The Graphics Fairy

Vintage Images, DIY Tutorials & Craft Projects

12 Easy Image Transfer Methods for DIY Projects!

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I’m reposting this handy Transfer Methods post, as I’ve added some new information to this article. I hope you find it helpful!

12 Easy Image Transfer Methods for DIY Projects

Time and time again, the question that I get asked most frequently by my readers, is “How can I transfer your Graphics on to _____”.   Even though I have numerous Transfer Methods on my blogs, and links to others, I have to admit the information is difficult to find since it is spread out in a very unorganized manner! So I thought it was high time I consolidate it all in one place so that you can easily find the method that you want to use for your particular project. Below you will find links to 12 different ways to Transfer onto pretty much any type of material, some are my own Tutorials, some are from friends or readers and a couple of them I found online.

1) How to Transfer Typography onto Furniture : This is a two part Tutorial showing how to blow up your image really big, using a free program, and an easy cheap transfer method, so that you can paint your image on large or small pieces of Furniture, Walls or Signs. Great for painted wood pieces or natural wood.

2) The Citra Solv Method : This method uses a cleaning product called Citra Solv. This one works well with Fabric projects, like Towels, Pillows, Chair Seats and Lampshades. This method will give you a slightly faded, slightly imperfect, transfer for an old world look.

3) The Wax Paper Method: I have yet to try this method, but it looks amazing! The only supplies you need are your Printer and some Wax Paper and the super simple Tutorial from Angela at Unexpected Elegance! I’ve seen this one used on Painted and Natural Wood and Painted Metal.

4) The Freezer Paper Method: This one is similar to the one above, only you use Freezer Paper instead of Wax Paper. Lesa at Home Frosting has a fabulous Tutorial that shows you how to use this method on Fabric.

5) The Iron On Method: In this Tutorial I show you how to do an Iron on Transfer, using my favorite Transfer Paper. I consider this brand to be the “Holy Grail” of Transfer Papers, as it completely blows away the other stuff out there. If you’ve tried doing Iron Ons in the past, with crappy results, you will love this stuff! Great for any Fabric Projects.

6) Printing on Fabric: Gail at My Repurposed Life, shows you how to cut out the middle man, and print directly onto fabric, with your home printer! For those of you that sew (or don’t mind gluing your projects) this is a really fun method!

7) The Mod Podge Method: Good old Mod Podge, is there anything this stuff can’t do?!! This excellent Tutorial by Katie at Matsuke explains how to use this technique to Transfer onto Wood.  I’ve also seen this used on Fabric, Canvas, Terra Cotta and even shiny Ceramic pieces.  This is a really popular method and super versatile since you can use it on so many materials!

8) The Projector Method: Marian from Miss Mustard Seed shares her Sign Making secrets, using an Overhead Projector to transfer images onto wood! This method can be used for Painted or Natural Wood.

9) Using Water Slide Decals: Learn how to use Water Slide Decals to transfer images onto Glass, Soap, Candles and Paper, with this fun technique. Carol from The Polka Dot Closet will walk you through all the steps!

10) The Blender Pen Method: Rosemary from Villa Barnes demonstrates this fast and easy Method using an inexpensive Blender Pen to transfer onto Fabric. I’ve also seen this used on Wood.

11) The Omni Gel Method: In this Tutorial I explain how to use a liquid substance called Omni Gel, to transfer images onto Tumbled Marble Tiles for Coasters. I’ve also used this on Painted Wood.

12) Gesso on Canvas Technique:  Check out how Trisha at Whimsy Art Studios used Gesso on Canvas to create a fabulous French art piece for her Wall!

More Info on Transfers

12 More Easy Image Transfer Techniques: Want even more Transfer Techniques? Check out our latest post, for 12 MORE Easy Image Transfer Tutorials, for all new methods and products!

Top Tip for Transfers: This is a great post to read before you get started! This tip will save you some headaches and frustration!

Favorite Transfer Products: These are my favorite all time Transfer Products rounded up into one place.

Well hopefully that will clear things up. Feel free to grab my Transfer Printables to use in your projects.  Have fun transferring!

Graphics Fairy Premium Membership

Be sure and check out our Premium Membership site HERE, for loads of PNG images, with transparent backgrounds, these types of images are perfect for Transfer Projects!

Online Image Transfers Workshop

And if you really want to dive in and do professional looking transfers, check out our amazing Online Image Transfer Workshop with Heather Tracy HERE!

 


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Welcome, I’m so glad you’re here! Browse around to find Vintage Graphics, Projects and DIY Tutorials, as well as Free Iron On Printables (many of them French!)




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Comments

  2. This is fantastic all in one place, instead of the dozens of pins I have in my boards on pinterest Since you did say share I am going to pin this on pinterest.

