White charcoal is compressed white pigment in a charcoal-style stick, and it does the one thing black charcoal cannot: it adds light. On toned or black paper it puts in the highlights directly rather than leaving them as bare paper, which is how tonal drawing works on anything darker than white.
It works only where there is a tone to sit on — on white paper it is nearly invisible, so it belongs with toned, grey or black stock. Pair it with black charcoal or a black pencil and you can work both directions from a mid-toned ground, pulling darks down and pushing lights up, which is far faster than leaving every highlight as untouched paper. The white core is soft and smudges, so fix or frame the finished sheet.
The medium grade is a touch harder than a soft white charcoal, which makes it better for controlled highlight lines — an eye, an edge, a fine catch of light — where a very soft stick would broaden and smudge. It still needs a toned ground to show on.
| Medium | Charcoal |
| Colour | White |
| Brand | Bianco |
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