CONTE CRAYON 12 PIECE BASIC SETCont Crayons 12 Color Basic Set Colour Crayons, also referred to as Cont Paris carrs, are harder than pastels or charcoals. This hardness creates crisp, tight lines rather than the more smudged look of pastel and charcoal. They are produced from a highly rigorous choice of pigments, clay and a binder. They are then baked after being extruded and dried. Prop. 65 Warning: These products contain a chemical known in the State of California to cause cancer.