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Have a question about pencil lead?

I received a gift in the mail from my dad yesterday. He purchased an engraved brick to be installed at his churchs' Memory Garden, in memory of my deceased mom. It was installed recently, and He made a pencil "rubbing" of the brick, and took pictures of it, and sent them to all four of us sisters, along with a Christmas card, and a letter that touched me so much that I was in tears so bad I could hardly read it! I want to preserve the rubbing in some way with the pictures, but is pencil lead damaging to the pictures? Can it be laminated and still be ok? the rubbing is the size of a regular brick, and I have no idea what kind of paper it is on. I don't do everything in my scrapbooks acid free, but I think this is important to preserve. I was thinking of making a sort of collage, in a picture frame using my scrapbook supplies, and some other trinket things.

I would appreciate any advice! Thanks

Linda C

Reply to
Linda C
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I'm not sure about pencil lead. I would be afraid of the lead rubbing off the paper. What about a photo copy of it? If you set the setting light enough, it might even come out looking like pencil lead (if the rubbing is light). That's a wonderful thing for your dad to do, and it does need to be preserved.

Reply to
Deb in AR

Possible scanning it and placing the original rubbing in a clear acid free "envelope"? This might prevent oils and other dirt from fingers/etc...from harming it and you can still enjoy looking at it.

Brandi

Reply to
Brandi

The rubbing is dark, it shows up rather well. I had thought of copying it too, but was unsure what to do with the original. I'll tell ya, my dad surprised the heck out of me with this one. Just when you think things are gonna be ok, and better emotionally, BANG! it hits ya! I was a MESS after opening that envelope. Its like it still so fresh, yet its been three years. Maybe making my project will be theraputic too! Thanks!

L> I'm not sure about pencil lead. I would be afraid of the lead rubbing off

Reply to
Linda C

I know when I work with old pictures (100+ years) the ones that had writing on the back with pencil lead were still fine, but the ones that had ink on them (some even as new as 50 years) the ink is eating through the photograph. It makes you want to cry..... Sandy

Reply to
Sandy

Ask your ART supply store about a fixitive for pencil. I'd still put it in an envelope to protect it from other stuff, and vice versa, but a fixitive would prolong its own life.

Reply to
Gina Bull

Thanks Sandy and Gina!

Reply to
Linda C

maybe instead of putting the original in a scrapbook, do what Brandi said and put it in an acid free clear envelope and put it in a picture frame and hang it on the wall. :)

Reply to
christina.miller

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