This writing implement incorporates a core comprised of a mix of clay, graphite, and sometimes, a dye. The inclusion of the dye, usually aniline-based, distinguishes it from commonplace graphite pencils. The marks created by this sort of pencil, when moistened, switch simply to a different floor, facilitating the creation of duplicates of handwritten or drawn materials.
Its significance lies in its capacity to effectively reproduce paperwork earlier than the widespread adoption of recent copying applied sciences. This attribute proved invaluable in administrative, clerical, and creative settings, streamlining workflows and enabling wider dissemination of data. Traditionally, it provided an economical and comparatively easy methodology for creating a number of variations of unique texts or drawings.
