How to Choose the Best Silver Marker for Your Autographs
The carpenter has his hammer. The plumber has his wrench. The grapher has his blue Sharpie.
But sometimes your photo has a dark background. Or your bat is black. Or you have a football. Then, what do you pull out of your toolbox?
If you want your dark item signed in silver—and most often you will—you have a number of choices. Marker? Paint pen? Which brand? These questions continue to confound collectors old and new. Based on trial and error (LOTS of error), I’ve developed this guide to help you choose the right silver pen or marker for your item every time.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and let us know which silver(s) you use and be entered to win one of five packs of Infinity Metallic Permanent Markers. I’ll pick the winners randomly on Friday, July 20 at 10pm ET.
Update: The winners have been notified. Thanks for participating!
THE PLAYERS
Write Dudes Infinity Metallic Permanent Marker (See an example.)
Formerly known as SRX ColorSharp, this silver marker offers the boldness of a paint pen without the prep work and maintenance. It’s the most versatile silver in my bag as well as the most frequently used. Store a new marker upside down for 24 hours before uncapping and keep it inverted between uses for best results. I’ve had some issues with the marker drying out in cold weather.
DecoColor Liquid Silver Opaque Paint Marker (See an example.)
Ubiquitously referred to as a “Deco paint pen” (upon close inspection for this guide I was surprised to see “marker” on the label), its preference among collectors for premium hard surfaced items is similarly universal. Using this pen can result in some beautiful autographs. Conversely, a dry or leaky pen can ruin an item. You’ll see in person graphers constantly testing their Decos on folders and scraps of paper for this very reason. As I alluded to in the Infinity description, these pens require some prep work to saturate the tip with paint—there’s no unwrapping a Deco and putting it to work immediately. Like the Infinity it does not perform well when the temperature drops. I really like that the paint pen comes in a number of widths— Broad, Fine, Extra Fine—to give you more control over the appearance of your autograph. Unfortunately, Decos seem to be getting harder to find in retail stores.
Prismacolor Premier Metallic Silver (See an example.)
Deco loyalists may scoff at the suggestion, but I’ve experienced comparable results with this easier-to-find paint pen. Everything described above applies here except that Prismacolor doesn’t offer an Extra Fine width (incidentally, it’s probably the size you’d use least).
Sharpie Metallic Silver (See an example.)
Inexplicably the silver just doesn’t perform to the level of its blue brother and I rarely see it out in the field. That said, it dries quickly and doesn’t bleed so it’s a viable option for felt jersey numbers and low gloss paper items like CD booklets.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations are based on my own experience and feedback from fellow collectors.
| Item | Marker of Choice |
| Basketball | DecoColor (Broad Point) |
| Football | DecoColor (Broad Point) |
| Hockey puck | DecoColor (Fine Point) |
| Jersey number | DecoColor (Fine Point) |
| Photo/Flat | Infinity |
| Baseball bat | Infinity |
| Helmet (mini or full size) | Infinity |
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Which silver markers/paint pens are your favorites and on which items do you use them?
Great article w/ great insight. Trial & error is for sure the only way to be able to dictate the right marker for your items. As you & I have discussed silver is by far the trickiest color out there. To use “collectors” I speak for us all in saying thank you for the words of wisdom & keep up the great work. We love it!
Thanks Caleb, I really appreciate the feedback. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Nice job. I agree that silver can be the trickiest color. I have been using Decos for years. I have good luck with them, and don’t plan on changing. I use silver, aqua marine, gold, and black. The signatures really pop.
Thanks for the comment Dale. Any tips on prepping Decos for our other readers? This process as well as drying out due to inactivity have been the biggest pain points for me.
Great article. I laughed as I read this: “graphers constantly testing their Decos on folders and scraps of paper” ….that’s exactly what I do when using the Deco marker!
🙂
Great article…i am a sharpie/deco guy…but I have seen the ways of the SRX line…looking to get the infinity markers into my supply
Thanks Matt and great idea.
I generally use Deco on most Basketballs and bats. The blue deco pens look great on darker photos but can streak a little if the person has a very fast signature.
The Prism pens are awesome on footballs though.
Do you have an example of the infinity on a baseball mini helmet? Deco’s seem to blister some on the newer style helmet that have that clear coat look to them.
Do they have Elementz in Boston? Looks similar to infinity and has the same uses.
Hey David, I’m not familiar with Elementz but I will keep my eyes open for them and give it a try. I’ll take a look at my mini helmets to see if I can find an example for you.
