Which Sketch Pen Is Perfect For Your Needs?

Well, a popular person is known by many names. That is exactly the case with sketch pens that are known by as many names as the number of countries they are used in. From a felt tip pen to a marker, and textas, the number of descriptive moniker is mind boggling to say the least. Yet the basics remain the same with young kids, artists, teachers, and business persons alike utilizing it for their own purposes. What is more, the versatile sketch pen

is also frequently used for scrap booking and lettering too. Often being employed for creating posters and charts, this beautiful pen in various colors has no equal. However, it would be essential to learn about its characteristics in order to use it fully and properly. Do check the facts below…

Salient Features

Tip- The functionality of the pen is enhanced considerably with the aid of two distinct types of tips that it contains. While the firm nib like structure is ideal for writing or sketching fine lines, the thicker but more versatile spongy tip can be accessed by turning it sideways and using it for coloring or shading your image.

Size- Well, the tips of a sketch pen come in different sizes and you are free to use the one that meets your needs. However, there is no standard size and one brand’s fine tip may not be identical to another brand’s tip of the same name. You may have to check out various tips available before selecting the one you require. There is no good or bad here though as you may require a fine, medium or broad strokes of your pen for varied reasons.

Ink- The ink that is found in felt pens vary sharply too. Do not go for the more expensive oil or alcohol based inks instead of the more commonplace pigments that happen to be water based. Opting for the first will not help you, if you are using it on paper though as it will tend to bleed rather heavily. Do feel free to use it on glass, metals or glossy papers and keep the water based pen for paper use.

Do go ahead and check the incredible sketch pen varieties at Elko Pens and choose the one that meets your requirements.

Important Facts About Your Ball Pen

A pen remains the most widely used writing tool to date despite the advent of technology. Although the young generation prefers using computers and smart phones for a number of activities, it is the pen preferably the ball pen that is still the main writing implement when an examination is on. The pen is also known as a ball pen or a Biro pen in certain parts of the world. Check out a few facts about the pen and have fun sending handwritten notes as opposed to printed ones.

·         What is a ball pen?
It is a handy pen that utilizes ink that is expelled out of the pen via its metal point at the tip. The metal can be steel, tungsten carbide or brass.

·         Why was it invented?
It was invented specifically to stop refilling of ink and disallowed messy smudges that a fountain pen made. It was recognized as a better form of pen that could be used for a long time without the need to top it with ink.

·         What is the origin of the Ball Point Pen?
The patent is in the name of László Bíró, a Hungarian journalist who successfully invented in 1948 because was tired of wasting time filling ink in his pens.

·         Are there different types of biro pens used today?
Yes! You can find a lot of varieties namely:-
1.Disposable pens
2.Refillable pens
3.Roller pens
4.Fisher Space Pens
5.Erasable ball pens

·         What are the benefits of ball  pens?
A useful writing ball pen has numerous advantages. However, the basic reasons for choosing a ball point pen are:-
1.No leakage of ink
2.Usually inexpensive
3.Easy to carry in your pocket or wallet
4.Artists also prefer to use ball pens to create fine lines or doodle on paper

India’s no 1 ball pen -which is the best ball pen in India?
There is no specific pen that is considered to be the best. However, users agree that Elkos Pens meet the expectations of their users perfectly. Hence it is in great demand and is a dominant player in the pen market

Let your kid write more and type less!

In today’s tech savvy world, kids are taught to type faster and more accurately than being taught to write beautifully. However this leap of digitalisation has failed to undermine the importance of writing. Pens are still very prevalent in the market and are sure to stay the way for ages to come.

Writing has multiple benefits over typing. Many surveys, researches and studies conducted worldwide have proven that writing enhances the critical thinking ability, logical reasoning power, creativity and reading skills of an individual. Further, it is also known to boost their confidence significantly. In the lights of these benefits, it is better to hand a pen and a paper to a kid than a keyboard to ensure their optimal development. Some benefits of writing over typing are:

Concentration enhancement

While writing with a pen one needs to be more focused and attentive than when typing. They tend to pay more attention on the size and width of the alphabets, the cleanliness, spellings, etc. These together help to enhance the attention span, concentration level and focus of the writer.

