Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
Pricing for linen backing is listed on our Services page. The cost for each item depends on its size and condition. Estimates are available upon request by sending us an e-mail with a picture of the item attached. Art touch-up is billed hourly according to the client's request and amount of work needed.
It depends on the condition of the poster. The condition of the poster is what will help us determine how long it would take to have it restored. It usually takes 3-4 weeks to get the item restored and returned to its owner. Rush work is also available upon request.
What methods of payment do you accept?
We recommend you use our secure
PAY ONLINE form to pay with any Major Credit Card.
We also
accept Money Orders, Checks, Transfers to Account, or PayPal.
Are you new to PayPal? click Here for more information.
How are the items packaged and shipped?
Posters and other items vary in size. Depending on the size of the poster or item, it can either be sent in a shipping tube, flat packaged, or boxed. All items are carefully packaged to insure that they are safely returned. Clients have the choice to pick whether or not they would like to have their item insured. We use the following delivery/shipping companies: USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL. If you have an account with any company previously mentioned, we can charge the shipping to your account. Otherwise, a credit card will be required to be charged shipping cost. Pricing depends on the size and shipping method.
Why is linen backing used?
Paper has a memory and often that buckling is permanent. If you remove the buckled poster from the frame, you have to have it linen backed or re-linen backed to get it to be flat again. The linen backing process itself lends a solid surface for restoration to be done. Fold lines, holes and even major paper loss can be restored. The preferred material for mounting posters is linen, although Japanese Rice Paper could also be used. Linen backing adds to the value of a poster if it is done by a top professional, such as Jaime Mendez.
What is the process of linen backing?
A professional "linen-backer" stretches canvas onto a frame tight like a drum. At the beginning it resembles an artist's canvas on a frame ready to paint. The next step is to use "reversible" water-soluble glue to cover the "canvas" with canson or water color smooth paper. The glue is "ph" friendly, acid free, and has anti-fungus elements, which prevent the poster from yellowing or acidifying and being attacked by fungus with humidity. On these two layers and with the same glue, the poster is attached.
This process can take several days or even a week or more depending on the weather conditions. Humidity can slow the process. Since there are 3 layers of different material consistencies, they will dry at different speeds. It is important that the poster fully drys on the frame to prevent any of the materials from pulling against each other producing a buckling of the final product.
The linen backing process protects the poster from accidental tearing and folding. It also acts as a support for a framer. Rather than touching the poster, the framer will use the extra linen around the poster to press it in to the frame. The 2 to 3 inch margin of white canson paper on all 4 sides of the poster prevents unknowing framers from gluing the actual poster and ruining its value.
Why are posters sized by "sheet(s)"?
One can distinguish movie poster sizes by how many sheets of paper were used. One sheet is the most popular size. A half-sheet is also known as a display, because they were designed for display in areas other than just theater lobbies. They were ideal for displays with limited space, such as a shop window. An outdoor billboard size with variable dimensions is a 24 sheet.
Why are the French, Italian, and Belgian sized by "panels"?
Foreign posters do not have the same size standards. For example, Australian daybills are printed on paper similar in weight to U.S. 1-Sheets, but their long, narrow size makes them more like U.S. insert posters. Nearly all French posters are folded. (Exception: some one sheet size posters printed in French in the U. S. or Canada specifically for the Quebec market). Standard French movie posters come in three sizes: 15" x 21", 23" x 31", and 47" x 63". And, the German equivalent of a U. S. one sheet is somewhat smaller, measuring 23" x 31".
Are baseball cards still authentic if they have been restored?
A number of high-end baseball cards have been restored to Mint or close to Mint condition. Many cards are restored to high grade by adding vintage paper and toxic chemicals to restore the worn corners, and sometimes by inpainting. As with reprints, there is nothing inherently wrong with restored cards so long as they are clearly represented as such. Restorations can often be identified by a visual inspection. Some inspections involve a black light test which can be less than effective if the colors are dark.
What is the Black Light Test?
Black light testing is a common practice used to authenticate antiques. Blacklights are used in evaluating antiques because the ultraviolet rays they produce react differently to different materials. Because of this interesting characteristic, things that are invisible to the naked eye become visible under the blacklight. Most paper products such as baseball cards, books, photos papers, etc. made before the late 1930s-WW2 era rarely fluoresce. Paper products made since 1950, however generally fluoresces brightly due to large amounts of chemical bleaches and dyes.
What techniques are used in document restoration and preservation?
Depending on how a documents is stored, it can be damaged by light, vibration, and humidity. Some of the steps used in document restoration might include: cleaning tape stains, filling in holes, restoring missing writing, repairing artwork, cleaning the overall background, and improving contrast for better viewing.
Pricing for linen backing is listed on our Services page. The cost for each item depends on its size and condition. Estimates are available upon request by sending us an e-mail with a picture of the item attached. Art touch-up is billed hourly according to the client's request and amount of work needed.
- Packages will not be accepted until a list of items is provided to
Jaime Mendez Restoration & Conservation prior to us receiving the package.
