Paint pens and uninked dice - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Paint pens and uninked dice

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
wraithstrike
Feb 10, 2009 19:03:09 I bought some uninked dice. After I got them I found out I had to use an paint pen, instead of a regular sharpie because the color shows up better. The problem is I don't know where to find any. I see regular markers, but not anything designated as a paint pen in Target, Walmart or Staples. Are there any other stores that would have them? I really don't want to order any.
#2
KillerGM
Feb 10, 2009 19:08:40 Any art supply or craft store (such as Michael's) should have them.
#3
wraithstrike
Feb 10, 2009 19:12:26
Any art supply or craft store (such as Michael's) should have them.

Thanks. I think I have a few more places to check now.
#4
Mad_Jack
Feb 11, 2009 20:29:57 White-Out is also a cheap and effective way to do it, although you'll have to redo it every so often...
Brush it on and then use a piece of cardboard, razorblade, or other nice straight edge to scrape off the excess while it's wet, then clean it up a bit with a paper towel.

Any hobby shop will also have paint pens as well...

Be sure to try to find one with a smaller tip so you're not bleeding paint all over the surface of the die as well as in the numbers... Wiping the paint off while it's still wet is easy, but the less paint on the die the better.
You can always do the numbers once, let it dry, and then do it again if they aren't bright enough the first time.

If you're feeling really cheap, for the cost of a paint pen you can also go buy a $1 jar of white Testors Hobby Enamel (for model cars, etc.) at WalMart and a $1 package of cheap brushes at a dollar store, and do it like that. As long as it's still wet, the enamel paint will wipe off the plastic surface just fine with a dry paper towel.
#5
wraithstrike
Feb 12, 2009 1:00:37
White-Out is also a cheap and effective way to do it, although you'll have to redo it every so often...
Brush it on and then use a piece of cardboard, razorblade, or other nice straight edge to scrape off the excess while it's wet, then clean it up a bit with a paper towel.

Any hobby shop will also have paint pens as well...

Be sure to try to find one with a smaller tip so you're not bleeding paint all over the surface of the die as well as in the numbers... Wiping the paint off while it's still wet is easy, but the less paint on the die the better.
You can always do the numbers once, let it dry, and then do it again if they aren't bright enough the first time.

If you're feeling really cheap, for the cost of a paint pen you can also go buy a $1 jar of white Testors Hobby Enamel (for model cars, etc.) at WalMart and a $1 package of cheap brushes at a dollar store, and do it like that. As long as it's still wet, the enamel paint will wipe off the plastic surface just fine with a dry paper towel.

I found a store today, but I got the wrong tips. I called them, and they will let me know when they get the ultra find tips in.
#6
midnitepoison
Feb 19, 2009 0:36:16 well, Id also recommend an art supply store, but beware, some of the nicer colors go for like 3 bux a pop.
#7
mnemonicsv
Feb 19, 2009 1:09:54 Agreed, an art supply place would do the trick.

You may also want to look at "sharpie industrial." It's a little hardier than the normal stuff. (I actually work for the company that makes Sharpie markers. Heh.)
#8
zombie_babies
Feb 19, 2009 8:51:03 I used to buy paint pens at Wal Mart. They had 'em in the toy section. Believe it or not, they actually have a small area for model cars and such. Back when I built those, I could always find everything I needed at Wal Mart - including paint pens.
#9
benmillion
Mar 22, 2011 19:43:04 My main issue with coloring in the numbers on uninked dice is the effect that the substance has on the accuracy of the dice.

I have friends who use crayon, which IMHO is the worst thing you can use.

Paint is a pretty heavy substance, and will weigh down sides which have numbers whos letterforms have a larger footprint.

The reason I got uninked was for accuracy. There needs to be some sort of method to color in the numbers without affecting the precision.
#10
jetshield
Mar 22, 2011 20:00:10 RUN!!! The zombiethread is coming to eat your brains!
#11
jetshield
Mar 22, 2011 20:06:52 I knew that's where you kept your brains.
#12
zombie_babies
Mar 23, 2011 8:55:52 If you're so concerned about painted numbers altering the weight of the die, well, you'd probably be better served with an online roller. I mean, seriously. Like, c'mon.
#13
jetshield
Mar 23, 2011 9:23:24 A computer is incapable of generating a truely random number. They can, if coded well, to a very good simulation of randomness, but it's not actually random.

