What is the Difference Between Ballpoint and Rollerball Pens?

The ballpoint pen was created as an alternative toBallpoint pens also generally employ a "push" or a
the fountain pen to provide a more convenient"twist" mechanisms as there is not such a need to
writing instrument. In use for over 150 years, the ballworry about the nib drying-out. Rollerball pens
mechanism nib and oil-based ink made the ballpoint farhowever have a screw-on cap because the rollerball's
easier to use and carry.water based ink can evaporate and dry the nib.
Although convenient, writers missed the smoothnessHowever top-end designers such as Waterman make
of the fountain pen and the look of its water-basedrollerball pens that manage to avoid this issue if the
ink on the page. This led to the invention of thecap is accidentally left off.
rollerball pen.Advantages & Disadvantages
While like ballpoint pens in employing a ball writingOne advantage of a rollerball pen is that if requires
mechanism at the nib, the significant difference isless pressure applied to the page than ballpoint pens,
that rollerball pens generally use a free flowingmeaning there is less stress placed on the writer's
water-based ink. Ballpoint pens on the other handhand. Writing from a rollerball pen also generally
employ a viscous oil-based ink.appears more bold on the page.
This gives writing performed with a rollerball pen theOne disadvantage of rollerball pens however is that
look of fountain pen ink on the page, and thereforethe ink requires more time to dry, meaning smudging
its distinctive writing qualities, such as saturatingis a greater possibility. The free-flowing ink can also
deeper and wider into the paper. As such, rollerball"bleed" through the paper more than ballpoint pens,
pens are though of as between a fountain and aand this also means that rollerball pens tend to use
ballpoint pen, blending convenience with the feel of amore ink. For this reason, the ink of rollerball pens
fountain pen.generally needs to be replaced more often.