{"id":90,"date":"2026-11-03T17:29:54","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T10:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woocommerce.ltheme.com\/lt-nib\/nib-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T17:29:54","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T10:29:54","slug":"nib-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/woocommerce.ltheme.com\/lt-nib\/nib-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The nib & ink guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n

The nib & ink guide<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nib, ink and paper, explained<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Nib sizes with stroke samples, the ink swatch library, the three filling systems, pen care, paper pairing, engraving and a starter kit. Keep it open beside your notebook.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Nib size guide<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From extra fine to a broad stub<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nib sizes describe the width of the line. Small handwriting likes a finer nib; bold signatures and headings like a broader one.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

EF<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2248 0.4 mm<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Stroke<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Extra fine<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tiny handwriting, planners and thin paper.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

F<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2248 0.5 mm<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Stroke<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fine<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The everyday choice for notes and journals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

M<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2248 0.6 mm<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Stroke<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Medium<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A smoother, wetter line for letters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

B<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2248 0.8 mm<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Stroke<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Broad<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shows off ink shading; best on good paper.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

1.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thick and thin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Stroke<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1.1 mm stub<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wide downstrokes, thin crossbars: easy flair.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
Nib<\/th>Line width (sample)<\/th>Handwriting<\/th>Best for<\/th>Paper<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
EF<\/strong><\/td>\u2248 0.4 mm<\/td>Small, under 3 mm<\/td>Planners, margins, forms<\/td>Any, even thin paper<\/td><\/tr>
F<\/strong><\/td>\u2248 0.5 mm<\/td>Small to average<\/td>Notes, journals, everyday writing<\/td>Most notebook paper<\/td><\/tr>
M<\/strong><\/td>\u2248 0.6 mm<\/td>Average to large<\/td>Letters, cards, signatures<\/td>80 gsm and up<\/td><\/tr>
B<\/strong><\/td>\u2248 0.8 mm<\/td>Large<\/td>Headings, ink shading and sheen<\/td>90 gsm and up, coated<\/td><\/tr>
1.1 stub<\/strong><\/td>\u2248 1.1 \/ 0.3 mm<\/td>Average to large<\/td>Titles, lettering practice<\/td>90 gsm and up<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Sample guide. Line widths are approximate and vary with ink, paper and writing pressure.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Read the nib & ink guide<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

Ink swatch library<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See the colour before you fill<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Shop bottled ink<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Each blot is swabbed on cream paper. Shading means the colour gets lighter and darker in one stroke; sheen is a glint on top of wet ink.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Ink<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Blue-black<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blues<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Shading: low<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dries \u2248 15 s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Ink<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Royal blue<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blues<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Shading: medium<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dries \u2248 10 s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Ink<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oxblood<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Shading: high<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dries \u2248 20 s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Ink<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Deep teal<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Greens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Sheen: light<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dries \u2248 25 s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Ink<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Forest<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Greens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Shading: medium<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dries \u2248 15 s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Ink<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sepia<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Browns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Shading: high<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dries \u2248 15 s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Ink<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Violet<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Purples<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Sheen: medium<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dries \u2248 25 s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Ink<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Graphite<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Greys<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Shading: low<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dries \u2248 10 s<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ink properties are samples. Colours look different on each paper, with each nib and on each screen.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Filling systems<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cartridge, converter or piston?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every pen has to hold ink somehow. Here is how the three common systems work and who each one suits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Line<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

Cartridge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Easiest<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A sealed tube of ink pushes onto the nib section. Swap it when it runs dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n