Services
Flattening
Giving a folded, rolled or cockled sheet back its flatness, by controlled humidification then drying under light pressure.
A poster left rolled for years, a letter folded in four, a parchment cockled by damp: a distorted sheet is fragile. Every handling risks breaking its folds and tearing away material.
How I work
- I first examine the sheet, its inks and its colours: some cannot take moisture.
- The sheet is humidified in a controlled way, very gradually, so the fibres relax without getting wet.
- It then dries flat, under light pressure, between blotters and non-woven sheets, for as long as it needs.
Parchment
Parchment reacts far more strongly to moisture than paper. Flattening it needs even more care, with gentle, controlled tension while it dries.
A flattened sheet can be stored, handled and framed safely.