BALL POINT Ball pens, like rollerballs, write using a ball to feed the ink to the page. Ball pens are designed to hit a lower price point and are therefore made from inexpensive materials, manufactured with much wider quality tolerances than rollerballs.
FOUNTAIN POINT
The nib on a fountain pen is unique, the ink is fed from a cartridge giving a very vivid finish.
FINE LINER /
NEEDLE TIP
Fine liners are traditionally used for close accurate work as they have an extra fine point and resist splitting and smudging. There are two types of fine liner, metal tip and fibre tip. Metal tip pens are stronger and give a thinner line whilst fibre tip pens have a softer tip.
ROLLER BALL
Whilst rollerballs use similar technology to ball pens to deliver ink to the page, they are manufactured from superior materials and to much higher quality standards. Although not always, they generally use
a hard wearing metal rollerball and tip.
INK TYPES:
LIQUID INK
The ink is held in a reservoir of liquid as opposed to a felt core - the advantage is every last drop of ink is used. Liquid ink gives a smoother flow, longer write out length and consistent ink colour. The pens have transparent reservoirs to show ink levels.
GEL INK
A mixture of water and oil. A revolutionary pigment ink formula, which is waterproof and fade resistant. The gel ink is thicker than water and oil based inks giving a denser and more vivid colour and smoother flow, however, extra drying time must be given to avoid smudging.
WATER BASED INK
Also called dye based ink, contains no pigment, so can be generally washed out of clothing and is non-toxic. Intended for use on paper or similar absorbent surfaces and will give unsatisfactory results on non-absorbent surfaces such as glass, plastic etc.
OIL BASED INK
This type of ink is only used in ball pens,
as the ink is more like a paste. The ink is waterproof, dries instantly and does not smear. Can stain clothing and dry out if the cap is left off, but if re-capped, will normally regenerate after a short while.
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The information, images and material contained in this guide are intended for reference purposes only.
