Italic Vs Oblique Nib

[jslallar]

Hi,

 

Can someone explain to me the difference between an italic and an oblique nib?

 

 

ok simply put:

 

nibs are rounded XF (.25-.35 mm) - F (.35-.5 mm) - M (.5-.7 mm)- B (.7-1 mm)- BB (1-1.2 mm) etc - equal line widths top to bottom an left to right and cross strokes

 

stubs - any of the above (more so with broader nibs) are squarish on the end - slightly thinner cross strokes than vertical

 

stubs ground thinner horizontally to produce thinner (italic) and even thinner (cursive italic) cross strokes while the down stroke remains the same. italics and cursive italics are more demanding in their use. rough analogy a pack of 52 cards (stub) reduced to 26 (italic) reduced to 13 (cursive italic)

 

if the tip of the nib is obliquely ground instead of horizontally it becomes an oblique, left oblique - if the left tine is shorter (analogy left oxford boot toe), thinner stroke right top to left bottom, better suited for left to right writing eg english, or right oblique if the right tine is shorter (analogy right oxford boot toe) thinner stroke left top to right bottom, better suited for right to left writing eg arabic. technically you can have an oblique rounded, stub or italic, but most are by nature stubbish

 

hope that helps!!

Edited October 5, 2017 by jslallar

[amberleadavis]

ok simply put:

 

nibs are rounded XF (.25-.35 mm) - F (.35-.5 mm) - M (.5-.7 mm)- B (.7-1 mm)- BB (1-1.2 mm) etc - equal line widths top to bottom an left to right and cross strokes

 

stubs - any of the above (more so with broader nibs) are squarish on the end - slightly thinner cross strokes than vertical

 

stubs ground thinner horizontally to produce thinner (italic) and even thinner (cursive italic) cross strokes while the down stroke remains the same. italics and cursive italics are more demanding in their use. rough analogy a pack of 52 cards (stub) reduced to 26 (italic) reduced to 13 (cursive italic)

 

if the tip of the nib is obliquely ground instead of horizontally it becomes an oblique, left oblique - if the left tine is shorter (analogy left oxford boot toe), thinner stroke right top to left bottom, better suited for left to right writing eg english, or right oblique if the right tine is shorter (analogy right oxford boot toe) thinner stroke left top to right bottom, better suited for right to left writing eg arabic. technically you can have an oblique rounded, stub or italic, but most are by nature stubbish

 

hope that helps!!

 

 

That's a nice explanation.

[TheMajestic]

ok simply put:

 

nibs are rounded XF (.25-.35 mm) - F (.35-.5 mm) - M (.5-.7 mm)- B (.7-1 mm)- BB (1-1.2 mm) etc - equal line widths top to bottom an left to right and cross strokes

 

stubs - any of the above (more so with broader nibs) are squarish on the end - slightly thinner cross strokes than vertical

 

stubs ground thinner horizontally to produce thinner (italic) and even thinner (cursive italic) cross strokes while the down stroke remains the same. italics and cursive italics are more demanding in their use. rough analogy a pack of 52 cards (stub) reduced to 26 (italic) reduced to 13 (cursive italic)

 

if the tip of the nib is obliquely ground instead of horizontally it becomes an oblique, left oblique - if the left tine is shorter (analogy left oxford boot toe), thinner stroke right top to left bottom, better suited for left to right writing eg english, or right oblique if the right tine is shorter (analogy right oxford boot toe) thinner stroke left top to right bottom, better suited for right to left writing eg arabic. technically you can have an oblique rounded, stub or italic, but most are by nature stubbish

 

hope that helps!!

 

Wonderful explanation, thanks a lot bhaisaab!