This is the second part of a two-part article on a new method of installing these wonderful photo quality backdrops. For anyone who read the Part One of this article, please bear with me on the first few paragraphs. I wanted to add some of the “basics” from Part One.

For those of you that are thinking of adding a quality photo backdrop to your layout there are a number of different ways of attachment to the wall. You can use contact cement, spray adhesive, wallpaper cement, or even staple it up. All of these different methods have their Pros and Cons. You might already know about these types of applications, but there is also something new on the market you might find interesting.

A new tape has come on the market that can be used to attach these backdrops. You can think of this product as a cellophane tape, but without the cellophane. You end up using just the “Goo” part. (Some have called it “Snot” tape) This is NOT like the double-sided tape you might have seen. This product ends up being much thinner than the double-sided stuff, and seems as though it might be just right for some folks.

You can buy this new tape from BackDrop Warehouse when you place your order. I might suggest when you place your order ask if they have a bit of scrap backdrop material they can send along so you can practice with the tape. This tape is a bit tricky to work with, and it’s best to try it first on something that isn’t important. When handling this tape, be careful as anything it touches it will stick to and you can end up with a sticky mess. (There it is again….. The “voice of experience sneaking in there) If you have a bit of tape that gets a “lump” in it, cut it off and start with a fresh part. After all, the tape is cheep.

At this point you have a decision to make. Do you put the tape on the backdrop, or your board? Both ways seem to work, with both having Pros and Cons. When applying the tape to the backdrop, you will need to use a bit of Vaseline on your scissors to keep the tape from sticking and making a mess. It is easier handling the tape on the board, as you just roll the tape out, bend it back on itself, pull the roll a bit away from the board and cut it with a razor knife at the bend. Easy. DO NOT USE A RAZOR KNIFE ANYWHERE AROUND YOUR BACKDROP!!! Only use scissors if applying the tape to your backdrop, as the backdrop is easily damaged.

On to the installation! For these articles, I have broken them into two sections. The first part is a small backdrop, and the second part deals with a large backdrop.

For a larger backdrop, you need to handle things a bit differently than with a small one. As before, you will need the tape and a small paint roller for smoothing the backdrop into the tape. I strongly recommend you have help with larger backdrops. Can you do it by yourself? Yes, I did it but it would have been WAY easier if I had help. In fact, I think three people would have been the best. For this application I think one person on each end of the backdrop and one to handle the middle. This backdrop was only 8 feet long, but if it was longer I might even think four people might be needed to get it good and straight.

I used an 8 foot piece of “hardboard” that is available from most any hardware store. You can use most anything for the backing, but it has to be PERFECTLY flat. NO texture at all. Any texture will show up on your backdrop, so be careful here. If I want more sky than comes with the backdrop, I pre-paint the board as exact a color match as I can get. Otherwise, if the surface of the board is clean and smooth this tape should work fine all by itself.

In this application, I wanted the board to fit the backdrop exactly. This wonderful photo quality backdrop came 8 feet by 3 feet so that is what I cut the hardboard to. Actually, I cut the hardboard a little smaller as the backdrop comes with a bit of a white boarder I didn’t want in the scene. I laid out the backdrop face up on the carpet and placed the hardboard on top of it. I then took the razor knife and cut exactly around the edges making it the very same size and shape. Easy, except you need to be careful NOT to cut your carpet! (Use an old section of carpet if you have it!)

On to the tape! You need to handle this tape very carefully, as it’s VERY sticky, and VERY permanent. You get this stuff on something; it will be there forever. (Good strong stuff!) When you open the roll, you should have the protective covering on the OUTSIDE, and the “goo” on the inside. With the tape I had one roll started correctly, the other roll didn’t. The incorrect roll was “goo” on the outside and I had to play with it a bit to get it changed around. (A bit of a mess)

Simply run strips of a foot or less in length all the way around the outside of either the backdrop or board. (Not Both) Don’t put any in the center, as it isn’t needed and will make things more difficult. Leave all the protective covering on for now, and press all the tape down firmly to make sure everything is nice and flat. Take your time here.

The next step is to remove the protective covering from the top ONLY. Leave all the other protective tape covering in place. Now comes a time that, if you have it, you can use some help. I put the backdrop on by myself, as I was the only one around. But it would have been MUCH easier if I had some help at this point. If you have help, hold the backdrop from the ends and move it up to the board. Add a VERY little tension from side to side to make it straight, and touch it to the tape. If you have someone for the center area, make sure they keep the backdrop straight. Don’t let the backdrop touch the tape until it’s exactly where you want it to be. Remember, this tape is PERMANENT! No “second chances” with this stuff. Use a small paint roller to attach the backdrop to the tape, NOT your fingers. (You will mess up the picture quality with your fingers)

It wasn’t awful putting the backdrop on by myself, but there is a “trick” to it. Start from one end and move across attaching about two feet at a time. You need to have a line across the top to follow EXACTLY to not end up with “puckers”. Once again, you need to add a VERY slight tension to the backdrop as you progress. After you get the backdrop stuck to the top, take your paint roller and firmly attach the tape. (NOT your fingers!)

Hold up, or flip the backdrop over the back so you can remove the protective covering from the tape ONLY at the center of the bottom. DON’T remove the other protective coverings from the tape at this time. DON’T let the backdrop touch any of the tape yet. When the protective covering from the center of the bottom is removed, hold the backdrop from the bottom center adding a VERY slight downward tension and pull down to make contact with the tape. Remember: no second chances with this tape so make it right the first time!

Next, tape or have someone hold the corners of the backdrop up and out of the way. You will be working on one side at a time, so don’t be in a hurry. After the corner is up and out of the way remove the protective covering from the tape on that side. Bring the backdrop down from the corner, once again adding a VERY slight tension outward until you come in contact with the tape. Now move half way up the side and pull a VERY slight tension outward and contact the backdrop with the tape. Move half way between the corner and the center of the bottom and do the same thing. Go over to the other side and do the same thing to it.

Lastly, take your roller and run it all the way around on the taped areas. And you’re DONE! If done properly, this new tape is fast, permanent and easy. It takes a double helping of “care” when working with this tape, but with that said you can have your new backdrop up in much less than an hour.

I have one last “caution” for you to think about. You might have noticed I used the term “ very light tension” when pulling on the backdrop corners. If you pull to hard, you will make “puckers” at the corners. Please note the photo in Part One of this article and see where I was a bit to “manly” with the pulling.

This new tape works good, but isn’t for everyone. My best advice is to practice just like I showed in Part One of this article. You want to practice on something that doesn’t matter how it comes out. When practicing with the tape, if you “blow-it”, just pull off your scrap material and turn it over and try again. Remember, the tape is cheep.

And by the way, you will truly LOVE your new photo quality backdrop from BackDrop Warehouse. I know I do!

Note from Backdrop Warehouse