I always carry a couple of Sharpies and a gel pen with me when I do an event, but usually the event will have pens/Sharpies available. They want me to sign books, after all.
This may be an odd question, but have you ever signed glass. If so what would you recommend as a permanent option?
Reason I’m asking is I will be at a convention where the author has a series set in a bar. I want to get them to sign (among the books) a bottle of Bushmills.
I’m hoping I can find something that writes well on the glass. Larger area and would stand out more.
If on the label, it would be easy to have it stand out. They now make pens in different colours. 😁
This feels like it might be a better option as long as OP is careful to not get it smudged while still curing. Or Sharpie also has an oil based pen option , with the same caveat?
That’s something I will have to be very careful of.
I will try to get them to sign them early Friday (flight home is Monday night). So I hope that is enough time for anything they sign with to “set”.
I normally wrap bottle I have in baggage, for these ones I will put in gift boxes then wrap those.
A local distiller used to release an annual special edition rye, and the founder signed the bottles if you wanted. He used a fine gold acrylic paint pen.
There are paint pens specifically for glass, though scrubbing will still remove it. Sharpie can work but you won't even want to rub on it or it could come right off.
Are you sure about them?
I’m VERY nervous about the signatures. The author “retired” a decade ago and this may be their last convention. They are only doing it as a favour for friends.
I'm sure they'll be stronger than sharpie. They're acrylic paint, so they bond to anything and are non reactive when dry. I have not personally used them on glass, but I've seen work by artists who do, and it's advertised as one of their intended uses.
Sharpie would be my best bet.
I wonder if, after signing and letting the ink dry, hitting it with a clear coat from a spray can would a) help protect it and b) not affect the general look/feel of the original glass.
Take TWO bottles. Ask them to sign using acrylic paint pens. Create packing boxes that avoid ANYTHING touching the area they signed.
Once home, put some vinyl sheet over the signature on one, CAREFULLY trace the signature, then cut it out of the vinyl sheet. Use a glass etching kit on the sig.
Or pack one bottle, and etch the other right in your hotel bathroom at the convention, so you know it comes out right.
You could also lightly etch the bottle where you want it signed instead, so the paint pens have a better surface to dry on, but it might lead to a "pixelated" signature.
This reminds me: I'm working a convention this month and rumor has it that the venue (an actual convention center) has a posted rule that says "No Sharpies".
I've worked 40+ conventions and have NEVER come across this. I guess Bob Gurr and Elvira are just gonna sign stuff in crayon?
When I used to run book signings (couple dozen/year) we kept a special stash of "event pens", but I 'd estimate more than half of the authors I worked with brought their own.
