Mosaic Vinyl Film – 30cm Wide

Description

This sticky vinyl film will help you follow a design underneath, holding the pieces in place as you work.

• The film leaves no residue, and yet the adhesive has a strong hold
• It is MORE flexible than contact paper, and has a removable backing, so is quite easy to handle
• It is best suited to flat tesserae of a uniform thickness, as it is not quite soft enough to mould into different heights or rounded tesserae

Size: 30cm wide. Sold in 2 metre or 5 metre lengths.
If wanted for community projects in longer lengths or by the roll, please contact me for pricing.

Double Direct Method:

This method allows you to visualize and shape your mosaic directly. Your work remains preserved for future installation. Design and build your mosaic in horizontally  at your workspace and then  relocate it to its final destination – be it horizontal or vertical. Perfect for materials of similar thickness, this technique allows you to view the right side of your tesserae as you work directly, ultimately placing them in their final setting separately.

1. Dry lay out your tesserae over your “cartoon” or free-hand design.
2. When you are happy with the design, cover it with the film.
3. This can now wait in a box, away from dust, until you are ready to place into the mosaic.
4. NOTE: Film works BEST on flat materials that are primarily the same depth, such as stained glass.

Indirect (Reverse) Method:

Traditionally involves rendering your pattern in reverse, placing the tesserae face down on temporary backing and holding the pieces in place with a water-soluble glue, such as flour & water paste. Once you’ve done this, you can transfer the mosaic art to its permanent location, remove the temporary backing, and wash away the adhesive.  You will be basically working with a mirror image.

An alternative approach is to:

1. Start with a pattern that is drawn in reverse.
2. Use Mosaic Vinyl Film as your temporary backing
3. Place your tesserae right side face down onto the film
4. Flip over, and adhere your work to the substrate – using Cement-based adhesive (a.k.a. thinset), mortar, or similar
5. Remove the tape – leaves no residue.

Double Indirect Method:

1. Place the image on a board, cover with the Mosaic Vinyl Film, sticky side up
2. Lay your tesserae onto the film, right side face up
3. Place another piece of Mosaic Vinyl Film over your work, sticky side down making sure all pieces are attached
   • Tip – use a credit card or similar stiff material to ensure that all your pieces are adhered to the top face sheet
4. Place a rigid board over your work, and gently flip over and remove the original film. Make sure all pieces remain stuck to the 2nd layer of film.
5. Now you are ready to fix to your base with the correct side uppermost.
   • Apply adhesive to your substrate
   • Place the mosaic, face side uppermost (with the vinyl film attached) onto the substrate
   • smooth down with a mosaic float, or stiff object, to ensure all your pieces are adhered
   • Peel the film off your mosaic, rolling around a pencil at a 45deg angle
   • re-attach any pieces that may have moved.
6. NOTE: Film works BEST on flat materials that are primarily the same depth, such as stained glass.