Elementz basically work like the Infinity’s..Look of paint pen but works like a sharpie…But they recently changed from Elementz to UltraMax or something like that. They sell at Walmart for $99 cents for a 2 pack of silver or gold..or $3.99 for the 8 pack of metallic colors.
Thanks for the tip Chris!
just bought a pack of two silver, and yes they are ultramax. I took a dark magazine just to play around with and it looks awesome, takes a while to dry but it looks good. Im using this weekend to try and get steve nash auto on a 8×10
Thanks Jason. I need to get my hands on some of these!
Great article! This will help me a lot in the future!
I’ve used Silver Sharpie in the past only because that’s what I’ve been stuck with and not one whose able to get better ones lately. But off that diagram provided, I’ll be using
Infinity- mostly b/c I like to do photos and flats
Deco broad and fine- for if I ever do a FB or Jsy #
Good stuff, thanks Ben.
I have used Deco and sharpie on most of my autos. When getting a sig in silver I am a fan of the Decos because they give a bolder, crisper signature in my opinon compared to the silver sharpie.
Thanks for sharing Shane.
Dear Sir,
I’ve been using a silver Sharpie pen for years and, as recently as this past Sunday, have been disappointed with the results on helmets and photo. I would truly enjoy winning some better silver pens please.
Thanks,
Rich Blatt
rbblatt@juno.com
Ha – good luck!
Currently I use silver deco.
I never heard of infinity metallic permanent marker, but will definitely try it out now. I’m assuming you get those at the same places you find silver deco?
I can only find Decos online these days. Infinity markers are sold at Target, Joann stores and OfficeMax. Not easy to find.
Ive heard that these new Extremesis markers are pretty good. I havent tried them myself yet but I have seen other peoples items signed and they look great. They also have a gold one. They are sold in a 2 pack at Wal Mart one silver 1 gold. On a side note its funny how for a regular person a sliver sharpie is a one shot deal. But when theyre used at a public signing they last forever.
Hi Jeff, you’re so right about silver Sharpies – I’ve noticed that too 🙂 Thanks for the recommendation n the Extremesis.
I use Sharpie Metallic on 8x10s and I have used it on pucks and mini helmets. After reading this article and the comments, I will be switching to Decocolor Silver, if I can find it in NYC. I have looked and haven’t found any.
Hi Mike. Decos are available online, I linked to them in the post.
http://Www.markersupply.com or http://www.dickblick.com
I’ve been using Decos for quite a while, after some really lousy results with silver Sharpies. I’ve had mixed results with the Decos–most of the time they’re great but they seem to dry up with no warning. Luckily there’s a store here in my town that still sells them, although they’re pretty expensive.A few weeks ago I tried the SRX for the first time with Jerome Bettis on a Steelers mini. Amazing results. My only fear with them is when I’d tested them is that the ink didn’t seem to dry very fast on glossy surfaces.
Thanks for sharing your experience Greg. Great insight!
Thanks for the Tips!!! I use a basic paint pen for my dark items and it does get old having to sit in a line and prep the marker just right. Always having to carry around paper or small piece of cardboard to prep the marker also gets in the way.
From the information given, it looks like the infinity markers may become a standard in my “Pen” bag!!!
Thanks for the tips from the fellow graphers…Happy graphing!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Dustin.
I haven’t tried the Infinity yet, I hate the thought buying a whole pack a colors when I just want one. I do like using the Elementz silver on dark photos and pucks. They have them at Walmart (I get mine in Framingham) and they are about $1.00 for a 2 pack. With basketballs and footballs, I always go with the silver deco. You can’t beat it.
I agree with you on the multi-color packs. Thanks for the tip on the Elementz!
I want to get an autograph on a hockey puck. I want it in silver. I don’t want to risk using a paint pen in case it blotches . I hate silver sharpie .Any advice on what I should use?pics of an example would be awesome. Thanks for any help
I’d try the silver Infinity, it’s a capable middle ground between a paint pen and Sharpie. I don’t currently have an example but will work on getting something for you.
I’ve always stuck with plain old black sharpies…I’ve never been bold enough to try out a silver marker on an item ha
What do you do if your item has a black background?
Gotta look into those Infinitys. Got tired of paint pens’ (Decocolor was my pen of choice) volatility and Sharpies’ unreliability.
Got the Recollections “Signature Especial” Metallic Markers (http://www.michaels.com/Metallic-Markers/sb3546,default,pd.html?start=6&cgid=products-scrapbooking-recollections-markers) recently and they’ve worked pretty well on bats so far. (Recently acquired bat, for an example of the result. http://t.co/46JmREKk)
Thanks for the tip Ryan.
