A few more details about the Parallel Pens…
Pilot Parallel Pens come in 4 nib widths (1.5, 2.4, 3.8, and 6.0 mm). It’s a very good range that can sufficiently cover most needs.
Adding an ink cartridge when starting a new pen or changing a color is easy. Simply insert the cartridge and give it a slight squeeze to start the ink flow.
To create a blend between two colors, you will need two pens filled with different colors. Hold each pen vertically with the nibs facing eachother. Rotate one nib so it is perpendicular to the other. Touch the nibs together and hold for several seconds. The color from the top pen will be transfered to the nib of the bottom pen. You will begin writing with the top color and it will gradually fade back to the bottom pen’s color. The longer they are touching, the longer it will take for the transfered color to run out. I’ve found anywhere from 1—5 seconds is a good amount of time.
If you need to change cartridge colors or will be putting the pen away for some time, it will need to be cleaned. To clean the pen, simply remove the ink cartridge and insert the included converter. Dip the pen into a sink or cup filled with water and squeeze the converter several times until the water coming out of the nib is clear. After wiping off the excess water, the pen is ready for a new ink cartridge.
I hope these few details help you get started with Parallel pens. They really are a excellent tool for introducing yourself to lettering with a broad-nib.
Have fun!
Pilot Parallel Pens at jetpens.com
5 Comments
Your lettering is really wonderful! I like the Parallel Pens too. I need to try the 3.8 and the 6.0.
So cool! Your calligraphy is sooo much better than mine! I’ve been out of practice for so very long! My pens are buried under a ton of stuff somewhere in the other room! I’ve made several stabs at trying to find them but to no avail!
Nice to discover your blog and see what you are doing. I think I met you briefly at the Texas calligraphy conference. I have a similar job to you. Greeting card corp; lettering design and type design as well.
Nice letters! I highly recommend Brenda Broadbent’s book Parallel Pen Wizardry. (www.paperinkarts.com) As I learned from her, you can load the barrel of the PPP directly with most any fluid (no cartridge needed). It makes these pens that much better and easier to use.
Is this your lettering in the JetPens samples now?
http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/cPath/625_165/products_id/894