The quick drying of wet documents has always been a difficult problem to solve. Recently a new drying technique has been tested successfully, using the combined action of cold and vacuum; it is called lyophilisation. This rapid procedure avoids both fungal growth and solubilization of inks or paint films. The authors tried to verify that the mechanical and chemical properties of graphic documents were not modified by lyophilisation. To this end, papers, leathers and parchments were treated by two different techniques. Results are satisfactory for papers and leathers, however mechanical resistance of parchment is modified, because lyophilisation provokes thickening and a reduction of elasticity. This phenomenon is nevertheless reversible. Freezing can be used on all of these materials including parchment.