Thanks for all the info Matt. I’ve been graphing IP for a few months now and I’ve only tried a silver Deco. I think it’s a huge pain and I had to get John Wall three times before I finally got a graph that didn’t smear or look funny because I used one with too big or too small of a tip. I’ll definitely be trying the Infinity on my pictures this basketball season.
What a horror story! Let me know how the Infinity works out for you.
Great article, I only get 8x10s signed and I use gold and silver srx
Thanks for the comment Jon.
I’m only 8 months into the hobby..and so far.. I HATE Paint pens!! LOL maybe its because im in Houston where its always hot and humid..but ive had a couple pens just run everywhere and i have to play clean up with Q-tips and WD40 later on after the signing. I use silver Elementz which looks to be the same quality and style as the INFINITY. It works great on photos and plastics (helmets,seatbacks). Looks like a paint pen without the hassles/issues of the prep and possibly catastrophe’s! But one thing i have noticed is they dont every completely stick to the item..almost like a scratch off lottery ticket..with a hard smear of your finger..it’ll wipe off slowly. But nobody should be trying to mess up a sig anyhow! lol
Thanks for sharing your experience with us Chris.
Hello everyone! Great tips! I’m attending an autograph signing soon and have purchased a broad tip deco paint pen! The only concern is that I plan on getting more autographs on the same ball. Will the broad tip cause there to be less room for more autographs? My thinking is that cause its a broad tip the person signing will have to make the autograph bigger so it shows better ! Thanks for your input guys!
Hi Chris, while the broad make provide bigger/thicker signatures (and theoretically less room), I think by using a finer point pen you’ll run the risk of not getting a bold signature on a basketball or football (not sure what kind of ball you’re getting signed). The broad point is a standard and you should do well using it.
What should i use for a glove being signed by pedro martine? Appreciate the help. Helpful blog so far. Already ordering decos and infinitys.
Interesting question. I’d suggest sticking with a Deco if it’s a black glove. I’ve never had a baseball glove signed so you may want to get a second opinion on one of the community boards (sportsgraphing.com, sportscollectors.net) before you get it signed.
Hi im getting a Mitchell and Ness Authentic jersey signed by Magic Johnson. So your telling me it would be best for me to get it signed with a silver deco?
I’d use fine point silver Deco if it’s a purple number and have him sign diagonally up the “2”.
I am getting some football gloves signed soon. What should I use for the player to sign on the sticky part on the palms of the gloves? I’ve heard that some markers just run off of them.
Thanks,
Teddy
And the gloves will be blue.
Hi Teddy, great question. That’s a tough surface and I don’t have experience specifically with football gloves with that slick surface. I’m thinking you’ll need something like a paint pen that flows well — a Sharpie will get caught up on the surface. That said, it’s going to take a long time to dry as there isn’t much for the ink to adhere to. Maybe another reader can chime in with another recommendation.
Hey Matt,
First off, great site with a lot of pertinent info. Here’s are my questions:
I’m planning to get a black signature Rawlings bat autographed by Adrian Gonzalez. Will the Infinity silver marker work well. Do the Infinity markers only come in fine tip?
Thanks Dennis. I’m hearing some mixed results on the Infinity markers. I think it will work well if you make sure to prep it but you may want to play it safe and go with a silver Deco which will look awesome on a black bat. I’m trying to get my hands on the Elementz markers that a lot of people compare with the original SRX. The Inifinity comes only in Fine Tip.
Hey Matt,
I am going to a basketball game soon and I have some dark photos I am looking to get signed . I have heard all the different markers but still don’t know what is best. What do think will work best? Also I am getting a orange jersey number signed. What marker should I use for that?
Thank you so much,
Davis
You can’t go wrong with Deco. The Infinity or Elementz would be a good alternative as well. If it’s a lighter orange I’d go with a black Sharpie, if it’s very dark you may be able to get away with silver Deco.
I am trying to get someone to sign a canvas with a dark background what should i use?
I’d suggest a DecoColor paint pen, they’re made for each other 🙂
Hello,
Thanks for all the tips? Is the infinity really that good. I have never tried it. Is it better than paint and felt sharpies?
Thanks,
Jeff-
I will be attending some autograph sessions soon, and I am curious if paint pens would work on footballs that have white panels (I guess you call them autograph footballs). They are not like the official NFL footballs or anything. I’ve always used a black sharpie on them, but I am wondering if a paint pen would be better? Decocolor is hard to find around here.
I have used the Prismacolor silver metallic on prints before, and the autographs look amazing. So big and bold.
Hi Jessica, I think a black Deco would work, you just may have to wait a while for it to dry 🙂 I linked to an online store where you can get Decos in the post.
I am also a fan if Prismacolor, the silver look great.
