Bamboo Ink, 2nd, Gray, stylus. Optimized for Windows Ink, Bamboo Ink is a hassle-free digital pen designed for writing, note-taking and annotating documents. Working across a broad range of pen-enabled Windows 10 devices and apps, it lets you.
- Paper-Like Drag. Stulyses (or styli, whatever floats your boat) can be.
- Inklet is the first 3rd party application to support Apple’s new Force Touch trackpad. This means you’ll have amazing pressure control on newer machines, and in a pinch you can even use your finger. Designed for the modern trackpad Inklet 2 & our Pogo pen were tailored to work perfectly with the tech in your trackpad.
What Is a Stylus?
What’s all the fuss about the stylus? What are styluses? Styli. Stylus pens. In a sentence, a stylus is a pen-like object people use to point, swipe, sign, and draw on all manner of touchscreens and electronic devices. For those a bit more curious, following is everything you need to know about the modern (oh, and ancient) stylus. Enjoy!
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Types of Stylus
Today’s stylus is made of rubber or conductive foam, and is either “active” or “passive” (also known as capacitive). Here’s the difference between the two:
Active Stylus
An active stylus has a tip like a pen and includes internal electronic components. Features include memory, electronic erasers, and pressure sensitivity that allows lighter or heavier lines depending upon how much pressure you apply.
You can rest your palm on the screen without causing interference (this feature’s called “palm rejection”). An active stylus is usually larger than a passive stylus (described below) because of the internal electronic components.
Passive/Capacitive Stylus
Like the active stylus, you can tap or write directly on a screen with a passive stylus (also called a capacitive stylus). But unlike an active stylus, the passive/capacitive stylus doesn’t have touch sensitivity or electronic components. There’s no communication between the stylus and the device.
A passive/capacitive stylus simply conducts the electrical charge from your finger to the screen just like your finger would. You can use a passive/capacitive stylus on any touchscreen that works with your finger.
Best Sellers at National Pen
What Is a Stylus Pen?
A stylus is sometimes referred to as a stylus pen, as it’s held like a pen and in the case of an active stylus, often used exactly like one. However, the term “stylus pen” can also refer to a passive/capacitive stylus that incorporates a ballpoint or other ink pen into its design.
Sometimes the stylus is on the opposite end of the barrel from the ink pen, like this:
Other times the stylus and ink pen are on the same side and the ink pen tip extends through a hole in the stylus, like this:
Stylus History
Contrary to the tech-forward vibe of today’s modern stylus, the tool’s been around forever. Around 3,000 BCE the Sumerians of Sumer (in what was then Mesopotamia and is now the Persian Gulf region) used a reed stylus to write on wet clay tablets. They’d push the end of the cut reed into the clay tablet to make marks that formed one of the first written languages—Sumerian cuneiform script. The Sumerians are considered the creators of civilization, so leave it to them to be blazing trails for us in the stylus area as well.
Over time stylus materials have included metal, bone, ivory, feathers (quills), and wood. Though the composition has changed, the tool is still used in much the same way: to push, draw, or write (and swipe!) in the interest of communication and creative expression. A worthy goal and worthy tool as well!
Stylus Then
Stylus Now
Customizing Your Stylus Pen
Here at National Pen we specialize in customizing a large selection of capacitive stylus pens with your logo, slogan, text, or other messaging.
A passive/capacitive stylus will work on any device that responds to a finger touch, so it’s a good bet any recipient will be able to put it to use. In addition, we combine the stylus functionality with a ballpoint pen so your recipients can put it to use twice as often, advertising your branding all the while.
A Few Parting Swipes, Er, Thoughts
For thousands of years we humans have used the stylus tool to communicate. Times change, technology changes, but the need to communicate remains constant.
So get on the stylus train and ride into the future. Customize a stylus with your company, cause, or special occasion and your branding comes along for the ride, too!
Will your customized stylus be used to sign a tax return? Make a shopping list? Tap out the next historical text? Any way you swipe it, the stylus is here to stay!
(On a related note, check out our blog on why you should use a stylus, including smudge-free, germ-free swiping and all around elevation in social status!)
Shop Stylus Pens & More
Shop your favorite pen types at National Pen. Plus browse custom notebooks, personalized gifts and more.
