Maya Ellison
Covering a book in plastic is a great way to protect it from wear and tear. There are several ways to adjust a plastic book cover, depending on the type of plastic used. Contact paper, for example, works like a sticker and can be stuck directly onto the book cover. Non-adhesive plastic wrap, on the other hand, needs to be taped down. Heavy-duty plastic sheet protectors can also be trimmed and used as book covers. For a more temporary solution, saran wrap (plastic wrap) and garbage bags can be used, although they are not suitable for long-term protection.
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What You'll Learn
Selecting the right plastic
When selecting the right plastic for a book cover, you should opt for a heavy-duty plastic sheet protector or an 8-10 mil sheet of clear plastic. Thickness is important, as 3 mil plastic is too thin and will tear easily. The minimum thickness recommended is 5 mil, but 8 or 10 mil is better for durability. Thicker plastic drop cloths will be cloudy but still allow the book title to be read through them.
PVC plastic sheets are a good option, as they are clear and similar to wrapping paper. Contact paper is another alternative, which works like a sticker and adheres to the book. It comes in rolls and can be cut to size. You can also use non-adhesive plastic wrap, but this needs to be taped down.
Saran Wrap (plastic wrap) and garbage bags can be used temporarily but are not suitable for long-term protection.
You can also purchase pre-made plastic covers for books, which are available at library suppliers or online.
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Cutting the plastic
- Selecting the Plastic: Choose a heavy-duty plastic sheet protector or a clear plastic sheet with a thickness of 5-10 mils. The thicker the plastic, the more durable it will be, but also more expensive.
- Measuring and Cutting: Measure the book's height and width, and add about 2 inches (5.1 cm) to each dimension. Cut the plastic sheet accordingly, ensuring straight edges.
- Tracing the Book: Place the book on the plastic and trace the outline of the covers and spine. This will help guide your cuts and folds.
- Cutting the Corners: Using sharp scissors, cut the corners of the plastic cover at a 45-degree angle. Get as close to the book's corners as possible without cutting the cover. Do this for all four corners.
- Cutting the Inner Flaps: Open the book to the back cover and cut off the inner plastic flaps. Cut at a slight downward angle from the top corner of the book, then repeat at a slight upward angle for the bottom corner. Repeat this process for the front cover.
- Creating Spinal Tabs: Make vertical cuts about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from where the plastic folds around the spine. Do this twice on the top flap and twice on the bottom flap.
- Final Adjustments: If using contact paper, measure and cut it to the appropriate height, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of paper exposed to peel and stick. For PVC plastic sheets, cut straight down the spine of the book after taping the top and bottom folds.
Remember to be cautious when using cutting tools to avoid any injuries.
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Folding the plastic
To start, you will need a heavy-duty plastic sheet protector or a roll of clear plastic that is 1-4 mils thick. The thicker the plastic, the more durable the book cover will be, and the more expensive the material will be. Rolls of plastic typically come in heights ranging from 9 inches (23 cm) to 16 inches (41 cm). For a standard textbook that is 8.5 inches (22 cm) by 11 inches (28 cm), cut your plastic to be 14.5 inches (37 cm) by 17 inches (43 cm).
Now, lay your book on the plastic and trace its covers and spine, creating a large rectangle. Crease the top and bottom one-inch-wide flaps towards the centre of the book and press firmly to create a sharp crease. Next, fold and crease the 3-inch sections on each side of the book cover in towards the spine, again pressing firmly to create a sharp crease.
Now, lay the book on the plastic with the text block facing up and the text block 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the end. Leave a 1-inch (2.5 cm) space between the book and the end of the plastic so that you have room to wrap the plastic over the inside cover. Draw a line along the spine of the book, then flip the book over the line so that the spine still faces the line.
Peel 1 inch (2.5 cm) of paper off the side of the plastic layer, then fold the paper over, making a straight line parallel with the plastic. Don't peel off more than 1 inch, as the contact paper will be difficult to work with and could stick to itself. Work from the sides of the contact paper, not the top or bottom.
Lay the book's text block just over the fold so that it touches the sticky plastic. Line up the book where the backing paper and contact paper meet, then press the book cover onto the contact paper. Press your hand along the book cover to smooth out any air bubbles trapped under the plastic. Make sure the book cover is straight, otherwise, your measurements will be off. If it's crooked, peel the book off and press it down again to straighten it out.
