Many paper artists feel that these are the best quality pens on the market. They
have a nice selection of specialty pens that are sure to please any crafter. That
is, if you pay attention to which ones are and aren't designed for longevity.
The Original Gelly Roll pens
Apparently, according to the Sakura website, they invented the gel pen. These
pens are opaque on any color paper - including black. Even the white gel pen
will be opaque as well. These are great in scrapbooking, card making, and
general crafting. They are available in a lot of colors and styles. Let me break
them down by those that are and aren't designed for memory projects.
Well, first let me make a distinction here. Apparently ink can be 'acid-free' and
not archival quality. And manufacturers in the Memory Industry take advantage
of the distinction. "Acid-free" should mean that the ink won't 'burn' through your
photos, or hurt your paper. It does NOT mean that the ink will still have the
same color, and depth 30 years from now! It can be 'acid-free' and not last 100
years, or even 100 hours. Some pens have ink that will flake and rub off.
'Archival Quality' is the term used to mean that the ink shouldn't fade, and the
project should last your lifetime. Sakura invented Pigma(TM) ink for museums
and archives - where it is completely safe, and will be permanent for a VERY
long time! With that said - we're still breaking down the categories by their
applications and qualities. Having seen the damage that products with acid in
them can wreak - I need my pens to be acid free. For my scrapbooking, though
I need my pens to be designed for Memory Projects. And, for my archival
projects (my mother's heritage album - for example) - I'll only be using the
Pigma Ink line.
I've called Sakura to get this information. On their website you can research a
"Brand" pen type, and then look under "Application & Qualities" - it will say
whether a pen is designed for 'memory projects'. If it isn't stated so on that
page, then it isn't recommended.
ACID - FREE & Designed for Memory Projects
The Gelly Roll pens in the original gel colors - These colors are vibrant and
opaque. They gained popularity by their ability to write on colored paper - even
black. The pigment is archival quality, fade-resistant, and waterproof.
Metallics and Dark Metallics - After the original Gelly Rolls became poplular,
Sakura developed Gelly Roll Metallics. These pens have a deep metallic
sheen and will write on any color paper, as well as matte and glossy finish
paper. The Dark Metallics colors were a follow - up to the Metallics, as these
colors are deeper and show up darker.
Gelato - These are retractractable ball-point pens. They are archival quality,
writing pens without pen lids.
Genius - Ball-point gel pens with caps. These are archival quality writing pens -
but you need to remember to put the caps back on (which is true of all ball-point
pens).
Pigma Brush pens - Archival quality pigment ink in a brush (similar to a marker)
pen. Available in 8 colors.
Pigma Graphic pens - archival pens in 3 writing sizes/styles, including a
calligraphy tip. Available in black, red, and blue.
Pigma Micron - popular pen for scrapbooking and journalling. These pens are
archival quality and available in many sized tips. The .05 size has the largest
selection of colors available (15).
Permapaque Markers - these opaque permanent pigment markers write on
most surfaces. They are designed for non-porous surfaces, but are suitable for
acid-free environments
PH Neutral - Not Designed For Memory Projects
Gelly Roll Moonlight - These are vibrant pastel colors that show really well on
black paper.
Glaze - These are pens that leave an embossed or raised ink on the page,
when dried. Simply write/draw by moving the pen slowly and allowing the ink to
fill the line evenly. They also have the unique ability to function as if
wet-embossed, and they create a "ink resistant" effect when another layer of
color in brayered or washed on. These colors are transparent.
Souffle - a cousin to the Glaze pen, it's ink is visible on dark (even black) and
light surfaces. It, again, produces a raised image. Although you can use them
on paper, they are best on non-porous smooth surfaces (plastic, coated
papers, acetate and vellum).
Stardust - a gel ink in pastel colors with glitter in them.
Dark Stardust - darker colored gel ink with glitter.
Stardust Clear - a clear glitter pen.
Silver Shadow - interesting pen that you write with as normal, but after a few
seconds the ink separates and the color goes to the outside of the line and the
silver glitter fills in the middle. It creates a unique effect.
have a nice selection of specialty pens that are sure to please any crafter. That
is, if you pay attention to which ones are and aren't designed for longevity.
