The Way of Relic : Realistic cracking pattern for aged finish guitars?




The cracking pattern in the above picture is often called as the "spider web" pattern.
This is okay for certain areas like side of the body or around the bridge, etc.
But I can't apply this pattern to an entire body or headstock surface as it will become soooo fake looking guitar.
 
(but many expensive "no thanks" aged finish guitars are like this, targeting less knowledgeable customers)

So, to make good relic guitars, I need to be able to portray at least two cracking patterns. 
Since I'm still learning relic technique, I can't show you good examples at this point
but the spider web pattern like this; 




and linear cracks (which often appear on the body and headstock surface) like this;


are the two essential patterns I need to control.



Can you see the cracking patterns on the left side and right side are obviously different?


�@

Okay, I've made an example of a BAD relic.



If an old looking guitar has this pattern, I'm almost sure that it is a fake. (not to say 100%, but more than 99%)