Now, pull the backing paper off while pressing the contact paper down. With the contact paper sticking to one side of the book cover, flip the book over so the cover is facing up. Hold the cover down with one hand and grab the fold of backing paper with your other hand. Pull the backing paper slowly to peel it off, using your other hand to press the contact paper down onto the book cover.
Finally, fold the plastic around your book, then tuck in the front flap. Fold the plastic so that two equally-sized flaps are hanging off the top, bottom, and right side. Fold the front plastic flap under the front cover, pull it tight, and tape it in place. This will keep the plastic from shifting as you complete the rest of the steps. Tuck the bottom flap under the back cover and do not tape. Flip the book over and fold in the back flap of plastic around the back cover, pressing down firmly across the crease to create a more defined fold.
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Taping the plastic
Selecting the Plastic
Choose a thick, clear plastic sheet to create a durable cover that will protect your book from wear and tear. The thickness of plastic is measured in mils, and the standard range is 1-2 mils. However, if you anticipate extreme use of the book, opt for thicker plastic. Rolls of plastic typically come in heights ranging from 9 inches (23 cm) to 16 inches (41 cm). For a standard textbook, cut the plastic to be 14.5 inches (37 cm) by 17 inches (43 cm).
Preparing the Plastic
Lay your book on the plastic and trace its covers and spine to create a large rectangle. Crease the top and bottom one-inch-wide flaps towards the centre of the book. Make sharp creases by pressing firmly. Then, fold and crease the 3-inch sections on each side of the book cover in towards the spine, again pressing firmly to create sharp creases.
Now it's time to secure the plastic with tape. Tape the inside and outside layers of plastic together along the book's top and bottom edges, being careful not to stick the tape to the book itself. You can use almost any type of clear tape for this. Repeat this process for the other cover with the other end of the plastic.
Final Adjustments
After taping, you can make some final adjustments. Fold the plastic around your book, leaving equally-sized flaps hanging off the top, bottom, and right side. Fold the front plastic flap under the front cover, pull it tight, and secure it with a piece of tape. This will prevent the plastic from shifting. Tuck the bottom flap under the back cover, but do not tape it. Flip the book over and fold the back flap of plastic around the back cover, also leaving it untaped. Press down firmly across the creases to create defined folds.
By following these steps for taping the plastic, you will have successfully applied a protective cover to your book.
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Trimming the plastic
First, obtain a heavy-duty plastic sheet protector or a clear plastic sheet with a thickness of 1-10 mils. The thickness will depend on the expected wear and tear, with thicker plastic being more expensive. Rolls of plastic typically come in heights ranging from 9 inches (23 cm) to 16 inches (41 cm), so select a height that fits the book you plan to cover.
Next, lay the book on the plastic and trace its covers and spine, creating a large rectangle. Crease the top and bottom one-inch-wide flaps toward the center of the book and press firmly to create sharp creases. You can use a pencil to trace the spine and create a line as a hinge for the spine to rotate on.
Now, you can trim the plastic. Cut the plastic to size, ensuring it is slightly larger than the book to allow for folding. Cut right up to the edge of the book, being careful not to cut the cover. Long sharp scissors will make this task easier.
After cutting the basic shape, you can refine the edges. Snip off each corner of the plastic cover at an angle. Bring your scissors right up to the corner of the book and cut upwards and inwards to remove a triangular piece of plastic. Repeat this process for all four corners.
Finally, open the book to the back cover and cut off the inner plastic flaps. Cut at a slight downward angle to slice off the inner flaps, starting at the top corner of the book. This will ensure a snug fit for your book cover.
By following these steps, you will have a well-trimmed piece of plastic ready to be folded and secured as a protective book cover.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use a heavy-duty plastic sheet protector or a 1-4 mil sheet of clear plastic. The thicker the plastic, the more durable it will be, but also the more expensive.
You can use contact paper, which sticks to the book like a sticker. Alternatively, you can use non-adhesive plastic wrap, which needs to be taped down.
First, lay your book on the plastic and trace its covers and spine. Cut the plastic to size, leaving enough room to fold it around the book. You can use scissors or a sharp knife, but be careful not to cut yourself or damage the book.
