Getting back into Pen and ink--what nibs should I buy?

[mjmassey]

Currently, I'm inking my pages with disposable brush pens like the Kuretake disposable, but I'm finding that this no longer suits my needs and the tips dull really quickly, giving me messy, too thick lines. Long ago, I did a lot of pen and ink drawings and comics and am thinking about getting back into that, nut I have no idea what kind of pen nibs to buy. I used to use Round nibs, but I find it hard to vary line width with them. Besides, my old nibs are pretty much all destroyed or missing from two moves, so I'm in the market to buy some new ones.

There's so many different types of nibs that I'm not sure what to get. Any traditional inkers out there have any tips? I'm thinking of maybe a spoon nib or a maru nib, but I'm really open to any suggestions on nibs, pen holders, even what inks you like. Thanks in advanced!

[eschaefges]

Pentel brush pens have refillable ink cartridges and use hair-based brushes, not marker-based brushes, so they don't wear out like you mention - i've used the same one for 4+ years with about 30 cheap cartridges. Just a thought

http://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Pocket-Brush-Pen-for-Calligraphy/pd/1793?gclid=CNe67dza-8cCFQ0yaQodfa0KTg

[ghostnxs]

When I inked traditionally I used http://www.jetpens.com/Tachikawa-Comic-Pen-Nib-Holder-Model-40/pd/4573 with http://www.jetpens.com/Tachikawa-Comic-Pen-Nib-G-Model-Pack-of-3/pd/9441 & http://www.jetpens.com/Tachikawa-Comic-Pen-Nib-Maru-Mapping-Model-Pack-of-2/pd/9443 If you're making something comparable to manga I would recommend these.

[mjmassey]

@eschaefges is it easy to keep a thinner line with this sort of brush? I like to have thinner lines for face details, which makes me nervous about using a brush

@ghostnxs I would say that my look is fairly manga-ish. I've never used such a thick holder--does it keep the hand from getting fatigued?

[eschaefges]

@mjmassey it is better for cartooning and more expressive lines - for consistently thin lines, you're better off with the nib approach

[apocryphagraphics]

I use a Windsor & Newton series 7 brush size 2 for about 95% of my inking. For the other 5 % I use a Hunts 102 crow quille nib. I love both. You can check out the line quality on my comic page here.

[fabioveras]

Hey, I ink my comic with those kind of nibs. There are a variaty of nibs to buy. My suggestion is to buy the well known nibs, like those

Here is my most used nibs. The maru pen is perfect for the details cause the nib don't open too much.
The pen G is the most used my the artist, and also the most known, I like it very much, I can do all the traces that I want.
The two spoons that I have, have a difference, The first opens a lot! wich is nice for some traces.
The most important is the artist's technique, don't forget that

[ghostnxs]

I haven't noticed any fatigue, it is very balanced and the rubber grip helps keep me from gripping too hard.

[mjmassey]

Oh I used to have the series 7 brushes! They were so lovely for watercolor, but when I started using them for inks they got really messed up

Oh I love your style. That's the kind of look I would like to have--clean lines with some weight variation

[apocryphagraphics]

Oh I used to have the series 7 brushes! They were so lovely for watercolor, but when I started using them for inks they got really messed up

That's odd. If taken care of they should last for years. I been using mine for nearly five now. What kind of ink are you using?

[AnnaLandin]

If you want to try another brush pen, I recommend Pilot Pocket Brush Pen - they're available in both soft and hard-nibbed varieties, and they're, like, secretly magical or something. Infinitely variable lines, no accidental bristle-mishaps (they've got synthetic nibs, and don't actually have bristles at all), a good solid black ink, etc. The only downsides are that they are a.) not waterproof and b.) not refillable. Which is a crying shame, because if they WERE, they would be a goshdarned miracle.

I don't know how available they are elsewhere, but I order mine through Jet Pens.

I've never really gotten along with steel nibs, so I do most of my inking either with the Pilot brush pen, or with regular paintbrushes - I find I work best with brushes that have slightly stiffer bristles (though not, like, pig bristles-stiff) as it makes for a more controlled line.

[puppetbomb]

I usually use a G nib for my comics, but for my comic , I use a spoon nib to get less line variation since it's much stiffer.

Other pens fade when I erase and/or doesn't have as much line variation as I want :<

I swear by G nibs. They're amazing ✫v✫

[Menbung]

I'm a traditional artist and I do love nibs.

If you're going for an all around pen I should advice on getting a G pen, they are pretty damn good, really.

The maru and the hunt 102 are crow quill type of nibs, they make super thin lines, at first they may be too thin. Thing is they are scratchy as hell, so having a hard paper is best for them (in my experience).

With the g pen, at least the ones I got, they are smooth as silk, don't be fooled by the pen holder pics, in real life they are smaller and they are confortable, I should advice on getting one of those dual holder, you can use the g pen and maru pen type of nibs in one pen holder, if you look at pic 3 of the link that was provided here for the holder, you can see that the tip has 2 "rings" that means it is a dual holder =P (too much of the word holder for today).

Good luck I hope you find a nib that you like !

Aw, someday I will try a brush...

[mjmassey]

This was very helpful, thank you! It's been awhile so I totally forgot which pens do what and what I like. I remember the round nibs but they are so thin and don't vary their lines too much. I'm thinking G nibs are the way to go.

[andychrist]

The Pentel brush pen isn't bad but be aware that if you need to erase your pencil lines, it WILL fade. This unfortunately became a problem for me so I recently upgraded to a Winsor & Newton Series 7 Size 1 brush with Dr. Ph Martin's Black Star Matte Ink. I'm finding it isn't much different from the Pentel pen; you just have to run it along a piece of scrap before after every dip to avoid blotting, dip it after every fifth or sixth stroke, and run it under a tap when you're done. The point bounces back the second ink is applied and I have way more control over it than the pen. And the ink, once dried, WILL NOT fade. It's a miracle.

A part of me really wants to start using nibs but the learning curve intimidates me. For finer lines or smaller drawings where the brush isn't practical, I use a Pentel Tradio Sketch Pen. You have to buy ink cartridges for it and the points wear out long before the ink does, but it's an efficient little tool.

[whovianandwriting]

Pigma Micron Pens are amazing. i use them and people like Mark Crilley use them too.

[zeldaellaa]

You can try Speedball Art Products SB31016 Calligraphy. These B-5 and B-6 nibs write smoothly, don't skip, the ink flows evenly, they don't need a lot of pressure to write and best of all, the ink reservoir on these is really large. I kept expecting them to run out as I was writing my examples for the photo, but they still had ink to spare when I was done. Very nice.

[noahenholm]

You can consider Manuscript Leonardt Dip Pen Nib Set, I have many different kinds of nibs: hunters, G's, and zebra, but these nibs are the best and the most flexible I have worked with. Really easy on my hands when writing.