Backing Breakdown

Linen-backing is a conservation method used to mount and preserve vintage posters to quality linen canvas so they can be displayed or framed without compromising value. Linen-backing holds the poster flat and smooth, allowing it to be easily handled, stored or framed. It can repair handling wear up to paper loss and water damage.

First, we use our custom built mounting frames to stretch the canvas as tight as a drum, then we adhere acid free paper using a custom blended wheat starch based paste. We use archival, pH neutral, museum grade materials that will stand the test of time. Unless you change your mind, in which case, the process we use is fully reversible in the right hands!

FAQ

“Will linen backing devalue my piece?” No!

SWAU (Star Wars Autograph Universe) said it best for movie posters:

“Does it affect value? No, it doesn't. One more time for the people in the back…NO, IT DOESN’T. Remember when I said most original posters are printed on crap paper? Printed cheaply? Linen-backing brings posters to a level of perfection that wasn’t present even in the original. Have you ever paid less for an item that looks perfect? Yeah, me neither.

Now, there are purists out there who only collect original posters in original condition and would look snidely down their nose at a linen-backed poster. It’s safe to say they are not going to be getting any of their mint, original posters signed, so none of this applies. But I want to be clear, I’ve collected Star Wars posters since I was a little girl and have many in my collection that are appraised at $10,000 or more. Some are linen backed and it did not lower the value. It is widely accepted, even industry standard, that linen-backing a poster is a standard practice and even increases the value of a piece.

If the Art Institute of Chicago, the Pritzker Military Library, The Yale Center for British Art, The Chicago History Museum, The Polish Museum of America, The Library of Congress, and the Tibbals Learning Center of the Ringling Museum has priceless works of art linen backed, I’m pretty sure the value of your signed poster will be fine.”

“Will linen backing fix the fold lines in my poster?” Posters with minimal fold lines, tears, or dents will look fresh and flattened after mounting. Any tears can be lined up while it cures on the screen, and fold lines can be burnished down to flatten them. Any broken color from severe fold lines, tears, or missing pieces can then be touched up to distract from the damage.

“Do you soak the posters before linen backing?” No! We only add a small amount of moisture before it’s mounted on canvas to expand the fibers. This allows us to maneuver and line up tears, or loosen up folds/dents.

“Should I wait to get all of my signatures completed before getting the piece linen backed?” Not necessarily, though we would recommend it. We have backed posters that were torn or heavily damaged to reinforce them for signings, but ideally you should send us your piece when you’re ready to frame it!

“My poster isn’t damaged, but I want to frame it, should I linen back it?” Absolutely! Mounting will keep the piece flat over time, and make framing easier. Even the best framer that can “float” an image will tell you that it will warp over time from changes in humidity or climate.

After it’s trimmed out of the mounting screen, we can cut the excess canvas to the edge of the piece, or to a custom border size.

“Will it affect the signatures on an autographed piece?” No! We work on heavily autographed pieces, and mounting will not affect them. We test signatures before working on a piece to ensure their stability. Note: Sharpie and paint pens are the most commonly used, and highly stable, but if a signature is unstable from a different type of ink, we can first seal it with a varnish that is comprised of similar chemicals used in the printing finish of the poster as well as the permanent markers.

“I have a signature/dedication in _______ marker, can you remove it?” Yes! For the most part, but it depends on the pen and location. If we cannot remove it entirely, we have tricks of hiding it. For instance, a signature in black or blue sharpie on a white background will be tricker to remove than metallic or paint pen on a dark background. Black/blue sharpie can leech into the fibers of the poster and leave a shadow after surface removal. This can be corrected with a few touch ups to distract from the area!

In terms of ease of removal:

Gold/Silver/Metallic Pens - generally the easiest to remove

Deco Paint Pens - easy to remove, but can be tricky, as it depends on how well the pen was shaken before use. If the binder and carrier were not properly mixed, signature stability can vary.

Black/Blue Sharpie - tricker to remove, especially depending on the area it covers. Most often we must use certain chemicals for the removal. It can leave a slight shadow from the ink, and sometimes lift a bit of color around the removal in extreme cases, but we are able to match the color back and hide it.

We try to use the least invasive methods for restoring posters, but sometimes chemicals and more permanent solutions are required. Every project is different!

“How much will ______ cost?” Every project is different, and it often takes us seeing the piece in person and doing some tests to get an accurate estimate. Pictures are very helpful, so please send any photos or questions to aorinquiries@gmail.com, or submit our form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Generally speaking (estimates are subject to change):

-Linen backing (Standard one sheet: 27” x 41”) ~$134 (Check us out on Facebook in AMP (Autographed Movie Posters) or SWAU (Star Wars Autograph Universe) for referral member rates)

-Standard inscription/dedication removal: 2-3 hours, or ~$170-$255+. Can vary quite a bit, depending on the area of the signature and pen used. Any additional time for recoloring will be added.

-Reline (removing a piece from foam board, cardboard, previous linen backing, etc.): approximately 2-4 hours, or ~$170-340, depending on the size, adhesive, and material it’s mounted to. We slowly peel away the backing after applying moisture or solvents to release it. Then, it’s ready to be mounted again. We charge by the dimensions for mounting, which will be added after the removal.

-Fold Line Restoration (minor, no broken color): Up to 1 hr, or ~$85. We’ll burnish the fold lines down so they lay flat and are less visible to the eye.

-Fold Line Restoration (major, lines are white and mostly/fully broken): This can vary quite a bit, depending on the image of the poster. For instance, fold lines of a mostly black poster can be filled rather quickly, as it’s one solid color (approximately 1-2 hours, ~$85-$170). On the other hand, if the lines go through a highly detailed area full of colors and faces, the time can add up to match them. (3-4+ hr, or ~$255-340+)

-Flattening: approximately 2 hrs, or ~$170. We have an oversized press with adjustable heat and pressure controls used to flatten vintage maps, lithographs, and posters.

“Have you started my piece/ do you have updates?” We are a small studio with a very small staff! Sometimes we are unable to get back to you quickly, but we will send you updates as progress is made. Pieces go in a work queue, and can sometimes take up to a few months to be completed.

Other Questions?

If your question was not answered above, please feel free to reach out to aorinquiries@gmail.com and let us know what else you’d like to see!