Technical Pens and Pencils

A technical pen is a liner or pen with a tip that keeps the same line width from start to finish. It’s used for technical drawing, outlines, hatching and writing, and many people look for it as an ink pen, drawing pen or drafting pen. The pens in this category use pigment ink – Standardgraph and Pigma Micron PN, for example, come already filled with it.

Technical pens by line width

We list line widths exactly as the manufacturer states them.

The Standardgraph technical pen comes filled with highly pigmented black ink, has a sturdy tip for drawing with templates and is available in several tip widths.

Ink pen, liner or technical pen – what are you actually buying?

Pigma Micron and Pigma Sensei pens use acid-free pigment ink which, according to the manufacturer, is water-resistant once dry and doesn’t smear under watercolor or markers. For the Sensei 03, the manufacturer also describes the ink as archival. UNI PIN has pigment ink that doesn’t smear on contact with water, so you can combine it with watercolor.

Classic Micron pens have a firm needle tip. The Pigma Micron PN range has a flexible plastic tip that copes with more pressure, fast writing and working with a ruler. If you’re looking for bottled ink, you’ll find it in Inks and Indian Inks, while nibs and pen holders are in the calligraphy and hand lettering section.

Besides black, Micron pens also come in sepia, brown and dark gray.

Single technical pens or a set

One pen is enough when you know which width you need. A set of technical pens is worth it when you want to try out different widths:

• Pigma Micron, 3-piece set – 0.30, 0.40 and 0.50 mm.
• 3 fineliners and a brush pen – 0.25, 0.45 and 0.60 mm plus a brush pen, all in dark gray.
• 12-piece Zentangle set – four pens 0.25–0.50 mm, a graphic pen, a pencil, a paper blending stump and 5 sheets of paper.
• Pigma Micron PN, 8 colors – flexible 0.4–0.5 mm plastic tip for writing and lettering.

According to the manufacturer, the pens write on both smooth and lightly textured paper, for example in a sketchbook.

Mechanical pencils and leads

The MEPHISTO mechanical pencil from KOH-I-NOOR is metal, with a rubber grip and a 0.3, 0.5 or 0.7 mm lead. KOH-I-NOOR refill leads come in packs of 12: 0.3 mm (HB), 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm. Among classic pencils, the KOH-I-NOOR 1703/4 is designed for technical drawing – extra hard, with a fine line. You’ll find rulers, templates and other tools in Technical Drawing and in Technical Rulers and Templates.

How to look after a technical pen

Hold needle-tip pens upright and without unnecessary pressure, and always put the cap back on after use so the tip doesn’t dry out. Pigma ink is not intended for fabric that will be washed.

Frequently asked questions

Is an ink pen the same as a technical pen?

The name ink pen is commonly used for technical pens and liners too. The pens in this category work with pigment ink; according to the manufacturer, Standardgraph and Pigma Micron PN come already filled with it.

Which technical pen width should I choose?

0.1–0.15 mm for detail, 0.4–0.5 mm for everyday drawing and writing, 0.6–1.0 mm for bold outlines. If you’re unsure, get a set.

Will a technical pen smear under watercolor?

For Pigma Micron and Pigma Sensei, the manufacturer states that the ink is water-resistant once dry and doesn’t smear under watercolors or markers. According to the manufacturer, UNI PIN doesn’t smear on contact with water and can be combined with watercolor. Always let the line dry completely first, though.

Can I draw along a ruler with a technical pen?

Yes. Standardgraph has a sturdy tip for drawing with templates, the Pigma Micron tip is designed for working with rulers and templates, and the flexible plastic tip of the PN range copes with extra pressure too.