Aging paper

[SpiritV]

Here's how I've done it once in the past when I did a treasure-hunt for my cousin and her friends. First, I drew the treasure map. Then I put it on a grill and then put it in the oven for a long while. I don't remember the exact details of this, I'm afraid, but I seem to remember something like 100°C as the temperature. Seeing as I know that paper is combustible, I stood close watch, so I would advise you to do the same. The paper will yellow.

Now, after this, very, very carefully take a lighter to the edge of the pages and singe the edges so that you get rid of the straight lines of the paper's edges.

After you're done with this, the paper looks good, but is not very practical anymore. It's brittle. So other methods might be better, but I thought I'd share this little bit.

 

[rorschach999]

I've done it that way too and then sprayed it to moisten it again it goes a little more like paper and not so brittle - but I will warn you it took me 17 attempts to get it right and i only do this on maps as it can get to brittle otherwise - and anything that's going in a frame - not suitable for normal paper props but worthy messing with as it can make something look fantastic and give a real old feel - I also used to use old used ground coffee - leave it on the paper for a few weeks and as it goes moldy it leaves great looking stains and an old musty paper smell behind, just make sure the papers dry afterward of it will continue to rot

if that don't make sense PM me and ill give you more details

 

[sirciarly]

I find aging the most difficult part of the document - too much and it looks terrible to little and it will not look right either, also depends on what your aging , paper, parchment, cloth etc.

best way I found to age a book and my method is no where near perfect but works for me, is to lightly "paint" each page with tea, leave to dry then spray/mist with strong coffee as magnoli says to get the stamp effect on the pages then leave dry and then lastly spray the whole thing closed, this if done properly gets the right effect on the edges of the pages too, I also run a serrated knife down the edge of the pages to get a doggy edge to them.

hope this helps

Hi, i want to use your method for aging a map. But I have a big problem after "paint" with tea and leave to dry a paper that ripples to much. How I can fix that and dry the paper at the same time?

Thanks

 

[ahoudini]

I have also had great results with Ranger distress inks. Powdered pastels ( Doc O'Brien's weathering powders) applied with a soft brush work great, too (no warping!) You can make your own by rubbing chalk pastels (not oil pastels!) on sandpaper. I made a sort of palette by rubbing the different colors needed for a project in different areas of a sheet of sandpaper so you can dip your brush in the different colors as you work. The little jars the Doc O'Brien's powders come in are less messy!

http://www.micromark.com/doc-obriens-weathering-powders-set-of-12-colors,7798.html

I aged this map for my vampire killing kit this way:

 

[rorschach999]

hi, the only way i found to do maps is to paint the paper lightly at first and do it in stages build up the layers one byone and place kitchen towel and heavy books on top to keep it flat, after the first treatment fold the map if required and continue and put a heavier amount in the creases of the map continue to paint whole thing 3 -4 times then start on the edges and the folded map as it would have more aging on exposed edges and sides if folded

hope that makes sense if not let me know and ill try and do a little step by step - but remember my method may not work for you it works for me well but different printers and ink, paper etc respond differently and its a case of trial and error - i practiced on old draft print outs that were going in the recycling so i had a lot of waste before i got it right, also try other methods too - find one that works for you there are plenty of people out there who have different methods

good luck and let us know how you get on

 

[sirciarly]

hi, the only way i found to do maps is to paint the paper lightly at first and do it in stages build up the layers one byone and place kitchen towel and heavy books on top to keep it flat, after the first treatment fold the map if required and continue and put a heavier amount in the creases of the map continue to paint whole thing 3 -4 times then start on the edges and the folded map as it would have more aging on exposed edges and sides if folded

I am making marauders map of Harry Potter so you advice to fold after aging?I am little be scared the paper can break because I use normal 80 g paper. There is any problem if i fold before aging and follow your method with heavy book?

Thanks for all, I print 3 copy of this map so I can make some mistake and sorry for my english

 

[Indy Magnoli]

Paper can usually hold up to wet treatment fine as long as you're careful with it when it is wet. Once it's dry it should be back to to the way it started (as far as strength is concerned). I love using heat for an authentic aging method but that will certainly make it more brittle.

 

[sirciarly]

Paper can usually hold up to wet treatment fine as long as you're careful with it when it is wet. Once it's dry it should be back to to the way it started (as far as strength is concerned). I love using heat for an authentic aging method but that will certainly make it more brittle.

Thanks today I will try with a mix of black cofee and black tea, I hope in good result

 

[Pobbrett]

Thanks today I will try with a mix of black cofee and black tea, I hope in good result

i your using coffee there's really no need to mix the tea in as it will get lost, the newer coffee pods in bags are great and give a really mellow aging very nice even colour, i also use lemon juice and heat for age spots (hair dryer, more heat = darker spots)

 

[Indy Magnoli]

use lemon juice and heat for age spots

Yes, this is another excellent method!

 

[RobI]

This thread is absolutely fascinating. I recently bought a grail diary and intend to add some items over time. I also have a rather good sized library of old books at the house so I see an array of aging first hand. Some xx hundred year old books look nearly brand new and others are on the verge of turning to dust.

One feature I have always found interesting is the yellowing around the edges and the 'finger smudges' that appear in the corners of some well read books.

 

[sajukimoto]

don't forget to age the covers front and back, spine, ect

 

[Fiona Hunt]

Damnit Jim, I'm an Italian, not a flower. :behave I use the cheapest instant coffee I can find... no need to waste the good stuff!

-Magnoli

Lol love your reply!!

I have used the tea and the coffee method, both are good, and with coffee you can make the pages darker. And the pages then make you want a coffee all the time! lol

 

[Brigandia36]

This is the letter to Lara Croft from her father in the 1st movie. I think she keeps the letter with her.

This is how I let drying my paper. I don't want to be to clean. And bits are made by tea leaves.
(Lara is an action woman and it is the last object from her father.)
For a better result on the back, you can let your paper drying on "wrinckled cooking paper" (not sure of my english)


The final result this morning (it is not the same than above because I reprint it due to the typo.)

 

[Brigandia36]

This is what I use.

This is how I use. (No, any baby s*** in my plate)

 

[PraeTac]

Cool. Good info. Thank you. I'm recovering some books in leather, and would like to do the "aging process" on them to make em look old. This is great information

 

[buznme2002]

I've used wood stain to age some stuff.
just water in down the stain a lot first
then dip or brush on each page

 

[Tim Ueberrhein]

thanks for all the Infos
I think i make some test´s at the Weekend, to find the best technique to aging the paper from a book or paper

 

[SigsegV]

I've had some great success making splotches by dipping a rubber-bristled basting brush (say that ten times fast) in coffee and shaking it at the paper so it splatters.

You can also get a similar effect with somewhat smaller splotches by dipping your finger in the coffee and flicking it off onto the page, but I found that it didn't work too well. And made my hand smell like coffee for a couple of days.

I've dipped a cotton ball in coffee and squeezed it along the edge of a closed book to stain the pages around the edges as well.

I used the basting brush and cotton ball techniques on my grail diary in this thread if you want to see an example.

 

[TylerHam]

I did this tonight with Coffee, acrylic paint, pastel, and fire on the edges.

The trick was to not try and take your time - Slop it on and let the paint / coffee pool in ares, whip it off - Try to just "let go"