How would I do this to a guitar?

This is really interesting - I've never seen this done before.

You didn't specify electric or acoustic, or where on the instrument you were planning to add the photo. Just a glance through a rock or guitar magazine will tell you that it's much easier to do on a solid piece of wood, rather than an acoustic.

The trick is to do this without harming the playability of the guitar, of course. I'm assuming that you want it on the front of the body, i.e. so it's in view when you play. Any solution that involves 'superglue' or 'sealant' and the actual photo is NOT going to last, or even look good.

Here are my suggestions (without more details, I'll just assume it's a pix of Mick Jones of The Clash, and it's a 5R glossy : )

OPTION 1: MORE PERMANENT, BUT MORE EXPENSIVE:

Get the entire guitar refinished so that the new surface IS the photo.

How?

a. Get the image scanned at very high resolution. OK, you now have a 'soft copy' that can be worked on in a computer and then output to a new medium. A graphic guy is going to have to very accurately measure the instrument and the image. (You don't want the pick-ups running through Mick's eye, for example!)

He needs to choose the most workable layout and prepare the image. He can also change colours for you - even convert the whole lot to black and white.

b. Get a professional printer to 'output' it to a durable sythetic surface. Can it be done? Yes, there are a wide variety of choices. Look around you, e.g. at a bag of crisps from your supermarket, at plastic signage, etc - the technology does exist.

I can get it done here, but I suspect I'm about half a globe away from you! Ask around, use the Net & Yellow Pages.

c. The image needs to be transferred to the guitar. A process called 'dry-mounting' may work; it's used in art and forms an unbreakable bond. You will need perfect flatness and perfect moulding.

d. Now a coat of sealant is applied, to protect it from scratches.

Note: This of course, means completely stripping down your guitar then putting it back together again.

OPTION 2: If you like the wood and look of your guitar already, consider customising just the PICK-GUARD. But many of the steps above will still apply. Basically, you are now just trapping the image within the exact shape of the pick-guard. Look for references on the net or in mags.

Finally, and seriously, anything that involves bonding photo paper to the wood of a working, sweating, warping instrument ain't gonna be a long-term solution. The paper will degenerate / discolour over time. If it's a weekend gig, sure, just glue or tape will do (it won't look too elegant, though). If you love the photo a lot, then go for a more permanent way of doing it.

PS - Just saw your note - good, if it's electric, then you should be OK. An acoustic would have been really hard to modify without ruining the instrument!

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You would need to cover the picture (and guitar) with several coats of polyurethane, but it would probably dampen the acoustic sound and ruin the guitar.

to do it properly, you would scuff the original finish with sandpaper. Then spay a fresh coast of urethane (clear), place your pic there and let it get tacky. then spray another coat over the pic, about three or four coats should do it....

But be warned it may affect the sound of the instrument......

I think you can laminate the picture with the guitar, lovely thing!

If you really like the guitar, I wouldn't do it myself. I would let a professional do it.

man shutup

glue or tape should work