A ruling pen is a drawing instrument used with ink or other drawing fluids, built around two adjustable metal blades that pinch a thin reservoir of ink between them and are set, by a small screw, to draw a line of a chosen width. It was originally a technical drawing tool, used together with straight rulers and French curves for engineering and cartographic drawing before technical pens with fixed nib widths replaced it for that purpose. The ruling pen remains in use today for more specific applications, including picture framing and calligraphy, where its wide, ink-loaded stroke is valued for effects a fixed nib cannot easily produce; drafting compasses are also sometimes fitted with a ruling nib for drawing ink circles in the same style.
Facts
Introduced When (Circa) Connections
Used In
Ruling Pen is used in Calligraphy.
Sources
1. Technical drawing tool (Wikipedia)
History sectionQuote, History section
In the 17th century, a stylus that could draw a line with a specific width called a ruling pen was developed.
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