Pentel Touch Sign Pen: Brush Tip, Colors & Line Width
The Pentel Touch Sign Pen (SES15C) is a small, disposable brush pen from Pentel of Japan: the classic Sign Pen with a flexible brush-style fiber tip. Retailers give its stroke as 0.35 to 2.0 mm. Pentel Japan sells it in 30 dye-ink colors plus 6 fluorescent, and Pentel of America lists it as made in Japan.
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Product facts
- Product
- Pentel Touch Sign Pen (筆touch サインペン, SES15C)
- Brand
- Pentel
- Brand origin
- Japan
- Made in
- Japan*
- Material
- Flexible fiber brush-style tip; water-based dye ink (fluorescent colors: water-based fluorescent pigment ink)
- Price range
- $under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Notes on these facts
- Made by ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand. Made in Japan: Pentel of America's 2023–2024 product guide gives the origin of the SES15C as Japan, and its 2022 catalog says the same for the 12 pastel colors. Japanese retailer Sundrug lists 原産国 (country of origin) 日本 (Japan) for the sky blue pen, SES15C-S. Pentel's Japanese page doesn't state a country. Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
- Pentel Japan lists 36 colors: 30 in water-based dye ink and 6 fluorescent colors in water-based fluorescent pigment ink.
- Officeworks and Kmart Australia give the flexible tip's stroke as 0.35 to 2.0 mm, from a hairline to a bold downstroke.
- Pentel Japan's list price is ¥187 (about US$1.20) a pen with tax, ¥242 (about US$1.50) for fluorescent colors; Pentel of America's MSRP is US$3.25.
- Pentel of America calls the tip wear resistant and pressure sensitive, and says the pen won't dry out if left uncapped during use.
- Pentel of America's product guide gives Japan as the country of origin, and a Japanese retailer lists Japan too.
What is the Pentel Touch Sign Pen?
It’s Pentel’s classic Sign Pen with a flexible, brush-style tip instead of a firm fiber point. Pentel Japan sells it as 筆touch サインペン (Fude Touch Sign Pen, model SES15C) and says it adds the touch of a brush to the long-selling Sign Pen, with a feel “right between a brush pen and a sign pen.”
In the US, Pentel of America sells the same SES15C as the Pentel Arts Sign Pen Brush. It’s the hard-tip pick in our best brush pens roundup: small, firm and colorful, for lettering, journaling and cards.
Pentel Touch Sign Pen specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | SES15C (black SES15C-A, JAN 4902506287052) |
| Tip | Flexible fiber, brush-style |
| Stroke | 0.35–2.0 mm (Officeworks, Kmart Australia) |
| Ink | Water-based dye; fluorescent colors water-based fluorescent pigment |
| Colors in Japan | 36 (30 dye + 6 fluorescent) |
| Colors in the US catalog | 24 (12 standard + 12 pastel) |
| Length | Not published by Pentel; about 13.5 cm (5.3 in) per a Swiss retailer |
| Weight | Not published by Pentel; 10 g per the same retailer |
| Price in Japan | ¥187 (about US$1.20) with tax; fluorescent ¥242 (about US$1.50) |
| US MSRP | US$3.25 (Pentel of America) |
| Refillable | No refills sold |
| Made in | Japan (Pentel of America) |
Pentel’s Japanese and US pages give no length or weight. The 13.5 cm and 10 g come from a Digitec listing for a single Pentel Sign Pen Brush that we saw only in search results, so treat them as approximate; Digitec gives 14 cm for the 12-pen set, SES15C-12ST1.
How does the brush tip work?
Light pressure gives a thin line and pressing the tip down gives a thick one, so one stroke can swell from hairline to bold. Pentel Japan’s how-to says to write lightly for fine lines, press for thick lines, and combine the two for lettering with contrast.
Pentel of America calls the tip wear resistant and pressure sensitive. It also says the pen won’t dry out if left uncapped while you work, and that the tip wipes clean with a paper towel.
What colors does it come in?
Pentel Japan lists 36 colors, and Pentel of America’s catalog shows 24. The Japanese range has 30 dye-ink colors, from black, red and blue to muted shades such as gray blue, olive green and pale pink, plus 6 fluorescent colors that Pentel says glow under black light.
Pentel Japan sells three 6-color sets (A, B and C) at ¥1,122 (about US$7.10) and a 24-color set at ¥4,488 (about US$28), with tax. Pentel of America’s catalog lists 12 standard colors and 12 pastels (Blue Black, Olive Green, Turquoise Green, Blue Violet, Pink Purple, Burgundy, Light Gray, Pale Brown, Pale Blue, Gray Blue, Light Green and Pale Pink).
Can you blend it with water?
Yes: the dye ink stays water-soluble. Pentel of America says the tip can be diluted with water to get a full range of values, and Pentel Japan suggests using a water brush for soft, bleeding watercolor effects.
Pentel Japan also suggests a gradient trick: touch a light pen’s tip with a darker pen, then write, and the color fades from dark to light. Because the ink is dye, lines will run if they get wet; Pentel of America sells a pigment version, the SESP15, for waterproof work.
