Stippling is an impressive technique. The intricate arrangement of dots into an image makes it unique from an ordinary line drawing.
Executing remarkable stippled works of art, however, takes more than just accuracy and articulation. In addition to having the required skills, you need the right pen for the job.
A good stippling pen is indispensable when it comes to successful stippling. But when staring at an ocean of pens from ballpoints to felt tips, it gets overwhelmingly challenging to decide which one is suitable.
So then, which is the best pen for stippling? The best pen for stippling is a needle tip ink pen. These pens have a micro metal oretal clad plastic tube that dispels ink with precision and consistency while withstanding continuous dotting without getting damaged.
Luckily, you don’t have to go far to find these. Ready in this article is an expert recommended list of the best stippling pens, plus a buying guide to help you navigate the extensive pens market.
Choosing Stippling Pens – Buyer’s Guide
All pens are not created equal. The diversity in features makes certain pens better for a specific skill level, budget, longevity, and task than others. The following considerations will help you find a suitable stippling pen for your needs.
Tip Size
When choosing a pen for stippling, one of the most critical features to look at is the tip size. We had already established that needle tip pens are the best for stippling as they are miniscule yet strong and provide consistent ink flow.
The needle tips come in a range of sizes producing different line widths and, in the case of stippling, dot sizes. The size is indicated in millimeters from 0.03 and can go up to 1.0 mm. Other brands have a separate sizing system represented by numbers such as 003, 01, 05, etc.
The finer the tip, the tinier the dots, thus the more precise details and time spent stippling. As the tip increases in size, so does the dot impression and visibility, enabling you to complete your design faster with fewer dots.
Ultrafine tips are very delicate, though, and prone to breakage when handled with a heavy hand. Size 05, the equivalent of 0.45mm, is the most preferred tip size for stippling.
Ink quality
You wouldn’t want to dedicate so much time and effort stippling a masterpiece only for it to smudge, bleed or fade quickly. Therefore you must look into the quality of the ink in the pen.
Check for archival properties and how it sits on different types of paper, and how it interacts with different mediums if you are going to be using mixed media.
Go for ink pens labeled as UV resistant, no bleed, waterproof, and smudge-proof. Pigment-based inks tend to emerge winners in this every time.
Design
There are several aspects of the design of a pen that make it a key consideration: the material, the mechanics, and the ergonomics. These things affect the longevity, price, quality, and comfort of the pen for the artist.
Check the casing and tip and what materials they are made of. Metal components are more robust thus last longer than plastic.
Plastic stippling pens, on the flip side, are budget-friendly, and their being plastic doesn’t affect the quality of writing. How the pen is shaped is also of utmost importance for anyone who will spend hours creating thousands of dots.
Stippling is a strenuous activity on your hand and wrist muscles. It helps if the pen fits comfortably into the contour of the hand, and grip padding is a bonus.
Alternatively, you can take advantage of technological advancement and go with an electric pen instead of the traditional manual pen. These are battery run, so the dotting motion is automatic, making the process less painful and speedier.
Color Options
Black is typically the most commonly used ink for drawing and illustrations, and you won’t have trouble finding black stippling pens.
However, if you are into a multicolored stipple drawing or prefer another color other than black, like sepia, color availability will be among your considerations. Some of the best stippling pen brands come only in black ink and, if you are lucky, a minimal choice.
Disposable or Refillable
Lastly, check if the stippling pen you consider is one-time use or refillable. The latter is less affordable when purchasing but more affordable in the long run.
You only need to refill ink, and with proper maintenance and cleaning will last decades. Parts such as the tip can also be replaced when faulty.
There are two refill systems. The messy but economic one where you pour bottled ink directly into the reservoir. The other system is the cartridge replacement system which is cleaner, travel friendly, but less affordable.
Therefore, it helps to also check for the ease of availability of the refillable ink or cartridge before committing your cash on a particular reusable pen.
Disposable stippling pens are cost-friendly, at first. You can land an incredible set of multiple pens for a fair price. They are zero maintenance and ideal for beginners, students, and hobbyists.
Good quality ones can last up to a year, but this depends on your usage. While they are a hassle-free user experience, the ink can die unexpectedly, catching you off guard. The cost adds up quickly for frequent users.
