Transparency and glue - do I like it?

The final experiment in the Glues and Mediums section of the Image Transfer Workshop is the transparency glued on. This method is uncomplicated...

• print image(s) on transparency
• cut the desired size
• apply gel medium to the background substrate
• lay transparency print side down on gel
• smooth out the image with your hand or a brayer
• wait until it's dry

The hardest part for me is always choosing the image to use. I finally decided on a black leaf shape in two sizes. Because I am using a transparency for ink jet printers, I needed to let the print dry for 30 minutes and then spray the printed side with a workable fixative. This picture is the (textured) printed side after the fixative has been applied.
 

I applied the images to three different surfaces - a small piece of cardstock with multiple layers of book paper applied, a  60 lb. piece of painted paper , and a contents page from a vintage atlas (slightly heavier than the 60lb paper).  The process worked perfectly. No air bubbles. No shifting ink.

L to R - painted atlas page, 60 lb. painted paper, collaged cardstock

After waiting a day to make sure the gel was completely dry, it was time for an honest evaluation.

I didn't care for the glossy sheen that made the transfer the center of attention. I tried the suggestion of painting the image with gesso/water mixture. That did help to tone down the shiny area.

On the lighter weight paper, the transparency caused the paper to curl. It would definitely be an issue to remember whenever planning to use this process.

My favorite is the collaged cardstock. That is something that will be a usable piece with some more tweaking.

The conclusion? I am quite sure that this method will not become a vital part of my bag of tricks. The author's sample included in the book is interesting, but it just isn't a technique that appeals to me.

The next section of the book covers Heat.  Hmmm - should be interesting!

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Transparency with gel ... disaster is thy name

I do have pictures ... just so that I will never say to myself, Self? Give that method one more try...  

Transparency with gel is the heading for this transfer process. I tried it twice. The first time was with 2 images on a Grafix ink jet transparency sheet. They printed perfectly.  I followed the instructions step by step (except that I used regular matte gel and not gloss gel ... oops).

And this was the better of the two! The second image of a door was so bad that I didn't bother taking a picture.

When I discovered my error in using the wrong gel medium, I decided to give the process another try. I printed three images on an older transparency sheet, hoping that maybe the modern version of transparencies for ink jet printers was just too sophisticated for the method. The printout was fine ... the results were much the same as the first trial.

 

 

Such a small amount of ink transferred to the paper that it wasn't worth the effort. I did promise myself that I would not skip any of the projects in this book and I'm glad that I tried this. However ... there is nothing that will draw me to try this again. 

Next process - transparency glued on. It looks interesting ... like something that could add another dimension to a collage. 

The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. Lamentations 3:25

Transfers using paint

This turned out so much better than I expected.

I was unsure about color and subject and background ... would the color be too dark/light? would the image show up through the paint? where, oh where could I find an interesting image? In the end, I went for a couple of background papers on the table, a random magazine page with plums, and paint that was color wheel approved. It is just an experiment after all!

The magazine photo - shown here - was simple. Carefully spaced plums on a near white background.

For both samples, I used watercolor paper that had been stamped with watercolors. A few weeks ago, before I decided to work my way through the Image Transfer Workshop book in organized fashion, I had added a dry gel transfer to this first trial piece. Over all of that, I applied blue acrylic paint approximately the same size as my magazine cut out, applied the same paint to the magazine piece, brayered the two together and waited for the required drying time.

The procedure was the same for the second background (similarly watercolored paper only, but with gel skin transfer pieces added). Acrylic paint sandwich, brayer and wait for it to dry. The came the usual sand lightly, mist with water, and rub with fingertips.

I don't understand why ... so far it's a foreign language, but I like these. I love the way the transfers are clear and sharp. I am looking forward to trying more, with different colors and subjects. Maybe even BIG! Now that might be interesting!!!

Next up - Transparency with Gel.

Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

The amazing gel skin image transfers

This transfer was so much fun to produce. It's clear when it works perfectly - which is almost every time. It is easily trimmed with scissors. The first step takes a little bit more time than a dry gel transfer, but it is worth it.

For this transfer, I used exactly what was suggested a soft gel medium - gloss. The black and white words and shapes were laser printed. The colored pictures were from magazines.

It is obvious that with 3 coats of gloss gel medium that the finished product will not be smooth as glass. It has texture and shine.

 

The dry pieces then went through the usual routine - sand the paper backing, mist with water, rub with fingertips. I was amazed at how much rough treatment a few layers of gel medium could take without disintegrating! It stretched and bounced back. At times some of the printing faded, but overall, it was a great end product.

These pictures show how well the transfer took - whether it was black and white or color. 

I didn't really like the size and black letters of one word, so I cut it into small rectangles and pieced it randomly across the front of a card I made. It added a unique look and texture to an otherwise very flat card front. 

Time will tell how the others will be used. That is the final test in my world - usefulness.

The next project in the book  is with a product called digital ground. Unfortunately I will be skipping that trial because digital ground is no longer available. On to the next - Paint!!

