Liner - this is an indispensable thing in the arsenal of each artist. It's not a pen, not a marker or a brush, but it can draw with all three kinds.

Who and what is it for?

Answering the question "what is a liner", one can not help but say to whom it is needed and for what purposes.

Liner is used by artists in order tocause complex strokes. Thanks to him, these strokes will not need to be corrected, since they are applied very easily. They are used in drawing manga, where every stroke can create a completely different emotion.

If you are not yet a professional artist, then youYou can try the Zentangle technique. It's easy, and even newcomers here can create a masterpiece. Liners for drawing zentangles are very budgetary and do not particularly hit your pocket. There are more expensive, professional models, but such buy is useless if you are a beginner.

Also, the liner is used for drawing letters on postcards and just for making graffiti or calligraphic inscriptions.

what is a liner

Than good?

Now that you have found out what a liner is, you are really interested in the pros and cons of using such a "handle".

Pros:

  • low price;
  • light and smooth strokes;
  • Variety in thickness and manner of applying strokes;
  • waterproof ink: do not spread out in contact with water;
  • quickly dry on paper;
  • a simplified version of complex professional pens: Rapidograph and Penetrader;
  • many colors.

Minuses:

  • quickly withers, so you need to use it often;
  • come across fakes;
  • cheap can quickly break down.

liners for drawing

Tips for choosing and using

Artists with extensive experience canexplain to newcomers what a liner is, and give advice on its choice. And each of them says that there is no sense to focus on the price. You can buy a cheap liner, and it will serve for a long time, pleasing with beautiful strokes. And you can buy expensive, throwing money at the same time to the wind.

If there is a possibility, then, before youget ready to buy such a pen, test it. Look at how she writes, what lines she produces, whether she dries quickly, does not smear, and does not leak when exposed to water. More important is not the brand of the pen, not the feedback of others, but personally your feelings from her. This tool is chosen for the owner.

As for the use, I must say thatThe handle of the liner requires careful care. It must be stored only in a closed and horizontal position. It is also not recommended to drop the pen and strongly press when writing and drawing, because the rod can go into the body. These are not the most difficult rules, but they will help keep the pen for a long time.

pen liner

Popular Models

If you have just recently discovered what a liner is, or you become familiar with these handy and functional handles, a few examples will help you understand how different they can be.

Sakura Pigma Micron is an expensive professional model. This liner is made of environmentally friendly material. Inks with high water resistance and with protection against color loss. The line is 0.45 mm.

Faber Castell - cheaper liners, popularlike artists with experience, and beginners. Lines do not flow, quickly dry, easy to apply. It is worth noting that the strokes are thinner than claimed. For example, 0.8 mm is written as 0.6 mm.

Stabilo - known to many liners, which is oftenconfused with a pen. Very cheap model with a large palette of colors. However, its price does not make it bad: it does not flow, it dries well and makes quality touches of 0.4 mm.

There are three different variants fromcompletely different categories. However, in the store you can be confused by the amount that exists in reality. As already noted above, try not to focus on the reviews or advice of the seller, trust only personal feelings. The trial and error method in this case works perfectly well.