|
Ballpoint Ink: Ballpoint pens use viscous, oil-based inks that are usually smudge resistant, quick drying, and water resistant. They’re made by dissolving dyes in a mixture of alcohols and fatty acids. Alcohols promote smooth ink flow, while fatty acids lubricate the tip of the pen. Because the ink is so thick, ballpoints work well on low-quality papers with little to no bleedthrough. However, they do require more pressure to write with. This can be tiring over long periods of time, but some find these pens easier to control.
To combat the above issues, some ballpoint pens use hybrid or low-viscosity ink. This refers to an ink formulation that is enhanced with lubricants, so the tip’s ball can rotate more easily. Hybrid ballpoints have the smooth flow and vibrance of a gel pen and the quick-drying ability and waterproofness of a ballpoint pen. To learn more about hybrid ink, check out our guide to the best low-viscosity ballpoint pens.
Use ballpoints to write on receipts or other thermal paper. We enjoy using hybrid ballpoint pens as everyday writing pens!
Rollerball Ink: A rollerball pen uses liquid ink consisting of dyes dissolved in water. It’s similar to what’s commonly used with fountain pens. The ink flows freely in comparison to ballpoint and gel pens, so a rollerball requires less pressure to write. This helps to reduce hand strain and keeps you comfortable for long journaling or note-taking sessions. However, using a liquid ink does mean that paper choice is important, as it’ll bleed through lower-quality papers. Rollerball pens often have more feedback, a tactile sensation where you “feel” the paper through the pen’s tip, due to the thinness of the ink.
If you suffer from hand cramps, try a rollerball pen! The free-flowing liquid ink writes with a light touch, so it helps prevent writing with a death grip or too much force.
Gel Ink: Gel pens use inks made of pigments or dyes suspended in water-based gels. This formulation makes gel pens precise and vibrant, allowing them to come in tip sizes as small as 0.28 mm and in a rainbow of color options. The smooth ink flow makes it much easier to write for long periods of time with less pressure, so you won’t get hand cramps as easily. However, gel pens tend to skip more than ballpoints or rollerballs. This is because their tips aren’t as evenly coated with the thinner, water-based inks. Gel pens also have longer dry times, so they can smudge if you’re not careful.
Gel pens are great for note-taking. Their wide variety of colors is simply unmatched by other pens, making it easy to color-code notes and study guides.
|