How does it compare to other brush pens?
It’s a small, firm brush in many colors; the Fudenosuke is the black-ink classic and the Sign Pen is the fixed-width original.
| Pentel Touch Sign Pen | Tombow Fudenosuke | Pentel Sign Pen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tip | Flexible fiber, brush-style | Elastomer, hard or soft | Firm acrylic fiber |
| Line | 0.35–2.0 mm | Not published | 0.8–1.0 mm |
| Ink | Water-based dye | Water-based pigment | Water-based |
| Colors | 36 in Japan | Black, plus colored sets | Black and colors |
| Band | $ | $ | $ |
For big, blendable color, see the Tombow Dual Brush Pen. Masha Plans describes the Touch Sign Pen’s small, hard brush tip as good for long writing sessions.
Where is the Pentel Touch Sign Pen made?
In Japan, according to Pentel of America’s 2023–2024 product guide. Its 2022 catalog gives Japan for the pastel colors too, and Japanese retailer Sundrug lists Japan as the country of origin for the sky blue pen. Pentel’s Japanese page doesn’t say.
Pentel’s maker is now ASTRUM Corporation of Tokyo, called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand.
How much does it cost?
One pen falls in our lowest band, $ (under $5). Pentel of America’s MSRP is US$3.25, and Pentel Japan’s list price is ¥187 (about US$1.20) with tax; sets usually work out cheaper per pen.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Pentel Touch Sign Pen a brush pen?
Yes, a small and firm one. Pentel Japan describes its tip as halfway between a brush pen and its classic Sign Pen, so it varies its line with pressure but stays easier to control than a bristle brush.
What line width does the Pentel Touch Sign Pen make?
Officeworks and Kmart Australia give the stroke as 0.35 to 2.0 mm. Light pressure gives the thin end; pressing the tip flat gives the thick end.
Is the Pentel Touch Sign Pen waterproof?
No. The standard colors use water-based dye ink, and Pentel of America says the tip can be diluted with water to get a range of values. For waterproof lines, Pentel of America sells a pigment version, the SESP15.
How many colors does the Touch Sign Pen come in?
Pentel Japan lists 36: 30 dye-ink colors and 6 fluorescent colors that glow under black light. Pentel of America's catalog shows 24 colors, the 12 standard colors plus 12 pastels such as Blue Black, Olive Green and Pale Pink.
Can you refill the Pentel Touch Sign Pen?
No refills are sold. Pentel lists no refill for it, and a Swiss retailer describes the pen as not refillable, so you replace it when it runs dry.
Is it the same as the Pentel Sign Pen Brush?
Yes. Pentel Japan calls it 筆touch サインペン (Fude Touch Sign Pen), and Pentel of America sells the same SES15C as the Pentel Arts Sign Pen Brush. Retailers also call it the Brush Sign Pen.
Where is the Pentel Touch Sign Pen made?
In Japan, according to Pentel of America's product guide. A Japanese retailer lists Japan as the country of origin too.
Touch Sign Pen or Tombow Fudenosuke?
Both are small, firm brush pens for lettering. The Fudenosuke is usually bought in black with waterproof pigment ink; the Touch Sign Pen comes in many dye-ink colors that blend with water.
Sources
- 筆touch サインペン (Pentel Japan product page, "Fude Touch Sign Pen": tip between a brush pen and a sign pen, 36 colors, water-based dye and fluorescent pigment inks, ¥187 and ¥242 with tax, sets of 6 and 24, JAN codes)
- Pentel of America 2023–2024 Product Guide, p. 84: Sign Pen family (SES15C brush tip water-based dye ink pen, MSRP US$3.25, origin Japan; SESP15 pigment version)
- Pentel of America 2023–2024 Product Guide, p. 85: Sign Pen Brush (pressure-sensitive flexible tip, won't dry out if left uncapped, 12 pastel colors, origin Japan)
- Pentel of America 2022 Product Catalog: Pentel Arts Sign Pen Brush open stock, 12 pastel colors (origin Japan)
- Pentel of America 2023–2024 Product Guide: color chart (S520/SES15C color codes)
- Sundrug Online: Pentel Brush Touch Sign Pen, sky blue, SES15C-S (JAN 4902506287144; maker ASTRUM Corporation; country of origin Japan)
- Officeworks: Pentel SES15C Sign Brush Pen, pink (flexible nib from 0.35 to 2.0 mm, 77% recycled materials)
- Kmart Australia: Pentel SES15C Sign Brush Pen, blue violet (nib 0.35 to 2.0 mm)
- Digitec: Pentel Sign Pen Brush, single pen (about 13.5 cm, 10 g; not refillable; seen in a search listing)
- Digitec: Pentel Sign Pen Brush 12-pen set, SES15C-12ST1 (14 cm long; seen in a search listing)
- Galaxus: Pentel Brush Sign Pen, SES15C-V3X (country of origin Japan; seen in a search listing)
- Masha Plans: 9 best brush pens for lettering (Pentel Brush Touch Sign Pen, small hard brush tip)