[Jamesthegeek]

You know those plastic backdrops and wall decor decorations everyone sells? Like these?

I have a few of these and I am wondering how you guys go about getting the creases out of them? I think they are a quick and easy idea, but they never look like the pictures because of the creases.

Suggestions?

Next is how to keep the damn things on the wall. I usually end up using clear thumb tacks as tape and poster putty never seem to cut it.

 

[cbhaunt]

I know when we used a forest scene setter across the house front, we first layed the whole thing out on the driveway, put a hockey stick at each end.
We then wrapped a few inches around the stick and stapled the prop to the sticks.
We didn't attach it to the house but using the hockey sticks, we stuck them in the ground and it held up like a store banner.
By doing one stick then pulling the other stick tight, the wrinkles, folds, creases, all went away and quickly put the stick in the ground.
At pack up time, we just rolled the sticks together like you would a painting or poster.

Well, that's what we have done in the past. Not sure on others, can't really remember reading any threads on it before.

 

[horrorman]

I don't use scene setters but I'm wondering if you can take out the creases with a hair dryer. I know they are thin plastic so keep it moving to avoid melting a hole through it. Just an idea, might work.

 

[Kelly_A]

I use my dryer on low to get creases out of vinyl shower curtains that i use for projections. Just long enough to get them warm then spread flat on a floor or over a bed until they cool.

 

[jhon505]

I also use plastic decor wall sheet for my project. i also use dryer on it, i think dryer is the best and very useful idea. Just long enough to get them warm then spread flat on a floor or over a bed until they cool for making it flatten don't use hard equipment.

 

[Bruzilla]

I live in Florida so I can do this. I spread them over the top of my black car during a sunny day. That gives it plenty of heat and since the sides are hanging off also put some tension on the sheet as well. Come July you can probably do this anywhere, but just find a long cardboard tube (check carpet stores, auto upholstery shops, etc) and roll the sheet up to store it. That'll keep the creases out.

Make sure you flip it over every few hours since you're going have creases going both ways.

 

[Dwozz]

3M Spray glue. It's surprizing how easily it removes, too.

 

[punkineater]

I live in Florida so I can do this. I spread them over the top of my black car during a sunny day. That gives it plenty of heat and since the sides are hanging off also put some tension on the sheet as well. Come July you can probably do this anywhere, but just find a long cardboard tube (check carpet stores, auto upholstery shops, etc) and roll the sheet up to store it. That'll keep the creases out.

Make sure you flip it over every few hours since you're going have creases going both ways.

How simple & ingenious Bruzilla re the cardboard tubing!!!

 

[Bruzilla]

I learned that trick from guys who put headliners in cars. They lay the headliner out in the sun to get most of the wrinkles out, then if it had to be stored they roll it up instead of folding it up.

 

[TheMonsterSquad]

Yeah, like everyone suggested, a small amount of heat either by sun or dryer is the best way to flatten them out. To attach them to the walls, by far the easiest way to do it is with a staple gun.

 

[Ghost of Spookie]

As for storing the scene setters, we also use long fabric rolls to roll ours up at present. However I have found they are harder to come by than I thought they'd be. Most fabric stores will hold onto their empty rolls to save for customers paying for the more expensive fabric and upholstry materials they wouldn't normally fold up, in which case they roll up the fabric on them for their customers' convenience. Chances are the customers then throw them out. Sigh. I spent countless hours going from fabric store to fabric store hoping to score some one halloween. One store told me to come back at the end of the week and they would give me one or two which I have now.

Upholstry or carpet stores, maybe even a hardware/garden store that sells shade cloth on rolls, screening, artificial grass, or vinyl runners, might be a better source. They have no need to keep them for their customers generally.

Another possible thought if you use PVC pipes for your haunt is to use a length of pipe to roll it up on. Most of these scene setters are only 4 to 5 feet high so a pipe that length or longer would work. I have several pipe lengths that i use that are maybe 3 to 4 inches in diameter that work well.

While the cardboard tubes are free, I kind of like using the PVC better since it isn't a food source for bugs/mice, etc. that like cardboard to chew on. And if the PVC gets wet, it isn't something that will get moldy or musty if stored in an unheated garage or basement. The scene setters are vinyl so do not have those issues either.

 

[BossQueen]

As for storing the scene setters, we also use long fabric rolls to roll ours up at present. However I have found they are harder to come by than I thought they'd be. Most fabric stores will hold onto their empty rolls to save for customers paying for the more expensive fabric and upholstry materials they wouldn't normally fold up, in which case they roll up the fabric on them for their customers' convenience. Chances are the customers then throw them out. Sigh. I spent countless hours going from fabric store to fabric store hoping to score some one halloween. One store told me to come back at the end of the week and they would give me one or two which I have now.

Upholstry or carpet stores, maybe even a hardware/garden store that sells shade cloth on rolls, screening, artificial grass, or vinyl runners, might be a better source. They have no need to keep them for their customers generally.

Another possible thought if you use PVC pipes for your haunt is to use a length of pipe to roll it up on. Most of these scene setters are only 4 to 5 feet high so a pipe that length or longer would work. I have several pipe lengths that i use that are maybe 3 to 4 inches in diameter that work well.

While the cardboard tubes are free, I kind of like using the PVC better since it isn't a food source for bugs/mice, etc. that like cardboard to chew on. And if the PVC gets wet, it isn't something that will get moldy or musty if stored in an unheated garage or basement. The scene setters are vinyl so do not have those issues either.

pool noodles. Dollar store.

 

[Industen]

I just use 3m double sided tape on the wall and fasten it. I then use a pump sprayer on top and wet an area at a time and use a hand squeegee to smooth out the wrinkles as I go. Obviously it must be the plastic type of backdrop. You must keep the area wet to allow the squeegee to pass over the top over wise it will ruin a section. I restore arcade games and the decals are similar to this process but instead of a sticky peel back you must use the tape to provide that seamless look.