Getting an Autograph

October 14, 2004 8:19 AM

AutographFilter : I'm going to a concert in a few weeks time, and was wondering about the ideal pen to use (if any) on glossy paper with a dark background. [More inside]

Basically, I went on ebay and looked for promotional material for the artist in question (Bill Frisell). The best I could find was a 20x12 poster, which is fairly dark, overall. To be especially clear, here's a picture of the poster in question. It's fairly glossy, like magazine paper, but heavier.

The question, then, is this : what sort of pen/marker or whatever might be capable of writing on this? I remember back in junior high a lot of girls used some sort of two-color marker-like pens... I don't know what they're called, but they had a metal ball in them like spraypaint cans do and they had to be shaken before use. Would those work?

I guess I want a website which it to pens what thistothat is to glue.

I'll probably frame it and give it to a friend, so it won't be messed with or rolled and unrolled or anything like that, but would obviously not want the signature to fade.

posted by mragreeable to sports, hobbies, & recreation (7 comments total)

Sharpie makes silver pens. I go to a lot of conventions, and everyone is signing their glossies with them now.
posted by JoanArkham at 8:23 AM on October 14, 2004

Yes, but what if you want certain body parts signs? Sharpies still work then?
posted by bakiwop at 8:31 AM on October 14, 2004

Sharpies bleed a bit on flesh, but I'm not sure what's better. There must be something surgeons use to draw their surgery lines.. anyone?
posted by some chick at 8:32 AM on October 14, 2004

permanent pen for fabric (the sort tailors use--there's two kinds: air/water soluble pen for fabric and permanent, some permanent pens are only permanent after application of heat) works well on flesh b/c it doesn't bleed. it does wash off skin, eventually, though.
posted by crush-onastick at 9:39 AM on October 14, 2004

I agree that metallic sharpies are the best. They dry quickly too.
posted by Juicylicious at 9:44 AM on October 14, 2004

What JoanArkham said. Sharpie silver pens are the shiznit.
posted by notsnot at 9:55 AM on October 14, 2004

Metallic Sanford Sharpie (I like the "Fine" tip over the "Ultrafine") for dark backgrounds of any kind. Black Sanford Sharpie for non-dark backgrounds. Marks-A-Lot for body parts.
posted by majick at 7:12 PM on October 14, 2004