Rotring Tikky Graphic Drawing Pen Review

The Tikky Graphic is Rotring’s budget drawing pen. It comes in a range of tip sizes and has lightfast waterproof ink.

Price: £2.70
Tip size options: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 08
Barrel options: brown
Ink type: black pigmented ink

The plastic tip is held in a metal sleeve at the end of a clear grip section. This section gives you an idea about when the ink is close to running out. The barrel is brown, which makes a change from black or grey, and is set off with the eponymous red ring.

The pen is comfortable in the hand, posts well and has a reasonable metal clip.

The Tikky Graphic is a wet pen. The 08, in particular, is quite gloopy. Whilst good for filling in large areas, the wetness leads to a certain lack of control with all the tip sizes and also means the ink is a little slower to dry than many drawing pens. It’s just about dry in 5 seconds (02 tip) but it does leave you a little vulnerable to smudging. Once dry, though, it’s completely waterproof. The amount of ink put down isn’t always consistent, meaning black areas can appear a little variable and lines can vary slightly in width.

This isn’t a bad pen but I prefer a slightly drier line and the extra control this gives. I also want a more consistent line. The Sakura Pigma Micron, Aristo GeoCollege and the Staedtler 308 are all better pens which cost a little less.

Pros

Reasonable price
Ink window
Waterproof

Cons

Inconsistent line
Prone to smudging

The word ‘waterproof’ was soaked with water, with no ill effects.