Each manufacturer grinds their nib a bit differently, resulting In different writing experience and feedback. However, modern nibs can be categorized very roughly in three types.
**Nib: Rigid, soft (bouncy), and Flexible**
Rigid nibs are nibs that do not deform, open up just a tiny bit under normal writing pressure.
Some people calls it hard nibs, nails, etc. but the concept is the same. They offer almost zero to none line variation even when pressure is applied to the pen.
Soft nibs are nibs that offer a small amount of line variation when pressured is applied. The line width mostly goes just one size up, for example, Fine to Medium. The two tines tend to open up slightly, along with the tines lifting away from the feed ever so slightly.
Soft nibs also provide a more cushioned feel while writing compare to rigid nibs.
Flexible nibs are well.. flexible.
A lot of people refer to modern manufactured nibs, with marketing/classification of flexible nibs as Semi-flex. Due to the fact that most modern nibs does not flex as much and as easy as flexible vintages nibs.
Modern semi flex nibs also tend to not have the same bounce back speed as vintage nibs for some reason, but either way, they are nibs that can typically goes at least 2/3 sizes up in line width when pressure is applied.
**Ink: Dry, medium, wet**
This is a tricky one, because it’s really hard to justify exactly, at which point, would be consider an ink dry, normal, or wet. but in general, dry ink gives less flow at the tip, and wet ink gives a more flow at the tip.
As the name may suggest, dry ink typically gives our less ink, so it dries faster, while wet ink does the opposite.
Dry and normal ink typically writes “true to size” of your nib, and wet ink typically creates thicker line width.
Dry ink is also typically less lubricated, so you will feel the friction between the tip and paper more than the other.
Something to note though, while it’s commonly accepted that Eastern manufacturers tend to make wetter ink, and western manufacturers tend to make dryer ink, there are always exception to the rule and should be treated on a bottle by bottle (color) basis.
**Paper: Smooth, medium, rough. **
This one is pretty self explanatory, You can tell how smooth paper feels by rubbing against your finger.
The smoothest paper are typically coated. For example Premium Rhodia and Triomphe Clairefontaine
The medium paper are paper like the Rhodia Dot pad, Apica, Maruman Mnemosyne (this is a weird one tbh), decent A4 laser paper,
Then you have the slightly rougher Tomoe papers, and a even more gritty Midori Notebook, Leuchtturm, paper, etc. .
then finally, lesser quality general used paper or even cotton paper for the roughest example.
In genearl, Smooth Paper has less variation of height on its surface, while rough paper has more pronoun height variant on a microscopic level
