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How to Re-create a Discontinued Military Shoulder Patch
From a Photo, Drawing or Computer Image For display in a Shadow Box or Frame

This website provides information on how to re-create a cloth or fabric-appearing military shoulder patch of a discontinued unit from a color photocopy or jpg image of the patch.

Materials Needed

    • One sheet, plain photocopy paper

    • One can spray glue (obtained from a crafts, stationery or office supply store)

    • One 10-inch by 12-inch square of white fabric (choose your fabric type)

    • One 6-inch by 6-inch square of cardboard or foamcore that is no more than 1/8th-inch to 3/16th-inch thick

    • a color photocopier (if you are making a patch from a photo or drawing)
      Or,

    • a color printer (if you are making a patch from a jpg, gif, bmp image)

How To Make A Cloth Patch Re-production

    1. cover a 2-foot by 2-foot work table or area with wax paper (sold at supermarkets)

    2. place the sheet of photocopy paper in the center of the wax paper

    3. lightly spray the surface of the photocopy paper with glue

    4. place the fabric onto the photocopy paper, smoothly pressing lightly across its entire surface to ensure bonding and flatness

    5. use scissors to cut around the edges of the photocopy paper to remove the excess fabric

If You are Using a Color Copier
See Below If You will be Using a Color Printer

    1. (You may want to adjust your copier settings to produce a high-density (not darker) photocopy)

    2. Place your patch image or drawing on the glass of the copier

    3. Place your fabric-covered photocopy paper into the paper-tray/drawer or sheet-feeder of the copier

    4. Press the copy button to make a copy of the photo or drawing onto the fabric

If You are Using a Color Printer

    1. (You may want to adjust your printer settings to produce a high-density (not darker) photocopy)

    2. Load your image of the patch using your image software

    3. Place your fabric-covered photocopy paper into the paper-feed slot of the printer

    4. Print the image.

Finishing Up

    1. Use scissors to cut the color patch from the cloth-covered paper... ensuring that you leave a 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch border around the patch

    2. Place your cardboard or foamcore in the center of the wax paper on your work platform; lightly glue-spray the surface of the cardboard or foamcore

    3. Lightly press your patch onto the surface of the cardboard/foamcore

    4. Use scissors to cut closely around the edges of the patch

Your fabric-appearing patch reproduction is now complete and ready for mounting in your Shadow Box or Display Case. (Optional: You can use a crayon or color marker matching the patch to color the cardboard or foamcore edges.)

Contact Person for this Website:

Roger Simpson,
Public Information Office: 13105320634.com
The American War Library: amervets.com
14817-C Chadron Avenue
Gardena CA 90249
Fone/Fax 1-310-355-0455
Email