Looking for surface that leaves a distinct mark on contact

Are you thinking of the "blue" that engineers and fitters use when machining or scraping bearings?

I'm just looking for a firm material that marks upon pressure by metal. If you're talking about Prussian blue oil paint, then no. I want something that marks the material without the aid of colored paint.

Thanks for your reply,

Jason

Lead will leave a smudge on a contacting surface.

ok.. compared to the other posters ideas this is different and probably all wrong: Phenolphtaleine in water with pH 8-9 and higher is dark red. CO2 from the air slowly reduces the pH thereby leaving the solution colorless. So much for the fading part. Little (polymer/wax/?) bubbles filled with the solution might snap under pressure. If for example traces of sodiumhydoxide are placed under the bubble (not dissolved in the solution of phenolphtaleine) the solution won't turn red until the bubble bursts. It definitely is a one time only use and difficult to realize, but who knows.

There is a film sold by sensorproducts inc., i think developed by Fuji. There are embedded microcapsula with red color. So depending on the pressure it changes the color. There are several pressure ranges available.

Look at