Figure 2-7.
Text writing pen
(a) Notice that the nibs of text writing pens are slanted so that
they touch the paper uniformly when the pen is held in a normal
comfortable position.
(b) Hold this and other pens with the same firm, yet relaxed grip
you use to hold a drawing pencil.
6.
Proper Use of Pens.
a. How to Hold the Pen. When using a pen to apply lettering, hold the
pen as you would a drawing pencil.
Do not hold the pen tightly because
you lose the sense of feel required to construct letters correctly.
Always pull the pen in the direction it is leaning when you are holding
it. If you try to push the pen, the tip digs into the paper and splatters
ink over the project.
(1) Once you have selected the style and the type of pen to use,
lightly draw the guidelines and letters. When you have the guidelines and
lettering in place, rearrange the drawing surface to a comfortable
position that provides a constant point of view (perspective).
(2) Positioning the work surface at a 60-degree angle to the
horizontal (as shown in figure 2-8) provides a comfortable working angle
and a constant point of view.
It also helps you to produce uniform
lettering.
b. Using and Caring for Pens. If the pen does not have a reservoir,
apply ink by dipping the tip of the pen into the ink bottle. Remove any
excess ink from the tip by touching it to the side of the bottleneck.
Each time you re-ink the pen and before you apply ink to the project, make
two or three trial strokes on a piece of scrap paper.
This ensures the
tip has the correct amount of ink in the nib.
The trial strokes also
allow
2-8
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