How to Transfer Photos to Acetate Banners

Print or photocopy your favorite photos onto acetate for use in art projects.

Transfer photos to acetate banners by printing or photocopying. Acetate sheets are transparent sheets made from acetic acid and cellulose. The sheets are 0.1 mm or 0.5 mm thick, available in a large range of colors. You can obtain acetate from art and craft stores. Print or photocopy your photos onto the acetate to display on an overhead projector (helpful when painting murals) or to transfer them onto wood, paper or fabric. Not all printers and photocopy machines are designed to print on acetate.

Things You'll Need

• Acetate banner
• Printer and digital photo or photo and photocopy machine

Instructions

Print Acetate Banners

1. Open the digital image of your photograph in a graphic design program.

2. Open the package of acetate banner sheets. The instructions on the package will direct you to set your printer to "Photo Quality" or "Draft." Change the settings on your printer program accordingly.

3. Place the acetate into the printer paper tray. Only place one sheet of acetate into the paper tray at a time. Click on "Print" or hold down the "Control' and "Alt' keys on your keyboard. Select the "Print" button on the message box to start the print job.

4. Remove the acetate from the printer and leave it, inked side up, on a table to dry. Handle the acetate only on the edges.

Photocopy Acetate Banners

1. Place the photograph print on the glass of the photocopy machine, face down. Use the ruler guidelines to center it on the glass. If you intend to shrink or enlarge the image, set the photocopy machine accordingly.

2. Place the acetate in the photocopy feed tray. Only place one sheet of acetate in the tray at a time or they may stick to each other and cause a jam.

3. Close the lid of the photocopy machine and press the "Copy" button. Wait for the acetate to process before making further copies.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to make a long acetate banner, attach several printed or photocopied sheets of acetate together.

• Consult your user's manual if you are not sure that your machine can process acetate. Use only the kind of acetate specified in the user's manual.

References

• The Crafty PC: The Inkjet Holiday Village
• Joanna Sheen: Printing on Vellum and Acetate
• Samsung: How to Photocopy