Rolled or wrinkled papers need to be flattened before use since we cannot do anything with the piece in that state. One of the most common methods is to use a clothes iron on low heat and flatten out our paper. Still, thin pieces cannot handle the heat of ironing. Fret not; there are multiple easy and safe ways to flatten papers.
This blog post will discuss how to flatten the paper, the materials you need, and important tips.
How to Flatten Rolled Paper?
Contents
Suppose you have newly-bought rolled papers waiting to be drawn on right away. In that case, it should be easy to flatten them with the following techniques:
- Open the paper roll on a flat and clean table. Then, you should roll it, but in the opposite direction. After 20 minutes, do that again if the paper is still not flat
- Cut the paper to the desired size and tape its edges down the table until you finish painting. You can frame it afterward, but the paper should already be flattened
- Mist the paper with a cotton ball (applicable if you intend to paint it with watercolor or mix media). Then, place a heavy book on the misted paper, which is already sandwiched between two more pieces of paper. After several hours, this technique will do its tricks. You can wait for the whole day for the paper to dry completely before working on it
How do you get Wrinkles Out of Paper?
You can prepare either one among three items below for your preferred method:
- Clothes and an Ironing machine
- Rolling Pin
- Large and heavy books
Techniques of Clothes Ironing Method
This method will work for those who plan to use their flattened paper as wall art or create crafts that need to stay flat. However, if you’re flattening your paper for something like origami, this method won’t work well because of how hot the iron is.
Step 1: Place the paper face down on an ironing board. Ensure that the side to flatten is facing up, and there are no wrinkles in it.
Step 2: Place a large yet thin towel or cloth on the paper. This is to prevent the iron heat from ruining your pieces of paper.
Step 3: Turn your iron on a low setting, then use it like a roller going over the paper from one end of its length to another several times until all creases have been removed.
If you place the paper to be flattened between two pieces of cloth (or inside a pillowcase), you can use medium heat.
Notes:
- This method works best for flat sheets. But smaller pieces might benefit from using a press machine if they cannot fit inside an average-sized household clothes dryer or washing machine drum, which both work by tumbling them.
- If you are flattening several sheets at once, make sure that each one is placed in the same place and do not overlap them, as this could also lead to creasing.
- If your ironing board is large enough, you can also try folding the paper in half so that it covers most of the surface – this will speed up the flattening process. Just make sure that there are no wrinkles in the folded section before ironing.
Step 4: If the paper still has some wrinkles and crease lines, you can spray a bit of water on it. Then, iron it again, preferably with the towel on it.
Step 5: After flattening, leave your paper to cool down completely before storing using it. The finished product should now be completely flat.
Techniques of Using Rolling Pins
To flatten your papers with this method, all you need to do is take out your rolling pin or another cylindrical object (such as an unopened bottle).
Then, place it on top of your document, and apply pressure, slowly applying more weight onto the cylinder until flattening is complete.
For best results, flatten one side first before flipping over to flatten another side.
Notes:
- If there are air pockets in between sheets, use hands to press down into them.
- If necessary, repeat the process multiple times until achieving desired flatness.
- We recommend using a rolling pin if you plan to flatten large sheets or multiple pages at once instead of smaller pieces like magazines and flyers.
- A rolling pin is also a good pick for those who want an even flat surface across their entire sheet of paper rather than just the middle portion that would be flattened by an iron alone.
Techniques of Using Books
Step 1: Place the paper that needs flattening on a hard surface, such as a table.
Step 2: Close any heavy books lying around and place them on top of the paper: the more weight, the better.
Step 3: Leave the books on top of the paper for at least 24 hours.
Books can work well if all you need to do is flatten down single papers or magazine clippings for later reference!
Plus, they’re easy to come by since most people have some lying around the house somewhere. So, it’s a great option if you’re in a hurry or traveling and don’t have your flattening tools with you.
Conclusion
With the abovementioned methods, you should be able to remove wrinkles and creases in your paper without tearing or damaging them. Still, be careful when you spray water on the paper or use an ironing machine since excess heat and moisture can ruin your pieces.
Feel free to share this guide on how to flatten paper with those who need it and leave us a comment if you have any questions.