Erasers, Continued
Hand-held
erasers
(Continued)
SPECIAL-PURPOSE ERASERS: Special-purpose erasers include art gum
erasers, kneaded erasers, and pulverized eraser particles. The super-soft art
gum eraser does not damage paper surfaces, but it will leave a crumbly
residue. Art gum erasers are light beige. Kneaded erasers are light blue or
light grey with the consistency of putty. This malleable substance absorbs
graphite and pigment particles. Absorption increases by kneading these
erasers in your hand. Generally, these erasers leave no residue unless they
are too old or too full of absorbed particles. If these erasers become too
warm, the substance may break down, leaving stains on drawing surfaces. A
kneaded eraser hardens as it ages. Kneaded erasers are used for blending and
for highlighting in drawings made with pencil, pastel, and charcoal.
Pulverized eraser particles are nonabrasive and remove only the softest of
stray marks. They are often used to clean smudges and smears from already
completed drawings. They are available in a can to pour on a drawing, rub,
and brush off. They are also available in an ABC pad which is a soft mesh
bag full of particles that you rub against the drawing surface and brush off
the residue.
The following table shows the types of erasers common to a work center.
Eraser
Synthetic
Hard
Purpose
Color
Remarks
Pen and pencil
White, amber,
Moisten eraser
marks on Mylar or
and a host of
before using,
vellum
bright colors
leaves no residue
Dark pencils marks
Grey and red
Abrades paper
and light pen marks
surface, leaves no
residue
Intermediate
General pencil
Medium green
Leaves little or no
marks
and dark pink
residue
Soft
Light pencil marks,
Beige, blue, dark
May leave a
smudges, clean-up,
grey and light
crumbly residue
and highlighting
pink
Continued on next page
1-9
