posted 03-03-2002 12:00 PM               

As far as a preferred color on a given photo, you run into what's called the fade factor. Signatures have a tendency to fade over time, even though they say permanent they're usually not.

Blue ink usually lasts a little longer than black but both are good if kept out of direct and reflected sunlight. Red is notorious for quick fading, sometimes without sunlight. I would never recommend red ink on any autograph.

Green is alright, but it seems to have been Jim McDivitt's trademark and I think it should be left as such.

The newer silver and gold gel pens are great, especially on dark backgrounds but they are slow drying, and have a tendency to glob and smear if not set aside a few minutes before they are handled.

posted 03-03-2002 01:45 PM               

As for Sharpies, I just love the way the blue stands out on black and white photos. It appears to almost float and stand out. Very nice looking.

The silver gel looks great on a black background. My most beautiful pieces are things I bought at Novaspace, signed with the silver gel. (David Scott with rover pic, Jim Lovell Earthrise and Gene Cernan with flag and Earth overhead.)

posted 03-03-2002 07:19 PM               

Sharpie remixed the ink, and that is no longer a consideration. I've found personally — there is no fade difference between blue and black now. To me anyway and I've not done any experiments, simply from over the years. I use both blue and black; sometimes I'm happy to have the signature no matter the color and whatever was handy, but if I have a choice then I select it according to contrast to the background.

posted 08-17-2002 11:22 PM               

I had a similar problem with a John Glenn gold ink photo I had bought pre-signed. This one was most definitely, without question, dry when I purchased it.

On the other hand, I have another Ed Mitchell photo that he signed with silver metallic ink. It looks as great now as the day signed.

posted 08-18-2002 05:52 PM               

If there is a situation you have a choice, go for the Sharpie. I've seen metallic pens chip, flake, smear, flatten — everything imaginable.

In this instance of silver vs. gold, I believe it has more to do with the style paint pen and width rather than the color.

posted 08-21-2002 11:18 AM               

I find that protective pages, no matter what claims the manufacturer makes can eventually pickoff or smear your autograph. This can happen if it's in a book and weight is applied to it in storage. Humidity and temperature changes can attribute to it. Framed pieces that touch glass will also begin to deteriorate.

posted 12-29-2002 11:52 AM               

Sharpie, Popular Designer Frank Bielec Agree 'Tis The Season To Be Silver'

December 16, 2002

With a ho, ho, ho, Sharpie, the world's most popular family of permanent markers, today announced that it is answering the call for a marker that can be used on dark surfaces — just in time for holiday arts and crafts. Introducing the Sharpie METALLIC marker in silver, the perfect accent to make the season even brighter.

In addition to offering a signature bold silver line, Sharpie Metallic marker eliminates many of the issues associated with most other metallic markers — such as difficulty controlling the amount of ink flow and the need for shaking and tip pressing before the using a marker. The latest addition to the Sharpie family provides even ink flow, as well as permanent and fast-drying silver metallic ink with no mess and no preparation before use — simply uncap and go.

"It's the perfect time for silver," said Frank Bielec, designer for a popular, do-it-yourself decorating program on cable television, who also owns his own arts and crafts business. "These days, more and more people are looking for simple, cost effective ways to make gift giving more personal.

The new Sharpie Metallic marker — with its bold silver metallic ink — provides an easy to use, distinct touch that can turn the most everyday holiday item into something special. As one of the most trusted names in arts and crafts, Sharpie markers can write on virtually any surface. I'm sure we'll be seeing lots of crafters coming up with creative, unique ways to answer, 'How do you use your Sharpie?'"

Bielec says there are almost limitless uses for the new Sharpie Metallic marker — for holiday or year-round crafting. Try some of these holiday crafts using the new marker from Sharpie:

• The Write Stuff — Holiday Wrapping Paper and Gift Bags — Personalize dark-colored wrapping paper with a flourish of silver and a look unique to each gift you give.
  
• Endless Ornaments — Commemorate the season by adding life to traditional green, red, blue, gold or any old holiday ornaments.
  
• A Glass With Class — Snuggle up to a warm fireplace on a cold winter's night with a decorative champagne flute, coffee or tea mug.
  
