Signing Photographs-Which Ink?

[davegt]

After many years, I decided to start back with a fountain pen. I never knew how much I missed them. So, I bought a Pelikan and my writing had improved immensely.

 

I am a photographer wanting to sign prints with my Fountain pen but I don't know what ink is the best. Permanent ink?

 

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

[georgeb]

I think it depends on the photograph paper.

 

Glossy, flat, etc.?

 

A permanent ink for that particular paper would be good.

[pkoko]

I personally would not use a FP on the glossy surface of a photo. Use a sharpie instead

[davegt]

Thank you for the quick replies! Given that most printing is coming off a machine (I forget which one the photo store uses) it seems that a permanent ink would at least adhere as well as the ink used in the printer.

 

However the "laying down" of the ink with a pen may be a problem. It may be possible to use some pounce as we did on Mylar drawings years ago while working in architecture but I have not tried that.

 

Sharpie pens (ultra fine are easy enough to use but I never liked the sheen or look of that ink under some lighting). It is permanent ink too, as far as I know.

[Ted F]

I hate to say this in FPN but NEVER sign you photographs with ink. Use a pencil. Ink fades, graphite lasts for ever. I've sold my photographs through galleries and pencil is what they insist on.

[davegt]

Yes, Ted, I understand what you are saying about galleries. But there are exceptions even for professionals like Jim Marshall who signed his on the front. Photos of Kris Kristiferson, Jimi Hendrix, etc have lasted a long time.

 

Ink or pencil on the front, I don't know but my prints are only for family and friends and I seriously doubt they need archival quality standards. Permanent ink should last as long as the printer ink... I would think. (???) Anyone tried permanent ink to see how permanent it really is?

 

Also, I wonder what permanent ink does to a fountain pen... is it an issue or not?

 

In the end, a signed print similar to Jum Marshall's in pencil may be better...

Edited September 5, 2015 by davegt

[RLTodd]

I think the preferred writing instrument has always been and is a SOFT lead pencil.

[dcwaites]

Yes, Ted, I understand what you are saying about galleries. But there are exceptions even for professionals like Jim Marshall who signed his on the front. Photos of Kris Kristiferson, Jimi Hendrix, etc have lasted a long time.

 

Ink or pencil on the front, I don't know but my prints are only for family and friends and I seriously doubt they need archival quality standards. Permanent ink should last as long as the printer ink... I would think. (???) Anyone tried permanent ink to see how permanent it really is?

 

Also, I wonder what permanent ink does to a fountain pen... is it an issue or not?

 

In the end, a signed print similar to Jum Marshall's in pencil may be better...

 

It's not the permanence of the ink that is the necessary property. There are many permanent fountain pen inks. It's just that most photos are printed on a paper with a plastic outside layer that protects the photo. FP inks are water-based and will not stick to the plastic. Sharpie and other marker pens have an alcohol based ink that adheres to the plastic, while ballpoint pens have an oil-based ink that also adheres to the plastic. Pencil just rubs off on any surface that isn't ultra-smooth.

 

Photo paper for inkjet printers, even glossy paper, will take FP ink, but may make a Fine nib look like a Broad nib, as the ink spreads sideways on the paper. If you are printing your own prints with a high-quality inkjet printer you may be ok. If you are printing on stock using an enlarger, you may just need to try on waste stock.

 

I have had Noodler's Baystate Blue stick to plastics, like the sign panel on the back of a credit card, but I would be using it in an inexpensive pen. You may also see if you can get a sample of Noodler's Kung Te Cheng and try that.

 

Please experiment and let us know the results of what works on what stock.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

In general terms, signatures should be outside the image area, so the images would be printed with a border.

 

I previously suggested scanning one's signature then printing that on the border of the paper.

 

Alternatively, signing a label with archival (acid free) adhesive then affix it the the back of the print, but that precludes mounting the print.

 

We also have the Magic Color acrylic inks, which I found to be compatible with an FP. Those inks are most certainly very high maintenance and need careful matching to an [expendable] pen with a 'straight-through' feed+collector - more like a Noodler's pen rather than that of a Waterman Carene - for ease of removing all residue immediately after use.

 

Going to such an extreme ink just to use an FP seems more trouble than its worth: square pegs, round holes, large hammer. Then again, I'm not a photographer, so have little understanding of their quirks idiosyncrasies. I'd rather use a dip pen with such ink, even Noodler's Kung Te Cheng, rather than the overhead of using an FP.

 

I did a quick google for "photograph marker archival" which returned a goodly range of options. The Itoya Art Profolio Marker* definitely seemed a step ahead of the default Sharpie, though Sharpie does market a Photo Marker^†.

 

As ever, I look forward to reading more as your inky adventure continues.

 

Bye,

S1

 

 

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* Review of Itoya Art Profolio Marker http://www.scanyourentirelife.com/itoya-art-profolio-photo-safe-marker-review/

^† Sharpie Photo Marker http://www.centuryphoto.com/sharpie-fine-point-photo-marker-black/photo-marking-pen/

Edited September 6, 2015 by Sandy1

[Algester]

Well i once went into film development and the photo paper we used was very sensitive to light so I dont think its coated with plastic since we need to immerse it with chemicals to get our photo "printed" to me this was fun even though it only lasted for 4 months just 3 years ago... If ever you need some ink it probably depends on the paper the ones I was introduced to are receptive to ink