Signing Photos with Markers

[Meatface]

I am looking for a good silver fine point marker that I can use to write on matte finish mounted photos. Any suggestions from past experience would be greatly appreciated.

[Wilt]

Are these printer output, or photographic output prints (many commerical photofinishers can print on conventional light sensitive paper from digital files)? The issue with some of the silver 'ink' pens is whether or not the solvents in them are antagonistic to the organic dyes of conventional color print paper. I have used liquid inks (alcohol based) on conventional color prints. The silver/gold pens with solvents I would use on printer output, but I'd investigate more before using on conventional color print!

[Wilt]

I just did a small bit of searching, and it seems that the Pilot pens which I am familiar with are photo safe...

"Add luster to your writing! Gold and Silver Markers mark permanently on most surfaces including glass, photos, plastic, paper, and more. Ideal for crafts. Shimmering metallic colors in extra fine and medium points. "

[Meatface]

Thanks Wilt. They are not printer photos, they are coming directly from the lab.

[Jkim13]

A regular silver Sharpie should work.

[Meatface]

They don't make a fine point silver sharpie, or that would be perfect. The Sharpie Paint marker is pretty good, but still thicker than I am looking for.

[Bootsie]

I would try a scrapbook store, they usually have "acid safe" things for photos, and a much better selection.

[Wilt]

I would try a scrapbook store, they usually have "acid safe" things for photos, and a much better selection.

'Acid safe' alone is not necessarily enough, as the solvent which is used to carry the pigment might itself be antagonistic to the organic dyes in conventional photographic prints. The freedom from acid simply addresses long term stability, whereas the use of the proper carrying solvent addresses the short term color shifts or fade that could happen when the photo is being signed!

Vinyl sleeves are 'acid safe' yet they emit fumes which accelerate the deterioation of color prints (store color prints in polyethylene or mylar or polypropylene, but not polyvinyl chloride sleeves!)

[galahad]

checkout those silver pens used for writing on CD/DVD labels.