In 1982, the Japanese company Sakura Color Products patented a new type of pen that used gel ink. The gel pen combined the smooth writing of a rollerball with the vivid colors and special effects (like metallic or glitter) not possible with standard inks. This innovation, initially released as the 'Ballsign 280', created a new and popular category of writing instruments.

The gel pen offered poets and writers a new palette of colors and effects, expanding the expressive potential of the written word. Its vibrant, opaque ink was particularly suited for visual and concrete poetry, where the visual appearance of the text is crucial. The gel pen's popularity also reflects the enduring human desire for variety and personalization in writing tools, a factor that continues to influence the relationship between poets and their instruments.