If you are somebody who thrives with colorful pens, you have come to the right place! Say that you have a special art project to complete, or you are looking to add flare to your outlined drawings, and you have no idea where to start. Now that you have figured out what you want to do with your project, there needs to be an understanding of what pen would most suit your needs. Let’s get started so you can start on your colorful journey.
Rollerball pens are most suitable for adult coloring. The rollerball pen has a water-based ink that allows for projects to be smooth and concise without creating unnecessary ink blobs. Rollerball pens have a fine writing line that can show clearly in detailed coloring, which allows your project to shine with clarity.
By now, you clearly understand what is best for adult coloring, but it is ultimately up to your experiments! Below, we can browse through different ways to utilize rollerball pens and how they differ from ballpoint pens.
Rollerball Pen Practices
Rollerball pens generally tend to be easy to use; without much pressure needed to create a distinct outline. It is best to use light pressure so the ink does not bleed through to the other side. It is also best to grip the pen in a way that does not put your full weight on the paper. This all depends on what type of paper you are using to complete your coloring. Let’s get to the basic practices of using rollerball pens.
Rollerball Pens May Bleed
As stated before, rollerball pens have water-based ink. Because of the ink makeup, the pen may bleed through the paper when using different types of paper. A great solution for this is the rollerball pen’s option to change the fine-tip points of the pen to something smaller in size.
What makes rollerball pens so versatile, is that you can change out the ink cartridges when they run low or dry. The changing of the ink also might help the bleeding and smudging issue. For best results, it is easier to keep your hand off of the page when writing with your dominant hand. For left-handed artists, smudges might be a bit harder to avoid.
Rollerball Pens Have A Specific Shape
Rollerball pens have a barrel at the end of the pen where the ink runs through. Because the ink is smoother and thinner, it is important to keep the secure cap on the pen at all times of non-use. If the pen is left without a cap, the pen will easily dry out, which might dry out your bank account! Nobody likes to waste pens due to an easily fixed error.
Comfort Is Important
There is a lot less room for cramping in the hands due to the benefits of a rollerball pen. The pen is smooth and glides across the page without much stress on your hands that are doing all the work! We have all had to stop and put down our coloring pens due to overworking our hands. It can happen to anyone! So, naturally, comfort is important when coloring for long periods.
Precision Matters
The rollerball pen differs the most from ballpoint pens because rollerball pens tend to not skip as much as their competitor. The flow and ease of the pen make it manageable without the stress of skipping on the paper. For coloring, precision matters, and who wouldn’t want an easy-flowing pen that glides like butter?
Now that we have talked about the important practices when using rollerball pens, let’s move on to why ballpoint pens might be a choice for some and how that may differ for adult coloring.
Ballpoint Pens Can Be Utilized For Some
Ballpoint pens are a good option for people who are left-hand artists. This is because the writing tends to be smudge-resistant due to the thicker oil-based ink. Because of the thickness of the ink, it is easier to prevent bleed-through on the paper. With the thickness of the ink, comes the difficulty of writing with the pen easily without applying a lot of pressure. This is why rollerball pens are most beneficial when it comes to comfort. If you are left-handed, I might risk some smudges!
Ballpoint Pens Are Unique
The thing about ballpoint pens is that they are not suited for long-term coloring at all. This pen’s durability lasts when applied to slick surfaces like receipts. Because of the slick surface, the ballpoint pen can glide easily. This pen is also good for making imprints because of the pressure needed for the pen on non-slick papers. Otherwise, for coloring, you might find yourself shaking the pen due to the clogging of the thick ink!
Ballpoint Pens Dry On Paper Faster
All typical ballpoint pens will write in a thin, less vivid way than a rollerball pen. Because of the oil-based ink and vagueness, any amount of writing used by the pen can dry on the paper immediately. This is a contrast to a rollerball pen that may smudge if your hand comes in contact with the ink on the paper. Although most common for everyday use in offices and professional settings, rollerball pens pay homage to your everyday craft monger.
Now that I have shown you the possible ways ballpoint pens might differ from rollerball pens, let’s move on to the cool ways rollerball pens can be used for pretty, bold colors.
Check out our article on how to use ballpoint pens HERE!
Rollerball Pens As Gel Ink Pens
Gel ink rollerball pens are fun to use for coloring because of the vivid ink the pens use. The gel part of the rollerball pens allows for deeper pigmentation, which creates different variations of colors for your projects! As I stated before, this form of the rollerball pen is still liquid and can bleed through the paper if the proper paper is not being used.
The most common mistake when using rollerball pens is the disregard for the type of paper used. This type of paper is what gets most artists into trouble! If the paper is cheap or not well-made, the ink will seep through easily. If the paper is thicker, the ink will have a hard time smudging and seeping through. You heard it here first; it’s all about the type of paper!
Now that we talked a bit about both ballpoint and rollerball pens, let’s get into our favorite recommendations when it comes to the best rollerball pens and their fantastic use.
Let’s Talk Recommendations
We have made it to the part where you can spend your money! Yay or nay? Let’s go for a yay for today. Below we have put together a fun list of the different types of rollerball pens and their estimated cost. Let’s get to it!
Rollerball pens are celebrated for their smoothness and fluidity. The most recommended rollerball pens according to low cost are as follows from best to least favored:
- Artesian Rollerball Pens
- Pilot G2 Premium Gel Roller
- Schneider One Hybrid N Rollerball
- Pilot Precise V5
- Uni-ball Vision Rollerball Pens
- Pentecostal Arts Hybrid Technica
- Gel Reminisce
- Inc R2 Roller
Now that we have shown you our favorite, affordable rollerball pens, that does not mean the list below is an encouragement to spend all your money on high-end pens! (even if you want to).
The most high-end rollerball pens these days consist of:
-
- Cross 04558 Bailey Black Ink Medium Point Pen
- Fengtaiyuan P18 Gel Ink Rollerball Pen
- Cross Edge Capless Slide Open Gel Ink Pen
- Scrivener Black Lacquer Rollerball Pen.
- Pentax Libretto Roller
- ACME Studios Alternate Knurled Rollerball Pen
- Dayspring Cross Pens
- Monocarbon Real Carbon Fiber Pen
Now that we have shown you our favorite list of expensive pens, let’s move on to our final thoughts on resources for adult coloring.
Final Thoughts
Make sure to do the needed research on the type of paper you use for your adult coloring needs. If you get your paper set, the choice of pen will be as easy as pie! Cheap paper will result in a cheap-looking finish and nobody wants to ruin their wonderful projects. Mistakes are okay to make, but these can be completely avoided. Color on!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do rollerball pens last with regular use?
Generally, with proper use, rollerball pens will last from one to three months. Once you notice the ink has evaporated, dried out, or has run out, you can replace the ink cartridges. This is pretty easy as readily available cartridges can be found in stores and online. This is a huge benefit over ballpoint pens that may clog and prevent proper usage.
How do I keep the pen from drying out?
To avoid the inevitable of drying ink, you can dip the pen in a small amount of candle wax. The small amount should be just enough to cover the nib of the pen. If you don’t want to use wax, a simple, silicone, rubber mold would work as well. As always, just keep your caps on at all times!
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