All About Getting Words on Dark Backgrounds

So here's the situation - you've created the coolest art journal background BUT it's super dark, whether black gesso, dark patterned paper, a mix of darks, or just a mix of colors. You want to get words on your background, so the options are... <click for more>

1. Write on something else and attach to your paper - ie. correction tape, paper, printed paper.

correction tape {details here}

you could print and attach your words with glue or tape

2. Write on the background with a bright neon, vivid or metallic marker/pen.

write in Sakura Gelly Roll - moonlight

sakura gelly rolls - moonlight: brilliant lines on black paper

 write in Sakura Gelly Rolls - metallic - smooth ink flow and good visibility on black

Gellyroll metallic - gold

write in tree house paint marker, pink, fine tip - visible on black but not as opaque as the sharpie poster paint markers - the tip is wider than the sharpie extra fine paint marker - found these at Hobby Lobby {tested below}

sharpie poster paint markers

top = yellow extra fine point

bottom = fluorescent yellow fine point

last I checked, the fluorescents come in fine but not extra fine point and the extra fine point is a much more crisp line - I love using these for embellishing with dots or edging black letters {tested below}

3. Write in white on a dark background, but which white pen/marker?

sharpie poster paint marker, water based, extra fine point

sharpie paint marker, oil based, extra fine tip - these gum up fairly quickly after I start using them and they have a yukky odor...

sharpie poster paint marker, water based, medium tip - fantastic - great for art journalists

treehouse paint marker, white fine tip - visible on black but not as opaque as the sharpie poster paint markers - the tip is wider than the sharpie extra fine paint marker - the silver marker is great on black

sharpie markers that often get confused...

top = Sharpie oil-based paint marker, extra fine, white

bottom = Sharpie water-based poster paint marker, extra fine, white

I love the water-based poster paint marker and do not love the oil-based paint marker

sakura gelly roll medium white, my favorite

testing sakura gelly roll pens on black paper {here's a detailed review of gelly rolls}

testing all sorts of pens on black paper...

4. Paint your words in acrylic paint.

white acrylic paint with a brush + stencil

More options:

• 1. Write your words with a rapidograph or fountain pen with white opaque ink works great on black gesso and dark paper.
• 2. Stamp your words with light colored stamping ink and alpha stamps.

So here are my personal favs for writing on dark or black backgrounds, or black gesso:

• sakura gelly roll medium white {the only place i have found these is Michael's or Hobby Lobby craft stores}
• Sharpie water-based poster paint marker, extra fine, white {i order these from blick or buy at Michael's}
• Sakura Gelly Rolls - metallic in most colors especially silver and gold {i order these from blick}
• Sakura Gelly Roll - moonlight in all colors {i order these from blick}

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and I don't pretend to know all of the options... this is just what I've tried.

I know a lot of folks swear by a white uniball marker (if you know which one is the best, please let me know what to order, so i can try one), and everyone has a personal favorite.

What's your strategy for getting words on dark backgrounds?

Pen + Marker Love...
All About Gellyrolls
The Great Doodle Pen Review
Getting Words on Dark Background
Journal Lettering + Journal Lettering II

Comments

[Sara]

I love all your pen overviews!

The white pen is a Uni-ball Signo UM-153. You can find it here: http://www.jetpens.com/Uni-ball-Signo-Broad-UM-153-Gel-Pen-White-Ink/pd/380 They're awesome! :)

[Amber L.]

My favorite white pen is also the Uni-ball Signo UM-153. The silver and gold are awesome too! I order mine from Jet Pens as well.

[Karis]

Thank you so much for posting this information! I love the Gelly Roll Moonlight pens too! The only issue I'm having is trying to paint anything over them, it smears them away. I just recently ordered some of the metallic Gelly Roll pens from amazon for really cheap.
By the way, I love your blog! Your journal pages are so full of color. I absolutely adore bright colors!

[gypsy]

Sara and Amber, I will definitely try the UM-153, I've heard so many good things about the pen!

Karis, I've not tried to paint over the moonlight markers - generally I use gellyrolls on the top layer of my doodles or art journal pages. They should be permanent, perhaps they are not completely dry, or the medium on top is dissolving them somehow?

Tammy

[Leslie]

Your run downs on art supplies are super helpful. There's not enough money or time to try them all myself, so I love it when someone does posts like this. Your Sakura pen post was great. Always look forward to your blog...

[Jordan]

I posted a link to this post on my blog here:

http://thecreativeartist-jordan.blogspot.com/2011/06/linky-monday-4.html

Hope you check it out!!

[teddi]

i luv sakura pens! i'm such a pen ho. ur idea of using the bright pen over the paint swatch rocks! i also like this white pen i just discovered at the craft store by marvey http://www.marvy.com/product_details.aspx?ProductID=124. it's sorta like the white jelly roll pen. all my white uni-ball signo's dried out before i finished using them.

[MissKoolAid]

I usually use white acrylic ink with a pen+nib or the method of journaling on other pieces of paper and adding to the page.
Fun post.
Sophie