posted October 23, 2007 03:03 AM            

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Originally posted by Novaspace:
We have two Destiny photos in the shop now from 1999.

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posted October 24, 2007 07:48 PM               

The unscientific conclusion I take from Kim's post 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 as Kim's. 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.

I'd be interested to hear any additional perspectives on this.

Rob

posted October 26, 2007 03:44 AM               

I have tried various methods of safe storage and decided that placing acid free tissue between each picture,checking every couple of weeks,and handle all prints with a pair of "dust gloves" is the best you can do! I always hear that these should be exhibited but those that I do display are in a room where the curtains are drawn during daylight. The bulk of my collection is in folders that stand upright (therefore no weight pressing down). Direct contact with plastic or card is to be avoided. I agree with Rob when he says always try to take your own paint pens if using silver or gold as there's nothing worse than a nice picture being ruined when one of the "guys" says, "OK, lets try this pen!"

I might add that my wife thinks I am insane and wishes I was as conscientious about the house maintenance as I am about my collection!

Hmm... that's a no brainer!

posted December 07, 2007 07:47 AM               

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Originally posted by MCroft04:
But because I was worried about potential fading, I recently started making copies to frame and storing the originals in plastic non acidic sleeves.

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I also did this many years ago, because, like so many of us, I want to experience the joy of seeing the photos on the wall everyday and not just when I have the opportunity to pull out the ringed bidders.

One thing you might want to do is to add a small sticker on the back of each one of the copies that says something like "This photograph is a COPY of the original image contained in my ringed binder # ... The purpose of the copy is to protect the condition of the original signature(s) and the item." I think this helps cover a few bases down the road so there's no confusion over the images later.

Just my two cents.

posted January 06, 2008 01:34 PM               

Staples has some Sharpies on sale this week, 5 for $1.

posted January 08, 2008 08:15 AM            

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:

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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.

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posted April 27, 2008 11:42 AM               

I have an Earthrise (ImpactPhotoGraphics) poster purchased at KSC. The black sky area is already signed by a few in silver, but I can't recall what pens were used.

Any chance anyone remember what silver pens were used last year at KSC by Cunningham, Schweickart, Gordon, Lovell and Worden?

Some are thinner in width than others and appear to be from different kinds of pens, Lovell's being the thinnest (paint?) and Gordon's being the widest (Sharpie?).

If a final verdict is in regarding silver ink I need a few of you pen gurus to list what you think is the best to use and how long it takes to dry. (quick drying is preferred).

posted April 27, 2008 12:13 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Rob Joyner:
Any chance anyone remember what silver pens were used last year at KSC by Cunningham, Schweickart, Gordon, Lovell and Worden?

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posted April 27, 2008 02:48 PM               

John is right. There were many variations in widths and brands used at KSC. I know some astronauts like Ed Mitchell brought their own markers from home. Lovell did use mostly thin (Ultra-fine) silver paint on the items he signed for me and others that I saw cross his table.

The thicker (Fine) signatures can be done with either sharpie or paint. In my experience, the difference is that silver Sharpie tends to dry to a silver-gray with a flat finish while silver paint tends to dry metallic silver with a bit of luster. My preference is silver paint pen.

I'd highly recommend the model Sakura Pen-Touch silver in either Ultra fine (for a thin line) or Fine point (for a medium width line). It's the only pen I use when given an option. Again, the Ultra-fine size will give you the thin shiny line (a la what I received from Lovell at KSC) and the Fine size will give you a wider paint line with the width comparable to that of the silver Sharpie.

I have found the Sakura Pen-Touch silver pens at Michael's Arts and Crafts stores or online anywhere. Regardless, always prep and prime the pen before using. Shake it well and test it until you get a good clean line before using. This should give you great results.

Good luck,

posted April 27, 2008 08:25 PM               

Rob, out of the autographs I mentioned, the Lovell looks the best - thin & crisp. If this was done with the Sakura, how long will it take to dry before I can roll the poster up? I've heard to wait an hour before placing a photo in a plastic sleeve, but would it take this long for the poster to dry as well? At the KSC show I made sure not to roll it for over an hour, just to be safe, but under certain circumstances, I might not have an hour to do so.

posted April 27, 2008 09:04 PM               

I usually wait a day or so before putting any silver paint pen-signed photo in a sleeve; however it should be dry to the touch within five minutes (not that you'd want to touch it, of course).

Several years ago, I did try the Uni-Ball gel pen, found the ink satisfactory, however on some surfaces the metal ball put an indentation line right through the center of the signature line, making it look like two dual sigs. In this case I had sent a 16 x 20 photo to Walt with a request for a long inscription. Walt did the inscription well, but my pen handicapped his effort and it turned out looking pretty rough.

Ever since I have used the Sakura. They're expensive and I buy a lot of them (and most astronauts do not return them), but it seems to me to be a real quality pen.

posted May 07, 2008 10:43 PM               

Among the most popular ball-point pens then (as far as I can remember) were the good ol' Bic ball point pens in the clear six- or eight-sided hard plastic shaft that we all used in school. Remember those? These are still available at any Staples or Office Depot.

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 ball point pens?

posted May 08, 2008 08:28 AM               

FWIW, I took his advice.

posted May 08, 2008 06:41 PM               

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Originally posted by capoetc:
I got an e-mail back from Rob at 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".

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posted May 08, 2008 09:44 PM               

Do not discount the ultra fine point sharpie with the plastic tip. It's a sharpie with a ball point style tip.

Not to be confused with the really fine point felt tip.

Before Rob introduced me to that pen, I always used the plastic tipped sharpie in books, and on covers. Never a smudge, bleed or anything.