Ballpoint pen vs ruller: smeared lines, what do I do?
https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtFundamentals/comments/qunlir/ballpoint_pen_vs_ruller_smeared_lines_what_do_i_do/
2021-11-15 18:57
GatoDoKapeta
Ironically most of the time I sketch using ballpoint pens, however when it comes to using them for homework during lesson 6 I'm having a lot of trouble. When I use them with a ruller, even after waiting about 20 seconds or so my lines always get smeared. It's very frustrating because it takes me much more time than with fineliners and I still get some smears in the end. I use a regular ballpoint pen from paper mate. Do all ballpoint pens do this? What do I do? Thank y'all in advance
Also, I'm not a native speaker I have no idea if I used the right word, 'smear'
Uncomfortable
2021-11-16 01:28
Smudgy and smeary ballpoints are a common problem - one technique I've heard of to mitigate it is to keep a little paper towel on the side and dab the pen on it between strokes. It's supposed to help absorb any pooling/excess ink on the tip.
liver_stream
2021-11-16 03:21
it's the ink and sometimes the paper. If your using rough paper the felt from the paper collects the ink and balls up, and you would have to wait days or weeks for that to dry. The other problem is the ink, papermate is designed to last a very very long time so the ink doesn't really dry.
So I would ;
a) Change to a cheaper pen or move upto gel pens. They won't last as long.
b) Use cheap photocopy paper, smooth and shiny.
c) Wipe the end of the pen (the nib) on tissue paper ever few minutes, stop ink from "balling up" on the nib. Sometime you might need to pinch the tissue paper on the nib
OR
Use a 0.8mm or thicker felt pen, the thinner pens break nibs easy.
OR
The other option is to move to a rotoring isograph and use fresh ink :)
I can't afford a rotoring so I like using either a fountain pen or a ink brush and then using my own inks. Again avoid rough paper with inks. Cheap shiny paper is the best type of paper.
Hope that helps
GatoDoKapeta
2021-11-16 03:41
Thank you for the answer, I had never heard about rotoring pens before haha
SwordfishDeux
2021-11-16 04:13
Remember to keep your nib clean by wiping it.
Slightly elevate your ruler off the page, get some tape and tape a few coins to the bottom to raise it off the page just ever so slightly, makes a big difference.
GatoDoKapeta
2021-11-16 02:13
Thank you, Im always amazed by how you keep answering even the simpler questions yourself and fairly quickly :)