0.35-1.3mm Italic Nibs Comparison

[Wolverine1]

QM2- your handwriting is very good.

I went to Catholic Schools,and I ma impressed.

[QM2]

Thank you! Now i'm a believer... 0.4 cursive italic sounds great for a microscopical handwriting like mine.Is that somewhere between XF/F in normal nibs?

 

Noooo. If you write with XF/F round nibs, I would suggest a .5mm cursive italic, at least. I write with XXF round nibs and .4mm italic is borderline too small for me. If you get the nib done by Richard Binder or John Mottishaw, ask them to "maximize line variation while maintaining cursive smoothness". They can both do that and are excellent at it. The nibs I have gotten from them after giving these instructions produce almost as much line variation as a sharp/formal italic, but write as smoothly as cursive italics.

[QM2]

QM2- your handwriting is very good.

I went to Catholic Schools,and I ma impressed.

 

Thank you Wolverine : ) To be fair, only the sample in the OP is my natural handwriting. The calligraphy-like writing in the later post is very much forced, and a product of following instruction books since July!

[theblackpen]

Thank you! Now i'm a believer... 0.4 cursive italic sounds great for a microscopical handwriting like mine.Is that somewhere between XF/F in normal nibs?

 

Noooo. If you write with XF/F round nibs, I would suggest a .5mm cursive italic, at least. I write with XXF round nibs and .4mm italic is borderline too small for me. If you get the nib done by Richard Binder or John Mottishaw, ask them to "maximize line variation while maintaining cursive smoothness". They can both do that and are excellent at it. The nibs I have gotten from them after giving these instructions produce almost as much line variation as a sharp/formal italic, but write as smoothly as cursive italics.

Thanks for the info I was looking at Mr.Mottishaw's tip size comparison chart and I was thinking that a 0.4 is what I need. I had a Sailor medium and at 0.5 it was too broad for me. I'll try an experiment with a Parker Rialto, send it and see if I like italic nibs or not.

Edited October 30, 2008 by theblackpen

[bphollin]

Thank you! Now i'm a believer... 0.4 cursive italic sounds great for a microscopical handwriting like mine.Is that somewhere between XF/F in normal nibs?

 

Noooo. If you write with XF/F round nibs, I would suggest a .5mm cursive italic, at least. I write with XXF round nibs and .4mm italic is borderline too small for me. If you get the nib done by Richard Binder or John Mottishaw, ask them to "maximize line variation while maintaining cursive smoothness". They can both do that and are excellent at it. The nibs I have gotten from them after giving these instructions produce almost as much line variation as a sharp/formal italic, but write as smoothly as cursive italics.

This is very useful information; thanks so much for sharing your advice and pictures. I'm looking to buy a stub or italic nib to give some punch to my writing and, like you, I prefer fine lines. This is VERY helpful and much appreciated.

[QM2]

Thanks for the info I was looking at Mr.Mottishaw's tip size comparison chart and I was thinking that a 0.4 is what I need. I had a Sailor medium and at 0.5 it was too broad for me. I'll try an experiment with a Parker Rialto, send it and see if I like italic nibs or not.

 

Keep in mind that round and italic nib sizes do not follow the same scale. To figure out the italic nib width that is right for you, add .1-.15mm to the round nib width you are comfortable with.

 

For instance, I prefer round nibs that are .3mm (XXF). Therefore, I prefer italic nibs that are .45mm.

 

If you prefer round nibs that are .4mm (XF-F), then you need an italic nib that is .5-.55mm.

Edited October 30, 2008 by QM2

[thibaulthalpern]

I don't see line variation in the nibs under 0.6

 

Same here. I don't see much of it. I think I'm glad I got my 0.7mm cursive italic from Richard. I wanted smaller, but it seems to me when it's too small, even if the line variation is there is so small it's hardly noticeable!

[Prise]

QM2- your handwriting is very good.

I went to Catholic Schools,and I ma impressed.

 

Thank you Wolverine : ) To be fair, only the sample in the OP is my natural handwriting. The calligraphy-like writing in the later post is very much forced, and a product of following instruction books since July!

 

Yes, very elegant handwriting indeed.

 

Ah, will following an instruction book work for anyone?