Inklet 2 for Mac
macOS 10.10 or later. A license will be sent to you via email.
$39.95
Inklet 2 bundled with a Pogo
Includes a Pogo - the best tool for drawing on your trackpad.
$49.95
Have you ever thought your trackpad could be something more?
Inklet allows your trackpad to emulate a pen tablet. With a Pogo or a Force Touch trackpad, Inklet even becomes pressure sensitive.
Have you ever thought your trackpad could be something more?
Inklet allows your trackpad to emulate a pen tablet. With a Pogo or a Force Touch trackpad, Inklet even becomes pressure sensitive.Stylus Ink Cartridges
The force is strong with this one
Inklet is the first 3rd party application to support Apple’s new Force Touch trackpad. This means you’ll have amazing pressure control on newer machines, and in a pinch you can even use your finger.
Designed for the modern trackpad
Inklet 2 & our Pogo pen were tailored to work perfectly with the tech in your trackpad.
We do everything but move the pen. That part’s up to you.
We do everything but move the pen. That part’s up to you.
Virtual Sliders
Zoom in or change the brush size just by sliding your finger on the edge of the trackpad. Virtual sliders make it easy to control almost any parameter of your favorite app.
Virtual Sliders
Zoom in, change the brush size just by sliding your finger on the edge of the trackpad. Virtual sliders make it easy to control almost any parameter of your favorite app.A full tablet experience
Move your Pogo lightly around the trackpad to hover without inking. Increase pressure to draw; heavier pressure will result in a thicker stroke. Draw into any application that can accept pen input.
A full tablet experience
Move your Pogo lightly around the trackpad to hover without inking. Increase pressure to draw; heavier pressure will result in a thicker stroke. Draw into any application that can accept pen input.Palm Rejection
It’s actually great. Inklet can detect and reject accidental touches around the edges. This is super-helpful on bigger trackpads.
Palm Rejection
It’s actually great. Inklet can detect and reject accidental touches around the edges. This is super-helpful on bigger trackpads.Works with all your favorite programs
Inklet is compatible with any app that has built-in drawing tools. We made a quick list, but compatibility is quite universal.
- All Photoshop versions
- MediBang Paint Pro
- Zoom video conferencing
- Microsoft OneNote
- Affinity Photo & Designer
- Lightroom
- Photoshop Elements
- Pixelmator Pro
- SketchBook Pro
- Sketch
- GIMP
- Formulate Pro
- Skim
- Scribbles
- Art Rage
- Corel Painter
- PDFPen
- All Adobe Illustrator versions
- Inkscape Notebook Layout, choose scribble tool-->
- All Photoshop versions
- MediBang Paint Pro
- Zoom video conferencing
- Microsoft OneNote
- Affinity Photo & Designer
- Lightroom
- Photoshop Elements
- Pixelmator Pro
- SketchBook Pro
- Sketch
- GIMP
- Formulate Pro
- Skim
- Scribbles
- Art Rage
- Corel Painter
- PDFPen
- All Adobe Illustrator versions
- Inkscape
How do I install and run Inklet?
Step 2: Launch Inklet. You will see a black droplet on the toolbar in the upper right-hand corner or your screen. Inklet will run in the background while you go about your business elsewhere on your laptop.
Windows Ink Compatible Stylus
How do I use Inklet with Photoshop or another drawing program?
Step 2: When you're ready to start Inklet, click on the droplet icon and select 'Start Inklet,' or use the hotkey (the default hotkey is control+option+i). Draw with your Pogo on the trackpad. If you don't have a Pogo, you can change the drawing tool to 'finger' in the Inklet drawing preferences.
Step 3: Move your Pogo lightly around on the trackpad to allow the cursor to hover without inking. Increase pressure to draw. heavier pressure will result in a thicker stroke.
I’m drawing, but nothing is showing up?!
How do I register Inklet?
Can I draw without a Pogo?
Can I use Inklet with an external Magic Trackpad?
How might I uninstall Inklet?
Inklet 2 for Mac
Bamboo Ink Stylus
macOS 10.10 or later. A license will be sent to you via email.
$39.95
Inklet 2 bundled with a Pogo
Printer Stylus
Includes a Pogo - the best tool for drawing on your trackpad.
Ink Pen With Stylus Tip
$49.95