Paint is a pretty heavy substance, and will weigh down sides which have numbers whos letterforms have a larger footprint.

The reason I got uninked was for accuracy. There needs to be some sort of method to color in the numbers without affecting the precision.

You're not taking into account the fact that the sides containing numbers with a larger footprint are already wieghted less. There is less material on those sides of the die because the numbers have a larger footprint. Coloring in the numbers on the die actually improves accuracy.

Darnit ZB! I was poking fun at necro-thread and you made me post on topic!
#14
zombie_babies
Mar 23, 2011 9:26:17
A computer is incapable of generating a truely random number.

Neither can dice. 'Specially 20 siders.

Darnit ZB! I was poking fun at necro-thread and you made me post on topic!

I am a bastard, yes.
#15
pluisjen
Mar 23, 2011 9:26:23 A computer is about as capable of generating a truly random number as a die is

If you value your randomness, you can always buy an USB-randomiser.
#16
KillerGM
Mar 23, 2011 9:46:36 When I was first looking at this thread today, I was all "who the hell is using my avatar? WTF?" But then I saw it was me from like a year ago two years ago.

Old thread is old!

And what jetshield said. The amount of paint may upset the balance of the die, but I imagine it would be hard to do. But it would make sense that ink weighs less ... I would try "staining" the die - put a wash of ink on the whole thing, then wipe it off. The ink may stay in the number grooves?
#17
benmillion
Mar 23, 2011 15:24:12 so, basically there is no true way in the universe to generate a truly random number.

dice can't do it, computer programs can't do it... (not sure what a USB randomizer is)

that means that the series of 1's and 2's I rolled in my last game were not random statistics, but an act of... divine intervention? karma? manifestation?
#18
zombie_babies
Mar 23, 2011 15:34:33 Nope. Just not truly random. Your dice are not perfectly formed or perfectly weighted. That's why I personally find it silly to fret over the tiny amount of variance a little color is going to add. They're already varied to the point of being incapable of generating a truly random result. Make 'em look how ya want 'em to, roll the everlovin' **** out of 'em and try to relax. ;)
#19
pluisjen
Mar 23, 2011 18:34:21 A USB randomiser is a small device for your computer that reads generic data from its enviroment and uses that to build random numbers (electric current, airspeed, temperature, barometric pressure, everything)