I was getting a proline authentic helmet signed and I wanted to know if a deco color would be good to use? Never tried one on a helmet. It’s a Dallas Cowboys silver helmet. Thanks
Hi Trey, I’d stick with blue or black Sharpie.
Great info. After scouring the web & reading countless “expert” written articles, I finally come across yours. Nice to see someone might actually know what they are talking about lol.
My question is this. I have a b&w photo I want to get signed in Orange. Have you ever had experience with colors. I dont want it to look like highlighter but I know Orange is a tough shade. What do you think? Infinity?
Hi Eric, so glad I could help. I appreciate the feedback. Regarding your question on using orange – I don’t typically use uncommon colors but my advice is to test it on a similar surface, perhaps a b&w photo you have that you can sacrifice. Only way to know how it will show up.
Hi Matt, first time on your website- I love it! Could you advise me on how to prep a baseball jersey before getting it signed with a Deco paint pen? I got some replica China jerseys for Spring Training. Do you spray them before? If you do, what do you spray them with. Thank you for your time. Joseph
Hi Joseph, thanks for the question. It’s hard for me to advise you to spray your jerseys with anything. I know the China jerseys tend to be shinier which isn’t ideal for the graph to stick well but I don’t have experience with the knockoffs to give you a confident recommendation. I’d go with a fine point Deco and cross my fingers.
Hey Matt, great info for a rookie like myself. I’m lucky enough to have a chance to get my white Claude Giroux (orange numbers) jersey signed.
Should I be using a black DecoColor fine point? I saw they also had an extra fine point? Any advice on prepping the pen?
Does it matter whether I get the 2 or 8 signed?
Really appreciate the help.
Hi Bryan,
Thanks for the comment. I’d stick with a fine point black Deco, the extra fine will be too thin. Regarding prepping, 24 hours before I’d pump the tip of the Deco to get the ink flowing and do some test signatures. Store it tip side down.
It’s your own personal preference on getting the 2 or 8 signed, I did a quick Google search on “autographed Giroux jersey” and it seems to be 50/50 (worth searching yourself so you can see what it would look like). The 8 has a nice horizontal line in the middle for the signature but signing up the diagonal in the 2 would look great too.
Matt
Thanks, Matt! Will let you know how it goes.
Hi- You mentioned that for a mini helmet you use a silver infinity pen..what if the helmet is silver in color (like the patriots ones)- then do you use a regular blue sharpie?
You got it 🙂
would you use an extra fat tip or just regular one?
I’d use a Fine Point on a mini.
Hi there. I have printed many 11×14 photos in flat/pearl finish to take to our local comic expo. Sharpie silver smears even after minutes of drying. After reading many posts, can I just confirm that you would use infinity for photos. I have a few that are dark and need silver. I tested the sharpie many times and I hate it on photos, unless they are cardboard or paper. Is infinity quick to dry?
Thank you
Jonny
I would use the Infinity or a Deco. The Infinity doesn’t dry so quickly that you can stack items up but it acts far more like a Sharpie than a paint pen. I always recommend you test out a new pen/marker before you get anything signed with it to manage expectations.
Hi im getting a proline washinton redskins helmet signed by RG3 this weekend?Im thinking about a nice gold marker.Any advice which to buy??
Hi Mike, I’d go with a DecoColor paint pen, fine or broad tip.
Ok thankyou i hope they have it at walmart in nj im looking for gold..
Might want to try an art supply store or Michael’s if you have one around you. I havent known Walmart to carry Decos.
Hi Matt,
I had RG3 sign an authentic jersey last weekend on the white number 1 using a black medium sharpie. It isn’t as crisp of a signature as I’d like. What would you recommend for a white jersey letter? What about a neutral color Louisville Slugger?
Thanks!
Hi Rick, I’d use a fine point black Decocolor paint pen on a white jersey number. On the Louisville Slugger, if you mean it’s a blond bat, I’d use blue Sharpie.
Thanks Matt! Two quick follow ups: (1) would you use a medium or fine blue sharpie on the blond bat? (2) what do you recommend for a black helmet? how about dark blue helmet? Thanks again for your thoughts.
Oops, forgot one, what do you recommend for a yellow throwback NFL helmet? Thanks again.
Fine point blue Sharpie on blonde bat. Silver Deco or Infinity on black or blue helmet. Black Deco or Sharpie on yellow helmet.
