how to make an image
transfer to fabric, paper,
and other photo
transfer techniques
presented by cloth paper scissors ®
1 2
4
3
1 transfer master class
LESLEY RILEY 3 add pattern to journals with
zentangles and transfers
2
SANDY STEEN BARTHOLOMEW
transfer master class,
part II: adding color
LESLEY RILEY
4 twice the fun with instant film
TIFFANY TESKE

Zentangle™ drawing specialist
Sandy Steen Bartholomew gives a
tutorial on this fun doodling and art How to Make an Image
journaling technique plus shows how to Transfer to Fabric, Paper,
incorporate photos, text, and drawings
and Other Photo Transfer
in your art journals using Sheer
Techniques
Heaven™ image transfer paper in “Add
presented by
Pattern to Journals with Zentangles and
Cloth Paper Scissors®
Transfers.”
ONLINE EDITOR Cate Prato
Tiffany Teske offers a new twist on an
old medium, creating photo emulsion CREATIVE SERVICES
DIVISION ART DIRECTOR Larissa Davis
transfers from vintage Polaroid cameras
i
PHOTOGRAPHERS Larry Stein
and new film cartridges, in “Twice the Korday Studio
mage transfer techniques can Fun with Instant Film.” In this process, Projects and information are for inspiration and
be used in just about any form you’re combining your own composed personal use only. Interweave Press LLC is not
responsible for any liability arising from errors,
of fabric and mixed-media art to photographs with the image transfer omissions, or mistakes contained in this eBook, and
create artistic visual imagery. All you process, creating a unique piece of art readers should proceed cautiously, especially with
need are the right tools and the know- each time. respect to technical information.
how. Interweave Press LLC grants permission to photocopy
With this free eBook, How to Make an any patterns published in this issue for personal use
In How to Make an Image Transfer to Image Transfer to Fabric, Paper, and only.
Fabric, Paper, and other Photo Transfer other Photo Transfer Techniques, you
Techniques, a free eBook from Cloth can bring a new level of personalized
Paper Scissors Today, you’ll learn how to imagery to your artwork-experimenting
create an inkjet transfer, photo transfer, and combining image transfer Where mixed media
emulsion transfers, and transparency
transfers using gel medium, transfer
techniques to make them your own.
artists come to play
Warmly,
paper, caulk, water, and more.
In “Transfer Master Class” by Lesley
Riley, you get the benefit of Lesley’s
years of experimentation refining
the process of image transferring
Cate Prato
techniques, even before she developed
Online Editor,
TAP™ Transfer Artist Paper. In this two-
Cloth Paper Scissors Today
part tutorial, she offers advice on how
to scan and prepare your image for a
digital image transfer, tips on fabric and
paper choice, and options for adding
color to the image transfers before and
after transferring.
clothpaperscissors.com
Fabric, Paper, and Other Photo Transfer Techniques presented by clothpaperscissors.com
©Interweave Press LLC 2

transfer
Adapted from
image
CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS®
Summer 2005
master class
m y fascination with image transfers goes back 25 years to when I
transferred magazine photos to fabric using various solvents. The
good news is that those transfers still retain their color after all of these years.
where to begin. Toss in the many
different printers, inks, papers, and
transfer media available, and you can
end up totally confused with more
The fabric is intact, too. The bad news is that I was using toxic solvents and questions than answers.
copyrighted photos. From magazine pages, I moved on to color copies. To ensure your success, I will share my
One technique called for ironing a solvent-soaked color copy to the fabric to tried-and-true methods and materials
facilitate the transfer of the toner inks. (Fortunately I was able to put out the with you. But there are two things you
need to know before you begin: 1) not
small fire before it spread from the ironing board—and before my husband
every transfer will turn out the way you
found out.) Not only were there dangers and health hazards to these methods, want it to; and 2) like any technique, the
but the transfers didn’t always turn out very well either. I was wasting time and more you practice, the better you will
be. With that said, it is also important
money at the local copy shop with nothing to show for it.
that you be open-minded whether your
safer and easier to transfer. Inkjet transfers are good or bad. If you want
Fortunately for artists, technological
printers have turned my transferring perfection, forget transfers and print
advances have made it possible for us
experience from frustrating to fun. the image directly on paper or fabric.
to scan, copy, and print photos in the
comfort of our homes. Images printed
But I do know that for many, inkjet
on personal inkjet printers are much Above, from left: Transparency transfer onto
transferring can still be frustrating.
book page with Soft Gel Medium; transparency
There are so many ways to transfer transfer onto fabric (Epson); transparency
BY Lesley Riley images that it can be hard to know transfer onto rust printed fabric (HP printer).
