Best Restoration firm/person at a firm

[dsonesheets]

Now I know before I begin that there are MANY talented restorers out there, and when I talk about restoration, I am NOT talking about just getting a poster linenbacked.  I want this topic to delve specifically into the artwork restoration of a poster, be it touching up fold lines or going all out on a really abused piece of work (like my Apocalypse Now B0 which was done by Precision Restoration, A+ work BTW).  These people are really artists, since they are essentially recreating the original art that was printed.

I am thinking about getting a number of my posters that have already been mounted touched up, mainly in the fold line areas, which can still be difficult if the artwork is varied and complicated.

I am leaning towards Poster Mountain, mainly because the day I got back my set of three Casino French door panels and my Wild Bunch onesheet, they immediately struck me as looking like they had been originally rolled.  That's how good they looked.  I had to get in the right light up close to see the fold lines.

But I wanted to get a feel for some of the others I personally haven't worked with, like Dario.  Some of his examples look downright incredible.  Since some of my posters will deal with bright colors fading to black, I want the best artist out there to work with them.

Does anyone have any preferences for their favorite, and if so, what are they basing their decisions on?  In the preference of firms, are there particular restorers in a firm that people choose specifically?

[Silhouette]

+1 for Dario! He does all my work, and I live in Australia.

For him his work is personal, as is his relationship with his clients. He cares about the work he puts out, as if he was doing the job for his own collection.

http://www.vintagemovieart.ca/

[Charlie]

Re: Precision...  Their front page photo, show they didn't even leave enough masa to trim the Birds US OS properly...



Dario 1st then Postermountian for image restoration...

[Charlie]

I am thinking about getting a number of my posters that have already been mounted touched up, mainly in the fold line areas, which can still be difficult if the artwork is varied and complicated.

Previously backed posters limit touch-ups to dry mediums like watercolor pencils...  Wet mediums would warp the poster after the expansion contraction cycle so airbrushing may be out...

That posterfix guy is notorious for doing touch-up after cut down, just ask Mel about his Bond poster...

[Charlie]

I am leaning towards Poster Mountain, mainly because the day I got back my set of three Casino French door panels and my Wild Bunch onesheet, they immediately struck me as looking like they had been originally rolled.  That's how good they looked.  I had to get in the right light up close to see the fold lines.

I know some will fight me on this, but Poster Mountain has to be using some type of finishing coat for this.  It is just impossible to do it otherwise (remove the contrast), plain and simple fact.  It may reversible but something is being applied...

[erik1925]

I also have to recommend John Davis and his team at Poster Mountain, here in so CA. They treat all of their customer with respect and, in addition to restoration, John has a real knowledge of paper conservation, as well. Their artistry extends well beyond the backing process. Their years in business and extensive clientele, including studios and many that work in the film business, also speak for themselves.

I spent a couple of hours out there and was fascinated to see every aspect of the restoration and conservation processes that were going on that day, on a number of posters, throughout their studio.

 

[dsonesheets]

So if that is true, that real wet-work on the fold lines, including airbrush, needs to be done at the time of the mounting, that really both bums me out and kind of pisses me off, since, now I will likely have to consider having the posters in question de-mounted and remounted.  Gets me in the same mood that I found myself in after I learned of linenbacking AFTER I had one of my prize posters mounted on foam core.  Ugh.  I had no idea, but it really does make sense about the nature of wet paint and paper.  Double-argh!

That's at least two of my best posters that I need to consider being completely re-done now.  One is a must - my Tron promo onesheet (Play the game.  See the movie).  It took me nearly ten years to find one, and I only found out it even existed after going through the "Promotional gallery" on the Disney laserdisc version back in 1995-6-ish.  Saw it, and knowing that it existed, took me forever until I found it.  Anyway, it's a tri-fold, but since it's mostly a black background, the white fold lines are very intrusive to the rest of the image.  The other is a first printing Star Wars (just found out it was a first printing after trying to sell it for $200 - glad no one jumped on it when I listed it on ebay).  That one was folded too, but now that I know it's a first printing I want to keep it and get it restored as well as it can be.  Apart from the fold lines it was only unfolded twice I think, just me looking at it.

Anyone know what it costs to de-mount a poster?  Since it was done by Poster Mountain, I would think it would be a standard thing, as he does great work.  Anyone that would give a discount to de-mount, remount and restore? Or am I screwed?

