PENS
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
Here are the five main types of pen – and the pros and cons of using them1
Fountain pens
Fountain pens with nibs that are
suitable for drawing are expensive,
refi llable and a portable alternative
to a dip pen.
Their lines vary with the angle
at which they are held and also
the pressure placed on the nib,
which splays the tines of the pen,
dispensing more ink to the page.2
Fude nib pens
Fude nibs are a rare and
versatile variation on a fountain
pen – the bent tips make a broader,
brush-like mark that varies with the
angle of the pen and they can be
fl ipped for a fi ner line.3
Felt-tip pens
Felt-tip pens come in a variety
of widths and create a bold line that
starts dense and solid when the pen
is new and becomes lighter and
broken as the pen runs out of ink,
creating a new type of mark that can
potentially be used to great effect.
The width of the felt-tip mark will
vary with pressure and pen angle.4
Fineliner pen
Fineliners are disposable,
affordable drawing pens that are
sold by line width (often ranging
from 0.05mm to 1mm) and make a
consistent, even mark. The plastic
nibs gradually wear down, creating
an angled or fl at nib over time, and
eventually wearing back to the metal
when they should be thrown away.
Technical drawing pens with steel
nibs are an expensive, refi llable
alternative that won’t wear down.5
Ballpoint pens
Ubiquitous, disposable and
cheap, ballpoint pens are liable
to be your most readily accessible
writing and drawing medium.
Though no one’s fi rst choice
perhaps, ballpoint pens make a fi ne,
occasionally unreliable mark that
can be varied with pressure.