Quick summary. I want to uncover previous writing that was done on a sheet of notebook paper.
In more detail, a letter was written on a notepad and removed. As is usual, there were indentations left on the sheet below the letter. I remember from some time ago that you can rub charcoal on the paper to uncover the words from their indentations. However, firstly, I don’t have any charcoal but that’s easy enough to procure if that’s what I’ll be using. Secondly, I only get one shot at it, if I’m wrong about the charcoal, the paper is ruined and I won’t get a second chance.
So my questions is this; Does charcoal uncover previous writing on sheets of paper with indentations on it and secondly, is there any better medium to use than charcoal? I know pencil doesn’t work well at all.
As a kid, I use to do this with a soft graphite pencil with a long point. I would hold the pencil so the angle of the tip was in full contact with the paper and very lightly rub he pencil over the indentations. This actually works well.
The other trick I use to use, was a a dark fine powder from a finger printing kit I had. I would put a small amount on the paper and gently brush it off with a tissue and the indentations would fill in. This worked better than the graphite pencil, but I have no idea where to locate such powder these days.
Jim
Take it into a completely dark room and shine a highly-directional beam of light (those little LED keychain lights are quite good) across the surface at a very shallow, grazing angle. the indentations should show up as shadows.
Use toner powder from any older style copier or even an old fax machine.
take a small amount (use maybe a tiny measuring spoon, or a crack spoon if that’s your thing!) Dump it lightly along the area to be looked at, shake it around gently to distribute it and viola!
You can also use a (CLEAN or brand new) makeup brush. Roll the brush around very lightly across the top of the container of powder. Hold it above the container, hanging straight down, and give it a light tap to dislodge extra powder. Then do the same way over the fingerprint. If need be you can brush the powder N-S then E-W but BE GENTLE! Fingerprints will smudge.
11 years later, perhaps it would have been better not to know what it said.
Place the paper writing side down on a sleeping zombie’s forehead, and then press lightly with your fingers. Done right, the zombie’s dead skin should fill in the writing marks, allowing you to easily read what was written, oh, so long ago.