[dsonesheets]

By the way, I am in NO way displeased with the work Poster Mountain has done in the past.  Like I said, I was blown away when I saw my Wild Bunch and others.  They've always done a fabulous job. 

I guess I just always thought airbrushing was a primary tool used by restorers, and if that is in fact a "wet" process that can't be used on mounted and "dry" paper, then I guess I really need to ask what my options are instead of being bummed out too quickly. I hate when others assume, even if it's myself.  I guess I jumped in too quickly assuming I would need to get my posters remounted in order to be restored properly.

[rumble]

I have only worked with Dario, but his work has been truly excellent. Especially for the Mexican poster that almost turn to mush when you wet them, I'm amazed he managed to get them to survive! I have mostly backed posters that were fairly complete, but the touch-up has been exemplary.

[Matt]

Pfft! Dario is a quitter. http://www.allposterforum.com/index.php/topic,4822.0.html

I wouldn't use him in a million years.

[CSM]

Pfft! Dario is a quitter. http://www.allposterforum.com/index.php/topic,4822.0.html

I wouldn't use him in a million years.

Yeah and that Gilda daybill looks like shit too!

[Matt]

Yeah and that Gilda daybill looks like shit too!

Hmmm...you're right..I might toss it in the bin.

[Silhouette]

Yeah and that Gilda daybill looks like shit too!

Get the Troll (yes OK, the one with the great legs) to share the other crappy Dario recent restores of his that haven't made it to Dario's pages - just wish Dario had a decent web guy who can put all the work up on his more recent site.

[Matt]

Yeah, his web guy is probably floating in a swimming pool right now with a Margarita in one hand and smoking a stogie in the other.

[CSM]

Hmmm...you're right..I might toss it in the bin.

Where is your nearest landfill again?  

[Matt]

Where is your nearest landfill again? 

 

[erik1925]

By the way, I am in NO way displeased with the work Poster Mountain has done in the past.  Like I said, I was blown away when I saw my Wild Bunch and others.  They've always done a fabulous job. 

I guess I just always thought airbrushing was a primary tool used by restorers, and if that is in fact a "wet" process that can't be used on mounted and "dry" paper, then I guess I really need to ask what my options are instead of being bummed out too quickly. I hate when others assume, even if it's myself.  I guess I jumped in too quickly assuming I would need to get my posters remounted in order to be restored properly.

Steve,

Once a poster is backed to Japanese masa paper and linen, it is allowed to completely dry, before any color touch up work is done to it, whether it be via airbrushing, touch ups with water based paints and fine tipped brushes or water based colored art pencils such as those made by Faber Castell.

To apply any kind of retouching color to fold lines, borders or to paper fills or repairs, while the poster was still wet, could cause a run of the applied color.

Since you had the work done at PM, rely on them and give them a shout, rather than what has been posted here. John Davis, with 20+ years in this field, will be more than happy to explain it all, to alleviate any of your concerns.

 

Jeff

[Charlie]

Stick to Dario he can work wonders with pencils and they will actually be water color pencils (right D)... Give him a shout. 

No one wants to respond to my previous thread - So I'll just put it on the line here.  I finally was in complete awe to see that PM is using a pre-mixed wall paper paste as an adhesive.  Dextrin, Sodium Nitrate, and Corn Syrup (WTF??) 

His airburshing medium is most certainly acrylic (yeah it's water based but permanent) and they use waterproof prisma color pencils (again permanent)...

I don't know if I would trust anything they would tell you... 

I know Jeff has said they don't use fixatives, but why stop at acrylics and irreversible color pencils...

Plus Jeff, I think you miss the mark on the 'wet work' - it means you can't use overly wet mediums on poster already cut down because they will warp unless restretched...  No one uses anything when the poster is wet.

[guest4251]

Hey all,

It's Sunday evening. Finally some time to kick back and check out the forums before the " Walking dead" tonight.

So, I had a read.

Couple of things.

All restoration work should be done when the poster is still on the stretcher

All restoration work should commence when the poster is absolutely dry. No exceptions. It could take a few days for the poster to dry. Pending the weather. Don't jump the gun.

Complete fold touch of a poster should never be done by air brushing. fifteen years and on, I have never gone over folds with air brush.

