Taught by: Alicia Ashdown and John Robertson
Dry Gel Transfer
IMAGE TYPE: magazine image or toner-based
RECEIVING SURFACE: canvas board (this technique works on most surfaces)
MATERIALS: canvas board, soft gel, paintbrush, brayer, sandpaper, spray bottle
TIME: Up to 24 hours
TECHNIQUE:
- Using the paintbrush, apply gel to the background surface.
- Lay the paper image-surface down.
- Using your hands, smooth the image down on to the background. If desired use a brayer.
- Let the image thoroughly dry, which could take as long as 24 hours. Using the sandpaper, lightly rough up the back of the image.
- Using the spray bottle with water, moisten the back of the image.
- Using your finger, gently rub off a layer of paper. Let the image dry.
- Repeat steps 5 and 6 to rub off additional layers.
Clear Packing Tape
IMAGE TYPE: toner-based (laser printer) or magazine
MATERIALS: toner image, clear packing tape, sandpaper, spray bottle of water
TECHNIQUE:
- Layer the packing tape to the size needed to cover the image. Cut out the image.
- Using the sandpaper, lightly rough up the back of the image to break up the paper backing.
- Using the spray bottle with water, moisten the paper backing.
- Using your fingers, rub off the wet paper, leaving the ink on the packing tape.
Xylene Blender Marker Transfer
IMAGE TYPE: toner-based (laser printer) or magazine
RECEIVING SURFACE: paper
(also matte painted surfaces, metal, glass, Plexiglass, Sculpey/Fimo, and rocks will supposedly work)
MATERIALS: toner image, Chartpak AD Marker – Blender, drafting tape, bone folder
TIME: Less than 5 minutes
TECHNIQUE:
- Place image toner side down onto paper and secure one side with tape.
- Go over back of image with blender marker.
- Burnish back of image with blender marker.
- Check transfer (if needed, repeat steps 2 and 3)
Direct Gel Transfer
IMAGE TYPE: ink jet image
RECEIVING SURFACE: canvas board (paper, wood, Plexiglas or sanded metal will also work)
MATERIALS: canvas board, soft gel (gloss), paintbrush, brayer, scissors
TIME: Less than 5 minutes
TECHNIQUE:
- Using a paintbrush, apply a medium layer of gel medium onto the background surface.
- Immediately lay the image ink-side down onto the gel.
- Using the brayer, rub down the image for approximately 30 seconds. Start with a light touch, and check to see how it is transferring. Apply more pressure if needed.
- Hold the edge of the paper and peel back a corner to reveal the image transfer. Burnish for an additional 30 seconds if necessary.
Transfer Ink Transfer
IMAGE TYPE: ink-jet image
RECEIVING SURFACE: paper (watercolor works best)
MATERIALS: ink-jet image, Transfer ink, drafting taper, brayer (hard
TIME: Less than 5 minutes
TECHNIQUE:
- Place image ink-side down onto watercolor paper and secure one side with tape.
- Spray Transfer ink onto back of image (do not soak).
- Roll over back of image with brayer.
- Check transfer (if needed repeat steps 2 and 3).
- Start at taped side and roll outward
- Use firm slow pressure
- Roll only in one direction, not back and forth (can cause paper to wrinkle)
Resources
Image Transfer Workshop by Darlene Olivia McElroy & Sandra Duran Wilson. 
North Light Books. 2009.
Art Supply on Main
http://www.artsupplyonmain.com/
2711 Main St # 100
Houston, TX 77002-9229
(713) 652-4984
– Fine Art Supply Store
– Chartpak AD Blender Marker (Xylene blender marker)
– Liquitex Gloss Gel Medium
– everything else
IMAGO Houston 