What pen should be used for Autographs?

[Nodie27]

(I have a feelings this has already been covered on the forums but couldn't find anything so if it has sorry)

What is the best pen or marker to use on:

Baseballs?
8 x 10s?

Thanks, any info is appreciated.

[nofrills]

Ive had good luck with plain ol Papermate pens on balls. On pics, I usually go for a blue sharipe.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m17/muskymike/Blue%20Jays%20Stuff/IMG_2499.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m17/muskymike/Blue%20Jays%20Stuff/IMG_2500.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m17/muskymike/Blue%20Jays%20Stuff/IMG_2501.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m17/muskymike/Blue%20Jays%20Stuff/morrowauto.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m17/muskymike/Blue%20Jays%20Stuff/romeroauto.jpg

[mgugs46]

Sharpie on 8x10
Bic pen on balls
Staedtler pen on cards

[John91C]

I don't do a lot of 8x10 photo's but when I do I use the Staedtler markers...these are what the card companies use for auto's on the cards...I use the Staedtler markers for helmets as well...

Lately I'm thinking about using the Uniball Jetstream Ballpoint pen...it's a hybrid that doesn't fade with uv, permanent and works on the 1st time...I'm going to a William Shatner signing in 2 weeks and I thought I would try that pen on a baseball...or I'll use the Staedtler...

I use Blue Fine Staedtler permanent marker for my baseballs:

Joe Montana:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t199/John91C/Auto%20Memorabilia/Signed%20Baseballs/P1010477.jpg

Apolo Ohno:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t199/John91C/Auto%20Memorabilia/Signed%20Baseballs/YOO_0021-1.jpg

For 8x10's I use Blue Medium Staedtler Permanent Marker:

This one was the Red Medium Staedtler Permanent Marker (to match the red color in the photo)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t199/John91C/Auto%20Memorabilia/Signed%20Sports%20Photos/YOO_0044.jpg

Apolo Ohno:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t199/John91C/Auto%20Memorabilia/Signed%20Sports%20Photos/CCF11142010_00002.jpg

[Sushiyoshi]

Julianne is so hot!

/hide

[Firebirds11]

Uniball Jetstream pen can be a disaster if the athlete rushes the signature. I go with Blue Bic Crystals, never fade and perfect every time.

For 8x10's always use blue sharpie.

[danmecum51]

Yeah, Blue sharpie always the best for 8x10s where there isnt a lot of dark on the photo. Black looks like it could be printed easily (see yogis photo)
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll233/Danmecum51/TTM/yogi.jpg

and the blue looks much more authentic.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll233/Danmecum51/TTM/peyton.jpg

I also love silver sharpie where it is dark on the photo
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll233/Danmecum51/TTM/12-18-2010044807PM.jpg

[John91C]

Uniball Jetstream pen can be a disaster if the athlete rushes the signature. I go with Blue Bic Crystals, never fade and perfect every time.

For 8x10's always use blue sharpie.

Are you talking about the "ball point pen" for jetstream? I know they make a gel type pen and a rollerball type...this one is a ball point and it's a very smooth pen and writes very nicely and has a good deep blue. They have 3 different pens for the jetstream model...try out the "ball point pen" they sell it as a "rollerball" and I think it's the best writing utensil for a pen. It doesn't smear and it's fade resistant.

I stay away from sharpies...I always use staedtler if I'm doing an in-person signing. It's a deeper blue and you don't have to "break" the tip when it's new like you do with a sharpie.

[John91C]

Yeah, Blue sharpie always the best for 8x10s where there isnt a lot of dark on the photo. Black looks like it could be printed easily (see yogis photo)

and the blue looks much more authentic.

Some athletes/ttmers do not sign with blue since it is considered the "legal" color when signing paperwork, etc...I know I've read stories on how people take the blue signature and transplant it onto legal paperwork...who knows if this is true but I know some celebrities will not sign if they see you with a blue pen/sharpie.

[Firebirds11]

Some athletes/ttmers do not sign with blue since it is considered the "legal" color when signing paperwork, etc...I know I've read stories on how people take the blue signature and transplant it onto legal paperwork...who knows if this is true but I know some celebrities will not sign if they see you with a blue pen/sharpie.

Wow, thats surprising. I've been on sportsgraphing and Neshek, and never saw someone get denied. That would suck though.

[mgugs46]

I don't do a lot of 8x10 photo's but when I do I use the Staedtler markers..

I prefer Sharpie on photos, the Staedtlers chip sometimes, though I guess they also do that with cards if you are not careful

Id be interested to see how those balls done with Staedtlers look in a few years

[Firebirds11]

Are you talking about the "ball point pen" for jetstream? I know they make a gel type pen and a rollerball type...this one is a ball point and it's a very smooth pen and writes very nicely and has a good deep blue. They have 3 different pens for the jetstream model...try out the "ball point pen" they sell it as a "rollerball" and I think it's the best writing utensil for a pen. It doesn't smear and it's fade resistant.

