For a good many years . . . going back to the early '70s anyway, crafters have been enamored with taking a picture and transferring it to a surface other that what it is printed on. I certainly did my share of this. I transferred pictures from newspapers, magazines, books . . . even baseball cards and put them onto glass and wood and canvas and stones . . . a lot of stones.
The process involved using polymer medium by Liquitex (I think they call it acrylic medium now) and brushing it onto the surface of the picture (figure A). After it dried (about 30 minutes) you would apply another coat of the medium brushing in the opposite direction. This process was repeated until about five or six coats had been applied. The picture was then allowed to dry thoroughly. . . usually overnight . . . and then placed in a pan of room temperature water where it soaked for anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours (figure B). It usually depended on the kind of paper it was printed on. Then it was removed from the water, you would rub the paper on the back until it was completely removed and you were left with what was, in essence, a transparency. It was like a color slide except that it was flexible. This was then applied to another surface using the polymer as an adhesive.
We didn't use photographs then because we didn't have color copy machines and original photographs didn't work; the polymer did not adhere to the glossy surface and the paper it was printed on was impervious to water. There were a number of commercial products on the market but they all worked the same way. The only difference was that they were more expensive than just using the polymer. Some of you may remember that I actually did this on The Carol Duvall Show (Photo Stones from episode #566) at one time. The polymer (acrylic) medium is still in the art supply stores.
That phase passed and then along in probably the '80s came a product called Picture This. It worked basically the same way. It might still be around.
Then color transfers appeared on the scene. Since color copy machines were on practically every corner, photographs became the favorite item to transfer. Here a special paper was used. The color copy machine would print the picture onto the transfer paper and it could be ironed transferring the image to another surface . . . usually fabric. This method of transferring pictures is still a popular one and transfer papers can usually be found in art supply stores, craft stores and office supply stores.
And now we have two more products for transferring pictures from paper to another surface. The first is one that was introduced at the last HIA and is called Transfers Unlimited. This comes in a "kit" which includes a brush and a bottle of what they refer to as "goop". It is what you brush on the surface of the image. The item is now heated in a 350 degree oven for about two minutes or heated with a heat gun. When the surface turns glossy place the item in water for about ten minutes then, as with the projects we did in the '70s, peel off the paper and you are left with an image that can be transferred to almost any surface including fabric. I found the directions left something to be desired. I needed more details.
The most fascinating was a product called Lazertran. Here again, a special transfer paper is supplied. This you take to your copy place and request that they print your picture on the paper. I had two places turn me down before a third was most willing to do it. In the first case the clerk said their insurance policy did not allow them to print on any surface other that the paper they supplied. The second place said the transfer paper was too glossy and it would not work. At the third place there was no problem and the reproduction came out perfectly. One thing you must remember is the picture does NOT need to be reversed as it does with iron on transfers. Have it copied as you have any picture copied.
When you are ready to make the transfer cut the picture to the exact specifications you want. In most of the other cases you cut the transfer. In this case you cut it first. Place the image in water for 30 seconds. I had success in less than five seconds but it is best to follow directions. Place the image on the surface to which it is to be transferred then slide the backing out (figure C). It happens that fast and that smoothly. There are, however, different directions for every different surface. I practiced on a non-porous tile which is probably the easiest there is. The natural adhesive on the back is sufficient to adhere the picture to the new backing however it is important follow the directions to then heat the item in an oven for a few minutes. If you do not, the picture will flake off. I found it to be a most fascinating product but again, the directions left something to be desired. Perhaps the fact that they have been translated from Belgium has something to do with it.
And after all this experimenting with new products I tried something that is not totally practical in that the finished item is not flexible enough to go on any curved surface but just for fun you can take a piece of clear Contact or a laminating sheet and place it over a picture . . . magazine, greeting card or color copy . . . soak it in room temperature water for awhile (again, length of time depends on the paper) and peel off the back. You will have a transfer. Then put it on something!
Resources Liquitex paint, mediums
Liquitex
Website:
www.liquitex.com
Lazertran - specialty transfer paper
Lazertran
New Hyde Park, NY
Toll Free Phone: 800-245-7547
E-mail:
lazertran@msn.com
Website:
www.lazertran.com
Picture This Transfer medium
Transferring medium for applying photos to fabric.
Plaid Enterprises Inc.
Website:
www.plaidonline.com
Transfers Unlimited
Artisan's Choice
Phone: 877-727-8472
Email:
artisanschoice@aol.com
URL:
www.artisanschoice.com
Also in this Episode
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