Backingtothefuture is a Canadian-based poster restoration, preservation and shrink wrap framing business.
The restoration and preservation process is called linen backing. Linen backing is a commonly accepted, highly skilled and artistic form of preservation and restoration of original vintage movie posters, especially those that were shipped to the theatres folded. It is also a way to preserve a variety of other paper posters including travel posters, war bond posters, sports posters and concert posters.
Shrink wrap framing is not only cost effective, but it ensures the posters remain flat and protected against dirt and smudges. The finished product is a light, durable framed poster that presents very well. By shrink wrapping a poster the value and integrity of is always preserved. (Due to the cost of shipping a shrink wrapped poster, this service is primarily for client in the Greater Toronto Area)
Linen backing, washing, bleaching, paper replacement, tape removal, filling in fold lines, air brushing and shrink wrap framing. Linen backing is technically reversible. It is certainly possible to re-back a poster without too many problems. But if a poster is demounted, it will not return to its original condition.
Linen backing is commonly an accepted form of preservation and restoration of original vintage movie posters, especially those that were shipped to the theatres folded. It is also a way to preserve a variety of other paper posters including travel posters, war bond posters, sports posters and concert posters.
Although the linen backing process is safe, there is a very low risk that a poster can react badly, especially newer poster paper.
Paper backing is the process whereby a poster is mounted to Japanese Masa paper only. This process is usually reserved for posters on heavy cardboard stock. The drawback to paper backing is the poster can never be rolled and must be stored and shipped flat.
After a movie poster is preserved and restored you may want to consider having it shrink wrapped. This type of framing is not only cost effective, but it ensures the posters remain flat and protected against dirt and smudges.
The principal of the company is Dan Miles, a vintage movie poster collector and movie buff. Dan has been restoring posters for 24 years now. He learned this trade by studying under the guidance of a master printer and paper restorer in Toronto and a professional shrink wrapper in Toronto.
Samantha Hall is a professional painter who works primarily with acrylics. She paints and sells her original pieces and also carries out commissions. In addition, Samantha specializes in pottery and teaches at pottery workshops.
Linda studied commercial art at Dawson College in Montreal and fine art at The Ontario College of Art in Toronto. She specializes in painting with oil and watercolour. After spending 15 years working as a commercial artist Linda is teaching drawing and painting at the META4 Contemporary Craft Gallery in Port Perry and works part-time restoring posters for Backingtothefuture.
Donna Love is a graduate from the visual arts program at the University of Toronto. She has 20 years of experience as an Art Instructor and has developed and implemented visual arts programs for a diverse student base. She has also directed group projects to plan and create murals.
Over the years we have restored and shipped posters all over the world! Below are some of our happy customers.
I just got my two posters back from Dan. Outstanding job. The restoration was spotless and the packaging could have survived WW2 .
Piercarlo A., Thailand
I had sent Dan and his team an old movie poster from the 1920’s that unfortunately was missing the left 10% of the poster. Dan had linen backed a few posters for me before but this was the first time I had used his services for this level of restoration. I’m very picky about my posters and prefer minimal restoration whenever possible.
Ron G, Rockford, Illinois, USA
Dan and his team of artists did an extraordinary job in restoring a poster of mine that had seen better days prior to their restoration. It's now a work of art and I can't wait to get it up on my wall. It was also my first time using Dan and his team at Backing to the Future and it definitely won't be the last!
Joseph R., Shavertown, PA
We sent Dan an old poster we had for many years that was in poor condition. When we received the poster back, we were blown away with the transformation and condition of the restoration. Dan just increased the value of our investment here. Moving forward, we will be sending all of our posters in need of restoration to Dan.
Jack & Leighann, Leesburg, VA
Dan Miles and his team at Backing To The Future did a fantastic job restoring our antique map of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. When we sent it the chart was in pieces. When it returned it was awesome! Backing To The Future receives our highest recommendation.
Aubrey B. & Patricia B., Gallery 18 Ltd., PEI, Canada
I chanced upon BackingtotheFuture while doing a Google search for linenbacking...what a fortuitous discovery that was! Dan and company beautifully removed the dings and wrinkles from my valuable movie poster. There's no doubt I will go back in the future to BackingtotheFuture for my other poster repairs and restoration.
JW Peck, Minneapolis, USA
WOW! I couldn't possibly be happier with the work that the people at Backing to the Future did on my posters! Absolutely world class job and their shrink wrap framing system is fantastic! I 'll definitely be back!
Louie J., Oshawa, ON
Below are some samples of our work. If you are looking for something specific, let us know.
Backingtothefuture is dedicated to excellent customer satisfaction by restoring their poster(s) to as close to the original condition as possible as cost effectively as possible. Through this highly specialized artistic process we will ensure that a poster, whether it has sentimental value or is a valuable collectable, is properly preserved and prepared to display for years of enjoyment.
The prices for poster restoration and preservation include linen backing, tape removal, washing and bleaching, paper replacement and one hour of restoration. Additional restoration will be billed at $35 per hour. We will provide a quote for each individual poster, however the base prices are as follows.
Half sheet/Insert/one sheet/30x40 - $150.00 Cdn to $200.00 Cdn.
Three sheet, 40x60, French and Italian 1 panels - $250 per poster – plus additional restoration at $35 per hour.
The prices for shrink wrap framing are as follows:
Half sheet/Insert - $50 per poster
One sheet (27x40) or 30x40 - $70 per poster
(Note – we do not shrink wrap large posters anymore as we can no longer source the materials for larger sizes)
Ready to move forwards with your project, or have any questions about our services? Feel free to drop us a note below.