    Reply

  5. fantastic post Karen! To have this all in one place is great!
    I pinned it. 🙂 and I put it on fb, that’s how excited I am about this post!
    I have tried citrasolv and failed miserably–a friend is going to mail me a copy that she KNOWS is doable. I think my guy at staples didn’t know what he was doing.
    Thanks for including my post with these other great tips!
    gail

    Reply

  6. Prudent Homemaker, How fun, I will have to check it out!!

    Gail, Yes, finding the right kind of copy is the only difficult part with that method. The Staples copies won’t work, in fact you don’t want to go to any of the large chains, so forget Kinkos, Office Max etc. You need to find an older machine, so try your local Library, Post Office, or an Independently owned Printer place. I get mine made at my local Grocery store.

    Reply

  9. Oh, Karen, someone else did it using a wood burning tool that heats up the paper and transfers the ink. If I can find that post someplace, can I post it here too?

    Smiles, Suzanne at WhyCuzICan

    Reply

  15. Thank you so much…I have been wanting to try several of these but haven’t gotten my nerve up. This will make it easier to study & decide which one might work best for me. I LOVE your blog & all of the great things you post!!!

    Reply

  17. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    Not only do you provide the world with the most beautiful images, but now you also generously give your time to help others in finding tutorials for transferring your gorgeous images!

    You have my great appreciation and my thanks!

    Reply

  23. Wow, thanks so much for all the nice comments everyone! I’m so glad that you guys are finding this useful!

    Rosemary, You are so welcome. Your project is so lovely!!

    Suzanne, Yes, please post it here in the comments! I have one of those tools, but haven’t had much success with it. I could use a Tut for that!

    Regina, Thanks for sharing this! I really appreciate it!

    Reply

  26. Thanks so much Karen – you’re a doll!! Just ordered my CitraSolv (not easy to find over here in the UK and very expensive when you do!!!) but looking forward to trying out all these great methods. Thanks also for the wonderful graphics you share.

    Hugs.

    Karen x

    Reply

  30. Really nice collection of articles. I haven’t done any art transfers yet, but the two examples you gave are fabulous. Now we need to find somewhere to work the concept into our house!

    First time I’ve visited your site. Awesome!

    Kim

    Reply

  31. Wow, I’m so loving your site and have just used one of your French printables to add to a little milking stool I found at a Recycle Shop on the weekend. My first time using Mod Podge (wish I’d found the tutorial you recommended first, but will use next time). Am also brand new at blogging, but wanted to show you my little piece that I used your art for. THANK YOU so much. I love it, have pinned to Pinterest and linked your page to my blog. Check out my pics at: http://irestorestuff.blogspot.com/2012/01/tiny-milking-stool.html

    Reply

  33. Amazing and so informative – As Always!!! You started my creative career and I just love your site.
    Thanks so much!
    Sandie

    Reply

  37. Thank You so much Karen!!! Very useful!
    I couldn’t find the “gesso method” tutorial at the link you gave…is it me or the link is not the correct one?

    Emanuela

    Reply

  43. Awesome ideas! I tried number 5 (iron transfer). I bought the exact paper and the image transferred beautifully to my fabric…I waited over night, and then washed the fabric, and I found that the ink actually ran and caused bluish pink staining all around the image. Did anyone else have this problem??? I used a tight weave fabric and I ironed it for long enough. I was surprised because it said on the packaging for the paper that the image would be color fast. Thanks for any tips 🙂
    Mandi

    Reply

    • Hi Mandi, According to the instructions, you need to make sure everything transfers completely or it won’t wash well. The instructions say that “there should be no polymer residue left on the sheet”. So next time maybe try ironing just a little longer first.

      Reply

  48. I have just dicovered your blog (I’m following now in Google Reader)! IT’s amazing!! Thanks for all the useful information and graphics!!!
    Blumyrose

    Reply

  52. I am trying to find the best method to put a title onto the mat board around a photo. I have hand printed, stenciled, and dry rubbed none of which are what I was looking for. I want it to look like I had the title printed on the board.

    any ideas?

    Chris

    Reply

  53. You can use a warm iron to “fuse” the waxy side of freezer paper to fabric, cut to size and zip the whole thing through the printer. Let the ink dry, and peel off the freezer paper. Presto! You’ve got a crisp image on fabric. The freezer paper pulls right off without distorting the fabric. (I usually iron the image to set the ink) This freezer paper works great for “fussy cutting” a fabric image for quilting or applique, too.

    Reply

  55. Wow thank you for this amazing information. Recently I started a blog because I get so inspired by stuff just like this. Last year we were foreclosed on and ended up purchasing a Cheap home lol and had to gut it down to the siding. All these great ideas I find will help me finish my home with personality. Thanks Graphics Fairy..Kristin
    http://intentionallyinspired.blogspot.com/

    Reply

  57. Thank you SO much for investing the time and effort it took to bring this to us…you’re wonderful!!!

    Reply

  63. I’m sorry but I have to agree with Anonymous. I have tried several of your transfer techniques and am not having any success at all. I love all your graphics but can’t find a good method to transfer them to wood.

    Reply

    • Some of the methods may take a little practice. The best thing to do is to try them out on some scrap pieces of wood, until you get the hang of it. If you check out my Brag Monday posts, you can see lots of projects done by my readers, successfully using these techniques. I hope that helps!

