I'm working on a game that requires several dice that aren't pipped. I've tried Sharpie on the 3/4" labels that you get with blank dice from teaching supply stores, but the markings get smudged after a few plays. I've also tried the big dice (I think the same kind as sold in the BGDF Catalong, even) and those get smudged as well.
What's the best way to mark dice so that the mark will be permanent and clear?
What kind of mark do you want to make?
If it is just a pip or two, you could drill into the die with a drill bit.
If you want a picture, then maybe put a protective coat over the dice after glueing on the image.
I can't think of the name of the product, but I spray it on my wargaming figures to give the paint jobs protection against people's fingers. Sweat, oil, etc...
Just walk into a craft store such as Michaels, JoAnne's, Hobby Bench, Craftmart, etc... and tell them what you want to do. Someone there will know the right product for your purposes.
Krylon Crystal Clear, which is sometimes also sold as Krylon Spray Acrylic. Either way you get a thin coat of clear "paint" to protect your stuff. You can use as many coats as you want, but even one will protect things a lot (and will prevent inkjet prints from smearing and laser prints from cracking, to boot).
-- Matthew
I am using a permanent marker on a blank die and then I paint a varnish on it. Any acrylic varnish will work.
 | How to design and balance a Rock-Paper-Scissor like mechanism (36) by X3M |
| 2025 New Year Sale at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| Build your own [insert game genre here] (12) by lewpuls |
 | DuelBotz: Sample New Card (16) by questccg |
| Finalists Selected for the VHS Case Challenge (3) by questccg |
| Merry Christmas 2024! (0) by questccg |
| Winner Announced for "That Cool Stock Part Challenge" (0) by The Game Crafter |
| End of Year Playtest Event at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| New Board Game Pieces: 13mm Wood Cubes (0) by The Game Crafter |
| Board Game Blueprint - New Episode Every Wednesday (24) by The Game Crafter |
| Madison Game Design Cabal (0) by The Game Crafter |
| PoA — Major shift back closer to FCE (13) by questccg |
| Voting Begins for "VHS Case Challenge" at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| New Product: Large Quad-Fold Game Boards (0) by The Game Crafter |
| 2025 New Year Sale at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| New Board Game Design Contest: ZSA Cards Challenge (0) by The Game Crafter |
| Black Friday Sale Ends Tonight (0) by The Game Crafter |
| The Shadow Of The Nokizaru Update! (0) by Jacob |
| Black Friday Sale at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| Power Creep, a Dungeon Pages adventure (0) by jasongreeno |
| Premium Bullet & Premium Toxic Waste Board Game Pieces at The Game Crafter (0) by The Game Crafter |
| What “Should” Be in an RPG Design Book (11) by lewpuls |
| Blank Poker Card Sale - 3 Cents Each! (0) by The Game Crafter |
| Blank Playing Cards - Bridge 57mm x 89mm UK (1) by questccg |
| Finally returned after all these years (1) by DyminoMonsters2004 |
Each die will have various numbers on them, and different for each one.
And a protective coat of what?