Acetate or plastic film has different purposes. For example, artists frequently rely on it as a medium for tracing images, while printing companies use it to make positive or negative copies of original artwork. Acetate also often acts as a protective covering for cover artwork and windows in packaging materials.
The material used to produce acetate comes from plant cellulose. Cotton linters are often the source of this cellulose, but other options may include wood or paper pulp.
The production of acetate starts with extracting cellulose from the plant material and dissolving it in an acid solution of acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid before passing this solution through rollers to gradually thin it into a film, which will be dried and cut to any size or shape desired by the manufacturer.
Acetate comes in various thicknesses and colors – from as thin as one mil (0.001 inch) up to ten mil (0.010 inch). Color options include transparent, white, black, and translucent options.
Acetate is an affordable material often chosen by artists and printing companies due to its versatility and cost-effectiveness. Although less durable than other materials, Acetate remains popular with artists and businesses.