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Common Poster Subjects => Restoration => Topic started by: Monster_A_GoGo on August 11, 2023, 03:57:32 AM

Title: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: Monster_A_GoGo on August 11, 2023, 03:57:32 AM
Hi there. I don't get on the forum much any more, but I have a question. It may sound very silly, but I am serious. Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen from a linenbacked poster before? I have a few posters that have had the lined trimmed away and others that have not. I am noit a fan of linen backing, but sometimes you have to get what you can get. But the excessive linen makes it extra fidducly to frame.
I am thinking about trimming the extra linen off--but and so dang afraid I'll accidentally knick/cut/damage the actual poster in the process. Does anyone have tips? Is there some sort of special tool I should use (aside from scissors, of course)?
THANKS!
Title: Re: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: BruceH on August 11, 2023, 07:00:37 AM
Consider leaving around 1l4 or 1l8 of an inch all around. That protects the edges and still allows it to fit in the majority of 27x41 frames.

And consider using a metal yardstick or other long metal piece to hold the poster in place and then use a razor sharp box cutter to "score" the edge of where you want to cut while it is under the metal edge (being super careful to not move the metal, of course).

I think a scissors is a bad idea, because they lack sufficient sharpness.
Title: Re: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: Neo on August 11, 2023, 01:18:43 PM
+1 to what Bruce said. 

On most videos of the highly esteemed linen backing/restoration expert PosterFix, Mr. Cloutier trims the excess linen this way on most of his videos:

http://www.youtube.com/v/boy-1LfZqXQ?start=500
Title: Re: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: marklawd on August 11, 2023, 04:36:47 PM
Oh my goodness! I have one of these Back to the Future posters - there are supposed to be three others in the world from a print run of 40 - one sold for $9000 5 years ago and the owner entrusts his copy to Posterfix???

Mark
Title: Re: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: Neo on August 11, 2023, 08:35:11 PM
Interesting info. about the number of those made/known to exist.  It's a really cool design, with the old and new school elements, etc.  I didn't watch the linen backing of this copy but I'll have to check it out.
Title: Re: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: Monster_A_GoGo on August 12, 2023, 02:25:44 AM
Oh my goodness! I have one of these Back to the Future posters - there are supposed to be three others in the world from a print run of 40 - one sold for $9000 5 years ago and the owner entrusts his copy to Posterfix???

Mark

Is Posterfix not such a good company for restoration? I have a few I am looking at getting patched up eventually (maybe) down the road. Thanks
PS Anything arrive your way in the mail???  CHEERS!
Title: Re: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: Monster_A_GoGo on August 12, 2023, 02:30:59 AM
Consider leaving around 1l4 or 1l8 of an inch all around. That protects the edges and still allows it to fit in the majority of 27x41 frames.

And consider using a metal yardstick or other long metal piece to hold the poster in place and then use a razor sharp box cutter to "score" the edge of where you want to cut while it is under the metal edge (being super careful to not move the metal, of course).

I think a scissors is a bad idea, because they lack sufficient sharpness.

Hmm. THANK YOU! I trust your judgement--the poster king--implicitly. By now I have dozens of linenbacked pieces. Those that are trimmed already are fine--but, unless I want to shell out MORE money to buy MORE frames (I already have more than 200 frames---and storing them all is such a mess.) the excess makes it impossible. I have purchased a frame or two so I can display some of them (PSYCHO comes to mind), but the other just sit in tubes... It's so frustrating.

THANK YOU, though!

CHEERS!
Title: Re: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: Monster_A_GoGo on August 12, 2023, 02:32:51 AM
+1 to what Bruce said. 

On most videos of the highly esteemed linen backing/restoration expert PosterFix, Mr. Cloutier trims the excess linen this way on most of his videos:

http://www.youtube.com/v/boy-1LfZqXQ?start=500

Zowie! He is so quick about it, too. I'd be freaked --worrying I'd damage the poster. Thanks for posting. i've NEVER seen/heard of that BACK TO THE FUTURE poster before.

CHEERS!
Title: Re: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: 50s on August 12, 2023, 07:28:30 AM
Sometimes over time the linen can fray and if trimmed to the edge then frays under poster causing support probs, though I don't recall any of mine fraying
Title: Re: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: Monster_A_GoGo on August 12, 2023, 04:52:44 PM
Sometimes over time the linen can fray and if trimmed to the edge then frays under poster causing support probs, though I don't recall any of mine fraying
That’s interesting and good to know. I haven’t noticed any fraying on mine. But… I will keep an eye open for that possibility. Thanks!
Title: Re: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: Charlie on August 13, 2023, 07:42:29 AM
That’s interesting and good to know. I haven’t noticed any fraying on mine. But… I will keep an eye open for that possibility. Thanks!

For me it’s more like taking the bumpers off a bumper car. Why back it and re expose the edge. It also means that you are touching the poster with oily fingers now when you move it around instead of the masa. Also means if old silver fish or other pest nibble on the edge they are now nibbling on the actual poster. I also think it makes it more prone to delaminating…
Title: Re: Has anyone ever trimmed the excess linen off of a linenbacked poster?
Post by: Monster_A_GoGo on August 15, 2023, 02:43:13 AM
For me it’s more like taking the bumpers off a bumper car. Why back it and re expose the edge. It also means that you are touching the poster with oily fingers now when you move it around instead of the masa. Also means if old silver fish or other pest nibble on the edge they are now nibbling on the actual poster. I also think it makes it more prone to delaminating…
That is a very enlightening way of thinking about them. THANKS!