welcome to image transfer 101!
you can read about image transfer until you are blue in the face and still have trouble making it work in your projects. i believe that when it comes to educating yourself on image transfer techniques, visual learning can teach you more in 60 seconds than an entire book of instruction.
thanks for watching. comments and feedback are appreciated!
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* ICONOLOGY: A collection of mixed media beauties | An artful coffee table book of Christina Lazar-Schuler's mixed media portrait collages from 2007 and early 2008. Limited reproduction.
Art of Transference - Master Class | A Master Class Manual on Image Transfer techniques including toner, inkjet and Polaroid image transfers in combination with acrylic mediums, water and alcohol. Lots of techniques [10 in all!] and lots of how-to photos to accompany the print. Gallery of projects and types of image transfer at the end of each chapter.
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#1 by Karen Crissy - April 2nd, 2009 at 15:46
I loved your tutorials. They very easy to understand. Thank you for the great tips on transfering images.
#2 by Fonda Darter - April 7th, 2009 at 20:08
Love these tutorials. I have had very little success doing this method with paper, I will be trying this transparency method. Thanks!!!
#3 by Darcy - April 15th, 2009 at 19:47
Hi there,
I’ve watched this tutorial numerous times and just tried the project tonight. It didn’t work though:( I’m not sure if I used to right products, I bought transparency for copiers, and had my photos copied at the drugstore onto it. I also bought Golden Mediums Matte Medium. Can you help??
#4 by admin - April 17th, 2009 at 08:35
The reason is probably because you used COPIED prints from Staples. Usually copy-shops like Staples, Kinkos, etc provide copies on either laser or toner based machines. This technique is specifically geared towards INKJET prints.
The main principle behind the technique is that we are REHYDRATING the dried liquid ink with matte medium and forcing it off the transparency to another unprintable surface like a stretched canvas. Dry toner based prints will not work in this method and require a different type of treatment.
Hope that helps!
#5 by Lorinda - May 18th, 2009 at 07:17
LOVED your TUTORIAL above:)I used another transfer sheet and medium first with okay results on muslin. Then I bought the Apollo sheets and the Kroma Medium and WHAT a DIFFERENCE! (I have not transfered onto canvas yet!) Had I not saw your video I wouldn’t have known any better…for in your video, the ink comes off your transparency completly! Mine leaves a layer on. I use an HP printer at home, inkjet.. Even if I don’t reach your level, I will continue to enjoy making art with these methods… Thank you for being such an amazing role model and teacher:)
#6 by admin - May 18th, 2009 at 11:30
You are so welcome! I’m glad that this tutorial was able to help. If you are really keen on learning more about image transfer, consider signing up for my 6 week, self-directed online course. You’ll learn 8 ways to transfer using a variety of mediums and substrates. Click here for more information.
~ Christina
#7 by Renee - July 5th, 2009 at 07:44
OH my…more stuff to do
#8 by Wen - July 18th, 2009 at 05:11
Very clear and concise- I will definitely try this on fabric. Can any transparency work – or do you just prefer Apollo?
#9 by Marcia - July 18th, 2009 at 06:47
This is great! I am anxious to try this. Now I wonder if there is anything more to be done other than letting the image dry thoroughly before using in a projecy. Also, I wonder about archival quality. asking because I have a few watercolors I would like to make copies of to share with family.
#10 by Susan Walen - July 18th, 2009 at 07:51
excellent tutorials! Now, having NEVER done any of this before, I have to ask a beginner’s question: How do you make the photos onto the Appolo? Is it just–for example, a download printed onto the appolo by your inkjet printer? Or is it something more precise?
Thanks, ‘Teach.
Sue
#11 by admin - July 18th, 2009 at 08:53
Photos are PRINTED with an inkjet printer like an Epson Durabrite ink printer or similar pigment based ink printer onto the transparency. Then you can begin transferring your images.
#12 by admin - July 18th, 2009 at 08:55
Simply let it dry and use in any projects you want. Gel and acrylic mediums by Golden and Kroma are archival and safe for your projects. They will not yellow or fade like other adhesives and are designed for fine art usage.
#13 by admin - July 18th, 2009 at 08:56
I prefer Apollo because I have tried a large variety of other transparencies and Apollo consistently produces excellent transfers – once you get the hang of applying the acrylic medium and how much medium you need to use.
#14 by Bonnie - July 19th, 2009 at 08:07
As an acrylic painter in Canada I am very interested in trying Kroma paints. Thank you for promoting them. I have done transfers with photocopies and from my own Epson printer (pigment based) successfully, but have had no luck with transparencies. Where do you get Apollo transparency paper in Canada? I live in rural NS and have had no luck finding them in a store.
Thanks Bonnie
#15 by Donna Johnson - August 23rd, 2009 at 10:10
I have been sporadically reading an inkjet transfer list where I found the link to your tutorials. You made the process so clear and understandable.
I have a question: I usually print (with my inkjet printer) on cotton or silk sheets that are sold on a stabilizer paper. Then I peel off the fabric and applique or fuse the printed fabric down. If you have knowledge of what I am talking about, how would you compare the two processes? The lazy part of me likes the idea of printing on the prepared sheets, but are the results as good as the medium/transparency process?
#16 by admin - August 23rd, 2009 at 10:23
The biggest difference between the two is that the inkjet printed fabric gives a the printed image on fabric a look that can sometimes be a little blurred [depending on the weave/type of the fabric] because the ink sinks in and bleeds through the fibers.
With an inkjet transfer the ink doesn’t blur because the polymer film of the medium sits on top of the fabric and acts as a film barrier over the fabric fibers. The film then accurately transfers the colour and image without blurring and bleeding. The downside of the transfer is that depending on how good you are at transferring images [and this does take some practice] the image may sometimes transfer incompletely, with the image looking ‘distressed’. I personally prefer that end distressed and more ‘artistic’ result. Truth be told, I always recommend that if you want a ‘prefect’ image transfer, don’t transfer – use an un-transferred print of the image and applique that to your project instead.
Make sense?
#17 by Donna Johnson - November 28th, 2009 at 09:04
Where do you buy the Apollo transparency film? I have been unable to find it locally. When I look online I find “quick dry” and “multi-purpose” but I don’t think you used either of those.
Thank you,
Donna