Aging paper: Tea?

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MabSadie2

MabSadie2

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Posts
5,829
Loc
Bozeman, Montana
So, customer brings me a new reproduction map and says the brand spanking newness of it is driving her crazy and wants me to "age it up" before I frame it. I've done this for theater props, but I figured I would run it by ya'll first. Yes, I have it here in writing that I am supposed to destroy this map.

Right now the plan is to brush the paper with super strong tea, sprinkle it with instant coffee crystals to mimic foxing, wipe it off and dry it in the press.

Question: Should I drymount it first or after? I'm not planning to crumple or singe it. I don't want to end up with soggy foam, but I don't think I'm going to use that much water. It seems like it would be much easier to work with if it were already flat. It's 22 x 31, and was rolled into a teensy 1" tube so it's springy, even after some time in the press.
 
I can't comment on the aging process but I would think that dry mounting is contrary to making it look old.

I can't image a nice dry mounted flat map looking old, regardless of how your 'process' has changed it. I'm sure that your 'process' will create some 'character' in how the map lies. Why not hinge it to 'preserve' the new 'character'?

A few folds and crinkles would add to the 'character'. You customer should advise on how much 'aging' is enough.
 
I did this with a reprint French Quarter map I bought as a souvenir in New Orleans. I didn't want to over wet or soak, as I had no idea of what the paper/ink/toner of the print would do. I misted with a spray bottle, and quickly blotted, and while I really can't remember back that far, I think I used watercolor as the tint. And as pointed out, it was hinged and matted, no dry mount, as I wanted it to retain some undulation of the surface and have an old look.

Joseph
 
I used tea on a map for a customer several years ago. we also singed the edges.
It was a standard map I bought a book store.
 
I've soaked in tea, blotted and resoaked several times. Then slightly burn the edges, then soaked the edges only ( stand on edge) in solution of a darker tea. This takes time as you have to do 4 sides seperately. You can also airbrush acrylic if you have those skills for the effect. Do not dry mount...hinge it for a slightly curled and slightly wrinkled look and you'll not be able to tell it from an old original.
 
I've actually used stain before .... its works pretty awesome..... Water it down of course........

I would dye it before Drymount....... actually I laminated them after dying it..... and crumpled up the release stuff and put it on top of the laminate to make it look all creased and aged........ It was super fun! ;)
 
Will do! Thanks for the input.

Tea is steeping now. As I don't have watercolor stain here, I'm going to go for it. One of the old pieces of paper we used for our props kept getting a little darker over the years. I like that.
 
I've used black coffee and blotted off; also sat the coffee cup on the map in order to leave a ring. Sitting damp coffee grounds around the edges, leaving it to dry then brush off also produces and aged effect.
 
Here is your recipe:

  1. Take it to Kinko's and get a couple of copies
  2. Put original away to give back to customer
  3. Play with over steeped tea all you want.... but coffee is quicker
  4. thinned out guache blotted on with large wad of old t-shirts is my tool of choice
  5. rubbing here and there with pumic stone as well as whiting
  6. mild solutions of black walnut juice...
  7. if you don't wad and un-wad, stomp on, fold a few different times etc.... you're a chicken.
  8. Have fun... it's only a copy.
  9. when you have 3, show them to the customer
  10. keep track of your time
 
Same answer I have for everything...... Acrylics can do ANYTHING! Start with washes, then flick,fling,dab,and drybrush until you are satisfied.. L
 
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