Image and Photo Transfer 101 – file download

Mixed media collage and photo transfer to canvas

 

 

If you would like to create your own mixed media/collage/photo transfer,
here is how its done:

What you need:
• Inkjet photo (printed on STANDARD PRINTER PAPER) or a laser photocopy of your photo
• Collage materials such as: newspaper or magazine clippings, designer or hand-made papers, wrapping papers, stamps, shopping bags, junk mail etc.
• Acrylic or water paints
• Any type of glue such as school glue, PVA or Mod Podge
• Any type of transfer medium such as Mod Podge or gel medium
• Canvas or wood panel
• A water spray bottle
• UV-resistant clear finish

1) Gather your collage materials and lay them out in a design of your choice on any size canvas or wood panel. Adhere the collage pieces onto the surface using school glue or mod podge.
2) If you are using mod podge make sure to cover the collage pieces with Mod Podge so it doesn’t only adhere the papers to the canvas but also protects it to all eternity (or at least a few years).

3) Once your collage is thoroughly dry you can paint it with watercolor or acrylic paints. I like to use different shades of a color, paint the center with the brightest shade and then go darker toward the edges.

4) The next step is to convert the photo of your choice to black and white. In some cases color photos will work as well but black and white often work better with this process as they stand out more over the background.
5) You can use either a xerox photocopy of your image or an image printed from your inkjet printer. If you are using an inkjet, print out a mirror version of your image into a standard printer paper (not a photo paper!).

Since I decided to work with a 16″X20″ canvas panel I had to divide my photo and print out 4 sheets of 8″X10″ papers.
6) If you are using an inkjet print its a good idea to protect your print with spray fixative to prevent smudging.

7) Next, cover your image with Mod Podge and press it face down into the collage. Rub gently with your fingers to smooth out any air bubbles.
8 ) If you are using an inkjet photo you will have to wait only about an hour or two for the Mod Podge to dry and for the transfer to complete. If you are using a photocopy let it set for a few hours, preferably over night.

9 ) Spray the back of your photo with water and gently remove and rub off the excess paper with your fingers in order to reveal the transfer. If you are using a photocopy you will have to repeat this step as many time as needed until the excess paper is completely gone.

10) At this point you will notice that there might be some paper left behind which is difficult to remove. Also the transfer looks quite rough and does not blend nicely with the background. So in order to better unify the background and the photo transfer, paint over the edges of your transfer using the same color you used for the background. Next you can paint over the white areas of your transfer with similar shades of the background behind them. Water down your paint and dub it onto the white areas with a paper towel. For the smaller areas you can use a cotton swab . Make sure not to paint over the ink (black) parts of your photo, just the white areas where the paper can still be seen.

Take a look at the next picture: The left area was painted while the right side is still covered with the white paper and had not been painted yet.

 

And this is the final image:

 

11) Preserve your art work with a protective finish such as “preserve it!” by Krylon for inkjet or Krylon Crystal Clear if you used a toner based photocopy.

 

 

Mixed media collage and inkjet image transfer using Mod Podge

 

 

Mixed media collages and photo transfers are fun and quite simple to do .
Here are the basic steps to create your own master piece:
1) Cover a canvas panel with old newspaper and pieces of textured paper (or any other found objects such as tickets or stamps)
2) Add a thin layer of acrylic or watercolor paints. I like to paint the center with brighter colors and use darker colors toward the adges.
3) Next, Convert the photo of your choice (in this case, a picture of an alley in Chinatown in San Francisco) to black and white. pictures with greater contrast are likely to work better as they tend to stand out off the background.
4) Print out a mirror version of your image into a standard printer paper.
5) Spread a nice amount of mod podge on your image and press it face down into the canvas over the collage (make sure the collage is already dry).
6) Wait until the mod podge is completely dry (this may take a few hours). Rub your transfer with wet fingers and gently remove the excess paper to reveal the transfer. If you are using a photocopy instead of inkjet printout you will need to repeat this step a few times until all the paper is completely removed.
7) Preserve your work of art with a protective finish such as “preserve it!” by Krylon.

 

 

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Photo transfer to Mod Podge

 

Similar to the gel skin layer transfer but here the transfer is done with Mod Podge instead.
After it is done, the Mod Podge layer can be used in a collage or adhered to a canvas or a heavy watercolor paper support.

 

 

What you need:

• Laser photocopy* (black & white or color)

* You can use an inkjet printout for this process but you will need to coat it with spray fixative first and let it completely dry before transferring.

• Mod Podge
• Water spray bottle
• UV-resistant gloss finish

1. Brush a layer of mod podge over your photocopy. Let it dry completely; the mod podge dries clear.
2. Brush a second layer of mod podge. Let dry again.
3. Turn the photocopy over and spray its back with water.
4. Rub off the paper backing with your fingers. Repeat this step as many times as needed until the paper is completely gone and your photo is transferred to the mod podge skin.
5.Spray the back of the transfer with a clear protective spray. It will add a nice shine to the final transfer and also to get rid of the paper residue.

 

 

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