Gel pens are popular among graphic artists and teachers for their bold colors and solid lines. They use thicker ink than standard ballpoint pens, and some have added aluminum sparkles. The first gel pens were marketed by Sakura Color Products Corporation in 1984. Gel pens with oversized bodies have become popular with kids, but leaving the protective caps off can cause the ink to dry quickly. Rolling the tip in small circles can renew a dried-out pen, but they don’t work well on greasy surfaces.
Gel pens are specialized writing tools favored by many graphic artists and teachers for their bold colors and solid lines. They use the same basic mechanism as roller ball pens, but the ink inside is noticeably thicker than standard ballpoint ink. The shimmer inks used in these pens are often augmented with aluminum sparkles for added visual impact.
The first gel pens were marketed by Sakura Color Products Corporation of Osaka, Japan in 1984. Sakura also developed the first water-based gel inks, seeking a modern recreation of the free-flowing inks used in fountain pens. The pens soon became popular with graphic artists and architects, who could use the control of a ballpoint pen while achieving the brilliant colors of a felt tip pen.
Gel pens with oversized bodies for smaller hands have also become popular with kids. Crayon companies like Crayola have begun marketing pens with fluorescent colors and metallic sparkles. Art teachers have encouraged children to use them to make posters on construction paper. The added sparkles and fluorescent chemicals allowed the students to experiment with light/dark effects and black backgrounds.
However, these pens can have some quirks. Leaving the protective caps off gel pens can cause the ink inside to dry quickly, unlike ballpoint pens. A small ball of silicone inside the tip of the cap should be in place to form an airtight seal. The mechanism that draws ink through the pen and into the tip is subject to damage if not handled carefully. Users can try to renew a dry pen by tapping up or down – this is never a good idea. The roller ball assembly may lock up fatally due to the impact. Some paper surfaces are better than others when it comes to using gel pens. It’s best to experiment with different types of paper to see how the pen and ink will react.
If gel pens ever dry out, experts suggest rolling the tip in small circles until the ink flows again. Some find that rolling the pen on one thumb or opposite palm will renew it, but results may vary and the ink should be washed off immediately to avoid smudges. Gel pens don’t work well on greasy surfaces, so users should wash and dry their hands thoroughly before using them.
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