Fabric, Paper, and Other Photo Transfer Techniques presented by clothpaperscissors.com
©Interweave Press LLC 3

The beauty of transfers lies in their Photoshop, Paint Shop, or software that
tips
imperfection. comes with your digital camera, you can
You want to use a smooth-surface adjust the contrast, the color saturation,
In URGENT 2ND CLASS, author and artist
fabric. Any bumps or ridges will break and the brightness of each photo. A
Nick Bantock says, “There is something
up the transferred image as the ink freeware program, Irfanview, is available
too complete about most photos…They
will hit the high spots of the fabric online and performs many of the same
need a dose of controlled eccentricity
but not the low spots. functions as Photoshop.
that will alter and personalize them…
The picture surface needs to be broken Patterned fabrics and papers can be I almost always adjust the color and
up to give it breathing space.” The way I used. The pattern will show through contrast of my images. Vintage photos
see it, as long as my focal point transfers the transfer; place your image wisely fade with age. Scanners can wash out
well, then I have a successful transfer. All so it won’t interfere with the details of color. The color in your own digital
of the other lost parts of the picture are the image. photos can be “off.” Since the transfer
what makes it art. Each transfer process Some papers will come apart when process itself usually darkens the
has a different look to it. Some may be you try to transfer with acrylic media, original colors of the image, I usually
easier for you to do than others. Try sticking to the transparency or photo increase the brightness and saturation of
them all if you can and see which one paper when you lift it up. Practice on the photo.
you fall in love with. watercolor paper to get the technique Color and contrast adjustments can also
down before you experiment with be made from the Print menu, before
other papers. you actually click OK to print. When the
Print box opens after you click on Print,
M AT E R I A L S
getting you will see a box called Setup. Click to
open this box and choose Properties.
Copyright free photos, drawings, or started Depending on your printer model, there
will be a tab or box labeled Color or
your own pictures For all methods, you will need to get Advanced. Clicking on these boxes will
Inkjet printer your photos into your computer. The enable you to access areas where you can
Scanner easiest way is to scan them. I like to make adjustments.
Golden acrylic medium, matte or scan all of my images in at 300 dpi
fluid matte for fabric only; soft gel for (dots per inch). That way, if I want to Once your photos are adjusted, create a
fabric and/or paper (most versatile); enlarge the image I will not lose any full page of images for printing. While
regular gel medium for copy paper you are learning, it’s a good idea to have
details. Depending on how small your
transfers a page full of the same image to practice
original is, you may even want to scan
Burnisher (spoon back, bone folder, with. I use Photoshop, but a similar
it in at 600 dpi if you plan to enlarge
optional straight edge or rolling pin)
it to 8" u 10". (Most printers won’t photo-editing program or even your
1" foam brush word processing software can be used.
handle paper larger than 8.5" u 11",
White fabric or paper (You can use Use the Help function of the program to
so this would be the largest size you’d
almost any good quality paper, book
need unless you have a wide-carriage find out how to place several images on
pages, watercolor, journals.)
printer.) If your computer can’t handle one page.
Smooth, firm work surface (Cover
work area with wax paper or plastic large files, you will have to settle for The next step is to prepare the document
to protect surface.) smaller images or upgrade your system. for printing. The Properties tab is also
optional If you have purchased a CD of copyright- the location where you will find the
Dorlands or Gamblin Art Wax free images, just put the CD into your option to Mirror Image. Transferring
Medium computer drive and select the images an image results in a mirror-image
you want to transfer. of the original print. If you want the
At this point I evaluate each image
for color and contrast quality. If you
have photo-editing software such as
Fabric, Paper, and Other Photo Transfer Techniques presented by clothpaperscissors.com
©Interweave Press LLC 4

Left, from top: Transparency transfer onto white with the X facing up or towards you,
muslin (HP inks); color transparency transfer
and print something. If the X is on
onto fabric (HP inks); color transparency transfer
onto fabric (Epson inks). the side with printing, then you will
load your transparency with the
printable side up or towards you.
end product to look exactly like the If the X is on the side without any
original, you must tell your printer to printing, then you will load your
Flip or Mirror Image before you print. transparencies with the printable side
If you will be transferring text, you down or away from you. Print the
must always mirror-image the original image.
in order for it to be readable after 2. Cut out the image and determine
transferring. which side has the ink. I hold my cut
tip: Start with small images, about image up to the light to see which
2" u 4". It takes more time to apply side is more reflective. The more
medium to and burnish larger images, and reflective side is the one that goes
the medium may dry out before you finish. up and the ink side goes down. Set
Make several successful small transfers and
it ink-side-down next to your work
work your way up to larger ones.
area.
3. Starting at the top of the fabric or
transparency paper, brush medium onto an area
transfers
about the same size as your image.
The trick is to apply just the right
amount of medium for each surface
using matte, fluid and to do it evenly. To test for even
or soft gel medium application on your surface and
to smooth out the brush strokes,
Additional materials you’ll need: lightly run your index finger over
the fabric or paper, feeling for very
Transparencies for inkjet printer (not
dry or very wet areas. Apply more
“quick dry”)
medium where needed. Be sure to
brush in all directions as the medium
1. Print your image onto your will dry or soak into the fabric fairly
transparency. It is important to note quickly and you want all areas to be
that transparencies have a right side evenly wet. Smooth the medium to
and a wrong side. On most brands, an even application large enough
the side you print on will be rougher for the image. The smoother you get
or look less shiny than the wrong it, the less streaky the transfer will
side. Load your transparency into be. It’s OK to apply more layers of
your printer with the correct side medium until you get it feeling just
facing up. To determine which side right. With practice, you will be able
your computer prints on, check your to keep the medium application time
printer documentation. If you are to a minimum because you will work
still unsure, mark an X onto a sheet faster and know what you are aiming
of paper, load it into your printer for.
