Graphite

Graphite replaced lead in the mid 1790s, when it was discovered by Nicolas Jaques Conté to produce the same range of greys and blacks as its dangerous predecessor. Graphite, a mix of clay and carbon, is produced in various grades of hardness. The harder the graphite the more accurate the line it can produce. Softer graphite can be smudged to produce larger areas and grades of shading, from hazy greys to deep black.