Easy Image Transfers

I have been fascinated by image transfers for a very long time. They allow for the most beautiful layering, providing a ghost-like image on the surface with any number of interesting patterns, texts, or designs showing through from beneath.

{recent journal page using two image transfers}

I read about them for at least a year before trying one, daunted by such “specialized” tools as toner-based photocopy machines, heating tools, blender pens, and water slide decal paper.

One of the earliest methods I tried used clear packing tape, and while it was super-simple, I felt really limited by the narrowness of the tape, and I wasn’t a fan of a vintage-looking transferred image with a high-gloss surface.

And then I discovered clear contact paper.

The image transfer technique I am describing here is probably covered in any book that talks about image transfer, so it is definitely not something I came up with. But I’ll share how I do it, because I think it is so incredibly fast and easy, and has surprisingly good results.

To make an image transfer with clear contact paper, choose whatever images you want to transfer. I have always used pictures from magazines and catalogs.

You will also need clear contact paper (which can be found at your local Target or Target-like store, where they sell shelf paper), scissors, and a bone folder (though really you can just use the handle end of your scissors in place of this tool).

{My husband asked me incredulously, "What are you taking a picture of???"}

All you have to do is take the backing off the contact paper, and place the pictures you want to transfer face-down onto the adhesive side of the contact paper. You use the bone folder (or scissor handles) to rub, rub, rub (also called “burnishing”) against the back of the picture. I probably rub more than is strictly necessary, but I like my results, so I stick with it.

{Notice that these are the BACKS of the images I want to transfer.}

Then you drop the pictures (now attached to the sticky contact paper) into a dish pan of water. (I cut each image apart, just so it fits in the pan better.)  I just turn on the faucet and pour it in, without any concern for temperature.

{I usually put in three or four to soak at a time.}

Let the pictures sit for a couple of minutes. Seriously, I am an impatient crafter; I’ve let them sit for maybe one or two minutes, and it has been enough to make a great transfer.

After a couple of minutes, take a picture out and rub your finger against the paper side, peeling away at the layers of paper.

The image has adhered to the sticky side of the contact paper; you’re just trying to remove all the remaining paper pulp.

Don’t get impatient and use your fingernail, or the image will scratch away too (unless, of course, you are going for some sort of scratched effect for your transfer!).  Sometimes I hold them under a running faucet to take the paper off.

Then you just lay them out to dry on wax paper.

You can see some white areas on these transfers; those are places where a little more paper pulp remains. I just run them under the faucet and rub a little bit more. Oftentimes, it’s so little that you will find that it doesn’t take away from the “look” of your transfer once you layer it onto your work.

I just did these transfers about 30 minutes before writing this post, so I haven’t used them in any work yet. But I’ve put them on top of some different papers—text, graph, decorative—so you can get an idea of the effect.

To do a single image transfer takes ten minutes at the most. To me, the impatient creator, this is far preferable to techniques that require, say, multiple coats of gel medium with time to dry between each layer. Tedious!

The only “specialized” equipment you need is contact paper, and that’s readily available. The results are pretty great!

Just remember to store your image transfers on wax paper until you are ready to use them. They’ll stick to regular paper, and pull off additional pulp if you try to take them off to use somewhere else.

Have fun with these! They are an amazing addition to art journal pages and other projects.

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There is a good chance that I won't be posting to my blog next week, because I will be teaching a class that will keep me super-busy most of the day.  Many of you are employees/moms/artists/bloggers all at the same time, but I'm not used to that kind of workload!  During my one-week of the year as a working mom, I 'm not sure I'll be able to give much time to my art or my blog.  But I'll be back the following week!