Fabric, Paper, and Other Photo Transfer Techniques presented by clothpaperscissors.com
©Interweave Press LLC 5

note: The key to successful transfers is
putting just the right amount of acrylic
medium on your paper or fabric. Too much
and the inks may smear, too little and
they won’t transfer. The surface should be
wet—not sticky or tacky, not slippery, but
like running your finger over a cold stick of
butter. While you are checking for the right
amount of medium, you can also smooth
out any brush strokes that will cause a
streaky transfer.
4. Pick up your image (ink-side down)
and place it onto the medium-coated
surface. The transparency should
stick to the surface. If the surface is
too wet, it will slide and smear when
you begin to burnish.
5. Immediately begin to rub the entire JetPrint matte paper transfer onto book page JetPrint matte paper onto paper.
surface with a burnisher using using soft gel medium.
some pressure. I start on my focal
point and work in a circular motion, these areas did not transfer as well. gel medium to the image side of the
widening my circles and expanding Too much medium or too vigorous paper before commencing the transfer.
out into the rest of the picture. Once burnishing will cause the inks to Apply a thin layer over the image and
you have gone over the entire surface smear. immediately place it on the receiving
in this manner, you can switch to a surface and burnish.
side-to-side motion. Be careful not to
burnish too hard in one direction as paper With paper transfers, your working time
is reduced as the paper and medium will
you will get a streaky transfer.
note: To get a soft, “lost” edge effect, use
transfers begin to dry as you work. You may find
that some of the paper separates when
less pressure as you work out to the edges. with JetPrint you remove it. Wait until the transfer
This will result in less ink transfer and a
softer transition.
Multi-Project Photo begins to dry a little and then gently rub
Paper in matte, away these paper bits from the transfer.
Once the transferred image dries, if you
6. Once you have gone over the using soft gel see paper fibers, try wetting your finger
entire image, lift a corner of the medium and gently rubbing the fibers to remove
transparency and check to see that
them.
everything has transferred to your Additional material you’ll need:
liking. You can continue to burnish Paper transfers are trickier to
some areas more, or remove the JetPrint Multi-Project Photo Paper accomplish than transparency transfers
transfer if it looks good to you. This in matte because of the differences in the bonding
should all be done in about 10–15 processes. I recommend mastering the
seconds, depending on the size of Follow all of the steps for the transfer process with transparencies
the image. If there was not enough transparency transfer above, but once before trying paper transfers.
medium or it was not smooth in your receiving surface is prepared,
certain areas, you may find that you will also need to add a layer of soft
Fabric, Paper, and Other Photo Transfer Techniques presented by clothpaperscissors.com
©Interweave Press LLC 6

Color water transfer onto fabric. Color water transfer onto paper (HP inks). Water transfer onto paper.
Gel medium and copy paper. JetPrint matte paper after transfer. Color JetPrint matte paper onto paper (HP inks).
Fabric, Paper, and Other Photo Transfer Techniques presented by clothpaperscissors.com
©Interweave Press LLC 7

paper water
transfers transfers
with plain copy Additional materials you’ll need:
paper using regular JetPrint Multi-Project Photo Paper in
gel medium glossy
Fine mist spray bottle (from craft
Additional materials you’ll need: store)
Plain copy paper Fixative spray (matte or glossy)
Dorlands or Gamblin Art Wax
Medium (optional) This is another very simple method.
Because it does not use any acrylic
This is one of the easiest and cheapest medium, the images are not lightfast or
transfer methods. It requires the use permanent (unless you are using Epson
of regular gel medium and plain copy DURAbright® inks) so transfers must be
paper. The disadvantage is that there is sprayed with a fixative.
almost always paper residue remaining. It is good for use on fabric as it does
1. Prepare photos as outlined above and not change the hand of the fabric and is
print on inexpensive copy paper. easy to hand stitch. Transferred images
tend to have softened, blurred edges due
2. Cut out the image you want to
to the inks spreading in the water. Use
transfer.
as little water spray as possible to keep
3. Apply a layer of regular gel medium edges sharp, or use more water for a
to your receiving surface. much-softened photo.
4. Quickly apply the image, printed- 1. Print images onto JetPrint glossy
side-down, and burnish. photo paper.
5. Let the paper sit for just under a 2. Cut out image for transfer.
minute and then remove the image.
3. Spray receiving paper or fabric until
6. Cover remaining paper pieces with just damp, run finger over surface to
Dorlands or Gamblin Wax Medium. ensure even wetness.
The wax will be absorbed by the
4. Holding image upright and spray
paper fibers and they will become
bottle about 18" away, give the image
translucent. This is a quick way to
2 to 3 sprays of water.
add images to an altered book.
5. Lay image onto receiving surface,
being careful not to move it, and
burnish with some pressure. You can
Right, from top: This is the remaining image
still on the paper after the transfer; color water
transfer onto watercolor paper; glossy photo
paper after water transfer.
Fabric, Paper, and Other Photo Transfer Techniques presented by clothpaperscissors.com
©Interweave Press LLC 8

Caulk on fabric. Caulk transfer onto painted canvas board. Scratchy burnishing can cause streaks in
your transfers.
even substitute a balled-up paper 1. Prepare and print images onto (also known as “bloom”) will appear
towel as your burnisher, as the ink regular copy paper. on the image. Re-wet the area and
will easily separate from the glossy rub again until the all fibers are
2. Apply Elmer’s Squeez’ N Caulk to
paper. removed. (You may have to repeat
your chosen surface spreading a
this a third time.) An option is to
note: There is often enough ink remaining generous but thin layer where you
on the paper to do another transfer.
coat the image with Dorlands or
want to place your image.
