Calligraphy Pens, Marker Pens & Fineliners

Which Felt Tip Pen Should You Choose?

The main differences between felt tip pens are the tip and the ink. A fine liner is ideal for small details, while a calligraphy pen makes it easier to create lettering with varying line widths.

Fine Liners and Pigment Liners

Fine liners have a narrow tip and are well suited for notes, drawings, illustrations, and color coding. They are a good choice when you need precise lines or small handwriting.

Pigment liners are often used for detailed sketches and illustrations. Many models use pigment-based ink, but properties such as water resistance and lightfastness vary between pens. Check the product information if these features are important for your work.

Calligraphy Pens

Calligraphy pens are designed for decorative handwriting. Different tip shapes allow you to create both thin and broad strokes, making them suitable for invitations, greeting cards, menus, and handwritten signs.

For hand lettering, choose a pen with a tip that matches the style of lettering you want to create. A chisel tip produces a different effect from a flexible brush tip.

Fiber Tip Pens and Sketch Pens

Fiber tip pens work well for color-coded notes, drawing, and highlighting. Sketch pens are useful when you want to create varying lines and details in drawings or illustrations.

Choose the Right Tip and Line Width

The shape and size of the tip affect how the pen writes. Here are a few things to consider:

• Fine tip: Suitable for small details, outlines, and precise drawings.
• Medium tip: A good choice for note-taking, illustrations, and general writing.
• Broad or chisel tip: Suitable for calligraphy, headings, and decorative text.
• Brush tip: Allows variation in line width by changing the pressure applied to the paper.

Keep in mind that tip size and actual line width are not always the same. For detailed work, it may be worth checking the pen's specified line width.

Consider the Ink and Paper

The type of ink also matters. Some felt tip pens use water-based ink, while others use pigment-based or alcohol-based ink. This affects how the color behaves on the paper and whether it can be combined with other techniques.

Will you be working with fine lines, coloring larger areas, or applying several layers of color? Check the ink type and choose paper that is suitable for the intended use. Some felt tip pens may bleed through thin paper.

For calligraphy and illustration work, it can be a good idea to test the pen on the paper you plan to use before starting the final piece.