Thick, non-water based ink that does not thin while you write. Ballpoint pens use a small rotating ball made of brass, steel or tungsten carbide to dispense the ink as you write. Ballpoint pens are usually permanent.

This water based ink has a viscosity or thickness which can fluctuate. When a gel pen is not being used, the ink tends to be thicker. When the ball starts to rotate the ink thins down and is gragged in a similiar manner as rollerball ink. Gel ink provides the best of both worlds - the smooth write of a rollerball, with the performance of a ballpoint.

This water based ink takes very little effort to make the ink flow, allowing for a smooth write. Rollerball pens utilize the same type of ball as a ballpoint pen, but because the ink is much thinner, it floods the ball and drags a pool of ink across the paper as you write. The smaller the point size of your pen, the less ink there is to drag, thus producing a finer line. Rollerball ink is usually not permanent.

Permanent markers have the ability to mark on virtually an surface from packages, to labels, to glass and much more. Fade and water resistant ink options make for many uses. A variety of colors and tips sizes are available.