I frequently get asked about the brown paper on the backside of the templates. Why is it there? Should I leave it on? Should I peel it off? If so, how do I get it off?


A template starts out as a large sheet of acrylic which has brown paper on both sides of it. The acrylic sheet has to go through a machine which cuts out the shape of each template. The brown paper is needed as part of the manufacturing process.


After the shapes are cut, one side of the paper is peeled off (by hand) and then the logo or other markings can be applied.


The paper is left on the other side of the template because


1. It is cheaper to not have both sides peeled off.


2. I like having the paper on one side of my templates because it keeps them from sliding too much on my fabric.


You can decide to leave the paper on your templates or remove it. Removing it has its advantages in that it allows you to see through the template to the fabric if you want to fussy cut or you just like being able to see through it.


Removing the paper is as simple as just peeling it off. Don’t try using any liquids to remove the paper. The paper peels off, usually in one easy piece and does not leave a residue.


If you want to remove the paper, here is how.




Backside of template showing the paper.






Use your fingernail to pick at a corner of the template to get an edge started. Your fingernails don’t have to be very long to do this.

See the tiny edge that I got started. This took just seconds to get that little lip up.

Once that little edge is started I can begin to pull it back.





Keep pulling the paper back. You can see that once you get started it pulls very easily. This is not like those sticky tags that you find to things that leaves a residue.





Keep peeling back, don’t go too quickly.

Here is my template with the paper peeled completely off. See that was easy.