Drawing on over 160 years of color-making experience, Winsor & Newton has developed a range of artists' soft pastels formulated to the very highest standards. They use only the purest, highest-grade pigments in high concentration to provide brighter, stronger, and cleaner colors. They have a supple, creamy consistency that minimizes dust and provides even texture throughout the pigment range, perfect for blending and layering. Each color is available in a range of five tints. Each full stick is labeled with information about color, tint, and lightfastness. Dick Blick offers the complete range of full sticks in open stock, so it's easy to maintain the value and completeness of your sets. Winsor & Newton Artists' Soft Pastels are non-toxic and permanent. Regular sticks measure 64 mm × 10 mm (2.5" × .375" in diameter), and are paper-wrapped. Half sticks measure 32 mm × 10 mm (1.25" × .375"), and are unwrapped. Gift Idea — Winsor & Newton Artists' Soft Pastels are available in a variety of gift boxes, from the economical half stick sets to more complete and specialized sets. See Winsor & Newton Artists' Soft Pastel Sets for pictures and more detailed specifications of these sets.