• Picture This! — Write a note on holiday pictures and cards for the warmest of wishes.
  
• Handcrafted Holiday Cards — Transform ordinary cards into attractive, custom-made greetings.
  
• Capture The Moment — Put a permanent mark on those holiday memories by labeling videotapes with the help of the Sharpie Metallic marker.
  
• The possibilities are endless. Be creative with Sharpie Metallic and the twelve other colors now offered, including: Aqua, Berry, Turquoise, Lime, Black, Red, Blue, Green, Purple, Orange, Yellow and Brown.

"We are pleased to bring loyal Sharpie customers yet another signature innovation," said Chris Heye, vice president and general manager for Sharpie. "We look forward to continuing the Sharpie brand's tradition of innovation and customer satisfaction as we introduce more bold, exciting new colors and products in the months and years ahead."

Initially available in silver fine point, the Sharpie Metallic is non-toxic as approved by the Arts & Crafts Materials Institute. Sharpie Metallic is available where writing instruments and art products are sold, in 1-, 2- and 4-packs starting at a suggested retail price of $1.45.

posted 01-12-2003 03:42 PM               

So, I wrote on some Fuji Crystal Archive paper with six different Sharpie colors. I put one test batch in a dark drawer and the second in a south-facing window. After only seven days I noticed some results and scanned them. (I put the test back in the window for further tracking.)

Mind you, this is not scientific, it is just something I threw together after recalling somebody else's lead.

I used Silver, Black, Blue, Green, Red, and a Light Violet. Mind you this is after only seven days. I was surprised at some of the colors and happy with the others. I will scan them again after two weeks and compare again.

posted 01-12-2003 08:14 PM               

I expected the Red and Green to not do so well and they lived up to expectations.

It's just that darn Blue. The Blue faded out a lot worse than I had hoped. (Blue is, I mean was, my favorite color.)

posted 01-21-2003 10:36 PM               

The Blue, while still visible, is starting to look like a stain more than writing. I looked real hard at the Silver and I want to say that it looks different, but it just isn't really a detectable change yet. The same goes for the Black. I think it may be losing a little of its depth of tone, but I just can't really see it clearly.

The Red is not of this Earth much longer, the Green is fading. Surprisingly my little mistake, Violet, or Fuschia, is holding out much better than the Reds, Blues and Greens.

I should add that these are getting some heat from the South-facing window. So that will add to their decline. I will run another test out of a North-facing window soon.

posted 03-30-2003 10:28 PM               

I compared it to some of the silver ink sigs from pens that Kim Poor has issued to astronauts at his signings, and Kim's markers seem much more definite, clear, and "thinner."

Of course it's just my personal preference- The Sharpies seem fine...It's just that, if given the option, I prefer thinner lines because they don't come across as muddy...

posted 10-01-2003 08:59 PM               

But, I think the paint pens, when done correctly, seem to, "look," a lot better.

My unscientific judgement is that I use Sharpie when I am having somebody sign in person, or perhaps through the mail. If the signing is being done by a pro, I would go with the paint pen.

posted 10-02-2003 09:21 AM               

Jack Schmitt told me as he was signing for me with a silver paint pen to "Get it started, first!" Apparently he was about to sign the flag shot a week before and the pen wouldn't write so naturally he shook it and the pen leaked all over the photo.

posted 10-02-2003 09:26 AM               

The thing I've found with the silver Sharpie, is it needs to be "primed" too. I generally break it in by writing just a little first, otherwise its too weak a fluid. Don't know why, but it is true (for me at least). Once you do that it works fine. Also, the tip dulls much more quickly than a standard sharpie so be careful of that as well.

posted 02-14-2004 06:02 PM               

As you can see earlier this thread, Doug Henry did a test with multiple colors of Sharpies. Although it was unscientific, results indicated that blue faded pretty consistently across the board when compared with black (as does red and green also). Black was hands-down the sharpie color that faded the least.

posted 02-20-2004 12:35 PM               

The good thing about blue is that if you keep it in a dark cool place, hopefully everything will be fine, assuming the fading mentioned upthread is indeed caused by excessive heat.