In the following article, we’ll explore some of the differences between the ballpoint pen and the fountain pen. We’ll also examine why you should put down your ballpoint pen in favor of a fountain pen.

You might be asking yourself what the difference is between fountain pens vs ballpoint pens?

Unless you came of age in the 1960s, there’s a good chance that you’ve only ever known the ballpoint pen. While it was patented in 1888, the ballpoint pen did not achieve widespread use until 1959, when manufacturing processes allowed for its cheap production.

The fountain pen has a much longer history, dating back in one form or another for well over a millennium. At heart, the fountain pen is a relatively simple, if elegant, tool. Using gravity, ink is fed from a cartridge contained in the pen’s shaft down to a metal nib or point.

Meanwhile, ballpoint pens function similarly in that ink is gravity fed towards the tip. Where they differ is that while fountain pens terminate in a narrow tip through which ink easily flows, ballpoint pens have a tiny revolving metal ball at the tip. The back half of the ball is coated in ink. As the pen moves, this ball moves too, transferring the ink-coated half onto the page while the dry portion rolls back and is doused with ink.

Ballpoint pens are significantly cheaper than fountain pens, making them very popular . They’re also more durable and less likely to leak, making them suitable for note-taking as well as most mundane writing-based tasks. Because of their low price point, ballpoint pens are more often than not built to be disposable.

Fountain pens require very little pressure to draw with the ink. This makes them well suited for creating slender, elegant lines.

Comics require sweeping lines and a light touch. Ballpoint pens require significantly more pressure to draw, necessitating thicker lines and a touch-and-go approach. Furthermore, fountain pens typically use a lighter form of ink than the thicker ink favored by ballpoint pens. All of this makes for unforgettable artwork.

Fountain pens often use ink cartridges that can be swapped out, improving the pen’s longevity. This means you can commit to your favorite pen and even make a statement with its style.

For those accustomed to ballpoint pens, a fountain pen may seem tricky at first. After all, fountain pens require a significantly lighter touch. It’s common for first-time users to press down too hard, inadvertently making a mess by releasing excess ink in the process.

In order to master the fountain pen, take some time to sketch simple shapes on a piece of scratch paper. Lighten the pressure you’re applying to your pen. Once you’re used to your fountain pen, you won’t want to put it down.

Note how the fountain pen creates strong, aesthetically pleasing lines. The lack of pressure you’re exerting means that using a fountain pen is more akin to painting than using a ballpoint pen or pencil.

Fountain pens are a fantastic tool for any aspiring comic artist. Their slightly higher price point is offset by their use of reusable cartridges. For the aspiring artist, fountain pens offer clean, sweeping lines without the need to apply excessive pressure, which can impact the contour of the underlying paper in a negative way.

Give a fountain pen a try on your next project!

Amanda Dudley is a lecturer and writer with a Ph.D. in History from Stanford University. After earning her doctorate in 2001, she decided to pursue a fulfilling career in the educational sector. So far, she has made giant strides by working as an essay writer for EssayUSA , where she delivers high-quality academic papers to students who need them.

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