This guide is to help you when you are trying to decide what you want your item signed in. It can also be used as a guide to buying autographs, and what pen will look the bes tas the years progress.
Baseballs. The preferred pen to use on baseballs is a BLUE BALL POINT. Many of us in the industry, prefer the Bic or Pentel Pens. The Bic Accountant pen, Bic Crystal, and the Pentel R.S.V.P. are the top three choices for many of us.
Sharpies on baseballs are not a wise decision. When you are in a pinch, and have no other pens with you, then obviously use the sharpie. However, signatures will often bleed into the baseball over time with a sharpie.
It is common over time for some ink to bleed into the baseball, whether it's a sharpie or a ball point pen. Varying factors of a signature holding over time, include the type of baseball, the exposure to direct sunlight, handling of the baseball, oils from the hands, etc.
The best advice to keep your baseballs preserved over time, would be to handle the baseball very lightly, i.e. on the laces, and put it into a U.V. Protected case or holder. This way, you can keep your baseball proudly displayed, and at the same time be protecting it.
Photos. For photos, the preferred pen to use is a Sharpie. Most of the time you should use a Blue Sharpie, however Black Sharpie is also common. Most prefer the Blue Sharpie as it stands out more, and many have found over time the Black Sharpie tends to turn yellow around the edges of the signature.
For darker photos, where a Sharpie would blend too much into the photo, a Silver Paint Pen or Silver Sharpie should be used. Silver Sharpies are very hit or miss, and can often streak and wear down quickly. The Deco Color Silver Paint Pen is the preferred pen as it rarely streaks, and often comes out much nicer than a Silver Sharpie. The downside to the Deco Color Silver Paint Pen is it's only good for a few uses, and after a few weeks of inactivity, it is no longer good.
Baseballs. The preferred pen to use on baseballs is a BLUE BALL POINT. Many of us in the industry, prefer the Bic or Pentel Pens. The Bic Accountant pen, Bic Crystal, and the Pentel R.S.V.P. are the top three choices for many of us.
Sharpies on baseballs are not a wise decision. When you are in a pinch, and have no other pens with you, then obviously use the sharpie. However, signatures will often bleed into the baseball over time with a sharpie.
It is common over time for some ink to bleed into the baseball, whether it's a sharpie or a ball point pen. Varying factors of a signature holding over time, include the type of baseball, the exposure to direct sunlight, handling of the baseball, oils from the hands, etc.
The best advice to keep your baseballs preserved over time, would be to handle the baseball very lightly, i.e. on the laces, and put it into a U.V. Protected case or holder. This way, you can keep your baseball proudly displayed, and at the same time be protecting it.
Photos. For photos, the preferred pen to use is a Sharpie. Most of the time you should use a Blue Sharpie, however Black Sharpie is also common. Most prefer the Blue Sharpie as it stands out more, and many have found over time the Black Sharpie tends to turn yellow around the edges of the signature.
For darker photos, where a Sharpie would blend too much into the photo, a Silver Paint Pen or Silver Sharpie should be used. Silver Sharpies are very hit or miss, and can often streak and wear down quickly. The Deco Color Silver Paint Pen is the preferred pen as it rarely streaks, and often comes out much nicer than a Silver Sharpie. The downside to the Deco Color Silver Paint Pen is it's only good for a few uses, and after a few weeks of inactivity, it is no longer good.
For books, a sharpie or felt tipped pen is the choice for many. This is the most common pen used at book signings, and is a fine choice overall.
For trading cards,use a Blue or Black Sharpie. Ball point pens should not be used on trading cards as the ink will fade over time, and become indistinct.
Basketballs, and footballs? Good question. On Basketballs and footballs it is common for a sharpie to be used. Again, though, if the colors are dark, or you would like the signatures to stand out, a Silver Sharpie or Silver Paint Pen should be used.
Football Helmets, Baseball Helmets, Hockey Helmets, again depend on the colors of the helmets. On darker helmets Silver Paint Pen and Silver Sharpie are often used.
Hockey Pucks are usually black and should be signed in either Silver Paint Pen, or Silver Sharpie. Same rules apply above.
Hockey Sticks are usually signed in sharpie, unless it is dark, in which case you should get it signed in Silver.
Anything else, you should consult the list above, and make the best judgment as far as colors, signature to stand out, etc.
Football Helmets, Baseball Helmets, Hockey Helmets, again depend on the colors of the helmets. On darker helmets Silver Paint Pen and Silver Sharpie are often used.
Hockey Pucks are usually black and should be signed in either Silver Paint Pen, or Silver Sharpie. Same rules apply above.
Hockey Sticks are usually signed in sharpie, unless it is dark, in which case you should get it signed in Silver.
Anything else, you should consult the list above, and make the best judgment as far as colors, signature to stand out, etc.
Here's an interesting story on President Obama’s presumptive nominee for the new Secretary of the Treasury. I tappears his nominee, Jacob J. Lew, has a very strange looking signature. It doesn’t look anything like the actual spelling of his name. It’s just a bunch of crazy circles.