Best way to remove pen marks?

[Tenar]

I have a G3 fluttershy with a pen mark on her hoof.  I've tried magic eraser and it didn't have much effect.  Next I tried nail polish remover.  This worked on marker marks but pen marks seem more stubborn.  Any other suggestions?

[hathorcat]

Sun fading. If you have had no luck with acetone or with magic eraser, you will need to try sun fading next

[Tenar]

Sun fading. If you have had no luck with acetone or with magic eraser, you will need to try sun fading next

I've never done sun fading before.  This is where you wrap the pony in tinfoil, all except the one spot you want to "fade?"  Does this risk making the pony's foot a different shade than the rest of her?

I also don't know if the sun is strong enough to do that at this time of the year.

[hathorcat]

Here is the best sun fading tutorial about - http://mlparena.com/index.php/topic,288060.msg70470.html#msg70470 - Relcelestias guide is great.

Sun fading will bleach out the colour "on" the plastic [ie the pen] before it bleaches out the colour "in" the plastic [the pigment]. If you over expose it to the sun yes there is a risk the pigment in the plastic will fade but you will get the colour on the plastic off before that starts to become significant.

Its not the heat of the sun which sun fades, its the UV content. So unfortunately it may be a struggle to sun fade her at this time of year or it may simply take longer. I have had a Spunky sun fading for 4 weeks now...I dont expect her to be done for another 3 or 4 months unfortunately. Unless you are living in a climate with some pretty high UV levels for extended periods, you can need to be prepared that sun fading will take its time.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Sunfading may still work up here, but the prime season is when Daylight Savings begins!    I brought all my sunfading ponies inside this week but that's because it's going to snow soon. 

[Tenar]

Interesting that the tutorial says a sun lamp might work as well.  But then you have to pay for electricity.

[hathorcat]

Interesting that the tutorial says a sun lamp might work as well.  But then you have to pay for electricity.

While I have heard people mention sun laps, to date I have never seen a good start to finish tutorial showing this to work. Unless you are using the kind of light from a tanning booth then regular lights or sun lamps will not release UV or at least enough UV.

[Tenar]

Interesting that the tutorial says a sun lamp might work as well.  But then you have to pay for electricity.

While I have heard people mention sun laps, to date I have never seen a good start to finish tutorial showing this to work. Unless you are using the kind of light from a tanning booth then regular lights or sun lamps will not release UV or at least enough UV.

What about a black light?  I guess it depends if it's the UV-A or UV-B that really does the work.. I don't have enough experience to say which it is.  I know black lights produce only UV-A light which is the less skin harmful part of the spectrum.  I'm going to try a black light and see if it does anything.

[hathorcat]

Interesting that the tutorial says a sun lamp might work as well.  But then you have to pay for electricity.

While I have heard people mention sun laps, to date I have never seen a good start to finish tutorial showing this to work. Unless you are using the kind of light from a tanning booth then regular lights or sun lamps will not release UV or at least enough UV.

What about a black light?  I guess it depends if it's the UV-A or UV-B that really does the work.. I don't have enough experience to say which it is.  I know black lights produce only UV-A light which is the less skin harmful part of the spectrum.  I'm going to try a black light and see if it does anything.

UVA is the most effective due to the way it penetrates deeper in the plastic but because fading is normally on the surface of the plastic both should work well. Unfortunately I dont think a black light will produce anywhere near the degree you need. But its an interesting theory and I really do hope it works...because then anyone in a less than sunny climb can sun fade any time Good luck!

[Water_Fire]

I have used acetone in the past and it has removed some (not all) pen marks, although you would have to be super careful with it. Possibly worth a go, as it's usually quite cheap.