A Dip Pen Guide for Beginners

Everything you need to

know about
dip pen inks and nibs

@baby8stef
 What are dip pens?
A dip pen, also known as a nib pen or pen nib, is made out of a metal
nib with capillary channels similar to those seen in fountain pen nibs, set in
a wooden handle or holder.

Dip pens do not have an an ink reservoir, which means that one need to
recharge the ink from an ink bowl or bottle in order to continue drawing or
writing.

There are dip pens for a lot of nibs for different purposes in the market.
They are commonly used in basic writing, calligraphy and drawing. They
vary in degrees of flexibility for calligraphy and writing nibs and are often
offered with pointed or italic points.

Dip Pens for Manga

Manga nibs, on the other hand, are made specifically to fit
the needs of manga artists. Manga nibs has a pointed,
firm, and slightly flexible tips so they can produce thin,
controlled lines that only flex when enough pressure is
applied enabling artists to be precise in their drawings.

What do you need to know before buying

manga nibs?
1. FLEXIBILITY Flexibility is the ability of a nib to bend when pressure is applied. A good manga
nib does not flex too much or too rigid, making it difficult to control. A
substantial amount of flexibility allows artists to create various textures and
strokes for more depth. There are two types of nib flexibility: extremely hard
(unflexible) to moderately soft (flexible).

2. ELASTICITY Elasticity is the ability of a nib to revert back to its original shape. This is
important in retaining nib shape. A poor nib elasticity are those that are too
elastic because they are much harder to control. A right amount of pressure
must be applied to get a consistent line. A small amount of pressure will change
the way a line looks, which can be very helpful to some. It is recommended for
beginner to use nibs with low elasticity because they are easier to control.

There is a wide range of nib types and sizes, all of them offer different line
3. THICKNESS
thickness, thin or thick. But how it is held or the amount of pressure exerted
also plays a huge part in the consistency of lines.
What are the different types of manga nibs?
1. G NIB This is the most commonly used nibs and are perfect for beginners. Why?
Because it has the most flexible and versatile nib but is not difficult to control.
It is perfect for creating thick and thin lines depending on the pressure
exerted. The G nib is usually used in drawing expressions, distance, anatomy,
and other movement. A hard G Nib is highly recommended for beginners.

All-around nib for beginners. Recommended for shounen

2. SPOON NIB A Also

Dip Pen Guide for Beginners
known as the Saji or Tama nib. This nib is perfect for beginners to use as
an alternative to G nibs. It is called a spoon nib due to its prominent oblong,
(SAJI or TAMA) spoon-like nib design. It can create thick lines when used sideways.

Nib for objects, landscape and scenery

3. SCHOOL NIB This nib is the smallest out of all of them this it is much easier to control.
Professional artists use this in drawing intricate objects, such as architecture,
vehicles, or scenery and landscapes. The School nib was originally used for
basic writing projects such as book keeping or note taking because of its fine,
consistent lines & its slight flexibility, making it possible for beginners to
practice different line strokes before moving onto more flexible nibs like the G
nib.

Nib for scenery and landscapes

4. MARU NIB This nib can create the thinnest line stroke out of all the nibs even with a lot of
pressure It is perfect is for shojou manga artists. This nib draws the finest of
(MAPPING NIB) lines, ideal for the soft look of shojou manga. It is perfect for creating intricate
details such as the hair. Maru nibs are much smaller than the rest of the nibs,
therefore it is important to check the compatibility of this nib to your holder.

Nib for fine details. Perfect for shoujo manga

Learn how to Draw Manga with Dip Pens TODAY!

 What are Nib Holders?

Nibs are paired together with a nib holder and cannot be used without it.
A Dip Pen Guide for Beginners
Nib holders are commonly made with wood, plastic or acrylic in a straight or
oblique shape. You have to ensure that the nib fits the nib holder first before
purchasing. It is highly recommended to check the compatibility of your nib to
the nib holder.

All the pen holders sold at Artillery Philippines are compatible with most nibs.

What paper should I use?

Manga inks naturally bleed through
thin paper, which is why it is
recommended to use a thick, smooth
and heavy comic paper that is not
lower than 150 gsm. The perfect kind
of paper that works well with dip
pens and inks is the Deleter Comic
Book Paper. This paper is used by
professional manga artists.

Due to the pointed characteristics of a nib, the paper is prone to snagging and feathering, which is normal,
thus, a high quality paper will prevent this from happening.

Choose your paper wisely for a great drawing and writing experience!

Learn how to Draw Manga with Dip Pens TODAY!

 What inks should I buy?
Drying Time

SLOW

QUICK

VERY
QUICK

Kuretake ZIG QUICK

White Ink (30mL)

Pilot Drafting VERY

Pen Ink Black (30 QUICK
mL)
*water resistant not waterproof

Learn how to Draw Manga with Dip Pens TODAY!

 What inks should I buy?
Drying Time
Deleter #1 Black
Ink (30ml) SLOW

Deleter #2 Black QUICK

Ink (30ml)

Deleter #3 Black
Ink (30ml) QUICK

Deleter #4 Black
QUICK
Ink (30ml)

QUICK
Deleter #5 Black
Ink (30ml)

Deleter #6 Black QUICK

Ink (30ml)

Learn how to Draw Manga with Dip Pens TODAY!