You don't have to use Fixative and should not use fixative to achieve perfect or as good as possible based on the condition of the poster. I can say that it is easy with years of experience for someone like John Davis or my self to achieve pretty much invisible fold. I can also say that newer paper/glossy stock is less forgiving and work is more visible.

Air brushing is mostly kept to the borders as well as permanent tape stains or Permanent felt that wont come out, no matter what.

The scale is ..... Well let me say this first. Anyone who says that they air brush permanent stains/tape/felt pen with water colors only, are not telling you the truth.

I use a combination of water colors and conservation acrylics. I've spoken about this many times over the years, on line and privately. I mention it here http://www.vintagemovieart.ca/restoration/poster-restoration-giant-from-the-unknown-1958/

If you ask for a Restoration certificate. It will say " Pigments used are Faber Castell Water soluble color sticks. We also use specially blended Synchromatic transparent Aniline Dyes ( water colors )
mixed with Golden conservation colors when air brushing is warranted"

and I've been speaking about it, as recent as Right now!!!

So, the scale is. You can blend from transparent for punch up of faded colors to more opaque to cover nasty tape stains or non removable felt pens and everything in between. More transparent = more water color in the mix. More Opaque= more conservation acrylics in the mix.

So unfortunately you have to combat permanent with a bit more permanent. There is no other way around it. Unless you are OK with tape stains.

The idea is to find away to limit the air brush work to the specific area. A really good restorer have the understanding and the cleverness to do so. All in the name of "Linen backing is reversible!

Meaning when a poster is soaked off the linen, The restoration will either soak off as well or simply remain with the old backing.
End of the day if you un back, you need to re back.

I leave you guys with an extreme case. Simply a trashed worthless poster. Same poster. Permanent before and after.

Thank you guys!
dario.

[erik1925]

Dario..this looks very nice.

Just curious. How did you get rid of (or cover) all the bleed thru pen from the back? Did you airbrush much of the white background, in order to cover any residual pen stains? The "after" image looks more cream/tan in color.

 

Jeff

[Silhouette]

Dario

Two things come to mind when I was reading your post.

1. We get Walking Dead 33 hours after North America so shhhh!!

2. Shouldn't you be working on my posters instead of having the week-end off?!

 

[dsonesheets]

Awesome, thanks Dario!!!

BTW, I mentioned to Jeff that it's funny I had this totally skewed perspective on airbrushing and restoration work - only because in every article I read on the subject always has a picture of someone using an airbrush while doing their work!

I'm just glad I am learning!  Although I don't plan on getting into that side of the business, that doesn't mean I can't learn and grow after announcing that I have no idea what I'm talking about  

I do have to say that the GBU looks awesome!

So back to the main topic of this thread, besides PM, Precision Restoration, and Dario, are there any other firms worth mentioning?

[erik1925]

Awesome, thanks Dario!!!

BTW, I mentioned to Jeff that it's funny I had this totally skewed perspective on airbrushing and restoration work - only because in every article I read on the subject always has a picture of someone using an airbrush while doing their work!

I'm just glad I am learning!  Although I don't plan on getting into that side of the business, that doesn't mean I can't learn and grow after announcing that I have no idea what I'm talking about  

I do have to say that the GBU looks awesome!

So back to the main topic of this thread, besides PM, Precision Restoration, and Dario, are there any other firms worth mentioning?

J Fields, now known as Papersmith  (http://www.papersmith.net)

Diane Jeffrey and her group at Studio C ( http://www.atstudioc.com/), in so CA

[Ari]

http://www.restorationbyjm.com/

Apart from Dario the only other I have work by and is of the absolute highest quality,  (except Susan RIP)

http://www.restorationbyjm.com/

[guest4251]

Aaaaaa The walking dead! How will it all end? So good!

David, I try not to work on the weekends, but your posters are always really close

A few tid bits.

No I don't have a holster with a air brush gun in it. I don't use it that much ( not always in my hand )

Linen backing is not exact science. It's not perfect, I am not perfect, but we try help.

I know JD at PM is really talented and he restore a lot of different paper, not just posters.
Maybe that explains the different mediums? I have a lot of respect of him. He's a good guy.

As far as the glue, I don't have glu .. I mean clue??

Anyways. I have a busy week restoring a bunch of Cabral's, Australian posters and some 1 sheets. I have a bunch of advertizing posters coming from  Poster-connection auctions and a big batch from  Greece.

So this is my last post for a little bit.

Thank you all,
dario.