Dip pen

A dip pen (also sometimes called a "nib pen") usually consists of a metal, fountain pen-like, nib mounted on a handle or holder, often made of wood. Other materials can be used for the holder, including bone, metal and plastic, while some pens are made entirely of glass. Most dip pens have no ink reservoir, however, and so must be repeatedly recharged with ink while drawing or writing. (However, there are simple, tiny tubular reservoirs that illustrators sometimes clip onto dip pens; these allow drawing for several minutes without recharging the nib.) Recharging can be done by dipping into an inkwell; however, most illustrators and cartoonists (who are the main current users of such pens) are more likely to charge the pen with an eyedropper, which gives them more control. Thus, "dip pens" are often not actually dipped! This may be why many illustrators call them "nib pens."

Related Topics:
Fountain pen - Nib - Bone - Metal - Plastic - Glass - Ink - Drawing - Writing

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The dip pen has certain advantages over a fountain pen. It can use waterproof pigmented (particle-and-binder-based) inks, such as so-called "India ink" or acrylic inks, which would destroy a fountain pen by clogging it up. There are also a wide range of readily exchangeable nibs available so different types of lines and effects can be created. The nibs and handles are far cheaper than most fountain pens, and allow color changes much more easily.

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Dip pens were generally used prior to the development of fountain pens, and are now mainly used in illustration, calligraphy, comics, and manga.

Related Topics:
Calligraphy - Comics - Manga

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