Sakura Pigma Micron Pens come in several tip sizes.

Sakura Pigma Micron Pens have archival ink in several colors.

The Sakura Pigma Micron is an enduring favorite among artists and writers. Its plastic tip allows for accurate, reliable lines but also has a small amount of give. This softness allows for slight line variation that imbues drawings with subtle character. It also gives the pen a natural feel. The Micron’s ink flows easily and is quite dark. Its archival-quality pigment ink is also Copic-proof, so it’s the perfect choice for multi-media artwork and writing that needs to last. It comes in 15 colors and sizes ranging from 003 to 08. Read our Sakura Pigma Guide to learn more about the Micron and other pens that use Sakura Pigma ink.

• How to Choose a Fineliner
• Recommendations
  • Sketching
  • Illustration
  • Comic Art
  • Writing
  • Journaling
  • Autographs
• Test Results
• Compare These Pens
• How We Approach Research & Testing
• Conclusion

The same tip size in a water-based pen and oil-based pen.

Most fineliners are made with water-based ink, but some are oil based. Water-based pens are best for most uses since they produce more controlled lines and are less likely to bleed through paper. However, oil-based pens do have one important advantage over water-based - they can write on glossy surfaces. If you plan to write or draw on photographs or other shiny media, oil-based pens are a better bet. You can read more about pens for these types of surfaces in our guides to Multi-Surface and Photo Pens.

If you want to make sure your work lasts for years to come, choose fineliners that are waterproof to protect against spills, light- or fade-resistant to guard against exposure to sunlight, and acid-free or pH-neutral to prevent them from reacting with paper. Pair them with archival-quality paper for best results.

Look for fineliners that come in several sizes.

Most fineliners come in several tip sizes that may range from a super-fine 0.03 mm to a bold 1 mm. This gives artists the flexibility to render meticulous detail and graphic punch depending on their needs. Other fineliners have less precise sizing, such as XS, S, F, and M, or come only in one or two sizes. These are suitable for art that doesn’t require as many different line widths as well as writing and journaling. Some lines also include larger bullet-tipped markers or brush pens filled with the same ink as the fineliners.

Several fineliners use an unintuitive naming scheme inherited from technical pens. The numbers on these pens, such as 0.03 or 0.8, express their relative tip size. They do not correspond to a millimeter measurement. A pen with the number 0.03 has a tip size similar to 0.15 mm, while a pen numbered as 0.8 is similar to a 0.5 mm tip size. You can check the millimeter tip size of each of these pens on their respective product pages on our website.

Try sketching in ink to reduce perfectionism.

Sketching with ink prevents artists from erasing stray lines or changing their minds about a composition as they work. This encourages them to accept mistakes and keep drawing, resulting in naturally flowing lines and lively drawings unhindered by perfectionism. Thin or light-colored pens are best for initial sketches while darker or thicker pens are good for finishing touches.

Look for richly colored fineliners that won't smear when colored over.

Fineliners for illustration should be richly colored or deep black for drawing vibrant linework. Look for water- and Copic-safe options to make sure you can color your artwork with any media.

Fineliners can render tiny details and bold lines for vivid comic art.

Professional-quality fineliners are perfect for all aspects of comic art: their rich black ink provides crisp and clear lines, the variety of sizes allows for both delicate details and powerful outlines, and the consistent widths are ideal for panel borders and lettering. Original comic pages can become valuable collectibles when made with archival ink.

Avoid smudging with fast-drying fineliners.

Although they were originally intended for art, fineliners also work well for writing. People who struggle with smudging or need to write in tight quarters especially appreciate their tiny tip options and fast-drying ink.

The Staedtler Triplus and Teranishi Rushon are great for journaling.

Fineliners are a popular choice for journaling and planning. Their needle points pair well with rulers for drawing layouts and their reliable tip sizes lend themselves to tidy entries. Pens that come in many different hues allow you to color-code entries and embellish them with cheerful doodles.

Multi-surface fineliners let you sign almost anything.

Celebrities get asked to sign all kinds of materials, so they need pens that can keep up. These pens can write on ordinary paper as well as cloth and glossy surfaces like photographs and posters. Read our guides to Multi-Surface and Photo Pens for more ideas.