DIY Props: How to Make Realistic Aged Paper in five Minutes

We all know that the devil is in the details, and sometimes what makes or breaks the final output, be it a video or still image, is the tiniest thing.

When it comes to movie or studio props, ancient maps and dusty old parchments are pretty common. What’s not as common, however, is this quick and easy technique to create realistic aged paper, brought to you by Lewis McGregor of Ugly McGregor.

Forget about soaking a regular piece of paper in tea and then burning it, this next method will give you much more realistic results.

Here’s what you’re going to need:

• Parchment paper
• Kitchen roll
• Instant coffee
• Teaspoon
• Glass of water
• Paper Distresser
• Hairdryer

Once you’ve got everything on the list you’re good to go:

Place two big teaspoons of instant coffee in a piece of kitchen roll

Fold and twist the kitchen roll, and soak in the glass of water

Use the coffee-filled kitchen roll to drench the parchment paper in coffee (straight strokes – up/down and to the sides, no circular motions)

Dab the paper gently with a piece of kitchen roll to absorb big drops of coffee. Repeat the above step on the back of the parchment paper

Use the hairdryer to dry the paper. Crispy dry is what you’re going for

Take the paper distresser and go over the paper’s edges with it

Curl and bend the sides

That’s it!

[via Filmmaker IQ]

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