One way to protect your art and to give it a little bit of extra security is to shrink wrap it. The shrink wrap process is not complicated, but it does require a few tools to seal the art between a thin layer of protective plastic.
Instructions
1. Place your art in the shrink wrap film. Fold the film to look like a large baseball card sleeve; sealed at the top and bottom of the art, and with the two sides left open for slipping the art in and out of the sleeve. Leave a little bit of room on both sides so the sleeve is touching itself.
2. Use the shrink wrap tool to "cut" the film. The shrink wrap tool is a paddle that heats up and melts through the shrink wrap, simultaneously sealing it off and welding the plastic together. Be careful not to touch the actual artwork with this tool. Make sure the newly minted edge is far enough away from the edge of the art, so it doesn't stick to it.
3. Shrink the wrap. Place the artwork so that the back is facing up and use a heat gun or blow dryer on it. Move the heat back and forth over the piece, so it's not concentrated on one area. Keep the heat roughly 6 to 10 inches from the wrap. The heat causes the film to shrink, drawing it tight over the artwork. Apply heat until the wrap is tight, but don't heat it until it splits or melts;only until it forms a tight layer over the artwork.
