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Author
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Topic: Sharpie markers and other autograph pens
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sixturners
Member Posts: 152
From: E. Lansing, MI, USA
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 12-30-2006 04:44 PM
   
Does anyone have some advice on what type of pen to use so that an autograph will last on a glossy photo? |
Rob Sumowski
Member Posts: 466
From: Macon, Georgia
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 12-31-2006 04:47 PM
The last time I was at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex gift shop, I learned a valuable lesson. The 16x20 photos on the wall signed by Pete Conrad, Alan Bean, and Gene Cernan are exposed to constant flourescent light all day, every day, and some of the photos appeared to have been on the walls for several years. All of the Sharpie-signed photos had faded a good deal, with blue ink fading the worst and black faring just a little better.The shocker: Even on photos where it was obvious that the photo itself had faded, each signature signed in metallic paint pen looked brand new. Note: These were not signatures done in metallic Sharpie, as metallic Sharpies did not exist when these photos were signed; rather I am talking about metallic paint pen or "paint marker." As for me, I now use metallic paint pens exclusively whenever possible. I use Sakura Pen Touch Silver in Fine or Extra Fine point. You can get these at art supply stores. Meanwhile, I'm holding my breath on all of my black Sharpie-signed photos and using extra protection from all light. When I do need black ink, I have begun using black paint markers: Uchida Decocolor Fine Line or Extra Fine Line. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 12-31-2006 05:45 PM
I have also heard that paint markers fare better over time than just about anything else. |
Novaspace
Member Posts: 434
From: Tucson, AZ USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 10-22-2007 12:25 PM
We have two photos in the shop now from 1999. One was in blue Sharpie, the other in black (we think). Both are almost completely faded away. Colors in the photos are fine.We use a new silver (not Sharpie) we like a lot, after much experimentation. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2247
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 10-22-2007 01:03 PM
Were the photos on display or shielded from light? |
Novaspace
Member Posts: 434
From: Tucson, AZ USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 10-22-2007 01:42 PM
I don't think it matters. The colors in the photos are fine, and they should show some fading first. |
Dennis Beatty
Member Posts: 368
From:
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 10-22-2007 02:45 PM
What could matter is whether the blue and black inks were "permanent" varieties, and under what conditions they were applied. |
OWL
Member Posts: 176
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 10-23-2007 03:03 AM
Is the fading of the ink a chemical reaction rather than a sunlight problem? |
Rob Sumowski
Member Posts: 466
From: Macon, Georgia
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 10-24-2007 07:48 PM
The unscientific conclusion I take is that silver and gold paint pens tend to fade infinitely less than any color of Sharpie. Our own informal cS studies have shown that Sharpies of all colors do indeed fade, though at different rates. My own observations about paint pen vs. Sharpie signatures have been the same. I use paint pens whenever possible and I avoid Sharpies.I must admit, though, that I have wondered about the following question: Do we have any idea how long the paint from paint pens will adhere to photos? We know that in some cases paint has come off onto plastic sleeves. It seems to me that paint applied to a photo's surface is a coating, unlike ink applied to a porous surface such as paper where the ink seems to soak into the paper's fiber. I'd love to see how the adherence of each (Sharpie and paint pen) to photo paper works on a molecular level. Have we any chemists who could offer some perspective on this? I also wonder if humidity has any affect on the length of time that a paint pen applied signature will retain its adherence. So I guess as long as the paint from paint pen stays adhered to the photos, my collection will be in good shape. |
leslie
Member Posts: 231
From: Surrey, England
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 10-26-2007 03:44 AM
My experience is that, as Al Bean always says, leave it four minutes to dry after signing before anything touches the signature, particularly gold or silver pen.I have tried various methods of safe storage and decided that placing acid free tissue between each picture, checking every couple of weeks, and handling all prints with a pair of "dust gloves" is the best you can do! |
DSeuss5490
Member Posts: 300
From: Columbus, Ohio USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 12-07-2007 08:51 PM
Most of the signed pictures I have bought from Novaspace signings were done in a metallic ink and are still A-OK. A past Bruce McCandless signing, I think it was two to three years ago maybe, I had three 11x14 photos signed and inscribed in thin black ink. None were displayed in sunlight and, unfortunately, all of the black ink is virtually gone or illegible at this point on all of the photos. Certainly disappointing, but a lesson learned as well. |
eilisk
Member Posts: 100
From: London
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 01-08-2008 08:15 AM
As someone who's not owned signing pens, and is now thinking about getting some, I've read this thread with interest.I was going to get a blue, black, silver and gold sharpie, but I was looking on cultpens.com website and I came across this pen - has anyone seen it before and can comment? What interested me was smudge and light proof aspects, but I hesitate as I'm just not sure how suitable it would be on photographic material, paper and the likes. Here is the blurb from the website: The edding 8404 Aerospace marker contains low-odour water-based pigment ink which is highly smudge-proof, water-resistant and lightproof
The low-corrosion formulation, resistant to many solvents and paints led to this pen being approved for aerospace use to ABP 9-3323 Class A. Bullet tip writes approx 0.75mm line. Black ink only. |
mikeh
Member Posts: 147
From:
Registered: Feb 2008
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posted 05-07-2008 08:20 PM
What ballpoint would you recommend? Are certain brands/models longer lasting that others? |
Rob Sumowski
Member Posts: 466
From: Macon, Georgia
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 05-07-2008 10:43 PM
Good question, Mike. I've noticed that to my eye, most 1960s/1970s ballpoint signatures have held up pretty well over time, much better than the 1960s/1970s felt tip markers.Among the most popular ballpoint pens then (as far as I can remember) were the Bic ballpoint pens in the clear six- or eight-sided hard plastic shaft that we all used in school. Remember those? These are still available. For my taste, I like medium point because it puts more ink on the page in a thicker line than does the fine point. And I'd be sure that there is a good thick piece of paper beneath the area of the item to be signed (with both sitting atop a firm surface). Any other ideas out there for ballpoint pens? |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2247
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 05-08-2008 08:28 AM
I sent in my copy of "Countdown" for Frank Borman to sign and I asked for it to be signed in Sharpie. I got an e-mail back from Novaspace strongly suggesting that I use the Pilot-brand V-Ball roller pen "because it is much less likely than a Sharpie to bleed through the paper, but gives a dark, opaque, very smooth line, unlike a ballpoint pen that tends to skip."For what it's worth, I took his advice. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2804
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 05-08-2008 09:44 PM
Do not discount the ultra fine point Sharpie with the plastic tip. It's a Sharpie with a ballpoint style tip.Not to be confused with the really fine point felt tip. Before I was introduced me to the Pilot V-Ball, I always used the plastic tipped Sharpie in books, and on covers. Never a smudge, bleed or anything. In a pinch it can be used on photos and if you want a thin ink, on lithos as well. |
Dennis Beatty
Member Posts: 368
From:
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 12-22-2008 06:54 PM
I looked up the Pen Touch pen and found the following statement: Pen-Touch are acid-free and permanent but are not archival which means the metallic pigment may fade over time. I wonder if this is true for all "permanent" inks. Perhaps my command of the language is limited, but what part of permanent am I missing? |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 3811
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 12-23-2008 12:01 AM
"Permanent" is a term used by pen makers to note that the ink cannot be washed off of surfaces using normal means, as opposed to erasable or temporary inks. The word "permanent" doesn't denote it's longevity against fading. |
dwager
Member Posts: 81
From: Augusta, GA
Registered: Sep 2014
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posted 04-29-2021 06:53 PM
Looking for insight as to which pen I should use to get Beta cloth patches signed. Any help is greatly appreciated!Editor's note: Threads merged. |
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