It's about as random as you can get.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 wraithstrike Feb 10, 2009 19:03:09	I bought some uninked dice. After I got them I found out I had to use an paint pen, instead of a regular sharpie because the color shows up better. The problem is I don't know where to find any. I see regular markers, but not anything designated as a paint pen in Target, Walmart or Staples. Are there any other stores that would have them? I really don't want to order any.
#2 KillerGM Feb 10, 2009 19:08:40	Any art supply or craft store (such as Michael's) should have them.
#3 wraithstrike Feb 10, 2009 19:12:26	Any art supply or craft store (such as Michael's) should have them. Thanks. I think I have a few more places to check now.
#4 Mad_Jack Feb 11, 2009 20:29:57	White-Out is also a cheap and effective way to do it, although you'll have to redo it every so often... Brush it on and then use a piece of cardboard, razorblade, or other nice straight edge to scrape off the excess while it's wet, then clean it up a bit with a paper towel. Any hobby shop will also have paint pens as well... Be sure to try to find one with a smaller tip so you're not bleeding paint all over the surface of the die as well as in the numbers... Wiping the paint off while it's still wet is easy, but the less paint on the die the better. You can always do the numbers once, let it dry, and then do it again if they aren't bright enough the first time. If you're feeling really cheap, for the cost of a paint pen you can also go buy a $1 jar of white Testors Hobby Enamel (for model cars, etc.) at WalMart and a $1 package of cheap brushes at a dollar store, and do it like that. As long as it's still wet, the enamel paint will wipe off the plastic surface just fine with a dry paper towel.
#5 wraithstrike Feb 12, 2009 1:00:37	White-Out is also a cheap and effective way to do it, although you'll have to redo it every so often... Brush it on and then use a piece of cardboard, razorblade, or other nice straight edge to scrape off the excess while it's wet, then clean it up a bit with a paper towel. Any hobby shop will also have paint pens as well... Be sure to try to find one with a smaller tip so you're not bleeding paint all over the surface of the die as well as in the numbers... Wiping the paint off while it's still wet is easy, but the less paint on the die the better. You can always do the numbers once, let it dry, and then do it again if they aren't bright enough the first time. If you're feeling really cheap, for the cost of a paint pen you can also go buy a $1 jar of white Testors Hobby Enamel (for model cars, etc.) at WalMart and a $1 package of cheap brushes at a dollar store, and do it like that. As long as it's still wet, the enamel paint will wipe off the plastic surface just fine with a dry paper towel. I found a store today, but I got the wrong tips. I called them, and they will let me know when they get the ultra find tips in.
#6 midnitepoison Feb 19, 2009 0:36:16	well, Id also recommend an art supply store, but beware, some of the nicer colors go for like 3 bux a pop.
#7 mnemonicsv Feb 19, 2009 1:09:54	Agreed, an art supply place would do the trick. You may also want to look at "sharpie industrial." It's a little hardier than the normal stuff. (I actually work for the company that makes Sharpie markers. Heh.)
#8 zombie_babies Feb 19, 2009 8:51:03	I used to buy paint pens at Wal Mart. They had 'em in the toy section. Believe it or not, they actually have a small area for model cars and such. Back when I built those, I could always find everything I needed at Wal Mart - including paint pens.
#9 benmillion Mar 22, 2011 19:43:04	My main issue with coloring in the numbers on uninked dice is the effect that the substance has on the accuracy of the dice. I have friends who use crayon, which IMHO is the worst thing you can use. Paint is a pretty heavy substance, and will weigh down sides which have numbers whos letterforms have a larger footprint. The reason I got uninked was for accuracy. There needs to be some sort of method to color in the numbers without affecting the precision.
#10 jetshield Mar 22, 2011 20:00:10	RUN!!! The zombiethread is coming to eat your brains!
#11 jetshield Mar 22, 2011 20:06:52	I knew that's where you kept your brains.
#12 zombie_babies Mar 23, 2011 8:55:52	If you're so concerned about painted numbers altering the weight of the die, well, you'd probably be better served with an online roller. I mean, seriously. Like, c'mon.
#13 jetshield Mar 23, 2011 9:23:24	A computer is incapable of generating a truely random number. They can, if coded well, to a very good simulation of randomness, but it's not actually random. Paint is a pretty heavy substance, and will weigh down sides which have numbers whos letterforms have a larger footprint. The reason I got uninked was for accuracy. There needs to be some sort of method to color in the numbers without affecting the precision. You're not taking into account the fact that the sides containing numbers with a larger footprint are already wieghted less. There is less material on those sides of the die because the numbers have a larger footprint. Coloring in the numbers on the die actually improves accuracy. Darnit ZB! I was poking fun at necro-thread and you made me post on topic!
#14 zombie_babies Mar 23, 2011 9:26:17	A computer is incapable of generating a truely random number. Neither can dice. 'Specially 20 siders. Darnit ZB! I was poking fun at necro-thread and you made me post on topic! I am a bastard, yes.
#15 pluisjen Mar 23, 2011 9:26:23	A computer is about as capable of generating a truly random number as a die is If you value your randomness, you can always buy an USB-randomiser.
#16 KillerGM Mar 23, 2011 9:46:36	When I was first looking at this thread today, I was all "who the hell is using my avatar? WTF?" But then I saw it was me from like a year ago two years ago. Old thread is old! And what jetshield said. The amount of paint may upset the balance of the die, but I imagine it would be hard to do. But it would make sense that ink weighs less ... I would try "staining" the die - put a wash of ink on the whole thing, then wipe it off. The ink may stay in the number grooves?
#17 benmillion Mar 23, 2011 15:24:12	so, basically there is no true way in the universe to generate a truly random number. dice can't do it, computer programs can't do it... (not sure what a USB randomizer is) that means that the series of 1's and 2's I rolled in my last game were not random statistics, but an act of... divine intervention? karma? manifestation?
#18 zombie_babies Mar 23, 2011 15:34:33	Nope. Just not truly random. Your dice are not perfectly formed or perfectly weighted. That's why I personally find it silly to fret over the tiny amount of variance a little color is going to add. They're already varied to the point of being incapable of generating a truly random result. Make 'em look how ya want 'em to, roll the everlovin' **** out of 'em and try to relax. ;)
#19 pluisjen Mar 23, 2011 18:34:21	A USB randomiser is a small device for your computer that reads generic data from its enviroment and uses that to build random numbers (electric current, airspeed, temperature, barometric pressure, everything) It's about as random as you can get.