Diamond Painting Release Paper

The cover sheet that comes with a diamond painting kit is thin. After a few sessions of peeling it back and laying it down again, it creases, tears at the edges, or starts lifting drills off the canvas with it. These are replacement sheets for that moment.

Why kit release paper gives out halfway through a canvas

Kit paper is made to last one canvas if nothing goes wrong. Every time you lift it, the edge flexes. Humidity makes it curl. Once it creases, it stops lying flat, and a sheet that doesn't lie flat pulls at the drills you already placed.

The fix is a sheet you can replace whenever you want, instead of nursing the original through to the last section.

What size do you need?

Each sheet is 8.5 x 14 inches, legal size. That covers more of the canvas than a letter-size sheet. Most people only uncover one section at a time, so one sheet goes a long way. For a large canvas, overlap two sheets, or cut one down with scissors to fit the section you're working.

Can you use parchment paper instead?

In a pinch, yes. Baking parchment is made for food, not for sitting on a sticky canvas for weeks, so it tends to curl and shift. A release sheet is made for exactly this job. If you want the long version, here's how release paper, FEP and parchment compare.

Storing a canvas between sessions

• Rolled: lay a sheet over the finished area, then roll the canvas loosely, drill side out, around a cardboard tube or pool noodle.
• Flat: cover the work area with a sheet and store the canvas flat in a drawer or under the bed. Quicker to set up, takes more space.

Step by step instructions: how to use release paper on a diamond painting.