Naturally the second (and sometimes even Gamblin Art Wax which will soak
third) transfer with be fainter. 3. Trim image to size and apply it ink- into the remaining paper fibers and
side down to caulked area. Be careful make them translucent. If you apply
to keep caulk off the back of the the wax, it should be the last process
caulk image. so it does not repel any water-based
transfers 4. Burnish gently to ensure that all
areas of the paper have adhered to
coloring you may want to add to the
image.
the surface.
Additional materials you’ll need:
Elmer’s Squeez’N Caulk Clear
5. Set it aside to dry completely. You
can speed up the process by using a
variables
Stretched canvas, canvas board, or heat gun. printers and ink
wood There are several variables that can also
6. Once the paper and caulk are
Plain copy paper completely dry, remove the paper by affect the quality of your transfers; the
Heat gun (optional) wetting it and gently rubbing with main one is printer ink. The brand of
your finger so that the paper balls printer you use does not matter as much
up and drops off, revealing the inked as the inks that your printer uses. The
This type of transfer must be done on a
image below. You must rub gently inkjet printers on the market today use
surface that can get wet and take some
or you will rub away the inked areas. two types of ink: water-based dye inks
punishment, like a painter’s canvas, 300-
Once you think you have all the and pigment inks.
lb. watercolor paper, fabric, or wood. It
is not intended for transfers onto paper. paper off, set it aside to dry again, Printers are designed with either a single
Note: This process can also be done with or dry it with your heat gun. As the slot for a tri-color cartridge (containing
toner/laser copies. paper dries, tiny little paper fibers all three colors of ink) or three separate
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©Interweave Press LLC 9

cartridges, one for each ink color. Both use a water- and fade-proof ink to begin
burnishing
types always have a separate cartridge with.
slot for black ink. The best analogy I can give is that you
note: You will often find that the original
want to apply as much pressure as you
When making a transfer from a image remains on the transfer paper
use to scrape off one of those stubborn
transparency, sometimes the colored ink and on some transparencies (depending
price tags. If you are having difficulty
printed from a tri-color cartridge will on your printer inks). It has an altered
determining the right amount of
transfer in layers, and your first transfer appearance and is great to use in other
pressure to use, try a
will have a greenish cast. There is often artwork.
enough ink left on the transparency for practice transfer, burnishing from left
another transfer and this second transfer transparency and to right and increasing your pressure as
will come out with correct coloration. paper brands you go. Lift the transfer and see at what
If you are having this problem and the point the inks look their best.
Logically speaking, all brands of
coloration bothers you, make a first, Another problem is uneven burnishing.
transparency, photo paper, and acrylic
lightly burnished transfer to get rid of Some areas will look great, while others
medium should work the same, but
this green cast and then make a second just miss the mark. A solution to this is
that is not always the case. If you are
one using regular pressure. This “green to do a once-over burnishing and then
consistently having less-than-perfect
problem” does not occur with any of the rotate your transfer 90° and do another
(and remember, “perfect” is relative)
other transfer methods. allover burnishing. This way you are
results and you are sure you are doing
Printers with separate cartridges for everything correctly, perhaps the brand sure to catch all of the areas you may
each color tend to work better when of medium, transparency, paper, or have missed.
making transparency transfers whether ink you are using is the problem. Ask
they use dye- or pigment-based inks.
For fool-proof transparency transfers,
a friend if you can use their printer, or
try one of their transparencies, or their
frequently
my printer of choice is an Epson printer
that uses Durabright™ inks. Currently,
Golden medium. Keep eliminating
variables until you discover the one
asked
Epson is the only manufacturer of
printers that use pigment ink. Not all of
that was causing your problem. Often
you will find that you made successful
questions
What setting do you print on when
their printers use pigment inks, nor do transfers in a class yet when you got
using a transparency?
they all have individual cartridges for home, the results were not as good.
each ink color. Perhaps it is because one of the variables I have tried setting my printer on both
is different. the “Transparency” setting (in the
The advantage to using DURAbright®
Properties menu, Paper Options) and
inks for transfers is that they are
waterproof and fade resistant. They humidity the Plain Paper (Default) setting. I have
seen no difference in the quality of the
seldom smear during burnishing, If you live in a very dry or very humid
transfers, so I now just use the Plain
and when making a transparency climate, the moisture in the air can
Paper setting for all of my transfer
transfer, all of the ink transfers off of affect how much medium your paper or
printing.
the transparency onto the paper or fabric will require. Don’t be alarmed if
fabric, resulting in great transfers. your fabric or paper “drinks up” a lot of Does it matter how long ago you printed
The waterproof feature is a plus for medium before you begin the transfer the images that you want to transfer?
artists. While dye-based inks are mixed process. This is especially true when I have transferred images that were
with acrylic medium to make them working on fabric. printed over a year ago. They do still
waterproof and more fade-resistant, you
transfer, but I think the inks were not as
can be assured of those two things if you
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©Interweave Press LLC 10

vivid. I would suggest making transfers
from images printed anywhere from the
same day to six months prior for best
quality.
Can you use a transparency more than
once?
Once you have applied the transparency
to an acrylic medium surface, some
medium will dry on the transparency
and you can no longer use it in your
printer. Some people have experimented
with printing on the wrong side of the
transparency and taking the very wet
print and carefully placing it down on
the receiving surface, gently burnishing,
and then washing and reusing.
