ImageTransferTechniques

Thefollowingnotesexplaindifferenttechniques for transferring images on paper to another surface,usingacrylicmediums.

Imagetransferscanbeverysuccessfulasthe TurpentineMethod focal image and at other times just to add some atmosphere to an art work. An image To transfer a transfer is, to put it simply, the act of photocopy image transferring an image from one source to another. Depending upon what material you onto fabric, place want to transfer onto will depend on what the image face typeoftransfermethodyouwanttouse.The down on the fabric appealing thing about transfers as opposed to just taking the image itself and gluing it and rub the back of down, is the transparent effects you can get the photocopy with fromtransfersallowingyoutolayerimages aturpssoakedrag. or let the surface design show through e.g. suchasapatternedfabricorwoodgrain.The finaloutcomecanlookasifithasbeenthere forever or was printed or painted on as opposed to just glued. Depending on the method,sometransferscreatealovelyagedanddistressedimageduetothenatural imperfectionofthetechnique. Acrylicmediumscanbeusedasexcellenttransferagents.Byusinganimagethatis printedoncoatedpaper,i.e.glossypapersuchasmagazineorcolourphotocopy, thatimagecanbetransferredtoanysurfacethatwillbondtoacrylicmedium.This includescloth,paper,andpanels.Theimageisgluedfacedownontothesubstrate andallowedtocompletelydry.Oncedry,thepaperthattheimagewasprintedon canberemovedbyusingwaterasasolvent.Throughsoakingandgentlerubbingthe papercoatingandtheink(theimage)thatwasprinteduponitwilltransfertothe substrate.Thiscanalsobedonemultipletimestolayerimages.Successfultransferis determinedbyafewfactors.Smoothnessofsurfaceandcompatibilityofmaterials areimportantconsiderationssoprecoatingandsandingisagoodpreparation. Speedofprocessandcompletenessofbondwillaffecttransfer.Quicklyand completelyrollingorrubbingdowntheimagewillinsuregoodcontactandgood transfer.

AcrylicTransferontoPaper,WoodorFabric
Nearly any gel, medium or acrylic paint will lift an image. Gel gloss and matte mediumaresuitable.Imagesprintedfromalaserprinter,tonerbasedphotocopyor ink jet printouts either on paper or transparencies work for this method. This methodisgoodforpaper,wood,orfabric.

Remembertomirrortheimageinthecopymachineoryourprinterifthereistextor itwillcomeoutbackwards. Foracrylictransfers,taketheimageyouwanttotransferandlayitimagesideupon a piece of wax paper to keep it from sticking to the table. Apply a healthy coat of medium to the image you want to transfer. Note: If you are using an inkjet transparencyasopposedtoapaperprintout,applythemediumtothesurface you wanttotransfertoinsteadofapplyingtothetransparency. Remembertoonlyapplyittoonesideofthepaperthesidewithyourimage.Begin smoothing the medium out across your image. Make sure to not leave any blobs. Youcanuseabrushifyouwouldlike(oryourfingers,asitiseasiertogetafeelfor howmuchmediumisonthepaper).Ittakespractisetoworkouttherightamountof medium.Basically,youdontwantittoothinbutyoualsodonotwantittobetoo thick. Onceyouhavecoatedtheentireimagecarefullylayitdownonthesurfaceyouwant totransferto.Smoothitoutwithyourhand.Andholdingitdownabitatleastuntil itadheres,begintoburnishitacrossthebackstartingfromthemiddle.Usecircular motions and just work your way to the edges. You want to press down with a fair amountofpressurebutnotsomuchthatyoudistresstheimageunderneath.Also, you dont want the image to move this can happen if you have too much wet medium.Atthispointsetthepieceasidetodryforafewhoursorovernight.Youcan speed this up with a blow dryer or heat gun. However, if you are using ink jet transparencies its not necessary to wait for the piece to dry. With an ink jet transparency,afteraboutaminuteorsoofburnishingpullupacornerandpeakto seeiftheimageistransferringwell.Burnishmoreifitisnotfullytransferredandlift off the transparency if it is. The transfer is complete if you used an inkjet transparency. If however, you have used a paper printout then go onto the next step. Whenyouuseapaperprintoutsetitoutforafewhoursorovernighttoletitdry. Whenitisdrytakeawetbutnotdrippingwashclothandlayitacrossthebackofthe paperthatyouaretransferringfromandletitsitforaminute.Slowlyandlightly beginpressingthewashclotharoundthepaperuntilbecomesmoretransparentand youcanseetheimageunderneath.Startinginthemiddleofthepapertakeyour fingersandslowlyrubthebackuntilthepaperstartstocomeup.Workingslowly andoccasionallyapplyingmorewaterwhenneeded,rubtheentirebackuntil anotherlargelayerofpaperisgone.Atthispointastheimagedriesthereareusually somebitsofpaperleftleavingasortofwhitehaze.Leavethisfor1020minutes, lettingthenewlysurfacedimagedryoutagain.Thenstartthisprocessofwetting andrubbingoveragainuntilyouhaveremovedallthepaperbitstheimageiscrisp andclear.

Image Transfer onto Canvas Panel or Cardboard Using Modelling Compound

Materials:Canvaspanelorcardboard,photocopiedpictureofwhateveryoudesire, modellingcompoundorgesso,brushorpaletteknife
1. Apply modelling compound to your canvas panel or cardboard painting. Place the photocopyfacedown. 2. Letitdry. 3. Lightly wet the back of the photocopy with warm water. Water must be warm in ordertobesuccessful. 4. Rubpaperfromthecanvaspanel/cardboard.

ImageTransfertoStretchedCanvasusingGesso
Materials:Gesso,Stretchedcanvas,SpongeBrush,IceblockStickorSpatula,Laseror TonerCopyofImage,Water.

1. Makesureyouhavealaserortonercopyofyourimage.Animagewithhigh contrastisgood.Rememberthatyourimagewilltransferthemirrorimage. 2. Paintanicelayerofgessooverthestretchedcanvasgoingfirstinonedirectionand thenintheoppositedirection. 3. Paintalayeroveryourpaperimage,againinanicelayercoveringthecomplete picturewiththegesso. 4. Placethepaintedimageontopofthewetgessopaintedcanvas.Becarefultonotlet thepaperslideoverthesurface;startsmoothingthewholethingout. 5. Useaniceblocksticktokeepsmoothingthepaperdown.Somegessowillsqueeze outthesideswipethisaway.Itisimportanttoreallyrubdowntheimageintothe surfaceofthecanvas. 6. Onceyouhaveitallrubbeddownwell,youcanletitsitovernightoryoucangently useyourhairdrieranddrythewholething.Youwillwanttomakesurethepaintis completelydry. 7. Onceeverythingisdrypeeloffthepaper.Itisstrangesinceonlytheverytoplayer ofpaperwillpeeloff,leavingtheimageandthetoplayerofpaper. 8. Nowusingyourfingerdippedinwateryouwillrubofftheremainingpaper.Some smallpieceswillbeleft,sojustgetitasbestasyoucan. 9. Coatthewholethingingelmediumoranacrylicsealertosealitwhentheartworkis finished.

InformationSuppliedby:
PictureFramers&ArtSupplies 11aCroucherSt,Richmond Ph/Fax035445756 impressions@actrix.co.nz www.impressionsnelson.co.nz