Favorite White Pens

21 December 2012 Journal Page

I left the page above as is with the white smudge marks (from using a Uniball signo on the page next to it) on it to talk about white pens.

My favorite white pens in order are:

 

Sakura Glaze #850 (not to be confused with the transparent white capped pen which is actually a clear pen number #800) and Sakura Souffle #950- As I've mentioned before, Glaze is a Gloss finish while the Souffle pens are a matte finish. However, with their white pens, it is very hard to see the difference between them. They are both an opaque white when dry. In my opinion, either the Glaze or Souffle white are the best white pen on the market. They dry (somewhat) fast. They're opaque. They write on a variety of surfaces (dried painted pages, slick magazine pages, tape, transparencies, even glass.) As long as you keep them capped and stored flat, they will last you a long time (you can take that little plastic goober off of the tip and discard it.) If the ink starts to go towards the other end of the pen, don't be afraid to give it a few good, hard shakes. Both pens write clear but dry an opaque white.

 

Update September 2013: Molotow One4All Water Based Paint Markers-I LOVE these markers! They make a GREAT opaque white available in (my favorite) extra fine tip point. You can also change the tips (they're available in different sizes) as well as refill the pens! These also will write on a variety of surfaces (paper, dried painted pages, slick magazine pages, tape, transparencies.)
(Tip: to clean out the tips when they get crusty, rinse them under hot water or use nail polish remover.)

Sharpie Paint Pen (water based)-These pens come in a variety of different colors and tip sizes. You have to shake them (always with the cap on, especially if it's new) and pump the tip a few times on scrap paper to get the ink flowing. The problem with the white pen is that over time the white ink tends to separate and no amount of shaking or storing it flat will get it to its former opaque glory again.  It is a nice, opaque white pen while it lasts. I tend to buy them one at a time and not in bulk.
These also will write on a variety of surfaces (paper, dried painted pages, slick magazine pages, tape, transparencies.)

Similar to the Sharpie Water based Paint Pens are the Uni Posca Pens (it's the same ink.)

 

Pilot Latte Pens- It's a gel pen that's very similar to the Sakura Glaze and Souffle pens. The difference is the colors and the fact that the pens as well as the tip sizes are TINY. I can't tell you how much I LOVE these pens. I have mine kept in their own special case and I don't leave home without them. The white both writes clear and dries white. If stored correctly (flat and capped) they last a LONG time. The pen will write clear but dry to an opaque white.

To see the colors of the Lattes, click here.

Update September 2013: These pens have been (sadly) discontinued. 

Uniball Signo white gel pen- I started using these several years ago when they first came to the U.S. I loved how vibrant and crisp the pens were and cheap, too. About $2 a pen. I recommended them to everyone I came across. They were a great pen. I recommend buying the Japanese version of the pen (with the Japanese characters sold by Jetpens and Kinokuniya) and NOT the American version as the U.S. version of the pen dries out/runs out/stops working very very quickly while the Japanese version will last you until it's out of ink. Also, they are NOT permanent (see the white smudge marks on the page above? I used a white uniball signo on the page across from it and it smudged onto the page.) It is a nice opaque white but it's not permanent nor can you paint or use any wet mediums on top of it. Once Sakura came out with white pens in the glaze and souffle, I tended to lean towards those instead.

Similar to the Sharpie Water based Paint Pens are the Uni Posca Pens (it's the same ink.)
 

Remember, always store your pens FLAT and keep the caps on them when you're not using them. 

Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with Jetpens. I'm not receiving any compensation (in any form) for linking to them. I am just a happy customer who has been ordering from them for years. Another favorite source for pens (somewhat local to me) is Kinokuniya in Downtown Los Angeles (it's a chain across the U.S.) 

If you find this post helpful, you may like my post on my favorite pens which can be found here. 

What are your favorite white pens?