Directions for this and many other
experimental methods are discussed on
the Inkjet Transfer Yahoo Group. (See
Resources)
Can you transfer onto surfaces that
have been painted, watercolored,
stamped, etc?
Yes, most definitely! Just remember that
anything that you do to the receiving
paper, fabric, or wood that reduces its
absorbency (like applying paint), will
create a slicker surface and the acrylic
medium you apply to it will stay slippery.
CREDITS
You must be more careful with your Color added by transferring onto a surface
I wish to thank the following artists for colored with Portfolio Oil Pastels.
burnishing. (See sample above)
sharing their transfer processes with
me: How about adding color to the image
Lisa Cook after it has been transferred?
paper transfers
Adding color to your finished transfer is
Nina Bagley
an excellent way to tone down those
water transfers
ornamental.typepad.com/ white spots where the inks did not
ornamental/ transfer. Join me next issue to discover a
Claudine Hellmuth variety of tips and techniques for adding
caulk transfers color to transfers.
www.collageartist.com lesleyriley.com
Karen Michel
copy paper transfers
www.karenmichel.com
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©Interweave Press LLC 11

transfer master class
Adapted from
CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS®
Fall 2005
part II: adding color
t ransferring images using the methods and materials I shared with you in the
previous article is a wonderful way to add an artistic touch to your work.
Transfers are beautiful all by themselves, but what if your artistic vision calls for
M AT E R I A L S
Colored or patterned papers or
fabrics
Dyed paper towels (See CLOTH PAPER
a little color and all you have are black-and-white images? No problem! Adding
SCISSORS™ Summer 2005 article by
color takes your transfers to a whole new level and adds more fun to the mix. Traci Bautista)
Portfolio oil pastels
One of the simplest methods of adding you have full-color saturation, you can
Decorating chalks
color to black-and-white images is to then adjust the hue. My software has a
Prismacolor pencils
do it right on your computer, before sliding scale that I play with to find a
Acrylic paints
you even print your image. First, scan color I like. In the first sample shown
Instant coffee
in your photo. Many older photos have here, I increased the original image
yellowed with age. Using your photo- saturation to +100 and then played with Walnut ink
adjusting software (I use Photoshop®), the hue to get a rich magenta color. The
you can increase the saturation of the image was then printed and transferred. Below, from left: Sample 1—color added with
image color. When you over saturate the If you haven’t yet played with adjusting hue adjustment in photo-editing software;
Sample 2—Inkjet transfer done on decorative
image color, you will often end up with saturation and hue, you are in for some
patterned paper; Sample 3: Inkjet transfer on
a rich overall color to the image. Once great fun. (See sample 1.) painted paper towel.
BY Lesley Riley
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©Interweave Press LLC 12

Sample 4: Transfer on paper painted with Sample 5: Background colored with Portfolio Oil Sample 6: Inkjet transfer on printed fabric.
Lumiere, fluid acrylic and white acrylic. Pastels before image transfer.
tip: If you are a whiz with photo-editing tip: As a general rule, use soft gel paints to prepare a background. I added
software or are patient and willing to work medium when transferring onto paper and off-white acrylic to a small area to
at it, you can also color images before matte medium or soft gel medium when make the transfer pop out from the
printing using the paint tools found in those transferring onto fabric.
background. (See sample 4.)
programs.
Painted papers are another excellent One colorful and fun technique when
surface for transfers. After reading Tracy working with a transparency is to lay
adding color Bautista’s article on dyed paper towels it down onto the surface you will be
before transferring (CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS Summer 2005), I transferring to and make note of the
The next method for adding color is to raided my own little stash of these gems. areas you want color. In this sample,
transfer onto a colored, patterned, or They really are strong and absorbent, I used Portfolio oil pastels to add areas
painted surface. These techniques work and I had no trouble making a transfer of color. I heat set the oil pastels and
with both acrylic medium and water using matte medium. The results feel then transferred the image over them.
transfers. like fabric. (See sample 3.) When using this technique, don’t strive
for exact placement and/or colors. It is
I have a huge stash of fabric, so I can easily I also like to prepare a spot on a painted
harder to make something look perfect
find a piece to complement the image I surface that I can transfer an image
than to intentionally be free with the
am transferring or add to the message onto. Depending on the look I want,
outcome. The end result is much more
of the piece. I also love to transfer onto I may add some white or off-white
appealing and fresh looking. (See sample
decorative artist papers. The better quality paint before the transfer so that the
5.)
papers are excellent for transferring onto details do not get lost against a darker
using soft gel or, in some instances, matte painted background. In my sample, I
medium. (See samples 2 and 6.) used Lumiere and Golden fluid acrylic
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©Interweave Press LLC 13

Sample 7: Coffee staining on Epson Inkjet Sample 8: Coffee staining on HP inkjet transparency Sample 9: Water transfer colored with chalks.
transparency transfer. transfer.
