PSA: Hand-drawn maps look way better with a dip pen than a fineliner

I spent a year using cheap fineliners for my fantasy maps, but last month I tried an old dip pen with India ink and the difference is huge. The line variation from pressing lighter or harder gives coastlines and mountains a natural look that fineliners just can't do. Even my forests went from blocky to actually resembling trees. It takes a bit of practice to not blob ink everywhere, but a quick dip every few lines becomes second nature. Anyone else made the switch from pens to dip nibs for their map drawing?

2 comments

2 Comments

joseph_hart1mo ago

Bet your local art supply store sells vintage nibs for pennies. Picked up a box of old Hunt 102s at a flea market for three bucks. They work better than anything new I've tried.

the_simon1mo ago

Right there with you on the old Hunt nibs. Found a bunch of 303s at an estate sale for a buck and they're way smoother than the new ones I've tried. Something about that old metal just feels right on the paper.