From Drawing to Note-Taking: 10 Types of Writing Utensils and What To Use Them For

Pens have come a long way since the early days of writing, but with so many options available, it can be hard to know which pen is ideal for what. Whether you’re an artist, a note-taker, a writer, or any combination of the three, certain pens can help you achieve your goals. But which type of pen should you use for each task or project?

This post will explore the different types of pens and what each type is used for. From ballpoints to gel pens to calligraphy pens, we’ll cover the basics of each type and why they’re suited for their specific tasks. After reading this guide, you’ll know exactly which pen to reach for when you need to draw, take notes, or write a letter.

Pencils

Pencils are great for drawing, sketching, shading, and general writing. The hardness of the lead determines how dark or light the marks will be. Traditional pencils have wooden casings that house a graphite core. They are available in a variety of different widths and hardness levels. On the side of the pencil is an engraved number indicating the lead’s hardness inside. A #2 pencil has a medium soft lead suitable for everyday writing tasks such as notes or essays, while harder leads like 9B or 10B create darker marks and are best used for sketching or shading drawings.

Mechanical Pencils

Mechanical pencils have metal or plastic casings that house replaceable leads of varying thicknesses and hardness levels. The advantage of this type of pencil is that tips do not need to be sharpened and are less prone to breaking than traditional wooden pencils. The tip size usually ranges from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm and comes in many shapes and colors.

Colored Pencils

Colored pencils are wax-based writing utensils with hard leads made of pigments and binder components in various colors and hues. They produce vibrant, intense colors that can be blended to create more nuanced tones. Colored pencils are ideal for drawing detailed pictures such as landscapes, still lifes, portraits, or even abstract art pieces.

Ballpoint Pens

Ballpoint pens are commonly associated with writing tasks where permanent pigment ink is necessary as it is very difficult to erase mistakes made with them without leaving marks behind on paper. There are two types of ballpoint pens: those with screw caps and those with retractable tips. Both have their advantages depending on what task you’re working on.

Ballpoint Pens With Screw Caps

Pens with screw caps often come in full-size barrels that contain long-lasting ink reservoirs that will never dry up if left uncapped for extended periods. The downside is they may unscrew and spill in pockets or bags if not stored properly.

Retractable Tip Ballpoint Pens

Retractable tip ballpoint pens can be pushed down into a smaller barrel for convenient storage without the risk of spilling. However, they must be stored upright to prevent ink from dripping out as many do not have airtight seals at their base like those with screw caps have.

Rollerball Pens

Rollerball pens often contain water-based liquid ink, which gives them a smoother feel on paper than those using pigment ink. However, their finer tip sizes mean they will dry up faster than other types of pens if left uncapped for too long so they must be stored upright for optimal usage. There are two types of rollerball pen tips available: fine point and bold point, each producing different line widths depending on how much pressure is applied during writing.

Fine Point Rollerball Pens

Fine point rollerball pens have ultra-fine tips that produce thin, precise lines intended for detailed work like signature forging, technical drawing, or correcting small mistakes on documents where larger amounts of pressure may damage the paper’s fibers. They provide very smooth writing capabilities not seen in other types of pens thanks to their liquid ink makeup.

Bold Point Rollerball Pens

Bold point rollerball pens have wider tips than fine points but are smaller than traditional ballpoints, making them excellent choices for everyday tasks such as taking class notes or making grocery lists. This is due to their balance between precision and ease of use when it comes to writing quickly without sacrificing accuracy or visibility.

Felt-Tip Pens

Felt-tip pens have tips made of porous felt material, unlike other types that use rigid metals. This allows them to easily deposit fluid inks on surfaces, similar to a brush painting on canvas. As a result, they create bold peaks and valleys in their written structures, making them more legible even from a distance.

Fiber-Tip Pens

On the other hand, fiber-tip pens have nibs made of nylon, plastic, or synthetic fibers. These provide improved durability compared to traditional felt tips, enabling them to produce smoother lines, especially for rendering delicate curves. This is why fiber-tip pens are ideal when using stencils over large areas, as repeated motions or pressing too hard won’t cause wear over time as felt tips would. This longer-lasting design also makes them a reliable investment.

Paint Pens

It’s important to note that paint pens, commonly known as “markers,” use alcohol-based inks and come in various colors. They are favored by commercial sign makers and graffiti artists worldwide. Like felt-tip pens, paint pens also have porous points, but their rigidity varies depending on the project’s specific needs.

Nibbed Pens

Calligraphy is an art form that requires specialized instruments to achieve desired results. These instruments come in two types: flexible nibbed and non-flexible nibbed pens.

Flexible Nibbed Pens

The flexible nibbed pens use hollow metal tubes filled with resin, which allows greater control over the lines produced by applying pressure and manipulating the shape of the tube.

Non-Flexible Nibbed Pens

On the other hand, non-flexible nibbed pens require replacing the entire piece of hardware to switch between thicker and thinner widths. This is significant and plays a crucial role in the selection process for calligraphy tools.

Conclusion

The right pen can make all the difference in writing, drawing, and note-taking. Knowing which pen is best for each task is important with the many types of pens available to choose from. From ballpoint pens to felt-tip pens to nibbed pens, a wide variety of pens on the market offer the ability to create beautiful artwork or take precise notes. You can take your skills and creativity to the next level with the right pen, so use this information to determine which one is ideal for your needs!