What makes sakura micron the best drawing pen?

We have been using micron pens for over the years. Some artists have probably used them for more than a decade. When it comes to passing on the knowledge, it’s easier these days to just forward them a link. 

Most of us have doodled to kill time during boring lectures or meetings, at least I have ?

Doodling has become a profession, and many artists are now full-time doodles who are taking up commissioned work as well as workshops. Companies like; The face shop, Google, Vans, and many more use illustrators to designs illustrations on their products and websites. Are you drawing comics? Manga? Urban sketching with a watercolor wash? Mixed media art journaling? Waterproof v/s water-resistant matters. One essential element during our doodles is the micron pens.

9 points about Sakura micron pens

1. Sakura micron pens are pigment-based and not dye-based. 
2. Pens with thinner nibs tend to dry out faster.
3. Micron pens have a very sensitive nib, meaning you must not apply pressure to it. Extra stress to the nib can damage the ink flow and create irregular flow.
4. These are technical pens. If you want your drawing to be precise and perfect, use these pens in a 90-degree angle.
5. The Sakura Micron pens are acid-free, meaning they don’t smear off or fade away after a while. It also depends on the surface you are using them on.
6. These pens are available in different sizes, starting from 003. Depending on the level of detailing you’d like to do, you can choose the thickness. Ideally, for doodles and mandala 02 or 01 is picked. But if you are into lots of detailed and intricate work, you could pick up the 003 or 005-micron pen. If you have a heavy hand, I’d suggest trying the 01 for drawing.
7. During our watercolor and acrylic cover painting contest, we observed that many artists used these pens to give detail to their work. Inks being pigment based these could easily be used over your watercolor or acrylic paintings. Being waterproof ink’s, don’t spoil while you are painting. 
8. For commissioned orders or professional purpose, try using a minimum 140 GSM cartridge paper so that you can draw properly and use other paint mediums if necessary.
9. You’d never have a smudging problem irrespective of the size you are using.

5 Tips to protect your micron Pigma pens

1. Since these pens are ink flow-based, you must store them horizontally to keep them from drying. Many shops store these pens vertically, which reduces the life of these pens. Some artist feel they have been picking up duplicate pens. But mostly its the way these pens are kept. 
2. Always clean your nib after using it. Any dust particles or paint can clog the nib and cause uneven ink flow. 
3. Humidity might affect your pen and cause them to dry out quickly. Store them in a cool and dry place. Storage is very important for artists based out of Mumbai, Chennai, or any coastal regions as it is relatively more humid there.
4. Many suggest we keep the pen cap closed. Here’s what I figured out when I questioned my self why? Apart from the ink drying, there more to know. These micro-size tubes can be easily clogged if you use them over partially dried paint, or any surface which would let dust particles into the pen.
5. Avoid applying any external force to the pen and, for example, playing with it, hitting it on the table trying to create music. These are technical pens, and their mechanism could get disturbed.

Here’s what I tried and learned. 

Things you need: 

1) High-quality pigment-based ink (Higgins is my pick)
2) Nib removal tool or something similar
3) You’re dried out pen.

Process:
1) Pull the nib out using the tool. 
2) Add a few drops of Higgins inks. 
3) Push the nib back using the same instrument.
4) Clean the surrounding of the nib. Hold the pen with its cap facing downwards and closed so that 5) Ink gets absorbed.  
6) It could make some mess so keep a cloth ready.

Your pen is not going to work the way it uses to, but hey! Remember, its a dried out pen and could is now suitable for practices or doodling.

A friend used this ink, and here’s what she says.

For my purposes (comic art drawn by a nib, and later watercolored over) – it is a pretty good ink. 

Could be a little darker, could be a little thicker, didn’t really slide down the thinner nib, but overall it is a very good (and cheap) ink (again, for my purposes… I haven’t tested it with a brush, on other types of paper, I only used two different nibs, etc.).

-Shrusti Adani

Tips on how to use micron pens

1. In case you have made a few pencil lines which you plan to erase after using the pen. Make sure the pencil lines are lighter and try not to scrub with the eraser, which makes a huge difference. You could use the eraser after 24 hrs of pen use.
2. I’d like to share a tip that you can follow while using micron pens. Draw with pencil-use fine lines- shade using fine liners- erase the pencil lines if needed.
3. The ideal thickness of paper to practice patterns, doodles, or lettering would be anything above 100 GSM cartridge paper. Not that you can’t use them on lower gsm paper. After all, its the composition of paper that matters the most. It doesn’t mean that you cant doodle with these at the back of your notebook. 
4. If you have a heavy hand or you’re new to micron pens and don’t know which nib is appropriate for you in case you observe if the nib is bending while you’re drawing. Make sure you instantly select a pen with a slightly thicker nib. The seamless flow of ink is something that makes these pens so special.
5. If you plan to use these microns over any painted surface, it’s important to seal them. For beginners, you could use a camel sealant.

If you have doodled your way out during lectures and meetings, let us know what you like doodling was and if you still doodle. We’d love to know. Do share this with your friends.