Ballpoint tips and inks 1. tips: strongest pen tips in history
a. extra-fine: I have some drawings completed with the extra-fine (ultra)tips that went out of production in 1982-83 and came in black or blue. The extra-fine ballpoint pen tip is the sharpest camera-ready line in art history. That extra-fine tip was like a nail and therefore took many, many lines to build up colors or areas. The extra-fine tip was extraordinary for blending, polishing or starting off a drawing.
b. fine: Today, a ballpoint pen's fine tip size produces the sharpest camera-ready line in our art world. I’ve been saying this for the past ten years and no one has produced a medium that matches or beats this claim! Using a fine tipped pen for starting off a drawing is best because the half tone lines are very subtle or light. Any mistakes or starter lines can be left because they will get covered up with a darker line. I never erase or use graphite with a ballpoint pen ink. If you focus and start off with a very subtle or light line changes can be made with darker lines or ink.
c. regular: The regular tip is also called a medium. This tip can produce a half tone plus a solid long flowing line. The line can be dark, long flowing and produce a reflection if really piled on thick. The medium tip is good for making dark areas and will certainly saturate a paper with ink when stacked or piled on greatly. Most people use a regular tips for writing therefore we know what that can do.
d. bold: The bold ballpoint pen tip is another history making item. The bold ballpoint pen tip and ink supply produces a full tone long flowing line as never before and is fantastic for working from life. Needless to say its the best ballpoint tip for coloring in dark areas. It also delivers more ink than any other tips therefore the refection is greater if used to pile or stack on inks. Ballpoint pen inks are oil based therefore thick areas are stick and reflect while being photographed or copied via copier machines.
2. half tone lines: The ballpoint pen is the only pen system in history capable of producing a half tone line with a full tone ink. Lifting up on a pen produces a half tone and pushing down or adding pressure makes a full tone. The half tone almost never reflects or shines as thinker inks can do. A half tone line is great for starting a drawing, shaping, forming or polishing up a drawing like no others! The ballpoint pens half tones are the subtlest in drawing or art history therefore elevate arts sensitivity level worldwide!