Boosting Memory

Higher the concentration level and focus, better the memory and retention power. Thus writing also helps to enhance the memory of the pen users.

Improvement of brain health

Writing is a healthy exercise regime for the brain. Trying to recollect spellings and style of writing, taking the effort to write beautifully, etc are some simple exercises that our brain subconsciously engages in while writing. The more ones writes, the sharper their memory becomes and their concentration improves by leaps and bounds. Writing is thus an overall healthy workout for the brain.

Enhancement of writing ability

The enhanced concentration required while writing with a pen gives more space for thought to the writer. It makes the pen user more creative and innovative and thereby leads to the enhancement of their writing skills.

Personalisation of words

The hand scribed alphabets reflect the emotions of the writer and thus can connect more effectively with the readers. Handwritten matter is more personalised than its printed counterpart.

Limiting online distractions

While typing on the computer keyboard, one has to deal with loads of distractions like games, movies, internet etc. These hamper the concentration and attentiveness of the individual and have a very negative impact on their writing skills. On the contrary, while writing with a pen, the writer seldom faces these distractions and can thus concentrate better and write better.

Want to give your child a stylish, comfortable and smooth writing instrument which will make him enjoy writing like never before? Visit www.elkospens.com and choose the perfect pen for your little one from our wide range of pens, right away!

Types of pens

Types of pens

The pen is undoubtedly the most revolutionary invention in the world of writing instruments. The journey from the basic dip pens, like reed pens and quill which were dipped in an external ink source and then used for writing, to the modern tip pens like the roller ball pens and sketch pens, has been a phenomenal one.  Let’s take a brief look at this journey and the different types of pens used today.

Fountain Pens

Invented in Paris by a student called Romanian Petrache Poenaru and later patented in May 1827 by the French Government , Fountain pens brought a transformation in the way the world wrote. It was the first tip-pen that consisted of a metal nib and an internal ink reservoir. This pen drew ink from the reservoir through a feed to the nib and then deposited it on paper through a combination of gravity and capillary action. The ink reservoir could be refilled using the internal mechanism of the pen which used the principal of suction to draw ink into the reservoir. This re- filling could also be done manually by using an eyedropper or syringe. Be it one with a simple metal body or another with precious metal exteriors, fountain pens are a treasured possession for most pen enthusiasts, pen collectors and antique seekers. This traditional writing instrument which has long been a symbol of timeless elegance is back in style again.

BallPens

 A cleaner and more convenient alternative of traditional writing instruments like the fountain pen is ball pen. A ball pen uses an advanced writing mechanism where a metal ball, generally made of brass, steel or tungsten carbide, is placed at its point.  The ink inside the pen is dispensed over this metal ball to create neat, free flowing and smooth writing.  The technology of a basic ball pen was first patented on 30^th October 1888 by John. J. Loud.  Over the years this technology was improvised and improved and finally it was a Hungarian Editor, László Bíró, who created the modern ball pen and acquired patent rights on it in the year 1943.

Roller Ball Pens

The Japanese company Ohto first introduced Roller ball pens in the year 1963.  A cross breed between fountain pen and ball pen, roller ball pen displays the best traits of them both. Like a ball pen, these pens also use the metal ball point writing mechanism that makes it convenient and easy to use. However, roller ball pens do not carry the oil based viscous ink like the basic ball pen. It rather uses liquid water-based ink similar to a fountain pen which makes the writing more free flowing, less messy and extremely attractive.

Gel Pen

The first gel pen was manufactured in Osaka, Japan by Sakura Color Products Corporation in 1984. Gel pen uses a writing mechanism similar to the regular roller ball pen. It looks like the latter and also consists of a metal ball point and an internal ink source like a roller ball pen. The size of the nib of gel pens ranges from 0.18 mm to 1.5 mm. However, unlike the roller ball pens, gel pens contain a thick and opaque ink in which pigment is suspended in a water-based gel. This makes the writing from these pens darker, bolder and clearer compared to the other pens.

