Faded Writing

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Manny

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Chilliwack, B.C., Canada
Hi, this post is directed more towards Rebecca,who was on line a minute ago, but not now.

I am probably asking the impossible, but, after all, it is better to ask a dumb question than to make a dumb mistake!

A customer of ours brought in her parents' 100 year old marriage certificate for framing. She asked if there were any way that the writing (in ink-script) could be brought back to life. Some of the writing is quite faded, in fact, some is beyond recognition. I could not give a definite answer.

Is it possible?

Manny
 
I'm not the conservator, but if I had to make a guess, I'd say no.

BUT why not do this: Make a high-quality scan of the document, have it restored with Adobe Photoshop or something similar to bring the writing back and print the result on a nice heavy cotton rag paper using good permanent ink. Or as close as we can get to permanent. Then store the original away safely.
 
Hi Manny

No such thing as a dumb question! Framer Dave has pretty well summed it up, and with a nice solution too. (Although I doubt if Adobe could put back something that ain't there, only enhance something that is). There are chemical ways to darken faded iron gall ink, but the process is pretty well impossible to control - it feathers and makes a mess. Usually only used for archival documents whose only importance is the information written on them, not the physical artifacts themselves.

If the client really wants to make a project of it, I believe there are photographic ways to read some types of faded inks (memory fails, but Infra Red photography may be one). These can be found in the Conservation Dist. List Archives, which can be accessed via Conservation OnLine's web site.

Rebecca
 
Actually there is a guy in Tennessee who can do that very thing! I know this, because he (restored? recovered? conjured?) a letter of a customer of mine. Of course you want the information, but it is at work. Stand by until tomorrow or so and I will get the info...
 
That would be very interesting Ellen! Could you get a copy of conservator/restorer's report which would summarize the materials/techniques used? I'd love to "see" what they did! Thanks.

Rebecca
 
A professional calligrapher may be able to mimic the style of writing on the document. I have done it -- not on the original, but on a photographic copy, which was printed on uncoated paper suitable for pen-inking. It's a tedious process, and expensive.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one of two writing styles were taught in most schools: Spencerian, developed by Platt Spencer (Geneva On The Lake, Ohio); and Zanerian, developed by C.P Zaner (Columbus).

And in those days before mechaincal reproduction became practical, professional "penmen" (and a few women, as well) were contracted to duplicate documents. For that purpose, proficiency with a few consistently-applied styles was very important.

So, if you can find a pointed-pen calligrapher proficient in Spencerian and Zanerian styles, you may be able to help your client. But beware: there are very few such calligraphers left; The Zanerian School of Penmanship closed in 1954. Don't ask just any calligapher to do it.

For more information on this alternative, contact the Internmational Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers, and Teachers of Handwriting (IAMPETH). www.iampeth.com
 
(haven't been to work yet as it is my 'day off'... which means that I only work about 4-5 hours hehehe) nonono This guys scans the original and does magic computer things with it... his hands never leave his arms... :D :D :D
 
Don't let Jim Miller scare you. I'm sure The Diva could do this with a Sharpie - left-handed and blind-folded.

Oh wait. It isn't a report card. Never mind . . .
 
HURRAY! I finally found that elusive piece of paper (and a side benefit... my desktop is cleaner than it has been for a while. I found stuff dated in April. Ooops!) Anyhoo.. the magician is Brent Seales. He is in the Computer Science department at the University of Kentucky (very close to Tennessee, Kentucky is...) and I can almost give you his number. Call 859-257-3961, and ask them to connect you with the computer science department. (I forgot to write down his 'real' number...
)If he needs a reminder, he did a letter from a WW2 serviceman to his daughter that had pretty well faded away. The daughter is from the Hagerstown MD area... perhaps that will jog his mind... hope all this helps!
 
Thanks to all for the responses. I cannot believe how much (free) information is out there. I am sure glad that our sales rep put me onto the grumble

Manny
 
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