Again, don’t try for picture-perfect
adding color tip: Be careful when using wet media
in certain applications. Do not use wet results. Take artistic license with your
after transferring media on water transfers as the transferred coloring. No one is going to criticize
It is just as easy and fun to add color color may fade or bleed. Also, black HP you for coloring outside the lines or
after you have transferred your image. printer inks may smear when applying wet making your sky pink. (See sample 10.)
media after transfer. Seal transfers with a
I use a variety of methods, depending Rubber stamp ink pads or Tsukineko
workable fixative before using wet media.
on the look I am after. I like to give a Duo-Daubers®, which have a small tip,
transferred image another layer of age to For soft color, I use Prismacolor also work well at adding color. And don’t
add to the timeworn surface a transfer pencils or decorating chalk pastels that forget markers!
usually generates. One of my favorite come with tiny foam brushes to color Almost any combination of paints,
tricks is to mix instant coffee granules in the image. It is easier to control pastels, pencils, inks, markers, and
with a bit of water and selectively add areas of color with these small-tipped surfaces can work. Making art is always a
“age spots” to an image. This gives brushes than with the larger Portfolios, learning experience. If one attempt does
a warm brown tone. Try the same especially on fabric. Both the pencils and not work you have not failed, you have
technique with walnut ink crystals or a chalk should be heat set or sprayed with made a discovery. You know what not to
highly saturated fluid acrylic paint used a fixative when you are done. (See sample do next time. And sometimes, when the
either full-strength or watered down to 9.) stars are in alignment, you can end up
give a yellow, aged effect. My favorite is
If it is brilliant color you are after, try with something much better than you
Golden quinacridone nickel azo. (See
the Portfolio oil pastels over an image originally conceived.
samples 7 and 8.)
transfer onto paper.
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Sample 10: Water transfer on paper colored with Portfolio oil pastels. Sample 11: Matte photo paper transfer on paper colored with colored
pencil and dimensional paint.
lesleyriley.com
tip: Don’t always think about coloring the note: Tracy Bonkers was also a
whole image. A little spot of color can go contributor to the matte photo paper
a long way. (See sample 11.) transfer technique in the Transfer Master
Class article in CPS #3 (Summer 2005).
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add pattern
Adapted from
CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS®
November/December 2009
to journals
with Zentangles™ and transfers
i efirst stumbled across the word “Zentangle,” a term coined for drawing repetitive patterns as a way of meditation,
almost two years ago while surfing the blogosphere. I found the official website, ordered a kit, and played with
patterns for months. But my real addiction started when I attended a short workshop taught by the originators themselves:
Maria Thomas, an artist and calligrapher, and Rick Roberts, a musician and former monk.
BY sandy steen bartholomew
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Zentangle is a perfect fit with journals. It
eliminates the horror of the blank page
by setting up a ritual of steps to follow.
I warn students in my classes that once
they start to practice Zentangle, patterns
will appear everywhere. As your mind
relaxes into the flow, the words come
easily and blend with the patterns.
traditional
zentangles
A traditional Zentangle has a very simple
ritual.
DI REC T I O N S
1. Make a pencil dot in each corner of
your paper tile. Connect the dots to
form a frame. The pencil lines become part of the This very simple process can be easily
drawing.) applied to art journals. The journal page
2. Draw “strings” or guidelines.
becomes the tile. Start with the four
Imagine you are holding a piece of 3. Switch to a pen and draw patterns
dots, one in each corner, then sketch in
thread and then drop it onto the into the various sections formed by
a frame. If you prefer to work right up
tile. The random shape it forms the string.
to the edges of the page, then think of
is your guideline. Draw the string
4. Continue to fill in patterns while the page itself as the frame. The string
with pencil. (It will not be erased.
rotating the tile. comes next with a random zigzag or
other sources
OF inspiration
(see image above right)
A stack of firewood: The ends form a
crescent moon pattern.
Stones, bricks, tiles: All form very simple
shapes repeated over and over.
CDs: Fill a section with circles. Put a
small circle in the center of each big
circle, then outline each small circle.
Calendar: Grids can inspire an endless
number of patterns.
Lined paper: Lines, that’s easy!
Lampshade: Random lines on a slight
angle.
The back of a hard drive: Mine has a
crazy pattern of dots and dashes.
A huge pile of books and manuals: This
looks like the tangle “BB” on its side.
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string to write in and start writing in
cursive. When the section is filled, turn
the journal 90° and keep writing, right
over the first lines of text. This forms a
very pretty pattern and you cannot read
the writing. Feel free to rant and curse,
it’s very cathartic and no one will ever
know.
For a playful pattern, fill a section of
your journal page with lowercase block
letters. They can spell something, or not.
Put an “aura” or an outline around each
letter. Keep adding outlines until the
space is filled.
If you have a theme, a quote, a few
words, or another idea that you want
loopy line to break up the page. I like to with horizontal lines repeating where to mull over and meditate on before
add my text lines as part of this string, the grips are. The lines are all slightly starting to write, you can turn those
or at least consider where the text curved. That’s a Zentangle. words into a tangle. Simply write
will go. The text is really just another the words, in pencil, in your usual
pattern, so it can be added now, or after make patterns handwriting, but exaggerate the size
a bit. Then outline the letters with a
other tangles have been drawn. It really with text
depends on whether or not you know Micron® pen, erase the pencil lines, and
Text can inspire many beautiful, fill in the background.
what you want to write about.
easy patterns. The tangle “Eke”
tip: If you have a topic, do the text first is rows of interlocking, cursive, tip: In traditional Zentangles, there is
because it will inspire your patterns. If you no color other than gray from shading.
lowercase “e’s.” Pick a section of the
are at a loss as to what to write about,
start tangling, and the ideas will come as
your brain relaxes.
where to find
patterns
In the image “How to Create a
Zentangle” there are instructions on
how to draw a few patterns. (More
directions can be found at
zentangle.com in the Newsletters
section or at my blog where I post a
Tangle of the Week.) Also look at pattern
books, your rubber stamp collection, the
bottoms of your shoes, your clothes, the
dining room chairs, fancy woodwork,
your pantry, garage...great patterns are
everywhere. For example, I have a water
bottle in front of me. When I squint at
it, I see the basic shape of a rectangle
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4. Fill a small spray bottle with rubbing
alcohol. Hold the image by the tab
over a sink or a protected surface
with the printed side up. Spritz
lightly with the rubbing alcohol
until the entire surface looks
slightly shiny.
