Hey guys!
I noticed one of my cels to have a tint of yellow. It is a 4 multi-layer ce. So, each cel by itself looks okay until you put all 4 together, where it is very much apparent there is yellowing.
Does anyone know of any restoration techniques to clean up yellowing of a cel (I am mostly referring to the areas that are supposed to be clear plastic)?
Any way to remove "yellowing" from a cel?
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star-phoenix
- Yosutebito - Hermit
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Hi,
There is a product called Tend anti-static plastic cleaner that I have used to clean cels. I am not sure if it is still made. I had to special order it from an art store and that was about 9 years ago. This stuff works really well in cleaning cels.. but BE CAREFUL if you get any of the cleaner on the cel paint itself it will wash it off.... COMPLETELY and you will have a blank piece of actate. I usually just put a little cleaner on a rag and wipe the area's that have excess paint or marker or any other crud that I want off and it comes right off. Then I use a new dry rag to wipe the cel down until it is completely dry. Be sure the cel is totally dry before putting it back in the bag. The rags I use are 100% cotton and are dye free. Naturally you don't want to use a colored cloth, you would have dye all over your cel. This cleaner may help get the yellow out of your cel. I hope this helps. Good Luck!
There is a product called Tend anti-static plastic cleaner that I have used to clean cels. I am not sure if it is still made. I had to special order it from an art store and that was about 9 years ago. This stuff works really well in cleaning cels.. but BE CAREFUL if you get any of the cleaner on the cel paint itself it will wash it off.... COMPLETELY and you will have a blank piece of actate. I usually just put a little cleaner on a rag and wipe the area's that have excess paint or marker or any other crud that I want off and it comes right off. Then I use a new dry rag to wipe the cel down until it is completely dry. Be sure the cel is totally dry before putting it back in the bag. The rags I use are 100% cotton and are dye free. Naturally you don't want to use a colored cloth, you would have dye all over your cel. This cleaner may help get the yellow out of your cel. I hope this helps. Good Luck!
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sensei
- Moderator and Admin-in-waiting
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Be aware that even if the cel is painted on the back, many times there are trace lines, or portions of trace lines, that are painted on the front. A solvent will remove these as well.
I would go very easily on using a solvent on a cel, using the tiniest swab or brush possible and holding the cel at an angle to a light to make sure you were not removing the artwork.
And, as with any form of cel maintenance that risks damaging the artwork, you should pace your work inversely to the value of the item. Cheap dollar bin cel -- swab away with abandon. Pricey Mandarake BWA win -- extreme slo-mo.
I would go very easily on using a solvent on a cel, using the tiniest swab or brush possible and holding the cel at an angle to a light to make sure you were not removing the artwork.
And, as with any form of cel maintenance that risks damaging the artwork, you should pace your work inversely to the value of the item. Cheap dollar bin cel -- swab away with abandon. Pricey Mandarake BWA win -- extreme slo-mo.
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JWR
- Kitten Rescuer - Moderator
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Depending on the value of the cel I would consider having it looked at by S R Labs http://www.srlabs.com/
They are the experts and can determine what the yellowing is and correct it if it can be safely fixed.
They are the experts and can determine what the yellowing is and correct it if it can be safely fixed.
"Like the wind crying endlessly through the universe, Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that we are, all that remains, is in the memories of those who cared we came this way for a brief moment." Harlan Ellison
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star-phoenix
- Yosutebito - Hermit
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Hey guys! Thank you all for the wonderful tips! I am going to try out the solution technique on another cel.
I ended up contacting a Restoration specialist (like S/R Labs) and it turns out it was not even close to as bad as I had initially thought. So, I would rather they handle this cel than for me to touch it.
I ended up contacting a Restoration specialist (like S/R Labs) and it turns out it was not even close to as bad as I had initially thought. So, I would rather they handle this cel than for me to touch it.