<p>We actually have a good idea of which scroll materials last for hundreds of years, because we have scrolls that are hundreds of years old. What are they made of?</p>

<h3>Parchment</h3>

<p>We have <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls#Age" rel="noreferrer">two thousand year old scrolls</a> written on parchment (as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gevil" rel="noreferrer">required</a> for Jewish <em>Torah</em> scrolls). These seem to be mainly written using ordinary carbon black ink, but many (particularly Medieval) documents were written using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_gall_ink" rel="noreferrer">Iron Gall black ink</a>, of which many survive.</p>

<p>Parchment is expensive and relatively difficult to come by, but is still produced in small quantities.</p>

<h3>Papyrus</h3>

<p>The Egyptians wrote on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus" rel="noreferrer">papyrus</a> scrolls, and we have several surviving examples including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebers_Papyrus" rel="noreferrer">some over 3500 years old</a>. Like the Jewish parchments, these were normally written using carbon black ink. </p>

<p>Papyrus is also expensive, but not as expensive as vellum and more widely available.</p>

<h3>Paper</h3>

<p>We have surviving fragments of paper with writing/drawing on it from the 2nd century BC, and we know that the Chinese made scrolls from this material. Chinese painting <a href="http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/painting/4ptgtech.htm" rel="noreferrer">normally used water based inks</a> for both paper and silk scrolls.</p>

<h3>Silk</h3>

<p>Chinese scrolls have been written on silk for thousands of years - the excavations at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawangdui" rel="noreferrer">Mawangdui</a> unearthed silk scrolls dating back to the 2nd century BC. </p>

<p>Silk fabric is readily available (if relatively expensive), but requires treatment before it can be written on.</p>

<h2>Suggestion</h2>

<p>Given the difficulty of acquiring and preparing the other substances, I'd suggest you look for paper. The specific type you're looking for is probably a relatively heavy acid-free paper (AKA <em>archival paper</em> or <em>museum grade paper</em>), which is specifically designed to last for a long time. </p>

<p>As for ink, since you only seem to wish to write and not draw/paint in colour, I suggest the ubiquitous carbon black.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-12T14:45:09.220Z
This is the answer I would have started to make. Real world examples
Matt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-12T10:32:44.220Z
2018-04-12T10:32:44.220Z
walrus
<p>For such a thing I would use very fine 100% cotton, linen, or silk fabric (rough texture would make it more difficult to write on) and India/China ink to write with. No sealing. </p>

<p>It is probably not the easiest way to write for some people, as the ink tends to ‘bleed’ to a certain extent (I personally like the effect). Use a fine pointed brush and little ink if you want less ‘bleeding’ and give people a test fabric to adjust to the writing method. </p>

<p>I don’t know exactly how long these materials are proven to last without any special treatment but they surely exceeds 50 years in normal conditions.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-10T21:21:21.530Z
2018-04-10T21:21:21.530Z
user18849
<p>I'm trying to make a scroll to document life events. The important requirements are:</p>

<ul>
<li>approximately 30cm wide by 2m tall</li>
<li>relatively easy for other people to sign their names on it</li>
<li>can be rolled up and carried in a cylindrical tube in a backpack</li>
<li>last at least 50 years with minimal deterioration, while being unrolled, hung on the wall, and then rolled up again at least 1-2 times a year</li>
</ul>

<p><a href="https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Scroll" rel="noreferrer">Wikihow has a guide for making a scroll</a> (fabric lasts longer than paper; sew the fabric to match the size of the dowels), but no tips for making sure it lasts long.  An art store suggested I could use acrylic pens on canvas, but I also read that acrylic can crack and deteriorate from frequent rolling and unrolling.  <a href="http://theflourishforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=933.0" rel="noreferrer">This forum also has some tips about calligraphy on fabric, such as the idea of stabilizing the fabric with clear acrylic first.</a></p>

<p><strong>What is the best combination of materials for this (type of fabric and type of pens)?</strong></p>

<material-selection><fabric><medium-selection><pens>
Best materials for a long-lasting scroll
krubo
# Best materials for a long-lasting scroll

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-04-10)

I'm trying to make a scroll to document life events. The important requirements are:

* approximately 30cm wide by 2m tall
* relatively easy for other people to sign their names on it
* can be rolled up and carried in a cylindrical tube in a backpack
* last at least 50 years with minimal deterioration, while being unrolled, hung on the wall, and then rolled up again at least 1-2 times a year

[Wikihow has a guide for making a scroll](https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Scroll) (fabric lasts longer than paper; sew the fabric to match the size of the dowels), but no tips for making sure it lasts long. An art store suggested I could use acrylic pens on canvas, but I also read that acrylic can crack and deteriorate from frequent rolling and unrolling. [This forum also has some tips about calligraphy on fabric, such as the idea of stabilizing the fabric with clear acrylic first.](http://theflourishforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=933.0)

**What is the best combination of materials for this (type of fabric and type of pens)?**

**Tags:** material-selection, fabric, medium-selection, pens


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-04-12. Score: 7

We actually have a good idea of which scroll materials last for hundreds of years, because we have scrolls that are hundreds of years old. What are they made of?

### Parchment

We have [two thousand year old scrolls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls#Age) written on parchment (as [required](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gevil) for Jewish *Torah* scrolls). These seem to be mainly written using ordinary carbon black ink, but many (particularly Medieval) documents were written using [Iron Gall black ink](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_gall_ink), of which many survive.

Parchment is expensive and relatively difficult to come by, but is still produced in small quantities.

### Papyrus

The Egyptians wrote on [papyrus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus) scrolls, and we have several surviving examples including [some over 3500 years old](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebers_Papyrus). Like the Jewish parchments, these were normally written using carbon black ink.

Papyrus is also expensive, but not as expensive as vellum and more widely available.

### Paper

We have surviving fragments of paper with writing/drawing on it from the 2nd century BC, and we know that the Chinese made scrolls from this material. Chinese painting [normally used water based inks](http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/painting/4ptgtech.htm) for both paper and silk scrolls.

### Silk

Chinese scrolls have been written on silk for thousands of years - the excavations at [Mawangdui](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawangdui) unearthed silk scrolls dating back to the 2nd century BC.

Silk fabric is readily available (if relatively expensive), but requires treatment before it can be written on.

## Suggestion

Given the difficulty of acquiring and preparing the other substances, I'd suggest you look for paper. The specific type you're looking for is probably a relatively heavy acid-free paper (AKA *archival paper* or *museum grade paper*), which is specifically designed to last for a long time.

As for ink, since you only seem to wish to write and not draw/paint in colour, I suggest the ubiquitous carbon black.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This is the answer I would have started to make. Real world examples  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2018-04-10. Score: 4

For such a thing I would use very fine 100% cotton, linen, or silk fabric (rough texture would make it more difficult to write on) and India/China ink to write with. No sealing.

It is probably not the easiest way to write for some people, as the ink tends to ‘bleed’ to a certain extent (I personally like the effect). Use a fine pointed brush and little ink if you want less ‘bleeding’ and give people a test fabric to adjust to the writing method.

I don’t know exactly how long these materials are proven to last without any special treatment but they surely exceeds 50 years in normal conditions.


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