Here’s a collection of posts that focus on the nuts and bolts of art journaling: supplies, techniques, processes, and tutorials too.
22 Easy Image Transfer Methods (Photo Transfers)
This is a comprehensive post about Image Transfer Methods and Photo Transfer Techniques! Some of these can be done with Inkjet Printers, some with Laser Printers and some only work with old fashioned toner from a photocopier or copy machines. We covered so many different ways to create this nearly magical process, and we’ve covered all sorts of surfaces, like Furniture, Fabric, Paper, Clay, Wood, Glass and more. While we mainly use graphics for these projects, as we are a graphics site, many of these methods will work with photos too. Time and time again, the question that I get asked most frequently by my readers, is “How can I transfer your images on to _____”. There are numerous Transfer Methods on this blog, and this post attempts to consolidate it all in one place so that you can easily find the method that you want to use for your particular project. Below you will find links to 23 different ways to Transfer onto pretty much any type of material. We are always trying out new products and new techniques on this site, so I have updated this post to include the new ones. I hope you find it helpful!
How to Transfer Onto Furniture
How to Transfer Typography onto Furniture : This is a two part written Tutorial showing how to blow up your image really big, using a free program, and an easy cheap transfer method, so that you can paint your image on large or small pieces of Furniture, Walls or Signs. Great for painted wood pieces or natural wood.
How to Transfer an Image onto Furniture Video Instructions : This is the Video version of the original Furniture Transfer Tutorial that I created several years ago. My friend Candice is great on Video and she kindly put this Tutorial together! The Video will show you instructions for how to blow up your image really big, using a free program, and an easy cheap transfer method, so that you can paint your image on large or small pieces of Furniture, Walls or Signs. Great for painted wood pieces or natural wood. Works best with simple designs like many of theFrench Typography Printables that I offer here on my blog.
Transferring onto Fabric
The Citra Solv Method : This method uses a cleaning product called Citra Solv. This one works well with Fabric projects, like Towels, Pillows, Chair Seats and Lampshades. This method will give you a slightly faded, slightly imperfect, transfer for an old world look.
The Iron On Method: In this Tutorial I show you how to do an Iron on Transfer, using my favorite Transfer Paper. I consider this brand to be the “Holy Grail” of Transfer Papers, as it completely blows away the other stuff out there. If you’ve tried doing Iron Ons in the past, with crappy results, you will love this stuff! Great for any Fabric Projects. Great for Image transfers or Photo transfers.
Printable Fabric Sheets Learn how to use precut Printable Fabric Sheets that are made specifically to be used in your Home Ink jet Printer. (Printable Canvas Sheets are another alternative) Fun and easy!
Printing on Fabric: This technique shows you how to cut out the middle man, and print directly onto fabric, with your home printer! For those of you that sew (or don’t mind gluing your projects) this is a really fun method!
The Iron On Method: In this Tutorial I show you how to do an Iron on Transfer, using my favorite Transfer Paper. I consider this brand to be the “Holy Grail” of Transfer Papers, as it completely blows away the other stuff out there. If you’ve tried doing Iron Ons in the past, with crappy results, you will love this stuff! Great for any Fabric Projects.
Denise J Herman
Have you tried image transfers in your art journal?
An image transfer is basically a process of lifting the toner of a printed image—the ink—and applying it to another surface. The image itself gets transferred—but it’s usually a more transparent image than the original, which makes for great layering.
You’ll find tutorials all over the internet for different methods to make an image transfer—but it’s difficult to know which process is “best”. As it turns out, it depends on what kind of image you want to transfer and for what effect. Below you’ll find instructions for seven different ways to make an image transfer using: gel mediums, solvents, acrylic gesso or paint, packing tape, acrylic skins, or specialty printer papers.
First, what you need to know: surface and image
Understand your surface
You can do an image transfer on all kinds of surfaces (depending on the transfer method), including wood, canvas, fabric, glass—and paper, such as an art journal page. However, each surface takes a transfer differently, and some mediums do not work with some surfaces. I am focusing on transfers that work well in art journals, here.
Also, many (but not all) transfer methods use wet mediums to make the transfer, so make sure any layer below the transfer will not activate with water (such as a layer of dried acrylic paint, gesso or matte medium (or mod podge).
You should definitely experiment with surfaces and image transfers—and actually, that is part of the fun.
The type of image matters
Generally, copies of images from laser printers/toner copiers make for the best image transfers. With the right method—as you’ll see below—you can also transfer images cut directly from magazines or newspapers OR printouts from inkjet printers, but you have to use the right image transfer method for that type of image.
Some things you should know about images:
- Ironically, we often hear image transfers called “photo transfers”, but photographs can not be transferred directly. They need to be copied first.
- Usually, color or black and white images both work. Either way and really, no matter what method, the key is to find images with high contrast.
- Finally, many methods (but not all of them) reverse your image. Thatmay be okay, but if not (such as with words) you should reverse print/copy your image backwards first.
Seven Transfer Methods by Image Type
Like I said, it’s important to know which methods work for different types of images. That’s why I’ve sorted these seven different transfer methods by image type. Click on these links to go directly to particular image type (or just scroll through this post for all seven methods):
Learn how to transfer toner images using three different transfer methods: gel medium, solvents or gesso/acrylic paint.
By the way, when we say “laser/printer/toner copier” images, we are talking about laser printers or copy machines that use toner, such as those found at the “FedEx Office, Print and Ship Center. (Why they didn’t keep the simple, catchy name Kinko’s, I’ll never know.) Both use the same toner. The important thing to remember is that when a transfer method requires “toner” images, do not use your inkjet printer. You’ll have to use a method that will transfer inkjet images (see below).
Glossy Magazine Images
Learn how to transfer magazine images with two transfer methods: packing tape or gel medium.
Inkjet Printer Images
If you want to make a transfer with an image printed on your inkjet printer, these two transfer methods will work: acylic skins or specialty printer papers.
Seeing (through) You: Collaging with Image Transfers
Explore your identity and create a collage that is as unique as you! Cut and collect images from magazines that represent your identity and use an image transfer technique to create a collage with see-through images.
This activity was facilitated as a virtual workshop during the June 2020 virtual Play Date: Creating for Care.
- Old magazines: Glossy magazine images work best (paper printouts or newspapers will not work with this technique).
- Clear packing tape
- Scissors
- A bowl of water or spray bottle filled with water
- (Optional) A piece of paper or other surface to be your background for your collage
- (Optional) glue stick or tape
- (Optional) Extra 2D collage materials
- (Optional) Coloring/drawing tools
- An art making space that can get a little wet (have a towel handy!)
1. Cut and collect images from magazines that represent you. Think about your culture, heritage, family, friends, community, personality, hobbies – All the things that make up who you are. Find and cut out images from magazines that represent these things.
2. Cover your image side with packing tape. Make sure your tape is sticking to the side with the image.
3. Once your image is covered, soak it in the bowl of water or spray the paper side with water. Repeat with all your images.
4. Peel/rub the paper off of your images. Play around with the soak times. The longer you leave your images in the water, the easier it will be to peel the paper off. Soaking for a shorter period of time will leave more of the paper on your image.
5. Once you have all your image transfers and they’ve dried, use them to create a collage. The transparency of the images let you play around with layering. You can collage just with your image transfers, on top of another piece of paper, or even on your window. You can also pair them with photographs, other magazine images, or drawings.