Hi Matt
I was wondering how infinity markers worked on basketballs and footballs. Also, how do elementz work on footballs and basketballs. I know on mini helmets I use only black/blue sharpie on light surfaces, and got lucky with a couple of silver/gold signatures on dark surfaces but will now use infinity
Thank you
Hi Kevin, good question. I don’t think the Infinity will work well on balls, you really need something that will have a high volume ink/paint supply and be able to work on those bumpy surfaces. I’ve seen some collectors use those thick chisel-point black Sharpies but I’d stick to paint pen. I haven’t used Elementz personally but from what I’ve seen they work almost identically to Infinity/SRX – ideal on photos and minis.
Thank you but I also have two more questions what should I use on footballs/basketballs with white panels and if I go to a baseball game should I get game-used baseballs signed or just the little league clean ones, I don’t know which baseball to get signed. Oh and also how can I get players to sign in pen if someone hands him a sharpie and there’s a big rush thanks for the info.
Stick with a black Deco on white panels. Black Sharpie is an option – it’s better than blue – but you may see some fading over time. In general, white panel balls don’t hold a graph as well as “regular” ball.
The only baseballs to get signed are Rawlings Official Major League Baseballs, otherwise: http://www.autographu.com/the-case-of-the-disappearing-autograph/
If a player is running with a Sharpie you can try asking him to switch but some players won’t and you’re better off having a backup item or pulling it back. That said, I have a Tom Hanks signed baseball in blue Sharpie and I just wanted to graph, I didn’t care if he used Crayon.
Omg thanks now I know but I learned from a collector old cards r worth more not autographed and also if I get a romlb at batting practice should I get that signed cuz it doesn’t even fade with sharpie also I’m going to a signing in July with a bunch of heisman trophy winners should I get them all to sign a heisman mini helmet, replica helmet or separate items cuz the full size helmet is $175 but the mini is $30 and I don’t know bout separate items cuz I read it worth less with multiple signatures and also how much would a football signed by London fletcher, Pierre garçon and rob Jackson go for?
Thank you
Kevin, I’m going to have to break down this crazy one sentence comment into parts:
– To sign or not to sign an older card? It’s up to you on what your motive is. I’ve seen collectors who get older rookie cards signed and they look awesome. if you’re only in it for the investment then perhaps you get something else signed.
– ROMLB are the only choice for baseballs. Also, blue ballpoint > Sharpie.
– I think it would be cool to start a Heisman project on a full size helmet. If you don’t think you’ll add to it over time, I’d stick with college minis. Again, it goes back to what you want in your collection vs. resale value. I don’t sell autographs so I lean toward what I think would have a better story.
– I don’t think the football signed by Fletcher, Garcon and Jackson would have much resale value since it’s a pretty random combination of current players. It could hold a lot of sentimental value though 🙂
Which would work best and hold up over time on an official mlb majestic cool base jersey (white number)? Traditional black sharpie or deco black pain pen? I haven’t been collecting long enough to tell how traditional black sharpies hold up on jersey numbers over time. Thanks.
Hi Eric, if it’s a sit down signing I’d go with a Deco.
How can I get autographs at an orioles baseball game, because they never sign at the parking lot, and they don’t really sign during BP
Hi Bobby, apologies for the delay in responding. If you’re trying to graph the Orioles it sounds like your options at the ballpark are limited. Keep an eye out for charity events and retail appearances in the area. If you want to get the visiting team try the hotel.
Cheers.
Matt
Hi guys, love the info.would like your thoughts on something left field and not so common sports memrobilia.Im off for my trip off a lifetime to the Tour de France , Im going to buy the limited edition 100th year tour lycra cycling jersey which is for some reason black.im going to try and get some autographs from my heros….hopefully Cadel Evans being an Aussie.i thought a white marker or after reading your article silver.what do you think is my best option?
Regards Matt
Hi Matt, sorry for the delay in responding. I’d go with an Infinity marker or fine point DecoColor paint pen but admittedly I haven’t tested either on that type of fabric before. I just don’t think a Sharpie will show up well. Let us know what you decide and how it comes out.
Cheers.
Matt
Hi Matt would u rather get a 8×10 signed or sports illustrated signed
I tend to get 8x10s signed because they are easiest to store and display. I think some of the SI covers are great – one of those 8x10s or 11x14s of the covers would be ideal but you should definitely collect what you enjoy. I know there are SI collectors out there who try to put together a series of issues (or all the issues!) and I think that’s a fantastic project.
have u graphed kelly olnik yet
I haven’t but looking forward to it.
Hi Matt,
Great postings – thanks for all the expert advise. I have an awesome team issued 2012 post-season name plate for the Washington Nationals that I want to get the team to sign. It has a hard plastic textured surface and the background is dark blue and white. I’m thinking a fine silver deco would work best on the blue, but not sure how it would look on the white. Any thoughts?