The Original Gelly Roll pens
Apparently, according to the Sakura website, they invented the gel pen. These
pens are opaque on any color paper - including black. Even the white gel pen
will be opaque as well. These are great in scrapbooking, card making, and
general crafting. They are available in a lot of colors and styles. Let me break
them down by those that are and aren't designed for memory projects.
Well, first let me make a distinction here. Apparently ink can be 'acid-free' and
not archival quality. And manufacturers in the Memory Industry take advantage
of the distinction. "Acid-free" should mean that the ink won't 'burn' through your
photos, or hurt your paper. It does NOT mean that the ink will still have the
same color, and depth 30 years from now! It can be 'acid-free' and not last 100
years, or even 100 hours. Some pens have ink that will flake and rub off.
'Archival Quality' is the term used to mean that the ink shouldn't fade, and the
project should last your lifetime. Sakura invented Pigma(TM) ink for museums
and archives - where it is completely safe, and will be permanent for a VERY
long time! With that said - we're still breaking down the categories by their
applications and qualities. Having seen the damage that products with acid in
them can wreak - I need my pens to be acid free. For my scrapbooking, though
I need my pens to be designed for Memory Projects. And, for my archival
projects (my mother's heritage album - for example) - I'll only be using the
Pigma Ink line.
I've called Sakura to get this information. On their website you can research a
"Brand" pen type, and then look under "Application & Qualities" - it will say
whether a pen is designed for 'memory projects'. If it isn't stated so on that
page, then it isn't recommended.
ACID - FREE & Designed for Memory Projects
The Gelly Roll pens in the original gel colors - These colors are vibrant and
opaque. They gained popularity by their ability to write on colored paper - even
black. The pigment is archival quality, fade-resistant, and waterproof.
Metallics and Dark Metallics - After the original Gelly Rolls became poplular,
Sakura developed Gelly Roll Metallics. These pens have a deep metallic
sheen and will write on any color paper, as well as matte and glossy finish
paper. The Dark Metallics colors were a follow - up to the Metallics, as these
colors are deeper and show up darker.
Gelato - These are retractractable ball-point pens. They are archival quality,
writing pens without pen lids.
Genius - Ball-point gel pens with caps. These are archival quality writing pens -
but you need to remember to put the caps back on (which is true of all ball-point
pens).
Pigma Brush pens - Archival quality pigment ink in a brush (similar to a marker)
pen. Available in 8 colors.
Pigma Graphic pens - archival pens in 3 writing sizes/styles, including a
calligraphy tip. Available in black, red, and blue.
Pigma Micron - popular pen for scrapbooking and journalling. These pens are
archival quality and available in many sized tips. The .05 size has the largest
selection of colors available (15).
Permapaque Markers - these opaque permanent pigment markers write on
most surfaces. They are designed for non-porous surfaces, but are suitable for
acid-free environments
PH Neutral - Not Designed For Memory Projects
Gelly Roll Moonlight - These are vibrant pastel colors that show really well on
black paper.
Glaze - These are pens that leave an embossed or raised ink on the page,
when dried. Simply write/draw by moving the pen slowly and allowing the ink to
fill the line evenly. They also have the unique ability to function as if
wet-embossed, and they create a "ink resistant" effect when another layer of
color in brayered or washed on. These colors are transparent.
Souffle - a cousin to the Glaze pen, it's ink is visible on dark (even black) and
light surfaces. It, again, produces a raised image. Although you can use them
on paper, they are best on non-porous smooth surfaces (plastic, coated
papers, acetate and vellum).
Stardust - a gel ink in pastel colors with glitter in them.
Dark Stardust - darker colored gel ink with glitter.
Stardust Clear - a clear glitter pen.
Silver Shadow - interesting pen that you write with as normal, but after a few
seconds the ink separates and the color goes to the outside of the line and the
silver glitter fills in the middle. It creates a unique effect.
Sakura
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