Dan Shelley's Stereoview Instructions

	Basically, this page will show you the way that I create my Stereoviews. This set of instructions assumes you already have 3.5 inch by 7 inch cards made of Acid Free Matte Board or similar card stock. (Acid Free is a recomendation that will extend the life of your stereoviews.) A local hobby or framing shop can easily make these for you if you do not have appropriate cutting equipment available. One sheet of Matte Board will produce about 40 blank cards.

	STEP 1 - Gather information about the image, or the subject of your image to include on the back of the stereo card. You might consider adding a reference photo(s) if appropriate. I have found the Web to be a very valuable resource for this step.

	STEP 2 - Format and print the pages to be printed for the back of the cards. You can also make a decorated front to put on the face of the card before the picture chips are added. Note that I have added a text strip in the example on this page, but know that I no longer do this as it is mildly distracting. A decorative front is not required of course, but information about the images on the back of the card is valuable documentation for the future. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 3 - Using an archival (acid free) glue stick, completely cover the back of a card with glue. Have a sheet of paper under it to protect the work surface in case you slip off the card. (You can also print directly on to acid free full sheet labels and use them to adhere the information to the cards.) CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 4 - Holding the card and a sheet with the back of the card information on it up to a light, align them by sight and join them. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 5 - Put the card and sheet front face down and make any small adjustments you might like to make before the glue totally sets up.

	STEP 6 - Place a blank sheet of paper over the whole thing so you can use your fingers laid partially flat to smooth the whole thing, eliminating any air pockets, and ensuring a good bond. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 7 - Place the card under a catalog or something else heavy for about 10 minutes to let the glue "set up" while keeping the newly glued paper from causing the card to curl. (You can keep repeating steps 3 to 7 for the rest of the cards at this point.)

	STEP 8 - When all the cards have backs attached, use a pair of good, sharp scissors to trim the paper to the edge of the straight sides of the cards. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 9 - Then use a corner rounder to cut the corner of the paper off along with a bit of the cards to make sure the rounded corners are equal and even. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 10 - Trim the left and right chips/pictures so that they create the desired window. (I usually have a few extra pairs printed to allow me to try a variety of stereo window options, then I choose the one I like best to reproduce on the exchange cards.) CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 11 - Trim all of the left chips to match the left chip from the set with the correct window determined in step 10. Stack these in one pile. (See step 12 for picture.)

	STEP 12 - Trim all of the right chips to match the right chip from the set with the correct window determined in step 10. Stack these in one pile. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 13 - Cutting from the back of the prints to the front, trim the rounded top corners on all the left chips, and stack them again. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 14 - Cutting from the back of the prints to the front, trim the rounded top corners on all the right chips, and stack them again. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 15 - Using pre-made marks on a ruler to deliniate equal spacing just off center, mark matching points in the middle of the fronts of the cards to use as alignment guides. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 16 - Using the glue stick, glue the area where the two chips will be placed. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 17 - Quickly place the left chip essentially where it will stay, then the right chip. Small modifications in positioning can be made at this point as the glue does not "set up" right away. BUT, you don't have A LOT of time, so don't wait to long to move them around. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 18 - Place the view, chips facing up on the table and cover with a sheet of paper. Use your fingers to smooth the whole thing, eliminating any air pockets, and ensuring a good bond. (Don't move the paper once you have placed it down to ensure that glue does not get on to the front of the images.) CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 19 - Place the card under a catalog or something else heavy for about 10 minutes to let the glue "set up" while keeping the newly glued chips from causing the card to curl. (You can keep repeating steps 16 to 19 for the rest of the cards at this point.)

	STEP 20 - Using a piece of paper to protect the chips on the front of the card, glue the area below the prints and place the name strip in place. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 21 - Sign, personalize and sequentially number the cards. (1/30, 2/30, 3/30, ...) CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 22 - Place the views in protective sleeves which can obtained from Light Impressions or other sources. CLICK TO ENLARGE

	STEP 23 - Mail the finished views to the view re-distributor and wait with much anticipation for my package of new views to return and join the rest of my collection. (Click here if you would like to see the finished product constructed in the pictures on this page.)