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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

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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.

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