Do Ballpoint Pens Bleed Through Paper?
When a pen deposits too much ink, it can cause the ink to bleed through paper. Not only is this messy, but it can be unsightly. Due to this, many people want to ensure that the pen they are using will not bleed through the paper they’re writing on. If you’re using a ballpoint pen, this is what you need to know!
Ballpoint pens aren’t known to bleed through paper. This is due to the unique ink delivery system used as well as the type of ink itself. The ballpoint pen tip prevents excess ink from being deposited, while the oil-based ink’s thickness reduces the risk of bleeding.
In this article, we’ll be looking at why ballpoint pens don’t generally bleed through paper. However, we’ll also be considering factors that could cause a ballpoint pen to bleed, as well as how this can be remedied.
Do Ballpoint Pens Bleed Through Paper?
Pens are often named after one of their characteristics. For instance, felt tip pens are named after their unique fiber tips. Ballpoint pens, which are widely used and also known as ball pens, are named after the type of ink delivery system they use. The tip of a ballpoint pen, quite literally, has a ball in it.
The little ball in the pen’s tip will continually rotate as you write with a ballpoint pen. This motion allows the ball to collect ink used for writing. Over the years, ballpoint pens have remained a cost-effective writing instrument. However, many people have wondered whether ballpoint pens can bleed through paper.
Of course, bleeding occurs when the ink of a pen seeps – or bleeds – through a page. This typically occurs when a pen deposits too much ink, which is then absorbed by the cellulose fibers in the paper. Not only can this make it hard to write on the back of a certain page, but you run the risk of the pen bleeding through to other surfaces.
Luckily, the unique ink delivery system largely prevents ballpoint pens from bleeding through paper. Another factor here is the thickness of the ink that is typically used by ballpoint pens. Thicker ink means that less ink is deposited when using a pen.
In fact, the ink traditionally used in ballpoint pens is so thick that it requires people to apply more pressure when using the pen. While the specialized ink delivery system prevents too much ink from being deposited at once, the type of ink the pen uses plays an equally vital role. Read on as we take a look at this!
What Ink Do Ballpoint Pens Use?
In the previous section, we looked at the design of ballpoint pens and how this helps prevent these pens from bleeding through paper. However, the type of ink that the ballpoint pen utilizes also plays a critical role here. First, let’s consider standard ballpoint pen ink.
The texture of traditional ballpoint pen ink, which is usually oil-based, is much like that of a paste. This type of ink is known for its longevity, with ballpoint pens using this ink taking a long time to deplete. Not only that, but the thickness of the ink means that the chances of your pen bleeding through the paper are very low.
However, as we explained earlier, this leads to users applying more pressure when writing with a ballpoint pen. Naturally, this can cause some strain while using the pen. Due to this, many manufacturers have tried using alternative inks, such as those that are water-based.
However, pens that utilize this ballpoint ink delivery system with water-based inks are often known as rollerball pens. While the functionality is the same, the water-based inks that are used are more prone to bleeding and feathering.
If you’re looking for a ballpoint pen that won’t bleed through paper, you need to ensure that it’s really a ballpoint pen. Pens that are classified as rollerball pens are more likely to cause bleeding. Gel pens form a nice middle ground between these types, with ink that is like that of rollerball pens but without the tendency to bleed through paper.
When Ballpoint Pens Leave Ink Bubbles Behind
In the previous sections, we explained why ballpoint pens are unlikely to bleed through paper. Of course, this has to do with both the ink delivery system and the type of ink that is used. However, despite this, there is one common issue faced by ballpoint pen users: ink blobs being deposited on the page.
These unpredictable blotches can take longer to dry and could potentially seep through the page you’re writing on. Generally, this is a more common occurrence with cheaper ballpoint pens. By spending a little more on your ballpoint pens you buy, this can be prevented.
As we mentioned earlier, bleeding is caused when too much ink is deposited onto a page when writing. These ink bubbles, however, are the result of ink building up around the ball in a ballpoint pen’s tip. When excess ink builds up in the tip, it can be unexpectedly released while you’re writing.
There is a simple way to deal with ballpoint pens that have this problem. By keeping a spare page or a napkin handy, you can regularly clean the tip of the ballpoint pen. This will prevent ink from building up in the pen’s tip and ruining your work. However, you should also consider your writing technique!
After all, how you use a writing instrument is just as important as the instrument itself. While the way you use a pen may seem inconsequential, it can make a big difference in the quality of your writing. Luckily, there are many brief guides that can help you perfect your ballpoint pen technique. If you want to refine your technique, you can check out the following YouTube video!
Conclusion
Ballpoint pens have remained popular for many years. The unique design of the ballpoint ink delivery system and the oil-based inks they use prevent them from bleeding through paper. However, pens with this same ink delivery system and a different type of ink, such as water-based ink, are more prone to bleeding through paper.