5. Quickly place it face down onto your
journal page and burnish the back
with a bone folder or the back of a
spoon.
6. Carefully peel up the tab a little to
see if it has transferred. If not, rub
some more. Once you are happy with
the transfer, peel off the Sheer
Heaven and reveal your transfer.
beezinthebelfry.blogspot.com
But, also, there are no rules! So you can paper. It works well with many materials
use Zentangles any way they suit you. In
the piece shown below, I used Inktense
and techniques, but it is pure magic
for transfers. I have used photos, text,
transfer tips
watercolor pencils because, when wet, Applying the right amount of
and even my daughter’s drawings. The rubbing alcohol takes practice. Too
the colors are super bright and juicy, and
after they dry, they are permanent. That images can be edited on your computer little and the transfer will be spotty;
means that if you color something blue, and printed out onto the Sheer Heaven too much and it will bleed.
add water and let it dry, and then wash transfer paper, or you can draw directly The transfer will work on any
yellow over it, the yellow will stay yellow onto it. absorbent material like uncoated
and not turn green. paper, cloth, and on some wood.
note: The back side is silky smooth and On textured papers and cloth it will
You will be amazed at the ideas that will the front (transfer side) is slightly textured, only transfer to the “high points.”
come into your head! The left brain is or “toothy.” It will not work on gesso, acrylic
thinking the words over and over while paints, or slick papers.
controlling where the lines go. The right DIRECTIONS Certain inkjet colors have a
brain is making artistic choices about tendency to bleed through certain
1. Reverse your photos, text, or other papers, so do a test first, and don’t
coloring in and thickness of line, and
images in your computer photo make transfers onto to the back of a
feeling satisfaction with contrasting
program and print onto Sheer piece of art that you love.
colors. The worry part of the brain is
Heaven (toothy side) using your Once the transfer is completely dry
pushed out completely, leaving space for
inkjet printer. Or, using colored you can draw, paint, and add any
new thoughts. embellishments.
pencils or Micron pens, trace or draw
the image you want to transfer onto Many art materials will transfer with
zentangles the toothy (rough) side of the Sheer
Heaven.
this method. Make a test strip of
your favorites.
and transfers 2. note: Keep in mind that the image
A used piece of Sheer Heaven
cannot be used as a transfer
Another technique I use in my journals will be reversed. again, but it makes a great stencil
is Sheer Heaven™ transfers. Sheer for chalks or inks. It won’t tear or
3. Trim the images closely, but leave a wrinkle.
Heaven feels like a thick sheet of tracing
tab to hold onto.
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Adapted from
CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS®
November/December 2011
twice the fun
with instant film
a t the age of seven
I was given a 110
camera to record a family
trip. From that day forward I
was captivated by freezing time
with a click of the shutter. In high
school, a patient science teacher
taught me, the sole member of the
photography club, how to process
my images in a black-and-white
darkroom. I was soon addicted to the
rush of watching a print appear in the
processing trays.
BY tiffany teske
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M AT E R I A L S
Fuji FP 100C pack instant film
cartridge
Vintage camera that takes Polaroid
100 series pack films (I use a 1969
Polaroid Colorpack II.)
Watercolor or printmaking paper,
90–140 lb, 4" u 5" pieces, hot
Fast forward to university where I
majored in photography and studio art
and could work in both a color and a
directions press (smooth surface) (I use Arches™
watercolor or Rives BFK printmaking
Both transfers and emulsion lifts can be papers.)
black-and-white darkroom. I learned made with Fuji film. Clipboard, plastic
to change the same negatives into very Water tray (I use 8" u 10" darkroom
different final prints. Outside of the working with trays.)
darkroom, I became obsessed with the
instant Polaroid processes of transfer
the film Plexiglass, 5" u 7"
Squeegee
and emulsion lifts. The way my images note: A film pack is an individual
Brayer, 4", soft rubber
transformed from modern to painterly photograph that includes the positive
and the negative part of the image. Cardboard box with flaps at the top,
with a vintage feel made my heart sing. up to 12" deep and wide
Polaroid processes allowed me to put Load your camera with the film
1. optional
my own mark on my images, without a cartridge. (Figure 1) Pull the black tab Finely woven fabric such as silk;
darkroom. that is outside of the camera to ready clamshells; metal; wood; canvas;
When my friends and clients heard that the film. (Figure 2) handmade paper; rice paper;
or glass
Polaroid had quit making instant film
note: The black tab is attached to a strip
they thought I would be devastated. But of paper that keeps the film from being
I have always welcomed change and Step-out photos by Tiffany Teske
quickly made up my mind that I would
embrace new ways of working. When I
met Fuji FP-100C, I fell in love all over
again.