The Best Stippling Pens
We understand how rigorous the process of sifting through hundreds of products is. That is why we already did the research and found the best stippling pens for you! Without further ado, these are our top picks.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sakura Pigma Micron Blister Card Ink Pen Set | Archival ink, waterproof, smear proof |
| 2. | Copic Markers Multiliner Inking Pen Set | Fade-resistant, waterproof, 8 colors |
| 3. | Rotring Isograph Technical Drawing Pens | Premium quality, waterproof, color options |
| 4. | Koh-I-Noor Nor Rapidograph Technical Pen | Premium quality, color coded, refillable |
| 5. | STAEDTLER Pigment Liner Bonus Sketch | Lightweight, durable, 6 tips |
| 6. | Dyvicl Black Micro-Pen Fineliner Ink Pens | Brush pen included, 9 pens |
| 7. | PANDAFLY Precision Micro-Line Pens | 10 pens, fast drying, smear proof |
| 8. | Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens | 20 colors, water-based ink, non-smudging |
| 9. | Cuttlelola Electric Dotspen II - The Black Knight | Electric, rechargeable, waterproof ink |
1. Sakura Pigma Micron Blister Card Ink Pen Set
If you asked a group of artists which is the best stippling pen, the name Micron by Sakura would not fail to come up several times. This is the pen nearly everyone is raving about, and we’ll tell you why.
It is made from pigment-based archival ink available in jet black. The brand boasts of being bleed smear and waterproof though it may lift slightly if ample dry time is not provided.
This set consists of 8 pieces of 6 variable tip pens, a brush pen, and a 1mm graphic pen. The tip size range is 005 (0.20mm), 01 (0.25mm), 02 (0.30mm), 03 (0.35mm), 05 (0.45mm), and 08 (0.50mm).
While the Micron is a disposable pen, it lasts really long. The plastic tip is of the highest quality and stands firm against pressure. Most importantly, Micron provides smooth and consistent dotting. Artists of all skill levels can produce awesome pieces with it.
This set is particularly great for beginner artists who need reliable and reasonably priced stippling pens. In addition, the tip size variety is helpful for trying out different dot sizes until you find what works for you.
2. Copic Markers Multiliner Inking Pen Set
Another fantastic pen for stippling is the Copic multiliner ink pen. And you get to play around with various dot sizes with this 9 piece set purchase.
In it is an assortment of ultrafine and fine tip pens in sizes 1.0, 0.8, 0.5, 0.3, 0.1, 0.05, and 0.03, with two brush tips. The ink is pigment-based and fade-resistant, so your artwork stays vivid for long. It is also truly waterproof and smudge-proof.
It goes over pencil and markers skip-free and won’t get picked up by markers making it perfect for mixed media art.
This particular Copic multiliner set is in black ink. Some users claim it is not stark black, though, but barely noticeable and can pass for everyday artwork.
But the best part is the pen is available in 8 other colors, which is an excellent feature if you wish to combine colors without switching brands. There is wine, cobalt, olive, gray, warm gray, sepia, brown, and pink.
The Copic multiliner MLB2 mimics the same high-quality dotting experience of its refillable brother, the Copic SP. It is precise, consistent with a smooth ink flow.
In fact, the only difference is that it is non-refillable and constitutes plastic nib components. Therefore. it is lightweight and more affordable. But don’t let that fool you into thinking this is an amateur pen. The Copic multiliner is nothing short of an intermediary stippling pen.
3. Rotring Isograph Technical Drawing Pens
Rotring is an exceptional brand that always shows up as a winner every time. The Isograph is mainly designed for rising talents and professional artists.
Rotring’s Isograph remains unfazed by the demands of stippling thanks to its seriously strong chrome-plated and stainless steel tip. It not only provides precision in detail work but has an outstanding useful life.
You get three technical pens with this set in three popular sizes, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5.
The Isograph has an ideal weight with an ergonomically shaped barrel for grip comfort. Its ink reservoir is also refillable, so there’s really nothing stopping you from putting in extra long hours to outdo yourself.
Furthermore, refilling this pen is super easy thanks to its patented push-on sleeve that gives you unobstructed access to the ink helix. This clever design also makes cleaning the pen a breeze which is paramount to its longevity.
