A ruling pen is a must-have tool for many projects because it creates an amazing effect with minimal effort! However, not everyone is familiar with this tool, especially how to make certain lines with the desired thickness.
If you are among those curious yet inexperienced, fret not. In this blog post, I’ll show you how you can use a ruling pen to make some pretty cool things happen.
What to Know before Using a Ruling Pen?
What is a Ruling Pen?
A ruling pen is a writing tool used to make evenly spaced lines on paper. They are often used in calligraphy and other forms of lettering and for drawing straight lines. Since ruling pens are pretty popular, we can pick a good one at most art stores or online.
There are two types of ruling pens – mechanical and manual.
- Manual ruling pens require you to use your own hand strength to produce the lines
- Mechanical ruling pens have a small motor that does the work for you
Both types come in different widths, so be sure to choose one to fit your needs.
Why Should you use a Ruling Pen?
A ruling pen is a great tool to have in your arsenal for drawing and drafting.
- They come in various thicknesses so that you can find the perfect one for your project
- The ruling pen is also great for precision work because its lines are very fine and consistent. This makes it ideal for detail-oriented tasks, like adding small embellishments or creating precise measurements
- Plus, they’re easy to use – just hold them like a regular pen and start drawing
So if you’re looking for a versatile writing tool that can handle both detailed and general work, a ruling pen is a great option.
How do I use a Ruling Pen?
There are two ways to use a ruling pen – with or without ink. Either way, you can create beautiful ruled lines on paper by simply rubbing the ruling pen against the paper’s surface. This is a great way to get your ruling line exactly where you want it!
Here’s How to Use it:
Step 1: Fill the Ink First.
Of course, you have to have a suitable bottle of ink for a ruling pen, preferably India ink. Still, it is not the only choice since you can pick other types of ink or oil paint with varied colors to experience with this pen. But, on those first tries, I recommend using this black and strong India ink.
Step 2: Dip the Pen tip into the Ink
Make sure you are gentle when dipping the ruling pen tip inside the ink bottle. You should dip about 0.5 inches of the tip and soak it with ink to avoid getting excess ink outside the pen prongs.
Step 3: Blot any Excess Ink with a Soft and Absorbent Towel
Since we want to create a thin line without smudging, it is recommended that we carefully blot the excess ink onto a paper towel. Do overdo it, or else we have to dip the pen again.
Step 4: Start Writing
- Hold the ruling pen between your thumb and first two fingers, with the point facing down. Hold it at a 45-degree angle to the paper and make sure the point is touching the surface of the paper
- Rest your hand on a flat surface and gently apply pressure to the ruling pen as you draw it across the paper
- Move the ruling pen at a steady pace and make sure to keep it parallel to the line you’re drawing
- For thicker lines, use more pressure; lighten up on the pressure for thinner lines
Pro Tips:
- When using a ruling pen, it is important to maintain a consistent angle and speed for each stroke to produce clean, accurate lines
- Get comfortable with holding the pen in various positions on paper. Then, write quickly and slowly, practicing drills that become more difficult over time
- You can master hand-eye coordination by drawing lines up/ down/ left/ right at different angles so they meet one another without lifting the pen of the paper
- Feel free to experiment with different angles and speeds to find what works best for you
Basic Strokes and How to make them with a Ruling Pen?
- The Straight Line: To draw a straight line, hold the ruling pen at a 90-degree angle to the paper and make quick, consistent strokes
- The Curved Line: To draw a curved line, hold the ruling pen at a 45-degree angle to the paper and make smooth, consistent strokes
- The Loop: To draw a loop, hold the ruling pen at a 30-degree angle to the paper and make quick, consistent strokes
- The Cross: To draw a cross, hold the ruling pen at a 45-degree angle to the paper and make quick, consistent strokes
- The Dot: To make a dot, hold the ruling pen at a 90-degree angle to the paper and make quick, consistent strokes
- The Dash: To make a dash, hold the ruling pen at a 30-degree angle to the paper and make quick, consistent strokes
- The Letter “x”: To draw an “x”, hold the ruling pen at a 30-degree angle to the paper and make quick, consistent strokes
How to Use a Ruling Pen for Calligraphy?
A ruling pen is an excellent tool for creating calligraphy because it provides even lines and consistent spacing. Therefore, the pen makes it easy to create beautiful lettering with minimal effort.
To do this, simply insert the metal nib of the ruling pen into an ink bottle and give it a few good shakes.
The ruling pen creates thin, delicate letters that look amazing when done correctly. Be sure to practice a bit before trying this out on any important documents. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be able to create stunning calligraphy with ease.
Conclusion
A ruling pen is an excellent tool for calligraphy, lettering, and illustration. The tines of the ruling pen are flexible to form lines with many widths or thicknesses.
It’s easy to use this instrument, but it does take practice before you’re able to master a beautiful script. With these tips, you’ll be able to create aesthetically pleasing letters using any typeface. Have fun experimenting with this interesting writing tool!