Tag Archives: marker

3D Printing: Wacom Pen Holder

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I’m relatively new to the whole 3D printing trend. I have lusted after one since desktop models started to become affordable and user friendly. I have been learning how to use Autodesk Fusion 360 – 3D modelling software for designing things from scratch ready for manufacture. In my case, things are made on my 3D printer, which I have got to grips with after buying it in February. I’d invested in a crowdfunded printer a year or so ago, but the company bombed and I never received it. Judging by the feedback from those that did get one, I’m lucky I didn’t!

Wacom Pen Holder

This afternoon, I designed a pen holder for my graphics tablet styluses. They are rarely used – in part as I can’t readily lay my hands on them. I specifically designed the holders to fit the styluses. The right hand side’s hooks are gently angled to help hold the pens in place. I’ve stuck the holders to the bottom of my screen using the 3M’s Scotch restickable pads. If you want to print your own, I’ve made the files available for free over at Thingiverse.

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Letraset Neon Markers – review

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I’ve just received a complimentary set of the new Letraset Neon Markers (6 set), on sale from 1st September 2012. According to the information sent with them, they are twin tip fluorescent markers offering water-based pigment ink which is lightfast and ‘perfect for adding vibrant highlights to art and design work’.

I decided to put them through their paces. Firstly – colour on white, and then because they are pigment inks, on black too, and across text:

  

Allowing for poor colour reproduction of fluorescents, the colours are what you’d expect to see on white – vibrant and in your face. The ‘spark red’ isn’t all that sparky, but I guess it joined in to make the six pack… On the black, there’s going to be a colour shift, and I put three layers of ink on each of the blocks to get enough pigment on to show up – all but the ‘Luminous Yellow’ have good coverage, and may well have a role to play on dark backgrounds. They clearly work well as regular highlighter pens.

Do they blend? I love to use Letraset ProMarkers as they blend so well together. The AquaMarkers also blend and merge nicely. So I put the new Neon markers to the test, and since they are water-based, I used them on a good quality watercolour paper:

 

Well, I’m not so impressed. Direct blending from the pen didn’t really happen – it rucked up the paper, and the colours tended to keep distinct from one another. Adding water caused the crossover to become blotchy and granulated. Washing out with a wet brush was slightly better, but the colours behaved differently, some moving readily, others less so.

I can’t see these markers making their way into my artwork – I don’t think they have the flexibility of use I enjoy from the ProMarkers or AquaMarkers, and I already have highlighter pens around the house that do the same job. I think Letraset have missed a trick here – the Neon Markers don’t seem to be either ProMarkers or AquaMarkers and that’s a pity.