If you’re the adventurous sort and think
you’ve tried it all, then this instant film
workshop is especially for you. Tracking
down a camera might be a challenge, but
it’ll be worth it.
Figure 1 Figure 2
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Figure 3 Figure 5
Figure 4 Figure 6
exposed to light. Once the black strip is straight out of the camera, in one fluid
removed there will be a series of white
motion. (Figure 4)
numbered tabs showing. This means the film
is loaded correctly and ready to be exposed.
fuji transfer
2. Compose your image in the
To prepare to make a transfer, gather
viewfinder and push the button to your supplies. You will need to complete
expose the film. Step 3 of the transfer in either a
note: The more contrast in your image, darkened room or inside the box. Fill
the better. your tray with water and have your
paper, clipboard, plexiglass, squeegee,
3. Remove the film from your camera and brayer near your tray.
by first pulling the smaller white tab,
1. Take your photograph, and bring your
with a number on it, straight out of
the camera. (Figure 3) This will cause camera to your work station. Do not
a white tab with arrows to come out of remove the photo from the camera.
the camera. Wet your paper in the water by turning
it over 8–10 times. Place it on the
4. Completely remove the film pack by plexiglass and pull the squeegee over
pulling the white tab with arrows the paper to remove the extra water.
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Figure 7
Figure 9
Figure 8
Flip your paper over so the wetter side
is facing up and lay it down on the
clipboard.
note: The next step must be completed
within 20 seconds so that the chemicals
needed to make the transfer have not
overprocessed.
2. Remove your image from the camera Completed transfer
and rip the tab with the arrows off of clipboard against the wet paper. (Figure 6) Hold the printed tab in the middle
the film pack leaving two tabs, one 5) and pull it straight back, parallel to the
above the positive (gray) side and one clipboard, until it comes apart from
3. Immediately take the clipboard into
above the negative (black) side of the the pack. (Figure 7) Press the negative
a darkened room or place it in a
pack film. Prepare for a transfer by against the paper, and burnish with the
cardboard box. Hold up the film pack
folding the paper with red writing back brayer in all directions for 30 seconds.
between the thumb and forefinger
so that it is touching the gray side of (Figure 8) Let the negative and paper sit
of one hand, and find the tab with
the film pack. Flip the pack over, so the together for 90 seconds.
the writing that is not clipped to the
black side is up, and clip the tab above
clipboard with the other hand. (Figure
the black side under the clip of the
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4. The clipboard can now be moved to
the light. Remove the negative from
the paper by holding the paper against
the clipboard with your fingertip and
peeling back the positive with the other
hand. Peel back at a sharp angle; do not
just lift it off. Let dry. (Figure 9)
fuji emulsion lift
1. Take a photograph and remove the film
from the camera.
2. Let the photograph sit for 2 minutes
and then rip the tab with the arrow off
of the film pack and peel apart.
Figure 10
Figure 11
3. To start the emulsion lift, place the
positive side of the film pack (the one
that has the image) in a tray of hot
water. (Figure 10)
4. Once the emulsion has started to loosen
(2–3 minutes), remove it from the
water.
5. Use an old credit card to scrape the
emulsion off the surface of the film
in one direction, using a continuous
motion. (Figure 11)
6. Place the completed emulsion lift into
a tray of cold water to straighten it out.
(Figure 12) It is quite strong, much
like thin acetate. It is easiest to work
Figure 12
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with when it is still wet and pliable,
before it has dried completely. To use,
remove from the water, pat dry, and finding film,
immediately attach to paper, wood,
shell, ceramic, metal, mirror, or any
cameras
other non-porous surface, using gel
medium. If the lift has dried it can be
and more
placed in water again to soften. The least expensive way to get started
with Fuji processes is by using a
I never know exactly what will happen Polaroid camera. Fuji created this
when I work with Fuji transfers and particular film for their passport
emulsion lifts. I accept that this process camera systems and they do not
is difficult to control and always make a consumer model camera that
produces different results. This element uses it. Look for a Polaroid camera
that takes two-part, 100 series pack
of surprise is part of the magic that
film, which differs considerably from
makes each image a unique element in the classic Polaroid camera that
my mixed-media pieces. Take a chance automatically spits out an image as
and see how these processes can inspire soon as it is taken. You can find these
you. cameras for sale at thrift stores, yard
sales, in photography forums, and
tiffanyteske.com Finished emulsion
on eBay. To find out which cameras
use this specific pack film check out
the Land List (landlist.org), an online
archive of all products by Polaroid.
arc
Daylab Corporation (daylab.com)
Day
makes several photo processing
ma
machines that allow slides and digital
ma
prints to be exposed onto Polaroid and
prin
Fuji pack films. This allows the flexibility
Fuj
of w
working with images that have
already been created and of creating
alre
many transfers and lifts using the same
ma
or vvariations of the same image.
Fu FP 100C can be purchased at
Fuji
camera shops and online. Polaroid is
ca
no longer making pack film, but you
can buy expired film online through
c
Impossible Project
I
(the-impossible-project.com) or
on eBay. The process of making
a Polaroid transfer or emulsion
lift varies from Fuji processes.
Expired film can be difficult to
work with because of chemistry
issues, but the uncertainty of the
results can be half the creative
fun.
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