A pen.

Pilot

Again, a pretty standard fineliner — but much better than their V Sign Pen. These have a slightly more generous ink flow compared to Pentel or Molotow, and the ink is a deep black. The nib is good and moves smoothly on regular paper. It dries fairly quickly, and once dry, it can be painted …

A pen.

Sakura

Some artists online rave about these. I don’t really get why. I assume they’re great for cartoons or certain styles? But for my needs, they’re just… fine. They get the job done — no complaints there. But once dried, the ink on thinner paper isn’t deep black — it’s more of a dark grey. And …

A pen.

Pilot V-SIGN

The V-SIGN PEN by Pilot is probably a multipurpose marker. It closely resembles alcohol-based markers typically used for labeling rather than detailed drawing. You can draw with it, of course — especially if you’re already used to similar markers like the Sharpie. The V-Sign pen lays down a smooth, vibrant line of liquid ink, but …

A pen.

Rotring

Basically really good, but it doesn’t dry all that fast. Well, it’s almost immediately “touch dry,” but no matter how long you wait, if you paint over it with acrylics, the ink still shows through — even though the manufacturer claims it’s waterproof once dry. Go figure. That said, if you sketch with a pencil …

A pen.

Uni-Ball Eye Micro

Yes, this one is also made by the same manufacturer behind the Posca acrylic markers. Uni-Ball is a solid, high-quality marker that differs slightly from the Uni Pin series. It’s not a fiber tip, but a ballpoint pen — size 0.5 mm, water-based pigment ink. The markers are made in Japan but are available worldwide. …

A pen.

Loop Colors

It took me a while to realize that Loop Colors manufactures fineliners too. Their spray paint is definitely among the best, and I also like their acrylic markers. But fineliners I only got to test recently. So… The ink in these markers is intensely black and flows quite generously. It also doesn’t dry very quickly. …

A pen.

Artline

A classic fineliner from Japanese Shachihata — and actually quite a good one. What else would you expect from a large brand that’s been around forever? Artline is familiar to me since my early days as a graffiti writer, because they also make really good larger permanent markers. And bunch of other markers and pens …

A pen.

Copic Multiliner SP

This is actually a really, really good marker. Tempted to say that it’s the best one I’ve used so far. At least it does everything it’s supposed to do. Water based pigment ink, dries fast, smooth flow, can be painted over, lasts long… You know the drill. So, if we’re talking about the quality, it …