Materials and Methods Used in Sizing and Sealing Paper
AHAR
The most commonly used process to smooth the surface of the paper was “sharpening”.
Sizing was done to smooth the surface of the paper and make it suitable for writing, to allow the pen to easily move on the paper and to prevent the ink from penetrating the texture of the paper. Any mistake made on the papers made suitable for writing with this process could be easily erased. At the same time, it can be said that this process was done as a precaution against the deterioration of the paper, especially since iron-containing inks cannot reach the texture of the paper.
Egg Sizing
Egg whites are mixed in a bowl until they reach a thick consistency. The thickened egg whites start to foam and are left for a few hours after this stage, and the hardened foams stick to the bowl. The more liquid egg whites under this hard part are applied to the paper with the help of a cotton cloth. If this process is to be done more than once, each layer should be applied in different directions.
Starch Whitening
Wheat or corn starch is crushed in cold water, poured into boiling water and cooked. The cooked starch is filtered through fine cheesecloth and applied to the paper surface.
Flour Whitening
It is prepared in the same way as starch whitening.
Shellac Whitening
Shellac dissolved in spirit is applied as in other whitenings.
The whitening process can be applied to the surface of the paper, depending on the amount of paper to be whitened, or it can be done by dipping it into the whitening. If the amount is large, dipping is generally preferred.
STAMPING
It is the process of smoothing the paper surface with materials such as flat stone, glass or zer. The paper smoothed with this process is called “whitewashed paper”.
In whitewashed papers, the ink penetrates the texture of the paper and becomes indelible. For this reason, it has been applied to papers to be used in official documents.
