Contents
Calligraphy Basics
Calligraphy Pens
Calligraphy Paper
Calligraphy Ink
How to Get Set Up
How to Line Calligraphy Paper
How to Hold and Move Your Pen
Calligraphy Serifs
Calligraphy Scripts
The Italic Script
The Gothic Script
How to Correct Mistakes Made with Calligraphy Ink
Learn more with these titles from Barnes & Noble
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Calligraphy Pens
Calligraphy requires a special type of pen. The tip of all calligraphy pens, called the nib, has a flat edge rather than the round point found on everyday ballpoint pens. Calligraphers can vary the weight, or thickness, of the lines they use to form letters by controlling how much of the nib’s flat edge they allow to contact the paper. The width of the nib’s flat front edge, known as the nib width (n.w.), is equal to the width of the thickest line that can be drawn with that pen.
Types of Calligraphy Pens
The three types of calligraphy pens are dip pens, fountain pens, and felt-tip pens (also called markers).
Dip Pens
Dip pens have metal nibs that fit into one end of their solid shafts. The nib of the pen must be dipped into an ink bottle periodically as the calligrapher writes.
- Pros: Dip pens are the highest-quality calligraphy pens. They have precise, interchangeable nibs that can be switched to suit the type of script you’re writing.
- Cons: These are the most expensive and difficult pens to use. Their delicate nibs can bend and snag on paper, the ink can get messy if the nib is not perfectly dipped, and the nib must be cleaned thoroughly after each use.
Fountain Pens
Fountain pens have hollow shafts that contain ink cartridges that supply ink to the nib.
- Pros: Fountain pens have a better quality than felt-tip pens and are easier to use than dip pens. They are easy to load with ink and require no dipping.
- Cons: Fountain pens aren't as precise as dip pens and are more expensive than markers. On some, the ink can stop flowing when you push the pen forward. To change the ink, you must change the cartridge and clean the nib.
Felt-Tip Pens (Markers)
Felt-tip pens have a one-piece nib and shaft and come preloaded with ink that cannot be refilled.
- Pros: The least expensive pens and the easiest to write with, they require no maintenance and won’t leak.
- Cons: Markers are the least precise pens. Their non-refillable ink tubes dry out quickly, their nibs wear with use, and the quality of their line decreases over time.
Choosing a Calligraphy Pen
When learning calligraphy, it’s generally best to start with markers, which are the easiest to use, and then to move up to fountain pens and dip pens as your calligraphy skills improve and you want more precision.
Nib Width Measurements
There is no definitive measurement system when it comes to nib width. Pen manufacturers use two different methods to specify it:
- Specific measurements: Nib widths are measured according to their exact size in millimeters, which typically ranges from 0.3 to 2.
- Descriptive letters: This system uses one or two letters to describe nib widths in more general terms. These letter codes range from EF (extra fine) to 3B (triple broad).
Some scripts require thicker lines (and thus wider nib widths), while others require thinner lines (and thus narrower nib widths). Below you’ll find several of the most commonly available nib widths (with specific measurements and descriptive letters), plus a sample line drawn with each.
| Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
