I'm glad someone brought up the question re: signing prints. But I'm still wondering, does someone has experience as to what is the best type of pen to use to use?
I'll be needing it to sign directly on the print which is printed on a resin-coated, glossy paper.
Black would probably be too obtrusive for me, but a pen that comes in other colors would be great (such as silver).
You might try some of the paint pens that are available. Try this on a small print on the same paper and see what the results are. I have seen them in craft stores in many different colors. I suppose that adhesion is a big question.
Sharpies are anything but permanent. I'm looking at a museum-grade B&W print (the real kind) a friend signed for me with a Sharpie three years ago. The sig is now barely legible.
I use the Sakura Identi-Pen. It has a very fine point on one end and a larger point on the other. No problem with skipping on RC or glossy printer paper. They dry immediately, never run or bleed through, and seem to be about eternal in longevity. I'm not sure what colors are available, as I usually sign in black just outside the image area.
Pilot also makes a nice line of archival pens, which are available in metallic (real metal) pigments--I have one in silver and one in gold. They take a while to dry, but will last asa long as the metal dust in them--I guess the gold will last a while.
I use a "gold-writer" pen, gold or silver, or any other color foil, and sign my prints. I've had this "gold-writer pen" for 30 years, and am still using the same one! It's a bargain!
It works like a woodburner, plug it in, let it heat, then write over the foil to make the foil embed into the print. So far, prints I signed 30 years ago still have the signatures as fresh as when new.
Sakura Pigma Micron are only available in black or color, is there same quality archival pen in white ? I would need a black one and a white one for different photos.
