Sunday, October 21, 2007

I have questions!


I've spent my whole weekend experimenting how to transfer images onto a wood surface. I used to do collage artworks and the methods I've done include using pure acetone, gel medium, heat tool, and contact papers. But I have never tried to use iron-on inkjet transfer papers onto wood directly, so I tried, and as you can see in the photo, it sort of worked... but it's very very difficult for me to control the result. (I don't know if the problem is me or the transfer paper?) Plus the ones I've tried here are all pretty small images; I would love to do a much bigger piece if I know how.

I searched high and low on the internet and saw two products that caught my eyes: Lazertran (a water-slide decal) and Sheer Heaven. My problem is, I want the transfered image to look like it blends in with the material, instead of sitting on it like a decal. The information I got from Lazertran's website says to use real turpentine and the image will actually melt into the wood. That sounds pretty good to me. As for Sheer Heaven, it just looks like this incredible product that allows you to do everything you can imagine, but its website doesn't really provide enough information about transferring images to wood. So I am still confused...

Has anyone tried to transfer images onto wood and got really good result? (I really want to get a clean and crisp transferred image, and I'd like to paint the wood first, and then transfer images on top of it.) And if you have used either Lazertran or Sheer Heaven, could you tell me if they are worth trying? (They are not that cheap...) I will be so thankful for any pointer from you!

13 comments:

Gina said...

I honestly don't know about it on wood but I tried to get them onto polymer clay and discovered that I could only get them overlayed. Just found your blog though, very nice!

Anonymous said...

Plane ol' clear jel acrylic gel medium and a color output from a color copier works. Find old door wood (white) at curbs on large trash pick up days, and cut it, print out image, apply medium, wait till it's kinda tacky (a bit dry, not right out of the bottle) Because it dries clear, it appears to meld with the wood. The art is getting the paper off the image. Sometimes a sponge and and water and some fingernail love will do it. Make sure you get the clear gel acrrylic. when the image is transferred and dried, apply more clear gel to it overtop like a varnish. You can also do cool black and white transfers with just plain old copies out of a machine. The real art is finiding the right recipe between a fresh print, good gel medium and the tackiness of the product that adheres the image. Let it dry a bit. Try using gesso Works best for just black and white) and a copy. Use the opposite end of a paintbrush, and rub it back and forth on the back of the image to be transferred. The varying pressure causes some cool effects in the image.
Terpaniod or lacker thinner and a sock transferes onto lanaquarrel watercolor paper really cool. Kinda ghosts the image. Your work looks really good Flora. You shoud change departments and get into alternatives.

misspink said...

Nice idea!!! Lovely in wood!!! :-)

Christine Clemmensen said...

Hi. Cool experiment with the wood. The transfer technique I usually do, is with the "AD marker pen; Blender" (colourless) and a photocopy. Place image face down, wet the back of the paper with the pen, rub it with the back of a pen/ a coin/ flat piece of wood/etc. If the image is bigger than, say a matchbox - do a small area at a time. I haven't tried it on wood, but I've transfered copies - B&W gave the best results - on paper and cardboard of various types. I would think it could work on wood. Little unsure about the painted surface though -- it usually "lifts" the paint off when you rub it.
Cute illos :)C

Anonymous said...

i dunno know about transfering methods, but these already look really cool!
Hope you can solve the problem!!

Ken said...

Hi,

Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting on my film a while back - much appreciated!

I must say, I love your work! Very cute, and I really enjoy all your little characters. Ill be back for sure.

your linked!

mushroommeadows said...

wow, transferring images on woods? I'm clueless, but maybe screen printing would work? I know they sell these little screen printing kits at some arts/crafts stores. It seems like you can screen print everything.

Anyway, very cute idea! I hope you figure it out and start selling them. :)

Flora Chang said...

Thanks everybody for your valuable advice and comments...I think I've got it now! The key is "patience", which is something I really need to practice!

Anonymous said...

hello flora,
from your upstairs neighbor--DD!

Flora Chang said...

Didi... did you see i post your work here?
http://www.sleepyjellyfish.blogspot.com/

Danielle McDonald said...

Just stunning Flora. I love your work.

Chad C. said...

Hi Flora,

Saw your work on Penelope Illustrations monster mash contest, I love your work. I see you were using transfer techniques. Have you tried using a Tacking Iron? I used to use a small heat transfer disc but it wouldn't stay hot enough. I've found those tacking irons online for about $16..but that doesn't include shipping. Let me know and I will send you the link.

Aspa said...

Hi Flora, I was wondering if you can help me with this, I am trying to transfer images on surfaces painted with acrylic paint, I know I could do it with paper transfer or acrylic jel but do you have any recommendations?