Metallic Bright Markers

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Reported by Heather Strenzwilk

During the flurry of back-to-school shopping, I discovered Metallic Bright Markers by RoseArt. The product packaging states: "designed to write on dark or light paper, glass, mirrors and dark or light fabric. The set of 8 bullet tipped markers are ideal for coloring or for drawing thick or thin lines." The product also claims to wash easily from skin.

The markers write very smoothly and worked equally well on dark and light cardstock. The pens draw very evenly and there were no issues with poling or blobbing. The ink dried within a few minutes however the ink smudged slightly with repeated handling, even after a few days. This probably wouldn't be an issue on a card but a frequently handled object such as a school notebook should be sealed for additional durability.


The markers have a bullet tip and like most markers, varying pressure will make various width lines. I tend to be heavier handed so my lines tend to be thicker. I didn't have great success using these for small or detailed design work, but but someone with a lighter hand might not have problems. I do hope they come out with a fine tip version though.


I decided to follow the recommendation from the Lucky Squirrel PolyShrink website and try Metallic Brights to create black shrink plastic charms. The results were amazing! I used an Intaglio Technique on the shrink plastic and let it cool. Then I lightly colored the raised parts on the image with the markers. I used a napkin to dab any excess ink, adding more color where it was needed and around the edge of the piece. Surprisingly, the ink did not smear much on the pieces but for extra durability I sprayed the pieces with Krylon spray to help seal the ink. The gold, silver and copper markers were the hands down favorites. I do think though there is potential to create faux turquoise with lime and blue.


For my next test, I used the markers to decorate an old pair of navy blue (95% cotton/ 5% Spandex) pants and on a piece of white nylon ribbon. The marker was easier to apply to the smoother ribbon. However I thought the marker appeared streaked and colors bled from section to section. The ink did give body to the ribbon which might be helpful for a project. The dark pants accepted the color well but the lighter (silver and gold) were the easiest to see. The darker shades (purple, green) held much less contrast and seemed to have lost much of their metallic sheen as they dried.

The package did not contain care instructions. I later washed the pants (inside out, normal cycle, Tide detergent) and the design did not fade or smear. I am not sure how the designs would hold up after multiple washings, but if they did fade you could color them in again. The markers had promise and I want to try them on an old pair of blue jeans or a denim jacket.


Pros:

• The ink does not stain your hands- it removes easily with a normal hand soap.
• Once dry, the ink is permanent on shrink plastic and fabric.
• Non-toxic and safe for children (ages 3 and up) and no smelly fumes
• Reasonably priced- under $5 and available and many major retailers.
• Silver, gold and copper shades are especially good on black shrink plastic.

Cons:

• Bullet-tip is not the best tip for writing or fine detail work.
• Flawed color selection- unusual shade of pink, blue has a very strong silver tone, and green has a bluish cast. The set could use a dark metallic green and a deep metallic red or maroon.
• Ink is not permanent on paper and can smear if handled excessively.
• Marker caps are very difficult to remove from the marker.

I really liked Metallic Bright Markers by RoseArt. They are available at Target, Walmart, Walgreen's, Staples and many national retailers for under $5. The markers performed well and were fun. As an added bonus the markers wash off skin with soap and water (no stained hands for me!) I was particularly impressed by how well they worked on black shrink plastic and for that alone they are well with the modest under $5 price tag. I rate these markers 8/10.

Do you like metallic markers? Have you tried this brand or any other brand? Share your experience with our readers!