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of  my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

The last day of August

Dry gel transfers are my favorite so far. The book suggested using soft gel (gloss) medium, gesso, or caulk. I don't have caulk, so I skipped that trial. I used the gesso, but none of those transfers were usable ... at all.

I experimented with both matte and gloss gel medium - and if I remember to carefully and quickly wipe away any gel that extends beyond the transfer image - I am happy with either one. The only downside is that the technique takes 24 hours of patience. Just like the proverbial pot, watching does not make the gel dry faster. After the loooong wait, it was a simple matter of sanding the back of the transfer, lightly misting with water, and rubbing away the paper to reveal what image was still attached to the background.

This method requires a toner-based or magazine image. I chose to use laser printed illustrations, scanned from old books, and photos, adjusted to the desired size. The images were trimmed to exactly the shapes I wanted and placed on painted papers. Two of the backgrounds were bumpy gelatin plate prints. I did wonder how that uneven surface would affect the quality of the transfer.

Gelatin plate background paper

 

Gelatin plate background paper

Painted background paper

These images transferred even better than I expected, so the gesso transfer failures are forgotten, out of mind! Even the bumpy gelatin print papers took the transfers perfectly. 

The next step is to figure out how and where I want to use these (pictures will be posted) ... and then make more!!!!! 

Next up - Gel Skin.

Casting all your care upon God; for he careth for you.   1 Peter 5:7

Image transfers with Con-Tact Paper

I used the real thing. No off-brand allowed. It had to be the best. Specifically, it was the transparent matte Con-Tact Paper.

This time I stayed with black and white images, keeping background use in mind. The first trial shape was from a photo of a welcome mat, all scrolly and beautiful. (Inspiration is everywhere!) I placed the Con-Tact paper on the image and burnished as instructed with my bone folder. So far, so good.

The next step was to lightly sand the back of the image paper, mist with water and rub off the wet paper with my fingers. I always start that process gently, until I get the feel for how much pressure it will take to remove all the paper. This time, the end result wasn't so great. You can plainly see the paper residue.

 

So I rubbed a little longer and a little harder. That's when I could clearly see that the ink was smudging. 

I placed the transfer on two different background papers, just to see how it would look if I decided to use it for something. The look is ok, but for me, the Con-Tact paper is just too thick to be part of a final product that I would enjoy.

 

I went through identical steps with a fish image. The results were the same - smudged ink and too much paper residue. I say ink, but both the fish and the scrolly images were from a laser printer. That means toner. Toner doesn't normally smudge.

Con-Tact transfer on the right

I doubt that I will ever use this method again. I am happy to know why. It is my goal to use all of these trial pieces in some way. The two transfers shown in this post will most likely gather a lot of dust before they end up in the wastebasket. 

Next time - direct gel, gesso and caulk transfers.

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.   Psalm 71:17

Image transfers with tape

Wow. I was NOT kidding about multiple pictures! Each project offers at least two options ... and there are multiple choices after that. So, here goes.

I chose 2 colorful magazine pages and a book page (much heavier paper) with a painting by Winslow Homer. The tape on the pink flowers folded as I applied it, but I thought it might be interesting to see what happened with that fold. You can see the tape shine on all three samples.

 
For the next step I lightly rubbed the back of each paper with drywall sandpaper, then misted each piece with water when I was ready to start removing the paper backing.
 

 

The magazine paper was the easiest. It slid from the tape with very little effort.

 

The book paper took a bit more rubbing (with flat part of fingertips only) but it finally came clean. The image was not perfect, but the occasional rough spots added to the charm.

 

Holding each piece against different backgrounds gave me some ideas about how the cleaned transfers could be used. 

 

the yellow narrow tape

W. Homer girl on antique book page

W. Homer girl on gelatin print paper

The pink flowers are attached to a drawing I don't like ... just to see what would happen. Interesting possibility on future projects. I ended cutting away the fold in the tape, so it didn't affect anything.

But my favorite is the girl. She found a resting place on a card front. She already has a new home. That's why I love making cards.

Next post - using the same tape transfer method only using clear Contact paper.

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart to knowledge. Proverbs 22:17

Image Transfer Workshop Project

Dear blog,

I have not intentionally neglected you. I have been under-inspired and it has shown in the number of times I came here to update you.

But then ... I joined the Instagram 100 Day Project. By the end of the 100 days, it occurred  me that there doesn't have to be a deadline looming to give me permission to make things ... to play with paper or all things sticky and messy.

I also was reminded of three great books that I purchased over the past few years (all three by Darlene Olivia McElroy and Sandra Duran Wilson). They are great books, but since I never appeared in my workroom with out a deadline looming, the books sat gathering dust.

This week I made the decision to work my way through every project in the book, Image Transfer Workshop. I won't skip any pages. I won't jump around the book. I will go page by page and try every technique.

There is no rush to finish. No 100 day deadline, so my goal is to try everything, use everything in some kind of end product, and enjoy the journey.

I've already completed the first how-to. Because there are lots of pictures that go with this, there may be more than one post to cover the steps. I want to be able to remember in detail everything that I learn.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. I Thessalonians 5:21