- We are not responsible for lost or damaged packages sent by third party without
a name, contact information, and a list of items in the package.
- Upon arrival of your item(s) at Jaime Mendez Restoration & Conservation, we
will send you an e-mail confirming receipt of your package along with
an estimated cost of restoration. This estimate does not include
packing or shipping expenses and is NOT the final total due for the project.
- Prior to completion of restoration process, you will be notified via
telephone or e-mail of the total balance due.
- Your restored items will be sent back to you upon confirmation of a
cleared payment transaction. This requirement applies to all methods
of payment.
It depends on the condition of the poster. The condition of the poster is what will help us determine how long it would take to have it restored. It usually takes 3-4 weeks to get the item restored and returned to its owner. Rush work is also available upon request.
What methods of payment do you accept?
We recommend you use our secure
PAY ONLINE form to pay with any Major Credit Card.
We also accept Money Orders, Checks, Transfers to Account, or PayPal.
Are you new to PayPal? click Here for more information.
How are the items packaged and shipped?
Posters and other items vary in size. Depending on the size of the poster or item, it can either be sent in a shipping tube, flat packaged, or boxed. All items are carefully packaged to insure that they are safely returned. Clients have the choice to pick whether or not they would like to have their item insured. We use the following delivery/shipping companies: USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL. If you have an account with any company previously mentioned, we can charge the shipping to your account. Otherwise, a credit card will be required to be charged shipping cost. Pricing depends on the size and shipping method.
Why is linen backing used?
Paper has a memory and often that buckling is permanent. If you remove the buckled poster from the frame, you have to have it linen backed or re-linen backed to get it to be flat again. The linen backing process itself lends a solid surface for restoration to be done. Fold lines, holes and even major paper loss can be restored. The preferred material for mounting posters is linen, although Japanese Rice Paper could also be used. Linen backing adds to the value of a poster if it is done by a top professional, such as Jaime Mendez.
What is the process of linen backing?
A professional "linen-backer" stretches canvas onto a frame tight like a drum. At the beginning it resembles an artist's canvas on a frame ready to paint. The next step is to use "reversible" water-soluble glue to cover the "canvas" with canson or water color smooth paper. The glue is "ph" friendly, acid free, and has anti-fungus elements, which prevent the poster from yellowing or acidifying and being attacked by fungus with humidity. On these two layers and with the same glue, the poster is attached.
This process can take several days or even a week or more depending on the weather conditions. Humidity can slow the process. Since there are 3 layers of different material consistencies, they will dry at different speeds. It is important that the poster fully drys on the frame to prevent any of the materials from pulling against each other producing a buckling of the final product.
The linen backing process protects the poster from accidental tearing and folding. It also acts as a support for a framer. Rather than touching the poster, the framer will use the extra linen around the poster to press it in to the frame. The 2 to 3 inch margin of white canson paper on all 4 sides of the poster prevents unknowing framers from gluing the actual poster and ruining its value.
Why are posters sized by "sheet(s)"?
One can distinguish movie poster sizes by how many sheets of paper were used. One sheet is the most popular size. A half-sheet is also known as a display, because they were designed for display in areas other than just theater lobbies. They were ideal for displays with limited space, such as a shop window. An outdoor billboard size with variable dimensions is a 24 sheet.
Why are the French, Italian, and Belgian sized by "panels"?
Foreign posters do not have the same size standards. For example, Australian daybills are printed on paper similar in weight to U.S. 1-Sheets, but their long, narrow size makes them more like U.S. insert posters. Nearly all French posters are folded. (Exception: some one sheet size posters printed in French in the U. S. or Canada specifically for the Quebec market). Standard French movie posters come in three sizes: 15" x 21", 23" x 31", and 47" x 63". And, the German equivalent of a U. S. one sheet is somewhat smaller, measuring 23" x 31".
Are baseball cards still authentic if they have been restored?
A number of high-end baseball cards have been restored to Mint or close to Mint condition. Many cards are restored to high grade by adding vintage paper and toxic chemicals to restore the worn corners, and sometimes by inpainting. As with reprints, there is nothing inherently wrong with restored cards so long as they are clearly represented as such. Restorations can often be identified by a visual inspection. Some inspections involve a black light test which can be less than effective if the colors are dark.
What is the Black Light Test?
Black light testing is a common practice used to authenticate antiques. Blacklights are used in evaluating antiques because the ultraviolet rays they produce react differently to different materials. Because of this interesting characteristic, things that are invisible to the naked eye become visible under the blacklight. Most paper products such as baseball cards, books, photos papers, etc. made before the late 1930s-WW2 era rarely fluoresce. Paper products made since 1950, however generally fluoresces brightly due to large amounts of chemical bleaches and dyes.
What techniques are used in document restoration and preservation?
Depending on how a documents is stored, it can be damaged by light, vibration, and humidity. Some of the steps used in document restoration might include: cleaning tape stains, filling in holes, restoring missing writing, repairing artwork, cleaning the overall background, and improving contrast for better viewing.
Reasonable Rates ♦ Quick Turn-Around ♦ Over 15 Years of Experience
