Types of pen nibs Standard types: usually include thin, medium and wide. Many companies have more options. Choices can range from pinpoint size to spade shapes that are three times as wide. Generally speaking, if you have light hands or small writing skills, choose a fine nib. People who write with heavy handwriting should choose a wider one than a sharp one. However, the choice of pen tip depends on your preference. However, ultra-fine pen tips are generally only suitable for digital work and are not suitable for ordinary writing. Italic nib: The italic nib has a sharper chisel edge, which is different from the standard spherical nib. Therefore, the lines of the characters are thicker in the vertical strokes. The width of the italic nib varies greatly, and the wider the nib, the more obvious the difference between thick and thin strokes. The chisel edge of the italic nib is easy to scratch paper, so be careful when writing. The italic nib should be held at a 45-degree angle to the paper when writing to prevent the font from being written in a square shape. Oblique: The left tangent line of the oblique nib is at a 15-degree angle, which is suitable for many people who hold the pen at a certain angle. Holding the pen in this way will put more pressure on one side of the nib, resulting in irregular ink flow. There are also various models of skew nibs available from thin to thick. The thickness of the strokes of the skew nib is not as exaggerated as the italic nib. Back italic: The shape of the back italic nib is exactly the opposite of the italic nib, and is generally used by left-handed writers. Slanted Italic: This pen is for those who want to master the general principles of italic writing without having to work too hard. Using this nib can follow the italic style more casually, and the written words will be more beautiful. There are usually two types of slanted italic nibs: one with a 15-degree angle, which is suitable for right-handed writers, and the other with a 30-degree angle, which is suitable for left-hand writing. Nib material: The nib of a good fountain pen is usually made of gold. They are usually 12K and 14K, but some are also made of 18K gold. Because gold is too soft, a ball made of iridium or ruthenium is welded to the tip of the pen, and the small ball is polished to form a perfect writing surface. The softness and hardness of the pen tip are controlled by the thickness of the pen tip and the length of the pen tip. Generally, each manufacturer is different. The nibs on cheaper fountain pens are usually made of stainless steel or other gold-plated metals. Although their lifespan is not as long as gold nibs, they are very easy to use. However, the technology of each manufacturer is different, so if you want to find a pen tip you like, you need to try pens from several manufacturers. The size of the pen tip: Generally, pen manufacturers will mark the size and type of the pen tip on the pen tip. Generally, those marked EF, F, M, B, and BB are standard nibs. If marked as OM, OB, OBB, it is the deflection tip. There are five main types of common pen tip sizes, from thin to thick: EF= Approximately: 0.34mm~0.44mmB=Broad The width of the pen tip is approximately: 0.44mm~0.54mmBB=Double Broad The width of the pen tip is approximately: 0.66mm~0.86mm Some manufacturers also have more subdivided pen tips, such as EEF, which is thinner than EF , 3B (Triple Broad), which is thicker than BB, and MF nib, which is between F and M. Although different brands have different definitions of nib size (that is, M brand M nib may be written as thicker than P brand). or thin), but the width of the pen tip is mostly between 0.18mm~0.86mm. In order to suit personal writing preferences, some manufacturers also have oblique pen tips, such as: OM=Oblique MediumOB=Oblique BroadOBB=Oblique Double Broad. A good The nib is the soul of a good pen, so it is important to choose a good nib. Basically, just use the F nib for daily Chinese writing. If you like to write larger characters, you can use the M tip. B and BB are not suitable for normal-sized Chinese writing because they are too large, but are more suitable for signatures. Generally, you don’t need the offset tip for daily Chinese writing. If you are a friend who practices calligraphy, you can try the offset tip and you may get different writing effects.
Also, generally speaking, Japanese manufacturers’ pen tips are set to be thinner than those in Europe and the United States. Therefore, friends who like to write small characters can buy Japanese brand products. The water output of the pen is also an important factor in controlling the size of the strokes. Pens with a large water output generally have thicker lines. Regarding the elasticity of the pen tip, everyone has different preferences. When buying a pen, you can try it more.