r/comiccon • u/JustOneLazyMunchlax • Apr 24 '26
Con Autograph Question New to Cons, suggestions for pens for signatures
I attended a convention in the end of 2024 for the first time, went again 2025, and now I'm expanding to other types of conventions as I finally have friends that attend them.
I have bought a custom hardback journal, A4 size pages, 200 gsm thick with custom art on the cover. I bought this to store signatures and maybe stick some pictures into it.
Signatures are for long distance friends or community members I meet, as well as internet personalities or celebrities.
I want to buy a pen that'd do well for signature, I hear gold markers are good?
I tried looking around, even used ChatGPT to see what it would recommend, but I was left by the end genuinely unsure what pen would be good, particularly with like, what sort of thinkness should I be aiming for? Is a paint pen worth it and if so what warning should I give when people sign so as to not just have the paint flow out?
What are your recommendations, is Gold metallic good?
I'm also UK based, so I may not have ready access to more American products, and if you know UK or EU specific based brands, I am open.
I'm also fine for having more than one option, I just got a bit overwhelmed by the variety of choice.
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u/BearCatcher23 Apr 24 '26
Archival paint pen will last the longest. Sharpies WILL fade over time. Like you say, risk of paint pen is they will bleed everywhere and this has happened to me a few times on my pieces. Risk vs reward so if you are able to bring 2 copies of your print that would be best. I do metal art and I always bring 2 (1 for me and one for sale) just in case they mess it up and it happens so that piece ends up being mine.
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u/JustOneLazyMunchlax Apr 24 '26
Got any examples of Archival Paint pens? And what sizes are good?
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u/BearCatcher23 Apr 24 '26
As you have mentioned in your post, the number of choices is overwhelming. To narrow it down a bit, we have 3 choices that would help a little bit. Wide, fine, and medium tip. I do wide because I do metal work. For paper, medium or fine is what I would do but this is a personal preference. If you want it to be bold and stand out then wide would be what you want. If you are unsure, I would go with medium. Oh, also the size of your print will determine pen width. If you are to do standard 8" x 10" photo then medium or thin would be good. Larger prints I would do medium or fat tip. Also if you plan on getting multiple people to sign the print the go with the thinner pen.
What I did is I poked thru Amazon and made sure "archival" was in the description. I can't recall off hand what brand it is but it was a multi colored pack. I would HIGHLY recommend multiple colors because down the road you will run across someone who their color is the theme of the movie. Like for me I got Neve Campbell to autograph a Screme blade I made and she signed it in red rather than the standard black. Another example I have is Master Chief and Cortana from Halo video game. https://imgur.com/a/EiypxMt#Qtv4n68 who also signed in the color of their character.
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u/JustOneLazyMunchlax Apr 24 '26
I'm using 200 gsm paper Uncoated white A4 paper in a hardback Journal.
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u/MySocratesNote Apr 24 '26
On white paper, gold metallic will not give great contrast. Blue, black, or red sharpie would look great though.