1.1 Stub Nib

[Charles Skinner]

I recently put a 1.1 stub nib in one of my Jihhao pens and am trying to improve my penmanship with this nib. First, I thought it would be better to try to make larger letters, but recently, I believe that smaller letters, with is nib, seem to look the best. I know that all sorts of thing could play into this situation, such as paper, and my own style or writing, to name only a few, but when using a stub nib, do you tend to write smaller or larger?

 

C. S.

[Ghost Plane]

The same. Try tilting your paper at different angles, as well. For some people, that seems to make a difference.

[SujiCorp12345]

Depends on the size of the stub. I write small with my 0.4mm stub on my M205 but I write much bigger with my broad stub on my M800.

[Randal6393]

The more you write with a stub nib, the more you learn about the proper shape of letters. At least, that's how it works for me. I've studied classic handwriting -- italic, gothic, uncial, etc. -- and Copperplate for years, still have fun visualizing the letters and getting them right.

 

Best of luck to you,

[ac12]

Not larger or smaller but WIDER.

this is because of the wider downstroke of the stub nib.

[aricb]

The size of the letters is definitely related to the size of the nib. The x height of italic letters is supposed to be 5 nib widths high, if I remember correctly. the width should be around a 1/3rd thinner than the height, to get a good balance.

[DaveBj]

I tended to write somewhat bigger with my 1.1 stubs, and that in turn cause me to write bigger with my other nibs. Then I wrote a letter with the 1.5 nib in my Online Calligraphy --

[ac12]

 

The size of the letters is definitely related to the size of the nib. The x height of italic letters is supposed to be 5 nib widths high, if I remember correctly. the width should be around a 1/3rd thinner than the height, to get a good balance.

 

Yes you are correct about the x-height.

However I was referring to writing in the same given vertical space, like wide or college ruled paper, where the only change is the nib you are using.

I think like that because 99+% of my writing is on ruled paper.

[Randal6393]

True, the x height is related to the size of the nib. And, in classic Chancery Cursive, 5 nib widths is ideal. In cursive Chancery Cursive, though, x heights of 2 or 3 nib widths are not uncommon. And if you are writing on ruled paper, the packing can get fun. Even at 2 nib widths, though, italic has its own distinctive character, remains legible, and looks great. Biggest hassle: Keeping the counter in the 'e' open.

 

Enjoy,