Often you want a gently worn look for models or miniatures and modern printed papers look incorrect. Here are some easy methods to create the look of age for scenes. Remember that you need to consider the position of the paper to make the effects more realistic. Water stains usually occur on ceilings and down corners of rooms, sometimes above the baseboards. Wear occurs more at the bottom than on the top, and especially on areas near doors and light switches. On exteriors wear occurs more facing the south, or facing the direction of the wind or ocean spray. Protected sections are less worn than exposed areas.
Choose Colored Papers for Age
The paper you choose to print on plays a major part in your final effect. Until fairly recently, wallpapers were on a thick craft style paper substrate. Wear on these papers shows as a chalky, soft yellow to brown underneath the printed colors of the paper. To allow you better wear effects, try to find an off white, buff or light gray acid free artist's paper which has a bit of texture, but which will go through your printer and print your scale wallpaper designs on that. Many papers used for artists pastels are suitable. When you tear or wear the paper, the underlayer will give a more realistic aged effect. Remember that the underlying color of the paper, will be the base 'white' of your wallpaper as printers do not have white ink.
Age With pH Neutral Walnut Ink or Distress Ink
Walnut ink or walnut ink crystals can be used to age papers before printing them. Ink jet printer ink is not always very water resistant, so age your paper with scrapbooking distress inks or walnut inks before you print your paper design. An easy way to create a suitable scale distress for scale wallpapers is to use a fine mist of walnut ink on your base paper, smudging it in some areas.
Use Spritzers To Apply Water Stains
Most printable papers printed on an ink jet paper are not water proof. Small amounts of fine spray can shift the inks to create water spots and stains. Use very small amounts of a fine mist and allow your paper to dry thoroughly before you use a spray finish to protect the paper for use.
Print Over a Background Print
Photo copyright 2010 Lesley Shepherd, Licensed to About.com Inc.
You can use any grunged print pattern as a backdrop for printable wallpaper by first printing the grunged pattern, then reloading your printed grunge as the paper on which your printable scale wallpaper will be printed. This greyed grunge backdrop paper has been designed to create soft worn looking areas on printable papers to make them look instantly aged.
Print a Distressed Layer on Top
Photo copyright 2010 Lesley Shepherd, Licensed to About.com Inc.
You can over print an existing printed paper with a pattern of stains or discolorations. This technique can also create some worn effects, although the worn surface is actually on top of the clean print, and may not give the type of wear you want.
The beige grunged paper here can be used either over or under printable wallpapers and fabrics to add soft stain effects. This design can be used in combination with the grey pattern above to create more distressed effects.
Create Worn Paper Surfaces With Distressing Brushes, Metal Brushes or Sandpaper
Worn patinas can be created on the top surface of printed papers by using distressing brushes, metal brushes or sandpaper and emery boards. Special retractable brushes are available from scrapbooking suppliers and electronics stores where they are used for cleaning contacts. Fine metal brushes similar to a toothbrush are available in brass or steel from hardware and automotive suppliers. Fine grades of sandpaper are also suitable.
Use these brushes on sections of paper where you want wear and scratches. You can remove the top printed layer exposing the paper beneath This works best when you are not printing on bright white paper.
Two toned papers designed especially for sanding are available from scrapbook suppliers.
Print or use 'Shabby Chic' Papers
Many 'Shabby Chic' papers are available either as printables or as scrapbooking papers. If the wear effects and the pattern size are the correct scale to fit in with your project, these can be good alternatives to regular scale wallpapers. Commercially printed papers usually can take sanding or wire brushing to add surface wear, or you can spritz on droplets of walnut or distress inks to create even more dirt and wear on certain areas of the paper to suit your particular project.
Shabby Chic Papers on the Miniatures Site Include:
