# Linen-Backing, Storing and Framing Vintage Movie Posters

> How to look after vintage movie posters: what linen-backing is and when to do it, how to store folded and rolled posters, and how to frame them safely.

Canonical: https://locandinebest.net/linen-backing-and-framing
Updated: 2026-11-01

Linen-backing mounts a vintage movie poster on acid-free paper and canvas so that folds lie flat and tears are stabilised; it is the standard, reversible treatment for large folded posters such as Italian 2-fogli and 4-fogli. This guide explains when linen-backing is worth doing, how to store posters you are not displaying, and how to frame them without harming them.

## What linen-backing is

A conservator attaches the poster with water-soluble paste to a sheet of acid-free paper that is itself mounted on canvas stretched over a frame. Folds relax, tears and losses can be filled and retouched, and the poster can be rolled safely afterwards. Because the paste is water-soluble, a skilled conservator can reverse the process.

- **Worth doing for:** large folded posters, posters with fold separation or tears, posters you want to frame or display.
- **Not necessary for:** locandine and fotobuste in good condition, which can be framed with a simple mount.
- **Ask for:** acid-free materials, a description of any retouching, before-and-after photos.

## What happens in the studio

1. **Assessment and photographs** of the poster as received, front and back.
2. **Cleaning and washing** where needed: surface dirt is removed, and many conservators wash the sheet in water, which can reduce staining and acidity.
3. **Mounting** with water-soluble paste onto acid-free paper backed with canvas, stretched while it dries so the poster lies flat.
4. **Filling and retouching** losses and fold lines, ideally with reversible media and only where paper is missing or damaged.
5. **Removal from the stretcher**, trimming of the canvas border and return rolled, image outwards.

Smaller items such as locandine are sometimes **paper-backed** instead: mounted on acid-free paper alone, without canvas. It is lighter and cheaper and suits posters that will be framed rather than rolled.

## Choosing a conservator

- Ask to see before-and-after examples of posters of the same size and age as yours.
- Ask how much retouching they do by default; collectors increasingly prefer restrained work.
- Get a written quote by size, with any extra charge for repairs, and an expected turnaround.
- Check how the poster is insured while in the studio and how it will be shipped back.

> **Avoid dry-mounting and lamination:** a heat-set adhesive or plastic film cannot be removed safely, and collectors usually value posters treated this way below untreated copies.

## Storing posters

- Keep folded posters folded along their original folds, in acid-free folders, flat in a drawer or box.
- Keep rolled posters rolled image-outwards around a wide acid-free tube, wrapped in tissue.
- Avoid attics, cellars and outside walls: damp causes foxing, heat makes paper brittle.
- Keep them out of direct sunlight; light fading is permanent.
- Never use tape, staples or glue; remove old tape only with a conservator's help.

## Framing safely

1. Use an **acid-free mount** (passe-partout) so the poster does not touch the glazing.
2. Choose **UV-filtering** glass or acrylic; acrylic is lighter for big formats.
3. Attach the poster with **reversible** hinges or corners — never dry-mount or glue.
4. Seal the back against dust and allow a little air gap.
5. Hang away from radiators, kitchens and bathrooms.

Frame sizes for each Italian format are in the [size guide](/italian-movie-poster-sizes#frames).

## Frequently asked questions

### Does linen-backing reduce a poster's value?

No. Well-done linen-backing is accepted by collectors and is standard for large vintage posters.

### Can I iron the folds out of a poster?

No. Heat and pressure can scorch the paper and crack the ink; folds are flattened by linen-backing instead.

### Should I linen-back a locandina?

Only if it is torn, brittle or badly creased. A locandina in good condition can be framed with an acid-free mount; paper-backing is a lighter option when it needs support.

### Can a linen-backed poster be rolled?

Yes. Linen-backed posters are usually returned and shipped rolled, image outwards, around a wide tube; they should not be folded again.