Fibre tip pen or Felt pen

Fibre tipped or felt tipped pens consist of a porous tip made of pressed fibre and an internal ink source. The first felt tipped marking pen was patented by Lee Newman in the year 1920. However, it was only in 1962 that the modern fibre tipped pen was developed by Yukio Horie of Tokyo Stationary Company. Be it a marker, sketch pen or drawing pens, fibre tipped pens are the most widely used medium of art in the world.

Elkos Pens is  one of the leading global manufacturers of  pens. If you would like further information on gel pens manufactured by Elkos Pens, visit our website at: www.elkospens.com

How to write fast

Using the ideal writing instruments and optimizing the writing techniques are the best ways to ensure speedy writing. Ones who want to write faster must keep in mind the following:

Using the right pen

Using a good quality writing instrument is a vital pre requisite for increasing the writing speed. Cheap pens drag on paper creating more friction and resulting in decreased writing speed and increased wrist strain. The viscose ink used in these pens need more downward pressure to write properly making writing with them more stressful for the writer. Roller- ball pens and fountain pens are better for faster writing as compared to gel and ball pens since the outflow of ink from them is quicker and uninterrupted and also their chance of malfunctioning is lower than the latter too. Pens with a thinner tip are easier and faster to write with and are thus ideal for speeding up the writing process.

Thicker and firmer grip

When writing with a thin pen, our fingers are made to squeeze around its slim barrel creating unwanted strain on the fingers and wrist. This problem can be effectively solved by using a pen with a thick barrel or a padded grip. A thicker barrel provides the fingers with a firmer grip over the pen thereby reducing the amount of pressure that needs to be applied on it to write with the same. This also decreases the muscle strain on the fingers and wrists and makes the writing experience more comfortable and enjoyable for the writer.

 Smaller, skinnier and taller writing

Smaller the letters, faster is the writing.  The pen needs to travel a smaller distance to finish writing smaller letters as compared to the time taking larger ones. Hence, decreasing the width of the letters to a small yet legible size is an effective way to increase the speed of writing. Further, our hands are designed in such a way that are fingers can only bend up and down. This makes it easier for us to make an up down motion with our fingers than sideways. Because of this, taller and skinnier letters are easier and faster to write.

Sitting in the right posture

 It is important to sit in the right posture to make the writing faster. When one hunches on the desk while writing, additional weight gets added on the arms. This results in fatigue and makes the writing arm tire easily and faster. It is best to sit in the way that takes off the unreasonable pressure from the writing hand to ensure that one can write more tirelessly, quickly and comfortably.

Engaging the other arm

We generally tend to use the hand with which we are writing to complete secondary tasks like erasing a text we just wrote or flipping the page, etc. This not only disturbs our flow of writing but also makes it slow and more time consuming. However, this problem can be effectively dealt with if we learn to use our other hand for secondary tasks like erasing, using a highlighter and flipping the page, etc. Developing the skill of ambidexterity is the key to quick writing

Elkos pens offers high quality and durable pens. So if you are looking for the perfect writing instrument visit www.elkos.com today

Direct fill Pens – How to keep your handwriting consistent

A beautiful handwriting starts with a great pen. Many people have a favorite pen, but if you’re still searching, try direct fill pens by Elkos. These innovative looking pens feature fine tip points measuring 0.6mm for smooth writing, plus they’re incredibly long lasting.

Whenever you write in your planner or journal, it should always be with your favorite pen. Your pen is like a want for better handwriting, but having the right equipment is just one of the things you need to develop good handwriting. Here are some other things to consider:

1.Adopting a good writing position

About one in 10 individuals are left handers, and while most of them can write as comfortably as right handlers, there are still some who struggle with basic left hander problems like scratchy letters, smudging (especially when using fountain pens), and covered up writing. Those who have overcome these challenges may experience writing strain. Fortunately, such challenges can be used by using the right pen and adopting the right writing position.

