HELP! How to make an old map??

Question

How can you make a map look antique? A hand-drawn map, not a ready-made one. I saw a few pictures of antique maps, and I thought that the rosy hues for the countries and the yellowish, creased paper looked beautiful. Anybody know how I can
1) make the paper look yellowish and creased?
2) make the countries in pretty colors, yet still have pretty writing on it?

THANK YOU!!!

These are the gorgeous maps I was talking about:
http://www.cosmography.com/
http://www.helmink.com/Antique_Map_Elwe_North_America/

Answer 1

I did this very thing for a client who was selling property in Arizona that had an interesting history going back to the 1800s.

I used Skytone brand parchment paper in gold (you can probably get a few sample sheets from a kinko's, a printer, or a Kelly paper company). Otherwise you may have to buy a pad of calligraphy parchment (Bienfang or Osmiroid) from an art supply store, Michael's, or Ben Franklin's.

Then I folded the paper in half, and half again. How many times you fold it is strictly up to you. I creased the folds real well, and even tore little pieces out in random places.

Next, I opened the paper and tore the edges into a ragged, deckled edge. I did it by hand so it was irregular, but there are also deckled edge rulers that you can use.

In order to make the edges then look rather weathered from handling, I used a soft drawing pencil (4-6B) on its side to shade in some messy, smudged areas. I also did this randomly along the creases and in the center.

Then I scanned my piece of artwork, and I believe I adjusted the color in Adobe Photoshop so it was even more gold. I added the map of parcels he was selling in black over the gold parchment, and then colored some of the areas. These last few steps can easily be done by hand also.

If you still want the texture and color of the paper to show through, just use markers that are not opaque. Test them first to make sure they have some degree of transparency before using them on your map.

Good luck, and have fun with your project. I did with mine!

Blessings!

P.S. The maps you have linked to have all been done with a computer, and that is why they are so perfect. They are very complicated to do like that, even for a seasoned graphic designer—who would earn thousands of dollars for a job like that.

Answer 2

Well, if you're looking to make a map that's hard-copy (not on the computer), the way I'd suggest you make it look yellowish-old is by dipping it in black coffee (which is just coffee without milk). I used to do it all the time. :D It always came out really well.

Also, to get the edges looking wrinkled and/or old, I'd scrunch up the paper as if I was going to make it into a paper ball and toss it out, and then I'd UNscrunch it, and maybe even burn the edges a bit, like the corners, with a lighter flame, or any normal, CONTROLLED, flame.

If that doesn't make it wrinkly enough, then roll it once, unroll it, then roll it the OTHER way, and then even fold it a few times until it's an itty-bitty square.


lol.

Hope I helped! :D

Answer 3

First, design the map and worry about making it look old after you are done.
Rip the edges along the edge of a table - after all, old maps weren't perfectly cut.
To make it look antique, spray it with strong brewed black tea from a spray bottle.

Answer 4

To make the paper look old, soak it in room temp water for about 2 min and when it you take it out crinkle it up. I'm not sure how to make it yellow, except maybe use a paper bag instead. In school we burnt the edges of our paper with a lighter. To make pretty writing just use a calligraphy pen.

Answer 5

First crease the paper ( back and forth several times) then soak in a strong concentration of tea. You can rub the creases with the tea bags to darken. To color the countries use water color pencils.....like color pencils but blend beautifully when rubbed lightly....then when all is dried add the details

Answer 6

Use linen paper or NICE drawing paper and soak it in tea for the antiquity aspect and use watercolor or ink(kind you would use with a quill type ink) India ink anything like that.

Answer 7

First, get the paper yellow by baking it. Use a heavy linen based paper. You can make the edges darker by lightly painting them with a clear vegetable oil. (Careful, you don't want to BURN the paper, just bake it.)

Afterward, try water colors for the coloring of the countries.