Good affordable pens for text?

[MapMappingMapped]

I really enjoy making watercolour maps ( the size of which is too big for me to scan, as usual these days), but I have a real problem in doing proper labels with a micron pen. Do any of you use, or know of, a pen for labelling that does a good job?
Thank you in advance!!

[OldEarth]

I mean, it's going to depend a lot on your style and what you are looking for in your labels/pen/ink qualities.... Are you looking for a super fine line, a variable width line, a bolder line?

What is it about the micron pen that you dislike? Because that will probably help figure out what you might be looking for.

My weapons of choice are my pilot metropoliton fine nib (also available as medium or stub nib) which is a really affordable and smoothly writing fountain pen (https://www.gouletpens.com/pilot-met...fine/p/PN91434) with waterproof De Atramentis document inks and Pigma Micron pens for the smaller things....

But I also tend to work smallish for portability and am still working on my hand lettering and settling on methods and styles

[MapMappingMapped]

I would be very glad to find a set of pens of a few different sizes, to be used in mostly tiny labels. My problem with the microns is that they're very good for drawing the map, but for neat handwriting they really lack. They're too sketchy, and they can't produce a calligraphy effect. The bigger the pens, the less the problem - trying to label a city with an 01 or 02 is extremely frustrating, but labelling a mountain range or kingdom with the biggest nib is not a huge problem.
As for the link, I was heading for something a bit less costly than that. But thank you.

[OldEarth]

I'm guessing by calligraphy effect you're talking about variable line weight?

Unless you want to do Faux calligraphy (where you do your initial line and then thicken the downstrokes afterwards), which I'm guessing from the above you don't, then for a really low entry price you're probably going to want to look into brush pens or italic pens (sorry for the info dump I love pens):

• Brush pens can achieve dramatic line weight differences but also take practice to get used to - especially when working on fine lettering. They can produce beautiful script and very nice brushed linework in skilled hands. Once you start getting into quality and variations they have similar properties to watercolour brushes actually - If you want to investigate those this is a cheap entry option: https://www.jetpens.com/Zebra-Dispos...d/2309#index=1 or as a three set https://www.jetpens.com/Zebra-Dispos...undle/pd/21275
• Parallel/ Italic nibs - Provide dramatic line weight differences, take some practice to hold the pen at a consistent angle, but easier to learn to create consistent line widths than the brush pens. Metal nibbed of this type are all probably going to be above the price you are looking for, but as for an entry level to see if the italic pens are for you you can look into the Sakura pens (multiple colours available): https://www.jetpens.com/Sakura-Pigma...Sepia/pd/13843
• Or if you want to try to dive into the world of metal-tipped dip pens (something I've been considering for a while but haven't done) this is a decently priced package with variable nib sizes... just remember that you also have to buy ink for this one which pushes your price point up: https://www.jetpens.com/Speedball-Ca.../12358#index=0 if you're curious as to what you'd be getting into with these types of nibs this is a handy page: https://www.jetpens.com/blog/the-bes...ginners/pt/689
• And finally there is the pilot parallel set with multiple nib sizes, they produce very dramatically different line weights but they might be a bit above the price point you are looking for: https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Parall...Sizes/pd/14246 (one note, it doesn't specify in the listing therefore I suspect that the ink is unlikely to be waterproof, so they may be limited to use after the watercolour is already laid down)

I don't know of too many other packages of with variable tip sizes of these really low price entry pens... but you might be able to find them with some sleuthing

As a note, all of the options I've provided are going to be larger than your micron pens, though the thinnest lines they can achieve may be similar to the fine tip they will all have thicker line weight on the flatter strokes. So for really fine labelling you might still need to resort to the microns (unless someone else has better recs) and faux-calligraphy it for effect.

(Flex nib and stub nib are also good options but as they are almost always metal nib tips they're going to come in at the more expensive entry price point and most of the cheaper options in those types are sold with non-refillable cartridges that do not contain waterproof ink and so you would be limited to after watercolour painting usage)

I don't know if that helped at all but hopefully it at least gave you a place to start looking

[davlittman]

Or if you want to try to dive into the world of metal-tipped dip pens (something I've been considering for a while but haven't done)

Dooooooo it! You won't be sorry! I recommend Mitchell and Brause brand nibs over Speedball, but it really is a matter of personal preference. I use www.johnnealbooks.com, which is pretty fantastic.