some have asked for a step by step guide to doing something like this and i thought i would do something and include images. after further consideration, i have decided that images would not help much in the explanation.
This guide is for "carding" a figure on a custom card. it has nothing to do with custom figures. the figure used here has had no alterations made to it.
- things that you will need
- photo paper
- card stock
- silicone
- goo gone
- spray adhesive
STEP 1
You need an image for your card back. this is an image you could create in photshop or some similar program or perhaps a custom cardback that has already been created and is available online. our custom cardback section is offline at the moment but i hope to have it back up as soon as i have some time to get it back together. another site you could check out would be ffurg.com
STEP 2
print your image out. i suggest using a high gloss photopaper for the best result. if this option is available in what ever program you use to print out the image, be sure to let it know that you are using photopaper for the best quality.
STEP 3
glue your image to a piece of card stock using spray adhesive. don't get cheap when you buy your adhesive. there are some very poor adhesives out there. i suggest a 3m product. the adhesive will dry fairly quickly so you don't want to waste time getting the two together. have a firm FLAT surface to lay the card stock on, then lay the photopaper (with adhesive on the back) over the cardstock. i like to use a phone book for the base because it's firm and flexible. i also like to use a rolling pin to make sure then photpaper is firmly applied to the card stock. you may want to place something between the photopaper and the rolling pin to prevent damage to the image.
STEP 4
Cut you card out and apply the back the same way as described in step 3, if a back is desired.
STEP 5
Now you need to remove the bubble from the existing cardback. peel the bubble off the cardback and then remove as much of the paper that is stuck to the bubble as possible with your fingers. there will still be some paper and paint stuck to the bubble. to remove this, i suggest goo-gone (you want to avoid using acetone). take a plate and pour some goo-gone on it and then set the bubble on the plate so that any parts of the bubble that need to be cleaned are soaking in the goo-gone. i would let it set for 15-20 minutes. now take the bubble and scrape off any paper and/or paint. you may need to repeat this until the bubble is clear.
STEP 6
using silicone glue, glue the lips of the bubble in place to the card. silicone dries slowly, so you have time to make adjustments. i would try and clamp the lip of the bubble to the card so that it as flat as possible. i would let this set for 24 hours and your done.
the silicone can be messing but it is easily cleaned up. you can normally remove any excess silicone with your fingers.
Great How-To tips too! I might be able to use them one day. Thanks!
