Prop Documents: Making handouts look aged

[mageParticipant 20596xp 0]

Im doing some propers for Call of Cthulhu, Chaosium’s Iconic RPG. Im printing out some handouts but want them to look the part. Anyone know how to make a sheet of white paper or white paper handout look aged? Sort of sepia-like?

 

I’ve googled it and there is advice out there but comments on said sites kind of contradicting or listing out the bad points.

 

Would be great to talk to people on here and see what fellow Beasts have done first hand.

[quixolParticipant 417xp 1]

The coffe or tea trick works best for me.    Just put paper on cookie sheet and pour a weak coffee or strong tea mix on and turn oven to 180 or 200.    Check it in a bit . cant remeber how long .   If u leave in two long looks great but will be fragile .  lemon juice also works . Paint page with lemon juice and let dry .  crumpling beforehand gives it an even more decrepit look .   havent done this in a while . but do a practice run b4 using ur real prop

[khiasharisseParticipant 294xp 1]

I normally scrunch up the paper into a ball, unfold it, then tear small bits of, usually around the corners to make it look ragged.  Make a cup of tea, then wipe the teabag all over the paper, letting the tea coloured water soak in.  Let dry.  Perfect aged-looking document.

[Anonymous 0xp 0]

From helping nieces and nephews do English and History homeworks… Print or write what you want on it first.  Decent thick paper, give it a quick scrunch up and stain with teabags, but try not to get it too wet and let it dry slowly. You can also burn and singe the edges with a lighter or matches or tear them as said above.  Thin paper is more likely to disintegrate after it drys, especially if you try and roll it into a scroll etc.

If you want to put a wax seals on it, melt candle wax and press something suitable into it.

[timchubbKeymaster 3166xp 1]

Do this a lot for various am dram things and just for fun:

crumple the paper into loose balls then flatten out

tear corners, if you smoke or know a smoker, nick a cig off them and use to burn a few select holes in paper

fill a jug with boiling water, add a tea bag and some lemon juice, leave to cool down, then soak a sponge in the mixture and wipe over the paper (be warned if you have printed with an injet printer the ink may run as most are water soluble), repeat to get the aged look you want. it will dry lighter, but you can control the aging by repeat sponging,

then leave to dry, no need for an oven just a warm place or sunlight will do

 

[kiranamida 5791xp 1]

Well I know what I am doing this weekend. Now, all I need is an excuse to give my players a scroll now.

[mageParticipant 20596xp 0]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I have D&D soon and have been painting all day so did not have time to pop by and give thanks. Im going to try this stuff out tomorrow so wish me luck.

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