistant and produce a uniform stroke. The MILAN colour pencils allow a wide range of strokes: shading in one direction, crosshatching, stripes, along with juxtapositions and superimposing of tones. Due to the smoothness of MILAN pencil's stroke, uniform tones and shading can easily be achieved. PIGMENTS: The pigments used in MILAN colour pencils are of the highest quality, lightfast and safe, complying with European (EN71) and North American regulations (ASTM).