Gel Pen

Gel pen is a type of writing instrument that uses a water-based gel ink.

The first gel pen is manufactured by a Japanese firm called Sakura Color Products Corporation ( Osaka , Japan ) in 1984. This is the same company behind the first oil pastel coloring materials. Sakura started out as a crayon company, labored years in research which initially resulted to the world's first pigmented water-based ink called Pigma. Later it paved the way for a breakthrough in the pen industry by inventing the gel pen. The first gel rollerball pen model is named the “Ballsign.” In the United States , Sakura launched the gel pen under the brand name “Gelly Roll.”

Sakura's invention of the gel pen started out when they wanted to develop a rollerball pen, however there were quite a number of rollerball pen manufacturers in the market already. Realizing that there is no point of being known as “just another rollerball pen company,” Sakura decided to venture in the idea devising a distinctive ink with the combined properties of water-based and oil-based inks—a combination which was unheard of during that time. They believe that this can only be achieved if the ink will stay at gel state throughout the life of the pen. After several trial and error phases in search of the right combination of ingredients, Sakura finally found the perfect additive to keep the ink in its gel state in the form of xanthane gum---a food additive used in jams.

The design of the gel pen is similar to its ballpoint counterpart, consisting of a nib or pen tip, barrel, cap and reservoir for the ink. The barrel and body of the gel pen may have variations like finger grips or oversized body to be easily handled by young users.

Gel Pen Characteristics

Gel pen characteristics are best discussed in comparison with other writing instruments. For someone who is accustomed to using ballpoint and rollerball pen, the gel pen is somewhat in the middle of the said pen types. It is water-resistant like the ballpoint pen ink but writes smoothly like a rollerball pen.

Nowadays, there are different types of gel pens in the market: there are refillable and non-refillable types, even pastel-colored gel pens. The quality of ink that gel pens use makes it easier for manufacturers to create or add modifications such as metallic or glitter additions for use in arts and crafts.

Gel pens do have its shortcomings too. First, the gel-type ink dries fast, so it is very important to replace the cap quickly if the pen is not being used. One might find the need to replace or refill the gel pen more quickly than using rollerball pens or ballpoint pens.

Second, gel pens users are more likely to experience “skips” where there is occasional break in the flow of ink.

Third, gel pens resist most laboratory tests such as thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis , thus it would not be possible to trace the manufacturer and date when the product was made based on a sample of the gel ink. Such laboratory analysis is useful in solving cases of fraud, forgery and other crimes---pretty similar to forensics; only inks are involved instead of human beings. This type of ink detection has been featured in detective shows like Crime Scene Investigation (CSI).

Gel Pen Inks

Gel pens use ink that is made of a synthetic pigment with water-based gel as medium. Gelled inks have the advantage of being visible even when used on dark surfaces or papers as opposed to liquid inks commonly used in most pens. Hence, gel pens may be used in a wider variety of paper or surface.

Versus Ballpoint Pens

Since they use gel, the ink of gel pens are thicker, more viscous and opaque than ball point pens, making the writing bolder and seems easier to read. These characteristics of gel pens make them the preferred writing instruments of graphic artists because it's easier to achieve bolder lines as opposed to ballpoint pens. With the latter, one needs to write over a particular line repeatedly to make one bold, solid line whereas in a gel pen, it is easily achieve by just one stroke. Gel pens' ink is so opaque, thus it is more visible even in dark papers. The gel-type ink allows pigments to be incorporated into the ink which in turn, enables bright colors to be used, unlike in liquid type inks which can only accommodate darker colors.

Versus Rollerball Pens and Fountain Pens

It was mentioned earlier that gel pen inks dry much faster than most inks that other writing instruments use. However, this disadvantage is also an advantage of gel pens since its rapid drying properties enables users to experience less smudge that when they are using rollerball or fountain pens. When using a rollerball pen with liquid ink, the writer has to be careful not to touch the newly written page or cover the written paper or else, the ink will surely smear.

It is less likely for a gel pen to bleed through the other side of the paper so the written surface appears neat with less sighting of whatever is written on the back surface of the paper. In contrast, liquid inks used in most rollerball and fountain pens easily get absorbed through the paper since this particular ink is less viscous.

Some users find gel pens as cheaper alternative to fountain pens.

Artist find gel pens ideal since it glides over paper smoothly, just like using a rollerball pen, but it creates more distinct lines ideal of outlining drawings and sketches.

Versus Pen Markers

Like gel pens, pen markers uses inks that are very opaque which enables the user to create bolder lines with less strokes. However, pen markers often have a distinctive odor when being used which can annoy or irritate some users.

Pen markers often have broad felt tips and even the thinnest pen marker tip may still be too big, making it inconvenient for everyday writing using small texts. Gel pen tips can range from 0.18 mm to 1.5 mm, which is very convenient if you are writing on a small paper or surface and would like to save on writing space.