Great article! I found it through a Google image search, while looking for a comparison of the thinnest of the top brands of fineliners. But I was a bit disappointed when I got to the bottom, and found that your comparison was a spreadsheet, rather than a side by side comparison. (Still a great article though!) Before moving on to each brand, I must confess I’ve used many of these brands over the years and have settled (quite happily) on the Mitsubishi Uni PIN after my own habits. I’ve also had very good results with Staedler Pigment Liner as well as Sakura Microns. With that, let’s move on to the review. Disclaimer OR, maybe they are right. Maybe some companies ARE using dishonest labeling. I’d really love to see the differences. 😊 I do have a single Copic Multiliner SP – which, if I’m honest, isn’t spectacular for its price. The pens reviewed were pretty much are on par, if not, straight up outperforms the Multiliner SP. To me, it simply isn’t worth the price. It sure looks great in that aluminium chassis though.

The disposable nature also plays against these types of pens. In the long run, the total cost of buying and discarding these pens may end up being higher than Isograph technical pens or a drawing fountain pen. Heavy users of fine-liners, like me, often end up having piles of plastic tubes lying around after the ink has run out. Being mindful and practicing good recycling habits should alleviate some issues that these pens bring to the environment. Pens ReviewedIt would be great if there were a table that rated these pens on these characteristics to get a full picture.

I guess I’ll have to introduce myself first. My name is Jerry Teo. I’m a freelance technical/scientific illustrator based out of Singapore and a friend of Parkablogs. You can find more of what I do here ( www.teo-ology.com). I run a weekly webcomic Rex Regrets that might be more familiar to other crowds. I mostly sketch with fine-liner pens without pencils, coz I’m lazy. So Parka asked me to do a review on the available brands out there today. Now that we’ve established that…. What’s a Fine-liner Pen?Very informative as my Micron Pigma are starting to run low on ink was trying to figure out what to try next. I referenced your blog post as well this one ( https://blog.penvibe.com/fineliner-pens-good-use-copics-alcohol-markers/) which considers whether the pen smudges or feathers with alcohol markers. That post considered some not on your list but focused on whether or not the markers smudge or feather. However they didn't consider differences between bristol or mixed media paper and they also used inconsistent pen tip sizes. They did have a nice table comparing a couple properties. I do have to admit my Micron Pigmas do smudge when coloring over with copic. I would really love to see a table that brings it all together (since you have the pens and if you have the time, also your thoughts on Ohto): The test is not completely scientific, although I try to achieve some consistency in the tests I put the pens through. Most of the tests were done on A4 100gsm copier paper (from PaperONE). This replicates the most common conditions which I work in – cheap paper so I can sketch loads. The pens were also briefly tested on Strathmore Bristol paper (smooth 270gsm), Fabriano Tecnico (240 gsm) and Clairfontaine fine grain Drawing Paper (224 gsm). These pens are relatively affordable, disposable, lightweight and fairly maintenance-free. Initial costs for a set of Fine-liner pens beats the more expensive Isograph/Rapidograph technical pen sets and makes it very attractive to switch. Fine-liners also don’t have the maintenance issues of Isograph pens, they don’t clog and you can toss it out if they dry up. Brand new pens see little ink flow problems and they are a pleasure to use on smoother paper. Most of the time the pigment inks are waterproof (up to a certain point) and will work well with highlighters, watercolor or markers. The inks are developed for fast drying to prevent accidental smudging.