Unroll the adhesive plastic and lay the paperback down to measure the amount of clear plastic needed. The plastic should be paper-backing-side up so that measuring marks are clearly visible. Draw around the book edge and lift up the book.
Measure a 1-inch allowance all the way around the book line before cutting the plastic. Place the plastic flat on a table backing side up in preparation for Step 3.
Peel the paper backing from the clear plastic starting in the bottom corner and working your way up. If you try to rush this step, the paper will tear and removing it gets messy. The clear plastic is backing and wrinkle free with the adhesive side up at the end of Step 3.
Lay the front cover of the now closed book onto the plastic in a straight line one inch from the edge of the plastic. You cannot reposition the book after it has met the adhesive surface of the plastic so be careful to be exact with your placement. It doesn't matter if you are a little off as long as there is some plastic sticking out all the way round the edge of the book.
Lift the opposite end of the clear plastic pulling it over the back cover of the book firmly. Again, take your time to ensure now wrinkles appear in the plastic as you cover the book's spine. Do not let the plastic from the opposite covers touch or they will stick.
Cut through the plastic to the edge of the books spine on each of the spine's four corners in straight lines before cutting across the plastic at the top and bottom edge of the spine, removing two small squares of plastic. Remove these two pieces of plastic to prevent the pages sticking together.
Open the book back out, hold the pages in your left hand while you fold the plastic allowance over the edges of the book to the inside of the front and back covers. Repeat this on every side to give a smooth edge look to the cover.