The pen utilizes top-quality waterproof ink, which unfortunately is not provided with the purchase and must be bought separately. The good thing is that the Rotring ink is easily accessible and available in several colors.
This is the pen you definitely need if you are on your way to the top. It lasts a lifetime.
4. Koh-I-Noor Nor Rapidograph Technical Pen
Koh I Noor brand has been manufacturing rapidographs for decades and deserve a spot in this review.
The American-made premium pen is not built for the hobbyist. It is for advanced artists that cannot afford to gamble on the quality of results.
The all-metal construction keeps the pens pristine for many years of service. As long as they are cleaned regularly, you will always enjoy a consistent and smooth flow.
This set has 7 pens with variable ultra-fine and fine tip sizes suitable for stippling and range from 03(0.25mm) to 4(1.20mm). Each pen is color-coded for easy retrieval so you can focus on what matters and not memorizing digits.
The pen is refillable with Koh I Noor rapidograph ink and compatible with most inks from other renowned brands.
5. STAEDTLER Pigment Liner Bonus Sketch
STAEDTLER is a trendsetter in inventing high-quality writing instruments. There are a couple of superb options; it was hard to choose, but we settled for the pigment liner.
These pens will stipple with the same finesse as the premium capillary rapidographs minus the hassle of high maintenance. You toss them after the ink runs out, which takes an eternity because they are super durable.
The casing is constructed of a smooth polypropylene barrel, thus lightweight but with a sturdy metal tip that holds up well to pressure.
There are 6 various tips in the pack 2 are a bonus which makes this an irresistible deal. The sizes are as follows; 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, and 0.8 mm pens.
STAEDTLER pigment liner ink is of archival quality, indelible, lightfast, and black. It dries permanently and doesn’t get wicked by a wet medium.
6. Dyvicl Black Micro-Pen Fineliner Ink Pens
Are you looking for entry-level micro pens on a shoestring budget? Dyvicl fine liner ink pens may be what you are looking for.
The 9 piece set offers everything from an assortment of tip sizes to jet black waterproof non-bleeding and non-smearing water-based pigment ink.
You get 8 pens in sizes 005, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, and a brush pen. The ink flow is smooth and consistent, resulting in even-sized and toned dots.
Though constructed of plastic, the tip is relatively strong and won’t flex or splay with constant stippling. This set comes at an irresistibly affordable price. Yet performs beyond expectations for the price.
7. PANDAFLY Precision Micro-Line Pens
Another budget pack is the PANDAFLY micro line pens. But do not let the attractive price scare you into thinking these pens are inferior.
This PANDAFLY set of 10 fineliner ink pens outdoes itself. The pens are made with dark black water-based non toxic pigment ink that is fast drying, thus smear-proof and doesn’t bleed through.
The tips are particularly strong for fineliners, and you get a good selection of 10 tip sizes from 005 to 10 to experiment with.
Even though these are disposals, they outlast many popular competing brands with regular use. This set is the perfect companion for anyone who likes to stipple on the go.
8. Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens
If you are all for super bright and vivid art, you’ll love this multicolored set of fineliners by STAEDTLER.
The 20 pack set contains high-quality ink pens in 20 different colors. It would make an excellent addition to your stash of black pens.
In addition to the gorgeousness of the variable colors, the water-based ink is also non-smudge and won’t bleed through.
The plastic tip with a metal guide is relatively strong. As long as you don’t go too hard, it won’t break. All the pens have a uniform tip size of superfine 0.3mm.
You’ll also love the ergonomic triangular-shaped barrels, which is a refreshing break from round ones.
9. Cuttlelola Electric Dotspen II – The Black Knight
While there’s beauty and appeal in stippled drawing, doing it consistently may result in wrist pain. It also aggravates arthritis and carpel tunnel syndrome.
This is where electric dots pens like Cuttlelola come in. This amazing rechargeable electric pen does all the hard work for you.
It runs for a full hour when fully charged and comes with a charging accessory. The pen utilizes black indelible and waterproof gel ink. The tip is one standard size of 0.5mm.
Contrary to the norm of electric devices to be bulky, the body of the pen is very light in weight yet solid owing to its aluminum construction.
If you’d like to upgrade the speed and ease of your stippling game, this electric pen is worth a shot.
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