I stay away from sharpies...I always use staedtler if I'm doing an in-person signing. It's a deeper blue and you don't have to "break" the tip when it's new like you do with a sharpie.

Yes, I'm talking about the ball point pen. On sportsgraphing, we had a discussion about the pen. Oyxn (sp) uses it for their signings, but they warned that the pen skips when rushed. I've seen on the website examples of that. I've never used it personally, and probably won't, just because I don't want to try something new when something else is working for me.

[Nodie27]

wow thanks a lot everyone. my girl is taking me to a charity event for my birthday and Guest of honor is Vin Scully. Dying to get an autographed ball and other stuff from him. Wish me luck!!!!!

[John91C]

I prefer Sharpie on photos, the Staedtlers chip sometimes, though I guess they also do that with cards if you are not careful

Id be interested to see how those balls done with Staedtlers look in a few years

Willie Mays has been using the Staedtler Blue markers for years...haven't seen a faded one. They are not like using sharpie markers on baseballs where the ink bleeds into the ball.

I've never seen a Staedtler marker "chip"...all markers can be streaky. I use the Staedtler for the color of blue, it's not as bright as the sharpie.

Overall it's whatever you think will look good. If you have any doubt go with the traditional blue bic pen.

I know with bic pens when you sometimes start using it, the ink doesn't come right away so it can look bad.

[Firebirds11]

Willie Mays has been using the Staedtler Blue markers for years...haven't seen a faded one. They are not like using sharpie markers on baseballs where the ink bleeds into the ball.

I've never seen a Staedtler marker "chip"...all markers can be streaky. I use the Staedtler for the color of blue, it's not as bright as the sharpie.

Overall it's whatever you think will look good. If you have any doubt go with the traditional blue bic pen.

I know with bic pens when you sometimes start using it, the ink doesn't come right away so it can look bad.

He does it because it's easier to use. Of course none has faded, because he's only done signings for 5 years now.

[Chaddie84]

Julianne is so hot!

/hide

My thoughts exactly :D

[MASNAR]

Some athletes/ttmers do not sign with blue since it is considered the "legal" color when signing paperwork, etc...I know I've read stories on how people take the blue signature and transplant it onto legal paperwork...who knows if this is true but I know some celebrities will not sign if they see you with a blue pen/sharpie.

I was at a Sidney Rice signing in Minnesota... they specifically stated that Sid won't sign anything in Blue Sharpie.

At the end of the show he signed items for the employees at the store in blue sharpie. I am not sure of the significance?

Edit: I also heard that decocolor paint pen/marker work nice on jersey numbers.. versus sharpies

[John91C]

He does it because it's easier to use. Of course none has faded, because he's only done signings for 5 years now.

It's not "easier" to use...it's because of his bad eye sight. The Staedtler pens are bolder and stand out better than the ball point pen. He's also been using them longer than 5 years...I think it's going on 10 years now. I've seen sharpies on baseball completely bleed after a year or two...even 5 years. I think if there was trouble with Staedtler pens we would have seen them by now.

[Firebirds11]

It's not "easier" to use...it's because of his bad eye sight. The Staedtler pens are bolder and stand out better than the ball point pen. He's also been using them longer than 5 years...I think it's going on 10 years now. I've seen sharpies on baseball completely bleed after a year or two...even 5 years. I think if there was trouble with Staedtler pens we would have seen them by now.

I totally agree with not using a sharpie on baseballs, that's not a wise choice. But it seems like, even thought the Staedtler might be better, that people prefer blue pens. If it's for their own personal collection, then that would be fine to use a Staedtler. But if they plan to sell it, better use a blue pen.

[tonedef2oo8]

I wish I had a picture of the ball we had signed by Brooks Robinson a few years back with a Staedtler. The autographs bled into the ball so bad it looked like just a blue panel. So maybe you dont live in as humid as an environment as me. But it did bleed.

[tehchamp]

I feel you should never use anything resembling a sharpie/maker on a baseball. It will bleed at some point.

I used a regular BIC pen and I would scribble away on a plain piece of paper before I got the autograph. You can check my thread where I posted my baseballs and pretty much all of them have a clean signature.

For 8x10's, I like sharpies and try to stay away from dark photo's because I've found when you have to use a silver/gold, the autograph is very likely to get smudged or "come off" from touching the cover or whatever you put it in. You have to be very careful with using those. If you get it signed in silver and put it in a frame, it will be fine though.

For cards, I ended up preferring the Staedler markers and switched between the fine point and medium point from time to time. The fine would enable the player's auto to write better, but the medium made it stick out better.
John Wetteland fine point:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/tehchamp24/1998%20MLB%20All%20Star%20Project/American%20League/WettelandJohn.jpg