 |
| Deadline Made – Court Presentation |
So you finished a scroll, and you’re pleased. You’re also glad. Glad you didn’t have to start completely over. Glad you made it with time to spare before the presentation deadline. But is that all to finishing a gorgeous scroll? What about finishing touches?
Getting the finishing touches right can elevate a scroll to something special so they are worth your time.
Remove Extraneous Marks
Penciled guidelines and motif designs leave marks and halos behind. While it isn’t crucial they’re removed – some scribes feel they are part of the work and leave them – most people erase them.
This best begins before you start your work. Do a test sample first to determine if your ink or paint is affected by a white vinyl eraser. And if the substrate’s appearance is unpleasantly changed.
When your scroll is done use your eraser to remove unwanted marks. Be meticulous and work in a strong light. Possibly use a magnifier. Turn your work in all directions to check for line-scraps you might have missed.
Mounting and Framing
As the scroll creator, you likely have ideas of what the mount and frame might look like. Unfortunately, we often don’t even know the recipient or get their input.
 |
| Illusive Framed and Mated Scroll |
While the best decisions about where the scroll’s “edge” should be placed happen when you’re nearly finished they’re difficult to make if your work has been squeezed onto a page that is barely big enough. You are now committed to a particular mat and frame size.
Again, this best begins before you start your work. Plan ahead to leave at least an inch of blank paper or pergamenata around your creation. This allows you to make finishing touch choices about where the margins will be. Especially if your generous leafy rinceaux wanders out of bounds.
A good tool for helping with this is a standard mat. I keep several just for this purpose. You could also use four paper strips. Lay these around the scroll as temporary outer edges moving them until you have an attractive look.
Give Yourself Credit
This should not be an afterthought either. Take pride in what you do. Seclude your makers mark within your art. On the back give your SCA name and any other’s that worked on the scroll. Don’t forget the wordsmith writer too.
Often scrolls are displayed on exhibition and easy identification will be wanted. Now most Kingdoms have an online display. You don’t want to be listed as anonymous for your gorgeous work shown in a scribal Rat-Out-Your-Friends Display.
Bottom Line
While these are finishing touches that take planning before you begin, you are your work’s curator. Express yourself, and have fun. Your recipient will be impressed.
An Itinerant Scribe 
