Digital Artist problems: Pen nib scratching the tablet

chronsart:

No matter what tablet or screen protector you have, your pen tip is gonna scratch. And a good screen protector and a tablet screen itself can be spensive! (Not to mention being able to properly see your art through fog and scratches is kind of a problem…)

and pen nibs! They can be used up too quickly! 

Ive been testing ways to prevent these catastrophe’s from happening… With pen nib wraps. 

Here’s what you may need to construct this.

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Option 1: Scotch Tape or Paper Tape

(I used to use scotch tape, now i use paper tape.)

How: Cut little strips and wrap them around the pen nib. Yes it is hard to cut to proper size and get them to stick. (I didn’t do this, but use some elmers glue maybe?)

Eventually you will have to change these because they’ll become loose with use and dirt. (They can get nasty.)

Drawing on Screen: It feels something like paper but it can make squeaky noises. (Not good for when you’re trying to be a sneak late at night drawing. People are gonna wonder where the mouse is.) The screen can get sticky and sometimes can get cut by the edges of tape.

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Option 2: Cotton

How: You can get a really fine point with it. Wrap a small piece cotton around the nib, you can trim with scizzors to the right size, and then roll the surface with a drop of glue to keep its shape and give some adhesive to the nib. Make sure to use some scizzors to gently lift the cotton a bit away from the pen surface, (where the nib goes into the pen) so it has room to activate pressure sensitivity. It can’t work if the pen nib can’t spring up and down.

Drawing on screen: The feel and sound this has on the tablet is similar to pencil to paper.

You may have to change this out for a new one eventually. Mine gather alot of dirt. Your screen gets dirty! don’t forget to clean it!

Notes:

Why I only wrapped the nib and not to the pen itself is to keep pressure sensitivity problems from happening.

Sometimes your pen will act funny when you hold it near your tablet. Pressure sensitivity is jacked up and will draw a line even when your pen is lifted from the screen. (which is tbh pretty cool.) Leave space between the object on your nib and your pen. Get some good fine scizzors to do so.

Make sure your wrap doesn’t get in the way of you seeing your lines. (Although I guess this won’t matter to you if you have a screenless tablet.)

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Anywho, please forgive my wordyness, I hope this helps any fellow digital artists! Notes on your findings on anything pen nib or stylus related are welcome!