Lifting Paw Prints - Any Ideas?
 

So, my late and beloved cat Illuminati left behind a set of perfect, tiny paw prints, by walking across a flat metal plate (a support for a triangular lamp stand) that had lots of dust on it. I can't bring myself to dust the lamp base. The prints are just so darn kawaii. So, does anyone have any thoughts on how I might either get a good lift of the prints, or somehow seal things just as they are? (I guess a photograph of the plate is called for.) Silly, I know, but ...

I don't know if this is a good method, but I believe some wide tape would lift them off intact.

I know how you feel, it's not silly at all.

Of course the photo would be the first thing, in case anything messes it up. I can't think of a good way to "seal" it, but the 2" wide clear tape is a good idea. Then put the tape on a piece of dark board to put into a scrap book. The photo would be great in a photo book about the kitties life (like from Snapfish).

The other thing that comes to mind is that to set chalck drawings we used hairpray. I'm not sure how that would work for you, though.

Good luck!

{{{{hugs}}}}}

Do you need the plate? Perhaps you could mount it behind glass somehow, with a light angled to show off the dust?

would hair spray affix the dust? I'd experiment first.

Id treat them like fingerprints. wide tape (after extensive photo's are taken) might be the best method. spray adhesives are iffy at best, as they can disturb and distort the print upon application or cover the dust entirely, making them invisible.

one of the more advanced methods Ive seen involves superglue on a slowly heated (low heat) surface (like a reptile warming stone). the glue smoke atomizes to some extent and will adhere to the dust particals, securing them in place. it would have to be done inside a sealed container like an aquarium or the like, but it does work.

I dig using wide tape, but then what do you do with the tape?

Perhaps something like this:

Probably stick it in one of those picture frame Christmas ornaments. Or a frame matted especially for stamp collectors?

or put the tape on a piece of dark board to put into a scrap book.