Nibs

• Nibs are the contoured metal tips that are used to deliver measured amounts of real ink to paper surfaces. Nibs come in a wide variety of styles and shapes so that you can create the elegant and fancy shapes you want. The nib design followed earlier quill designs and allowed people to write extensively without wearing down the tip. This made writing easier. Once the nib was introduced, the quality and quantity of writing improved and the nib quickly became common in school rooms, along with ink wells and blotting papers.
  
  

Holders

• A holder is the part of the pen that rests in your hand. The holder has a circle carved or fitted to one end that allows the curved shape of the nib to slide into the holder. Holders are shaped based on the style of writing the holder will be used to draw. Artistic holders look substantially different from writing holders. Persons who use holders for classical calligraphy execution will often use holders that are designed to favor a specific typographic style. This means that a calligrapher will often have many varieties of holders and many variations of nibs.
  
  

Copperplate and Spencerian Scripts

• Copperplate is an antique lettering style that features horizontally elongated letters. The capital letters are used to form both upper and lowercase, with the lowercase letters being somewhat smaller in size. The Spencerian script is a very controlled and fluid handwriting style that features large, scrolled capital letters and structured and formal lowercase letters. Both of these lettering styles, and others, are difficult to execute using standard calligraphy holders. The angle of the holder is limited by the angle and position of the writer's hand.
  
  

Offset Holders

• An offset nib holder looks a bit like a torture device. The holder's main shaft is designed to fit the hand comfortably and similar to a standard holder. Near the head of the holder a second short holder is attached with an adjustable screw. This allows the smaller holder and head to pivot at any angle the calligrapher requires to execute the type of line he is drawing. Often, the required angle is very acute, with the secondary head and nib positioned almost vertically to achieve the necessary results.