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ursulav is an artist. Who is lucky enough to be married to someone who understands artists and their various crises.

I am currently having an Art Supply Proto-Crisis of the sort she's describing, where there's a supply that I Must Have Right Now that may or may not solve my problem. It's only a proto crisis because, while it may solve my problem, it's for the Rising Stars of Manga entry and if I *do* solve the problem, it's going to make the other 15 pages look bad, so it's getting put on hold until next week.

The problem? My Micron .005 pens are useless before the ink supply runs out because the nib splits and gets hairy and leaves a much wider line than I want. I'm thinking of trying a Rapidograph pen in the smallest size I can get. They're expensive - $25-30 - but they're refillable and in a few months I'll have more than paid for it through the savings on Microns. I've got a Tachikawa manga pen that I really like, but it doesn't get the lines thin enough for the, er, thin lines.

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You need a Rapidograph. One of my old art teachers used to use them and they are...they're just the reliable workhorse of all things. But yes, next week. Consistency is important too. XD

I've had VERY bad luck with rapidograph pens; the three that I tried ALL leaked and were pretty much useless. I've since gotten rid of them. What I do with my 005 microns is I'll keep a new one handy for when the nib on the current one goes, and then I'll just use the old one for the thicker lines. *shrug*

I use a mix of pens myself, currently in love with the Faber-Castell's Pitt Artist pens. Various widths and sizes on points. from the very fine to the brush pen that allows me to variate my stroke. Then I use the Pilot Precise v.5 pens, it's more of a ball pen but it gives fine lines with flowing indian ink, cheep enough to easily replace at the office depot while the others I find at Hobby Lobby. So far I've been having a grand time with them.. when I do just use a brush and black india ink wells. (learning to ink and actually taking to it rather well) now I can't do the greytones, so can't help you there ^^;;

I've got some of the Faber-Castells, but they don't feel quite right to me. Plus, I'm now obsessed with getting my lines as thin as possible, thanks to my buddy

bitpig, and even the 005s are too thick for my tastes.

I will eventually have to break down and practice for a while with dip pens to get what I want, I'm afraid, but for now I want to try the Rapidograph.

Aw, well the difference in styles. I do the thin lines sometimes too, but since my stuff is so 'plain' when it comes to the screentones (if I'm doing them) I go for more variation of lines to differintiate background and foreground