Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with flatten

Flattening Layers In PDF - How?

kartguy — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:57:48 -0800

Do 3rd party PDF print drivers flatten layers? When printing a PDF from within Photoshop or Illustrator, do 3rd party PDF engines (PDFCreator or CutePDF or other) automatically flatten all the layers? If not, is there a setting in either 3rd party driver to do so?

How can I smooth out creases in a canvas print?

jma — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:38:33 -0800

How can I smooth out creases in a canvas print? My parents found a canvas print in my grandmother's attic. It had to have been up there, rolled up, for a good 20 years or more.

The canvas (at least I think it's canvas, based on the weave and feel of it) is still in good shape, except a little dry. It hasn't cracked or anything anywhere. With it having been rolled up for so long, there are horizontal creases ever few inches. I tried just putting heavy books on it, first the back, then the front, each for a couple of days, but that didn't do much for it.

How can I get rid of those creases?

How can I straighten/flatten a large slice of burled redwood?

sub-culture — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:53:02 -0800

At a flea market a while back I bought a pretty big (about 2'x4'x1.5") slice of burled redwood with the bark still attached. I'd like to turn this into a coffee table top, but it's warped. How do I straighten it? Problem is, when I bought the piece it had been varnished on one side and left unfinished on the other. As a result, the entire piece is warped. So far I've used varnish remover to remove most of the varnish on the finished side. The bark is a bit torn up so I plan to saw the bark off and round the edges. Should I cut the bark off before flattening it? And what's the best method for flattening it?

I asked someone at a lumber yard and he recommended putting it outside in the sun for a day or so with a heavy object on top to do the major work and then sand it. Since it's winter, this option isn't gonna work. Is there any other method I can use on my own? At my disposal are a hand sander, jig saw and hand tools. Thanks!

How to flatten old diplomas?

thinman — Sat, 26 May 2007 20:33:32 -0800

How do I safely flatten old diplomas? I have two diplomas from 1927 and 1931 that I'd like to frame. They were rolled up in a box with other items for many decades. They are a little squished (but not creased), and they want to retain their rolled up squishedness. Both are printed on a heavyish material with a plasticy feel and a slight sheen; I don't know if it is imitation vellum, or actual animal skin. The documents are from the Mary Institute at Washington University at St. Louis (1927) and Mt. Holyoke (1931) if that helps.

How do I flatten a print that's been somewhat kinked?

LongDrive — Mon, 24 Jan 2005 19:19:58 -0800

[FlattenFilter] Help! Expensive print damaged in shipping. Any way to flatten out kinks? (more inside) I ordered a limited edition print from an online vendor, and it arrived in less than perfect condition, ie, someone was heavy handed while rolling it, and it has crinkled in certain spots. In the nature of getting this to someone as a gift, I really dont have time to get an exchange or refund, but would just like to get it to a more acceptable flatness. Hot or Cold Presses? Ironing? Anything? Thanks in advance!