Help me get rid of my "trainer's tattoo!"
July 23, 2008 2:03 PM Subscribe
What are your favorite quick-drying and/or absolutely smudge-proof markers, both for easel paper and whiteboard? Also, techniques to help a lefty avoid smudges wil be much appreciated.
I'm a lefty. Not only that, I have a very odd way of holding my writing instrument (so that it forms a right angle with my hand - fellow lefties might know what I'm talking about), AND I mash my pens hard into the writing surface.
All this combined means I leave HORRIBLE smears wherever I go. My job requires I do a lot of charting and writing on easel paper and/or whiteboard. I feel it looks unprofessional to leave a trail of smudges and smears and messed-up printing behind me. Not to mention the lovely "trainer's tattoo" on the side of my hand!
Tips, tricks and techniques ranging from quick-dry markers to writing techniques are appreciated.
I'm a lefty. Not only that, I have a very odd way of holding my writing instrument (so that it forms a right angle with my hand - fellow lefties might know what I'm talking about), AND I mash my pens hard into the writing surface.
All this combined means I leave HORRIBLE smears wherever I go. My job requires I do a lot of charting and writing on easel paper and/or whiteboard. I feel it looks unprofessional to leave a trail of smudges and smears and messed-up printing behind me. Not to mention the lovely "trainer's tattoo" on the side of my hand!
Tips, tricks and techniques ranging from quick-dry markers to writing techniques are appreciated.
My lefty niece uses a smudge guard. I'm not sure how well it would work with a whiteboard, but she seemed to find it useful for everyday stuff.
posted by stefanie at 2:34 PM on July 23, 2008
posted by stefanie at 2:34 PM on July 23, 2008
When you're writing on a whiteboard, your hand shouldn't touch the board at all. It takes a surprisingly small amount of practice to master it. Plus, writing like that makes you look cooler. And keeps hand-grease off the board.
I too recommend sharpies for impressive paper-writing-on.
Not for nothing, it might be useful to retrain yourself on penmanship- it's not *too* hard to come up with a way to orient the pen and medium so that hand drags don't occur. While I am a righty, I did have to teach myself to write lefty due to a broken arm, with no smudges. Almost completely illegible, but smear-free...
posted by gjc at 3:15 PM on July 23, 2008
I too recommend sharpies for impressive paper-writing-on.
Not for nothing, it might be useful to retrain yourself on penmanship- it's not *too* hard to come up with a way to orient the pen and medium so that hand drags don't occur. While I am a righty, I did have to teach myself to write lefty due to a broken arm, with no smudges. Almost completely illegible, but smear-free...
posted by gjc at 3:15 PM on July 23, 2008
My dad and I (both lefties; he taught me this trick) use a piece of paper in a style analogous to the "smudge guard" linked above -- it's cheaper than $14.99, but less easy to maintain when holding your hand vertically, as on a white board. In general, I just put an extra little torn-off piece of paper between the blade of my hand and the paper I'm writing on and it slides along with me as I write-- I've been known to use a sticky-note or tape to hold it on, though, when necessary.
If you're doing all this writing in public, the smudge guard does seem like the potentially more "professional"(but less life-hacky and way more dorky, imho) option.
posted by obliquicity at 3:28 PM on July 23, 2008
If you're doing all this writing in public, the smudge guard does seem like the potentially more "professional"(but less life-hacky and way more dorky, imho) option.
posted by obliquicity at 3:28 PM on July 23, 2008
Like gjc said, there is a knack for writing on whiteboards that is different from writing on a piece of paper. It is more of a whole arm movement rather than a wrist movement. When I started, I found that writing the words bigger helped as it is difficult to keep you hand on the board if the letters are larger than the range of your hand. A little practice will do you well...can you bring an easel home so you can practice in private?
Bigger pens in general will help you develop the style I'm talking about, rather than the skinny pen type. These are the pens I prefer. They allow you to erase without reaching for the huge eraser, which will help you when you need to erase the occasional smudge.
posted by ms.v. at 9:53 PM on July 23, 2008
Bigger pens in general will help you develop the style I'm talking about, rather than the skinny pen type. These are the pens I prefer. They allow you to erase without reaching for the huge eraser, which will help you when you need to erase the occasional smudge.
posted by ms.v. at 9:53 PM on July 23, 2008
Being a lefty also, I have an odd solution I doubt you'll like, but I simply write backwards in such situations.
posted by scottymac at 10:56 PM on July 23, 2008
posted by scottymac at 10:56 PM on July 23, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by saradarlin at 2:11 PM on July 23, 2008