Pastel dust on my mat :(

[llis]

I had my framer cut mats for me to use for the pastels that I have in the works. I wanted to see how the pastel was going to look, so I took the new mat and carefully placed it over my pastel. Don't know how it happened, but I have a speck of pastel on my white mat. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/frown.gif How is the best way to get it off, or is that possible? I know this can be a problem because I already have tried to remove some pastel dust from an old mat that I use to guage work by. My old mat has pastel smears all over it.

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[VictoriaS]

I would try a kneaded eraser. If it's just a speck, you should be able to just press it onto the speck and lift it off. If it's more like a smear, still use a kneaded eraser and just rub lightly. That's what I would do.

Good luck.

[pixelscapes]

Good advice, but might I add -- before you give in and start rubbing at it, try that pick-up technique more than once. Sometimes repeated 'pats' of the kneaded eraser, especially if it's a freshly kneaded 'loose' section of the eraser, can progressively pull more and more of the pigment you're trying to remove. Kinda like Silly Putty and the Sunday comics. http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

Only once that seems to be making no progress, only then switch to rubbing with the eraser. That also minimizes damage to the mat surface.

Hope it helps...

-=- Jen "Way out of left field" Pixelscapes

[arlene]

If Jen's solution doesn't work, try Un-do. You can buy it in Staples or online. Even though it's meant for tape residue, I've found it works for a number of applications and leaves no stain.

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[Roan]

You guys are gonna laugh, but I use Silly Putty for this. My daughter managed to get some ground into the carpet and, of course, it wouldn't come out. I thought I'd try pulling it out with more Silly Putty. Worked like a charm on the places where it had recently been ground in!

Anyhow, I decided to try it with pastel and IMHO it works better than a kneaded eraser. You might want to test an area tho, Silly Putty feels kinda "oily" to the touch so it might mark a light colored mat. I've used it on light ones okay, but should probably test first anyhow.

It also works pretty good for lifting pastel off of Wallis-type papers :P

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Mar sin leibh an-dràsda,
Roan
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"Am fear a ghleidheas a theanga, gleidhidh e a charaid."

[llis]

thanks guys... I am going to try. Will let you know how I come out.

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[4vincent]

I don't know if this would help; as stated before, it's better to try and lift rather than rub to remove pastel from mats. However, to remove smudges from mats, I have used a pad (purchased from art/drafting supplies) which is filled with ground up art gum. It is primarily used by design/drafting departments to clean drawings. One usually sprinkles the material from the pad by shaking it and then lightly rubbing in circular motions over the drawing. The cloth pad gets dirty with time, but doesn't transfer the dirt back to the drawing.
I don't know if this will work well with pastel, will have to try it sometime. Ken

[arteitaliana]

I blow on it first, tap it from the back to loosen the particles that have not stuck, and then use a gum eraser. Red specks are the most difficult to eliminate...good luck!!

[OilPastelAssociation]

Try electric eraser.
Koh-i-Noor makes them. viola !

[arteitaliana]

Sorry to disagree, but an electric eraser could also damage the texture of the matboard.