Marking on plasticard

[YPU]

This is gooing to sound very basic, but how do you guys mark off stuff on plasticard? Especially the white stuff. The light here is less than stellar (hah) during winter and any small scorches I make in it don't show up all that well unless I move my lights just right. Most markers are swept right off as well... Somebody must have had a clever idea for this before? 

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

I use a pencil or an Edding marker

[Ahistorian]

I use a heavy pencil, since most of my inks don't hold to it too well.

[YPU]

I might just be a stickler for precision. Most mechanical pencils that I have use a 0.6mm core, which I find much too big for precise marking. Not to mention edging markers...  

Maybe I should just start working with a outer bounds marking system, where I cut on the outside/inside of that 0.6mm line.

[OSHIROmodels]

I use a pencil on the matt side but I use some fine grit sandpaper on the lead to sand it into a point (I've got a 0.5 pencil).

cheers

James

[Cory]

If you make a knife mark you can rub graphite powder into it to make a very narrow mark.

[Damas]

This may come across as stating the bleedin' obvious, but, it works.  

I've found that each side of the card is different and one side will take marks easier than the other so a HB pencil should work fine.  For my straight cuts, I mark the plastic with the scalpel directly and just cut, job done.

I'm sure Jim and Andy have some special secret methods though.

[OSHIROmodels]

Look up 

[Damas]

That's what you always say. 

[YPU]

If you make a knife mark you can rub graphite powder into it to make a very narrow mark.

That might not be a bad idea.

I've found that each side of the card is different and one side will take marks easier than the other so a HB pencil should work fine. 

I have a couple of sheets of plasticard where this is true, but also a number where it is not, hence the question. Jim's suggestion of just sanding all of it a bit might not be a bad one, would probably help paint adhesion as well.

[westwaller]

It is probably not the solution, but I feel I must point out that Pental do a 0.3 technical pencil and leads...

[dbsubashi]

Try a fine tip Sharpie. I use that, mechanical pencil, but mostly just a knife mark. The latter is probably not ideal in your lighting conditions

[Daeothar]

If you make a knife mark you can rub graphite powder into it to make a very narrow mark.

I do this as well. Works perfectly...

[gweirda]

I do this as well. Works perfectly...

Me three.  Depending on how clean your bench (and fingers) are, a quick swipe with a finger will do the trick.

[Daeothar]

Me three.  Depending on how clean your bench (and fingers) are, a quick swipe with a finger will do the trick.

I wasn't going to admit it, but yeah; just that...