1.1 Pencil - a sharp tool for beginners, with strong expressive power in terms of stroke thickness and fineness

In the process of hard pen calligraphy, the biggest characteristic of pencils is their strong expressive power. Even if it is the same pencil and the force is different, the color of the lines written varies. In other words, it can not only show changes in the thickness of strokes, but also show changes in the depth of color. Therefore, pencils have a stronger sense of hierarchy in their strokes and can express a much richer texture than other similar writing tools.

However, in contrast, its shortcomings are also quite obvious. Because during the writing process, the handwriting is formed by adhering graphite to the paper and cannot be like a pen. When writing, the ink can be fed into the paper. So it is very easy to fade and inconvenient to save.

1.2 Ballpoint pen - not easy to use, can be lost

After explaining one type of pen in detail, it is easier to clarify the characteristics of the other types of pens.

Ballpoint pens mostly use oily ink, which can not only reflect changes in stroke thickness, but also to some extent reflect changes in color depth.

But the reason why the ink of a ballpoint pen can flow onto paper is because the ink first flows onto a small ball inside the pen tip; During the writing process, the ball rotates to bring ink to the pen tip and paper. The problem caused by this design is that as the usage time increases, the ball will undergo a certain degree of abrasion, making the writing strokes thicker.

Ballpoint pens not only become thicker as the number of strokes increases, but also have a lighter color due to the inherent characteristics of oily ink. Because the variation in stroke weight and depth is smaller than that of pencils, it is also relatively difficult to control. So in recent years, the frequency of ballpoint pens appearing in the market has also decreased.

1.3 Neutral pen - high cost-effectiveness, easy to obtain, and good writing habits

It seems that unconsciously, the neutral pen has become a rising star in the field of writing tools in recent years. Generally speaking, a neutral pen produces ink smoothly and the weight of the strokes is easy to control; Therefore, it is easy to get started and has strong maneuverability.

Relatively speaking, the unsatisfactory aspect of a neutral pen is that the strokes do not reflect the changes in thickness, and the thickness changes of the strokes are smaller than those of a pen. Due to the limitations of the production process, the expressive ability of neutral pen refills exceeding 0.5cm is generally weakened, and it is impossible to freely write the seemingly non-existent wire drawing effect. This feature also limits the size of neutral pen writing fonts, resulting in slightly smaller characters that are not suitable for expressing the details of individual characters.

Of course, its greater advantage lies in its low price and easy access. For me, I am particularly fond of it because of its beautiful nickname like Gel Pen.

1.4 Pen - Wang Dao, choose a good one and familiarize yourself with it well

As the elder of hard pen calligraphy and writing tools, the position of the pen is still unshakable at present.

The process of writing itself is a process of continuous adaptation between the writer and the writing tool. Pens have a longer lifespan and have natural advantages in the process of fitting in with the user.

Due to the fact that the material of its pen holder is mostly metal, it feels particularly thick and heavy when used; When the pen is splashed on the paper, there is often a pleasure of galloping on the battlefield with a long gun and a huge sword.

In addition, I personally believe that open-mouthed pens have better performance compared to dark pointed pens due to their greater elasticity. Additionally, the thick nib of a dark pointed pen can partially block the writer's line of sight and make it difficult to write.

The matter of choosing a pen has been mentioned by previous scholars. I would like to add that in a sense, pens can be called the lifelong companion of writers. Therefore, if you are a friend who has already worked, my suggestion is to first try out enough pens and choose the type that truly suits you. Then, under the premise of purchasing power permission, choose the most expensive one to buy.

When holding a pen with fingers, only pressure is provided to the pen tube. In the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, this pressure only affects the maximum static friction force between the fingers and the pen.

And the static friction force of the pen, as long as it counteracts the gravity of the pen and the elasticity of the paper against the pen, is sufficient. No matter how hard a person holds a pen, it will not affect the force on this vertical surface; On the contrary, due to excessive force in the grip of the pen, the handwriting may not be flexible enough and the pen may be difficult to use, resulting in a stiff and unintelligent writing style.

The method of holding water pens such as neutral pens and signature pens is basically the same as the method of holding a pencil. However, due to the fact that a neutral pen transports ink to the paper surface through the capillary action of a liquid, it is easier to write strokes, so the grip strength of the pen can become lighter. The second point mentioned in the figure is that the index finger should be bent in two segments and not in three segments, which can be ignored.

The method of holding a pen is different from the method of holding a pencil. The difference lies in that the effective force exerted by the neutral pen of a pencil on the paper surface during writing is perpendicular to the paper surface; A pen, on the other hand, deforms the tip of the pen by pressing the steel plate on it, and ink is injected into the paper from between the steel plates. So in the process of pen writing, the effective force should be the force that causes the steel sheet to deform, rather than the force perpendicular to the paper surface.