So, if you’re using an Elkos direct fill pen – irrespective of whether you’re a right or left hander – then the next thing you need to do is adjust your writing position. Lefties suffer because they tend to push rather than pull (like righties) when writing, causing their words to be covered as they write (along with smudging).

If you rotate the paper by around 45 degrees clockwise, your elbow will come in while the hand will drop under the writing line, giving you better comfort and visual space for you to write. If you hunch over your pen sometimes, with your fingers presses tightly towards the end of the nib, this could also contribute to smudging. So, it is recommended that you hold your pen at an appropriate distance from the tip – preferably 1-1.5 inches.

2.Sitting properly and engaging your arm

Hunching over your pen not only increases the risk for smudging, but it also causes you to exert additional pressure onto your arms, causing them to tire more quickly than they would otherwise. Another bad practice is using your wrist to move side-to-side (instead of using your arm). So, sitting in a position that lets you take your weight off your writing hand, and allowing your forearm to guide your hand (as you write) across the paper can help you right comfortably and consistently.

3.Writing smaller

The idea is to make your pen travel smaller distances (by writing smaller letters) so you can write longer without getting tired, write faster, and finish your writing quicker. Alternatively, you can write tall and skinny letters, so you move in a manner that is comfortable to your hands. Hands are constructed so the fingers can only bend upwards and downwards, making vertical motions easier than horizontal ones. So, writing taller, thinner letters reduces horizontal movements and reduces the risk of messiness linked to side-to-side arm motion.

These tips should make writing with your favorite Elkos pen more enjoyable. Elkos Pens are one of the leading manufacturers of direct fill pens in the globe. With three refill colors and seven body colors to choose from, you’re certain to find a pen that suits your tastes. For more information on their varieties, visit our website at www.elkospens.com

Pen refills – The eco-friendly and cost-effective writing option

If you are passionate about pens, then you should know that pens are more than just writing tools that you use and discard when they are no longer functional; they can be great instruments that help you work and get your creative juices flowing. That said, many people don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on pens if they don’t have to. That is where pen refills come in.

Disposables versus pen refills

Some people argue that it is nearly impossible to find refills for pens these days, implying that pen manufacturers only make disposables, which is not the case. Any pen collector knows that refills are readily available for these supposed “disposable’ pens. Some pen makers are even easy to find with attractive bulk packages, like Elkos Pens.

Obviously, disposable pens are the easiest type of pen to use and maintain, and also the cheapest, because you simply replace them when you’re done. They can be very good quality and ideal for those who value ease and convenience, but tend to lose pens a lot. However, they can be costly in the long run, especially if you use them heavily, since replacing a full pen is generally more costly than replacing a refill.

Refillable pens, on the other hand, are not only more environmentally sound, but also more attractive, because the barrels are made to last through multiple refills. Refillable pens are also cheaper to run compared to disposables, plus the maintenance process is fairly simple.

How to refill a gel pen

There are different ways to refill different pens. Some require you to replace the nib and refill unit in one (the entire center of the pen is the refill), while others allow you to replace the nib units separately (messy) – so you don’t have to replace a perfectly good nib, plus you don’t throw away usable ink if the nib wears out first.

For the latter process, you have to be careful to prevent air bubbles and any disturbances to the gel. Different inks also need to be matched to a pen, but if working with the same brand, this should not be a problem.

Why you should consider pen refills

Disposable pens have an obvious appeal: you don’t have to worry about losing them because of their low replacement cost. Indeed, these pens are freely given way as advertising for hotels, businesses, meetings, and conferences. But like many other disposable items, there are implications that may not necessarily be reflected in the cost of acquisition. In the US, more than 1.6 billion pens are discarded, and only a small fraction get recycled or donated. So, most of them contribute to the growing landfills.

So, using a refillable pen that you can keep with you for years seems like a great alternative. Pen makers now have refillable ballpoint, gel, fountain, and roller ball pens are prices that are competitive with disposable versions, so you can certainly get something that appeals to you.

Elkos Pens are one of the leading manufacturers of refillable pens in the world. To check out our collections of pen refills, visit our website at: www.elkospens.com