Backing To The Future – Movie Poster Restoration
Linen backing, washing, bleaching, paper replacement, tape removal, filling in fold lines, air brushing.
It was difficult for me to trust anyone to restore the beloved poster I searched for so long.
Not knowing anything about Dan prior to this job, I was struck by how easy it was to communicate with him and how undaunted he seemed by the challenge—his confidence and mild manners put you at ease right away. But that’s only half of the job, his technical skills are just as outstanding. And finally, the poster I cherished will soon by hanging on my walls in all of its beauty! Thanks Dan.
— Victor Rivera, New York
I sent Dan three posters from 1957-1963, all in fine/very fine condition, with the hopes that he could bring some life back to them. Upon seeing pictures of the posters, Dan said they would be pretty straightforward to restore. I think he was being more than a little modest, as when I got my poster back from Dan I was surprised by the results. He might not have thought it much work, but there is a night and day difference between the brittle, stained, folded and torn paper I sent him, and the clean, flat, linen-mounted posters I got back. I’d say the posters look good as new, but truthfully they look better than new, and probably better than they looked the day they were printed.
— Matthew Seiden, Toronto, Ont.
You did an absolutely marvelous job. It is nice and bright and I have to turn it just right to see that it was ever folded, plus the little corner repair can’t even be seen.
I was a bit worried about how it would turn out as the poster was on such thin paper. You have a real talent. Thanks so much for preserving this bit of memory.
— Tim Corbett, Houston, Texas
Dan did a fantastic job restoring my original Pink Floyd The Wall poster. The poster was showing some serious signs of wear and tear after many years of use and abuse. The corners were worn, the original fold lines were very prevalent and there were various tears around the edges. When I got the poster back from Dan, it was completely transformed. I barely recognized it. Dan is obviously very skilled at what he does and his passion for the work is reflected in its quality. Great job!
— Mike Murray, Toronto, Ont.
Exceptional work, museum quality -- professional, dependable and very affordable. I would not hesitate to send my most prized posters to Dan.
Terry is a retired graphic artist, illustrator and journalist with a degree in Fine Arts. During his tenure at the Chicago Tribune he won multiple professional awards for his work including graphics work for for 2 Pulitzer Prize-winning stories.
— Terry Volpp, Illinois, USA
Some of my posters are over 70 years old, and were really showing their age. They had tape repairs, faded colours, and torn edges. After I sent them to Dan for restoration and linen-backing, they went through an impressive transformation. Clean images, lines, and colours had returned to the posters. The original beauty was revealed again. Obviously the resale value had improved nicely too. I'd recommend Dan's work to anybody who wants to preserve their favorite posters...
— David, Niagara Falls, Ontario
I first became aware of Dan Miles through the YouTube site. I’ve been collecting posters since the mid seventies (mostly films that I like, I’m not a real hardcore collector) and some of my paper was in need of restoration. I had been to numerous poster sites and had talked to various people about helping me but it never came to anything. Dan is like a dream come true. He recently restored an insert I have been wanting fixed for the last ten years. It now looks unbelievable. I can’t wait to finally get it framed. I have several more pieces that I’m going to have Dan work on.
— Greg Lyman, Portland, Oregon
Dan took two of my horrifically beat up posters and did an unreal job restoring them to their glory. Colours were stronger, torn and missing bits were replaced and fold marks are now barely noticeable. They arrived mounted on really thick linen cloth giving the posters a really substantial feel. Hard to believe it’s the same posters I sent which were literally falling apart in my hands. Dan is not just doing a job, he’s sharing his passion for movie posters and the craft of restoring them and it’s a pleasure to work with people like that who care so much about what they do.
— David Fine, Vancouver B.C.
Dan provided a great service. My poster looks great linen-backed! He does really clean and precise work. I am confident in leaving more posters with him because he’s been doing linen-backing a long time and his expertise really shows in his work. Thanks Dan!
— Unknown
Dan did an incredible restoring two movie posters. The posters look fantastic with all the rips and tears repaired. He also went out of his way to get the posters and was in constant communication as to his progress. Wonderful work, wonderful prices and wonderful costumer service.
— Geordie Sabbagh, Toronto
Thank you very much for the excellent job you did restoring two posters from the 50s for me. They were in rather poor condition and now look truly amazing after you linenbacked, cleaned and repaired them. The original brightness of their colours has also been restored, which I did not think was possible. I have been dealing in vintage movie memorabilia for over a decade now and am really glad to have found a true professional with the necessary skills and an obvious passion for restoring movie posters.
— Hermann Luft, Waterdown, Ontario
Dan truely is an expert at what he does, very professional workmanship. I sent him an original Star Wars and an old James Bond poster, both with foldline tears, tape marks and they came back to me linen backed and completely restored. I could not believe my eyes at how good they looked, you could not see any of the tears and discolorations in the posters. I'm so happy I'm sending him two more valuable posters. Oh yah and one last thing.....the price for his workmanship is an incredible value for his skill.
— Ray Pearson, Edmonton, AB
Dan did an AMAZING job on my posters. Back in the early 80's a theatre owner friend of my father sent me some movie posters to hang in my childhood room. Back in those days posters were sent to theatres folded. Not knowing how rare these were (original Star Wars, Empire, and Raiders of the Lost Ark) I taped and tacked them up on my wall and basically treated them terribly. Thirty years later I pulled them out of a box in the closet all folded up. Thankfully I found Dan on the internet and sent him my posters from Texas and he worked his magic on them. They went from creases, yellowing, tack holes, and tape marks to looking brand new. He really breathed new life into them and they will now be proudly displayed in my home. I really am amazed at how new they look and the quality of his work!
— Brian Summerall, La Sobrina, Texas, USA
Many thanks for you care and craftsmanship in restoring and backing three shipping posters; two of them from the mid 1920’s, the other from the early 1950’s. Their previous defects including loss of paper, discolouration, folds, creases and tears are but a memory. They are now vibrant and full of life and will be an asset to my collection. I look forward to working with Dan in the future and transforming some sad and tired posters into treasured possessions.
— Colin, Qualicum Beach, BC