How to Wrap Photographs in Acetate
Acetate is a must-have component in any crafter’s toolbox. Widely available in various sizes and easy to cut, clear acetate sheets add a protective, glasslike clarity to photographs at a fraction of the cost of glass. If you’ve been stung by the creative bug, you can even paint or decorate the acetate before using it to cover a photograph. Either way, covering a photograph in acetate is – to borrow a photographer’s term – a relative snap.
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Things You'll Need
- Thin piece of cardboard
- Craft cutting board
- Scissors or craft knife
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Tape or craft glue
- Hole punch
- Ribbon or hemp string
Instructions
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Lay the photograph on top of a thin piece of cardboard. Place both pieces on a foam cutting board or another protective surface.
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Cut the cardboard with scissors or a craft knife using the photograph as a guide.
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Place the photograph on the cutting board, topping it with an acetate sheet.
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In addition to protecting photographs, acetate can be used to provide an overlay for ink, pencil and painted works of art. Draw a cutout line on the acetate all the way around the photograph with a pencil, adding one-quarter inch to the top and bottom edges.
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Secure the acetate by folding the top and bottom edges over the photograph and taping or gluing the acetate to the cardboard. Miter the corners to create a smooth finish.
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Put the acetate-covered photograph in a picture frame.
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Acetate is still used to make overhead transparencies. Create a self-standing photograph (without a frame). Top the photo with an acetate sheet and cut the sheet so that there is at least a 1-inch border of acetate around the photograph. Punch holes in the acetate along the left edge, then weave a ribbon or hemp string through the holes and tie to secure. Tape or glue under the other three edges. Cut a small, moon-shape piece of thin cardboard and fold it in half. Apply glue to one half of the moon shape and secure it to the back of the photo, near the bottom, so that it can stand on its own.
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Tips & Warnings
Securing the acetate and photograph to cardboard provides a sturdy finished product. If you simply cover a photograph with acetate and skip the cardboard, the lightweight acetate will most likely slide around.
Acetate sleeves can make your photo preservation project even simpler. Slide your photograph in the sleeve and secure or mount with the adhesive tape that usually comes with the package.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images Burke/Triolo Productions/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
