A special pen called a drawing-pen, and also special ink, are required
to ink a drawing; figs. 194 and 195 represent two sizes of
drawing-pens--one being best adapted for fine work, and the other for
coarse or heavy line work. The points, as will be observed in the
illustration, are made of two steel blades which open and close as
required for thickness of lines by a regulating screw.
[Illustration: Fig. 194.]
[Illustration: Fig. 195.]
A good drawing pen should be made of properly tempered steel, neither
too soft nor hardened to brittleness. The nibs should be accurately set,
both of the same length, and both equally firm when in contact with the
drawing paper. The points should be so shaped that they are fine enough
to admit of absolute control of the contact of the pen in starting and
ending lines, but otherwise as broad and rounded as possible, in order
to hold a convenient quantity of ink without dropping it. The lower
(under) blade should be sufficiently firm to prevent the closing of the
blades of the pen, when using the pen against a straightedge.
[Illustration: Fig. 196.]
[Illustration: Fig. 197.]
The spring of the pen, which separates the two blades, should be strong
enough to hold the upper blade in its position, but not so strong that
it would interfere with easy adjustment by the thumbscrew. The thread of
the thumbscrew must be deeply and evenly cut so as not to strip.
An important requisite after the pencil lines have been put in is ink,
with which to line the drawing. This should be of the best that can be
procured. The pen is filled by dropping the ink between the blades, or
nibs, while held in a nearly vertical position, as shown in fig. 196.
Liquid India ink can be procured in bottles with glass tube feeders,
which are very good, and keep the hands and fingers free of the ink.
Fig. 197 is a sectional view of such a bottle and “filler,” or feeder.
This generally answers all requirements, but the dry ink of good
quality, in sticks or bars, cannot be surpassed, although it requires
skill for its preparation. Fig. 198 represents a sloping dish or “tile”
for mixing, which should be done with little pressure, in clean,
filtered or distilled water, care being taken to keep the liquid free of
dust, which obstructs the free flow of the ink in the pens.
[Illustration: Fig. 198.]
The bars of India ink are shown, as they are imported, in figs. 199 to
202.
Pure India or China ink is only made in those countries, because the
special wood from which it is prepared is found only in those regions.
So-called India inks, made of lampblack and animal glue, are only
imitations; therefore India ink should be purchased from a reliable
importing house--shape is little guarantee of quality.
[Illustration: Fig. 199.--Fig. 200.--Fig. 201.--Fig. 202.]
[Illustration: Fig. 203.]
Soft gray vulcanized rubber (fig. 203) should be used for cleaning
drawing paper; for erasing any portion of a line in pencil, a piece of
prepared white vulcanized rubber is the best, small in size and of
rectangular shape (see fig. 205).
[Illustration: Fig. 204.]
[Illustration: Fig. 205.]
[Illustration: Fig. 206.]
[Illustration: Fig. 207.]
An ink eraser is made of a composition of rubber and ground glass, and
it should be used as sparingly as possible on drawings, as it roughens
the paper and removes the gloss from its surface (see fig. 204). Steel
ink erasers are useful in removing defects, overrun lines, joint of
lines if swollen, etc.; they have a fine point and can be used to
advantage with a little practice; they are used with a scratching, not a
cutting, motion (see figs. 206, 207).