Creating Parchment-looking Prop

[Erekose13]

Allo,

Wanted to ask all you experienced dms how you managed to color a piece of paper to make it look like parchment. I remember it is done with tea somehow. A dark fantasy comic (Blatah!) that I read is having a map making Contest. I wanted to make an authentic looking map for it I know people around here are knowledgable in the propmaking ways. Please help!

 

[Akunin]

Ink the map with inks that won't run when it gets wet, then make some tea. Thin, "onion-skin" paper works very well.

When brewing the tea, use less water than you normally would, as you want the tea to be dark and thick.

It helps if you squeeze all the liquid out of the tea bag, then put it back in the water, squeeze it again, etc.

Remember, you want the liquid to be thick and dark, so pick a black tea to begin with.

You can also leave the liquid on the burner for a while to evaporate excess water, but it's not usually necessary.

Flatten the paper and put weights on the corners to keep it from curling. Then use a paintbrush to apply the tea.



Just as an FYI, here's another method for making a "leather" map

Take some heavy brown paper. A sturdy grocery bag works well, as does sturdy construction paper.

Cut it into the shape you want and then crumple it as small as you can get it. Unfold and repeat. Over and over.

You can take both sides of it and rub the middle together, like you were washing a piece of cloth by hand.

You should start to see the paper take on a slightly "fuzzy" appearance, and it will become very soft and supple.

Keep crumpling / rubbing it until the entire thing is wrinkle-free and feels like a piece of thin leather.

Voila!

 

[Dragongirl]

ya what he said!!!

Also after you get some coloration to the whole sheet, you might want to fold the paper as you think it would have been stored and then apply more tea to the exposed areas. Course a couple burned marks (burned while folded) also can help.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I buy parchment paper. Use it in my printer.

 

[pennywiz]

I buy parchment paper. Use it in my printer.

slacker

 

[Hand of Evil]

slacker

Terrible I know but it saves time.

 

[Horacio]

I use the same "tea trick" but using coffee iinstead of tea. Strong coffee. After that you have a wonderful looking wonderful smelling parchement imitation.

 

[Noldor Elf]

The tea trick is great. For the fast result, put the paper into the oven for a short (very short) duration. Makes paper also more fragile.

 

[pennywiz]

Terrible I know but it saves time.

conservationist

 

[Enkhidu]

In the past we've been known to create the document (map, message, etc) and then char it by geting it too close to an open flame. If it catches fire, then quickly blow it out and you've got a "damaged" parchment.