Attaching Photos to Metal

How to Separate Photos From Their Paper Backing and Attach Them to Metal

Congratulations on a great site!

On a decoupage project I did many years ago, I used a special product to separate the very thin photo itself from its paper backing.

Can you suggest a product I can use to accomplish this?

Also, what product would you recommend for gluing the photo to nickel-plated metal -- and what is the best clear finishing product (a spray preferably) to protect the product from outdoor elements?

Your advice would be much appreciated!

Tom

Thank you for the congrats. The Artful Crafter is a labor of love. It's so nice to hear our efforts are appreciated.

You can't separate a printed film from photos you print from your computer (actually there is no film to separate - different technology). The computer ink will bleed when any liquid touches it. So be sure to use a commercially printed photo.

The special product you recall may not be available anymore; or, if it is, it might not work with today's commercially printed photos. The technology has changed a lot.

The good news is that you can separate the plastic film from a photo using plain ol' H2O. Read my Photo Finish article for how to separate the photo film and glue it to a smooth surface.

As for finishes which will offer the best protection outdoors, you will probably want to use a combination.

First of all, your photo plaque will be exposed to UV radiation. So I would start with two coats of Krylon Spray UV-Resistant Clear gloss #1305 and finish with two coats of Krylon Crystal Clear Universal Coating to protect it from the (other) elements.

Here are more decoupage articles.