How to best preserve a whiteboard illustration long term?
November 4, 2010 3:13 PM Subscribe
A friend of mine drew an illustration of my son on our office whiteboard. We are moving offices shortly, and I'd like this illustration preserved.
I will be able to cut out the relevant section of whiteboard (it's part of a 4'x8' whiteboard panel). What is the best way to ensure the illustration is preserved, both during the process of removal, and for the long term?
I will be able to cut out the relevant section of whiteboard (it's part of a 4'x8' whiteboard panel). What is the best way to ensure the illustration is preserved, both during the process of removal, and for the long term?
If your heart isn't set on having the original intact, why not take a digital photo? And then get it printed as a poster?
posted by malibustacey9999 at 3:15 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by malibustacey9999 at 3:15 PM on November 4, 2010
Response by poster: The drawing has an aura - the artist's hand, the process by which it was commissioned, even the white board itself! So I would like to preserve it as-is very much. But thank you for responding.
posted by djacobs at 3:19 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by djacobs at 3:19 PM on November 4, 2010
If you're really keen on it, get it framed under glass. It'll cost a good bit, but a skilled framer should be fine getting it set up.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:22 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by filthy light thief at 3:22 PM on November 4, 2010
You might be able to get a fixative spray. They are used for charcoal and chalk etc...but there may be a product.
I know if you use a permanent marker on whiteboard by mistake, there's a chemical in it that makes the normal markers impossible to wipe for a while.
posted by Not Supplied at 3:25 PM on November 4, 2010
I know if you use a permanent marker on whiteboard by mistake, there's a chemical in it that makes the normal markers impossible to wipe for a while.
posted by Not Supplied at 3:25 PM on November 4, 2010
Why not just spray some sort of clear lacquer over it first? Even a careful removal and frame job might take away some of the dry erase marker-- the ink is made to be easy to remove.
After that, it will be much easier to frame. You could probably even do it yourself-- just be careful to cut the whiteboard to a standard photo/frame size.
posted by supercres at 3:25 PM on November 4, 2010
After that, it will be much easier to frame. You could probably even do it yourself-- just be careful to cut the whiteboard to a standard photo/frame size.
posted by supercres at 3:25 PM on November 4, 2010
You could drill some holes around the edges and run some bolts through them with a piece of acrylic in front, and some quarter inch nuts in between the acrylic and whiteboard to leave space. Just a thought for more long term saving.
posted by msbutah at 3:30 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by msbutah at 3:30 PM on November 4, 2010
Seconding supercres. I'd probably try some sort of clear spray enamel (as used on cars) to render the image permanent. I'd also want to do a test-run to make sure there was no adverse reaction between the enamel and the ink or board.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 3:31 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 3:31 PM on November 4, 2010
My experience with whiteboards is that the longer something stays on there, the more impossible it is to remove. With that being said though, nothing wrong with taking additional precautions for something so important.
posted by SollosQ at 3:44 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by SollosQ at 3:44 PM on November 4, 2010
Be sure to test any spray first. It is entirely possiblee that the lacquer solvents could destroy the drawing or smear it.
I would simply cut out a too-large section of the whiteboard and then carefully transport it directly to a framer.
posted by fake at 3:55 PM on November 4, 2010 [4 favorites]
I would simply cut out a too-large section of the whiteboard and then carefully transport it directly to a framer.
posted by fake at 3:55 PM on November 4, 2010 [4 favorites]
Best answer: You're not alone, apparently - here are some people trying to preserve Barack Obama's whiteboards. I'm linking it because it has some relevant info to what you're trying to do. You could try contacting the person who wrote the article, though it was only *just* posted. I like the acrylic idea, though it's risky. Any chance you'll share a picture with us?
posted by routergirl at 4:16 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by routergirl at 4:16 PM on November 4, 2010
note: the artist Joseph Beuys had several chalk-on-blackboard images preserved.
posted by ovvl at 4:26 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by ovvl at 4:26 PM on November 4, 2010
Whiteboards are coated with Ethyl Tri-Flouro Ethelne, and it's one of the slipperiest things ever. It's in the Teflon family. (The Bejing Olympic aqua-cube was made of inflated ETFE film.)
I wouldn't count on any fixative sticking to it, and the solvents might dissolve and blur the drawing.
Maybe non-reflective (matte finish) glass or plastic, framed right on the surface?
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:06 PM on November 4, 2010
I wouldn't count on any fixative sticking to it, and the solvents might dissolve and blur the drawing.
Maybe non-reflective (matte finish) glass or plastic, framed right on the surface?
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:06 PM on November 4, 2010
Response by poster: routergirl: thanks! The picture is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/finn/5115338047/
posted by djacobs at 5:19 PM on November 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by djacobs at 5:19 PM on November 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think you might be better off having some kind of matting so the glass isn't touching the ink from the marker.
posted by Nabubrush at 8:09 PM on November 4, 2010
posted by Nabubrush at 8:09 PM on November 4, 2010
Best answer: An original .tiff? Very nice.
To protect during removal, I'd make some kind of frame, say 2 inches deep, then tape butcher paper or something taughtly over the front of the frame, and place the frame around the drawing and secure it to the whiteboard. You might have to drill/screw it in if you can't get any adhesive to hold. Make the frame as big as possible because (the size of the panel) so when you remove it you still have plenty of whitespace around it to work with for your final framing solution (I like the nut/bolt/plexi idea)
posted by mikepop at 6:02 AM on November 5, 2010
To protect during removal, I'd make some kind of frame, say 2 inches deep, then tape butcher paper or something taughtly over the front of the frame, and place the frame around the drawing and secure it to the whiteboard. You might have to drill/screw it in if you can't get any adhesive to hold. Make the frame as big as possible because (the size of the panel) so when you remove it you still have plenty of whitespace around it to work with for your final framing solution (I like the nut/bolt/plexi idea)
posted by mikepop at 6:02 AM on November 5, 2010
Make sure it's not raining as you transport it outside.
posted by CathyG at 7:49 AM on November 5, 2010
posted by CathyG at 7:49 AM on November 5, 2010
« Older What should my teeny-bopper pop song be about? | Is there some way to create a watermark template... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Biru at 3:15 PM on November 4, 2010 [4 favorites]