What Is Pointed Nib Calligraphy?

If you’ve ever looked at elegant, sweeping letterforms with delicate hairlines and contrasting thick strokes, there’s a good chance you were admiring pointed nib calligraphy.
It’s a style that looks incredibly refined, which takes practice, but the results are well worth the effort.

So, what exactly is Pointed Pen Calligraphy?

Pointed nib calligraphy is any calligraphy style that uses a flexible, pointed metal nib. Unlike the broad-edged nibs used for styles like Italic or Uncial, a pointed nib has a fine tip that responds to pressure.
When you press down, the two tines of the nib spread slightly, allowing more ink to flow and creating a thick stroke. Release the pressure, and the nib springs back to make the finest of hairlines. That pressure-and-release technique is at the heart of everything in pointed nib work.

Pointed Nib Calligraphy Styles

Some of the most popular and recognisable scripts are based on pointed nib calligraphy, include:
Copperplate - A very structured script with strict rules on slant, shape, and spacing. Often used for formal work like certificates and wedding invitations.
Spencerian - A more flowing and elegant style, often associated with 19th-century American business writing.
Modern Calligraphy - Less formal and more expressive. It still relies on the same basic pressure techniques, but with more creative freedom.

What tools do I need?

Getting started doesn’t require a lot, but having the right tools makes all the difference:
Pointed nib - The Nikko G is a great beginner nib: firm but still gives good line variation. Others like the Leonardt EF Principal or Hunt 101 are excellent too.
Pen holder - Straight holders are fine for many, but if you're working with Copperplate or Spencerian, and are right-handed, an oblique holder makes it easier to produce letters at the correct angle of slope.
Ink - You’ll need a smooth-flowing calligraphy ink. Avoid inks that are too thick. Iron Gall inks are a favourite - they produce incredibly fine hairlines and bold swells.
Smooth paper - It is important to use a very smooth paper, as a rough paper can easily snag your nib, spoil the letterform and create much frustration. Layout paper or Rhodia pads are excellent choices.

Why do people love it?

There’s something incredibly satisfying about pointed nib work, once you get the hang of the pressure and release rhythm. You can use it for formal scripts, decorative pieces, or just beautifully written envelopes. It’s expressive, elegant, and a little bit different.

A few things to bear in mind…

• There is a learning curve to pointed pen calligraphy especially with Copperplate and Spencerian scripts. 
• Applying and releasing the pressure on the nib correctly takes time to learn.
• Pointed nibs are more delicate and will wear out faster than broad nibs.
• Some of the letterforms are quite tricky and take time to learn.

Where to start?

If you’re tempted to give it a go, we’ve got beginner kits that include everything you need - nibs, holders, ink, and paper. And over in the Skills Centre, we’ve got detailed courses for Copperplate and Modern Calligraphy that walk you through each step.