Which Ink For Signatures?

[Abner C. Kemp]

Pilot Blue-Black would get my vote if you are looking for a nice ink with excellent water resistance. If you wanted to stick with a Pelikan ink, Pelikan 4001 Blue Black is quite water resistant (at least the older version and I think even the new version is Iron Gall). Montblanc also makes two permanent inks Permanent Black and Permanent Blue which meet ISO standards -- I sampled the Permanent Blue and it was a nice enough ink. If you really want to go crazy with fraud resistance you could look into some of the Noodler's inks.

 

I sign most documents with Montblanc Irish Green, which while certainly not a waterproof ink, actually keeps from washing away completely with water which passes my test -- and I think the color adds a little pop to my signature.

[ac12]

On a related subject.

I once worked for a company where the president of the company did not let ANYONE write in the same color ink that he used. I think it was purple. To anyone who did, he sent 'nastygrams,' to "NOT use HIS color ink." Small mind.

[tinta]

Blue/blacks are my usual signature inks.

 

Either Platinum blue/black (an IG ink) if you want a brighter blue & less black, or Pelikan's 4001 blue/black ink for a more sombre look. Both inks are sufficiently water resistant to do the job.

As for nibs, a wet italic nib (stub or CI) works well for signatures. A medium to broad edged nib is able to write signatures or initials into some tight spots on contracts.

[inkstainedruth]

I would think that it would depend on circumstances.

If you were signing legal documents you'd want something moderately permanent and appropriately "businesslike". I've gotten away with non-water resistant inks in my checkbook register or when writing checks, but I had a bad incident years ago where my checkbook got soaked in a rainstorm (this was back when I used stuff like Flair pens a lot) and a guy I knew who was a CPA made fun of me for it (fortunately the last entry had been with a BP so I didn't lose all the entries...). Plus, a lot of banks frown on using colors other than blue or black. So I tend to use inks that fit those criteria (blues or blue-blacks) -- or ones that aren't *technically* blue or black but can fake it (Noodler's El Lawrence and Kung Te Cheng).

OTOH, if I was signing autographs (such as, when my currently mostly still in the planning stages becomes a best-seller ), I'd probably want something that would stand out a bit more but was still relatively fade- and water-resistant, especially in a broader nib. Then I'd probably be looking at something like one of the KWZI iron gall inks (IG Violet #3 is really pretty).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[SamCapote]

I would think that it would depend on circumstances.

If you were signing legal documents you'd want something moderately permanent and appropriately "businesslike". I've gotten away with non-water resistant inks in my checkbook register or when writing checks, but I had a bad incident years ago where my checkbook got soaked in a rainstorm (this was back when I used stuff like Flair pens a lot) and a guy I knew who was a CPA made fun of me for it (fortunately the last entry had been with a BP so I didn't lose all the entries...). Plus, a lot of banks frown on using colors other than blue or black. So I tend to use inks that fit those criteria (blues or blue-blacks) -- or ones that aren't *technically* blue or black but can fake it (Noodler's El Lawrence and Kung Te Cheng).

OTOH, if I was signing autographs (such as, when my currently mostly still in the planning stages becomes a best-seller ), I'd probably want something that would stand out a bit more but was still relatively fade- and water-resistant, especially in a broader nib. Then I'd probably be looking at something like one of the KWZI iron gall inks (IG Violet #3 is really pretty).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

I agree with Ruth. It depends on what you are signing, and the context. I often sign legal documents (THAT I MAKE SURE TO GET A COPY OR SCAN OF) with Penman Parker Sapphire which is not permanent, but is a strikingly beautiful, deep blue (especially since I use it a bit more concentrated from the thousands of cartridges that were sold a couple years ago, and had started to dehydrate) that copies great. I also initial every single page of a multi-page legal document, so my copies have that recorded also. If an office does not have a convenient copier immediately available, I take photos of my documents with my cell phone, and upload those to two different secure locations. If I have to penetrate multiple pages of carbonless forms, I just use a blue ball point. For signing checks, I use one of the Noodler's permanent dark colors.

[Buzz_130]

I sign with blue ink. The standard box of government pens are black, and you'd have to look around to find a box of Pilot G2s in blue in an office cabinet. I may see someone use a felt tip pen in red, but that's a rare exception.

 

Blue is a professional color that can stand out from the page. All of the units I've commanded have blue in the unit colors, the the signature color makes sense. A quick look on these forums shows there is no shortage of exceptional blue inks to buy from every vendor on the planet. It's also the only color NATO accepts for signatures on orders.

 

I'm an Asa Gao guy. But I also enjoy many other manufacturers with different characteristics (Warden series, nano pigments, iron galls, and alkalines).

 

Buzz

[elysee]

I use two beautiful blue inks, Parker Penman Sapphire and Private Reserve American Blue, when I use fountain pens and Pilot G2 blue gel ink when I use a rollerball pen. The G2 blue gel ink rollerball cartridge is closest to the Parker Penman Sapphire blue ink that I have been able to find for rollerball pens.

 

I prefer to use blue inks for signatures so that it is evident that the document is an original rather than a photocopy and so that it is clear that the signature is an orginal rather than made using a stamp.

[ShortRound131]

I find Mont Blanc Permanent Blue to be striking enough to have some personality, but fitting for a professional environment. It's a beautiful blue with great permanent qualities.

[carlos.q]

I find Mont Blanc Permanent Blue to be striking enough to have some personality, but fitting for a professional environment. It's a beautiful blue with great permanent qualities.

It also shades very nicely...