      Reply

  64. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what good color printer to purchase? I am looking for a good price for both the printer AND ink! We have 2 printers in the house and neither one prints color copies true. Flesh colors always seem to be a green tinge, and never as bright as I want them, despite fooling w/the settings.

    Reply

  68. How do I transfer large images to fabric? Like maybe a quilt. Maybe a poster.. Is there a way? Something larger than a regular printer size. All of the places I check do not have ink jet printers…

    Reply

  71. Thank you! I just found a yard sale table and remembered the great post you did recently with the grain sack transfer and blue stripes. Now to pick a graphic…
    Thanks!

    Reply

  72. Hi, Karen! This is a really good post! You have covered so many good techniques! So, in addition to supplying the world with such wonderful graphics, you are a genius when it comes to their applications! LOL I so admire what you do!

    I know this post is last year, but, I wanted to share another technique, one for digital stamps/transfers. Over at Captivated Visions, Rachel has done a tutorial showing how to use most any image, and turn it into a digital transfer. Her intent in the post is to show how to use one’s digi-stash in other ways, like art-journaling. Actually, Rachel’s post is part of a series called “Artful DigiScrapping”. The results are just amazing!

    I see posts all over the place where folks have used your images in new and creative ways, so, I thought of you and Rachel’s post when I saw this one. She has been featured in several places with this tutorial/technique. (No, I am not on her payroll. LOL) She’s a doll, though!

    It’s a real simple technique. Basically, you clip an image to a brush stroke, or stamped brush. But, I will let Rachel explain it to you! LOL

    Thank you for all that you do and how sweet you are doing it!

    Su

    Reply

  73. Help!! Love LOVE LOVE your graphics. I have picked one to transfer to wood using Mod Podge (for Images). Here’s my question…how do I make the background transparent. I did a test on a sample wood and I see my white background behind the print graphic.

    Reply

    • Hi Mimi,
      You’ll need to cut around the design very closely to get rid of the white with that method. Or you can paint your wood white to match. I hope that helps!

      Reply

  74. Hi Karen, Love your blog. Do you have an ideas for transferring images to plastic? I am trying to transfer an image to the plastic part of a pacifier. Thanks Kim. by the way I have a ink jet printer. Thanks again.

    Reply

    • Hi Kim,
      I’m not sure about plastic. I would definitely recommend not transferring onto anything that would go into a babies mouth, it’s just not worth the risk. Perhaps you could make a cute bib or onesie, using an iron on instead!

      Reply

  76. With the risk of sounding stupid, I have a question. I printed out the mirror image with the taps paper but when I ironed it down, it reads backwards. What am I doing wrong?

    Reply

  83. Once I click on the image I want, how do I mirror image it (my printer won’t do this) and shrink the size to fit what I am working on.

    Reply

  84. wow!!!!! The “How to Transfer Typography onto Furniture” has really helped me a lot making a birthday present for my grandad. thank god you were here to help. you have saved my day !

    Reply

  85. Dear Karen,
    only a few days ago I found your site by chance. Such a lot of amazing things you have collected! It makes me want to start at once with lots and lots of projects!
    I´d like to add another form of transferring prints on fabric. Did you ever hear of lavender oil as transfer medium?
    You print your pattern with a laser printer, fix the paper face down on fabric with tape and soak it with lavender oil (you find it in drugstores for aromatherapy or things like that) then you rub the print with the back of a spoon or any other round, hard tool. It takes some pressure and about 15-20 min to get the colour on to the fabric. You can look once and again, whether it is sufficiently transferred. After removing the paper let it dry a day, then you can fix the colour by ironing as hot as the fabric allowes. So you can even wash it.
    best wishes from Bavaria
    Karoline

    Reply

    • Thank you so much Karoline! I’ve never heard of that method before! I think it would be lovely to work with too, since the fragrance would be so nice!

      Reply

    • Hi Karoline – I love using essential oils for laser print transfers! I carry an item with me every day that I decorated this way and it still has a lovely fragrance, even after over a year…I’ve used lavender essential oil and patchouli oil both with success. I used to use the Blending Pen method, but I’ve converted – less toxic, less expensive, more fun. Thanks for mentioning using it on fabric – I haven’t tried that yet, but will have to, now!

      Reply

  86. I love your tutorials on transfer methods for furniture. I am curious why graphite transfer paper can’t be used? or even old fashioned carbon paper to “copy” an image onto painted furniture? Thanks

    Reply

  87. Hi, Karen!
    I just found your website and it’s amazing. I just have one question, do you need a laser printer or a regular inkjet printer for transfering?. I’ve tried the ModPodge method and for that you need a laser printer. And last night ,i tried your method on freezer paper and the ink looks quite fresh ,almost runny and didn’t transfer as well as yours.
    Thanks
    Maggi

    Reply

  88. Hi Karen,I know this isn’t technically on the subject, but I downloaded some bird graphics. Block Poster is fantastic. I found some fonts, downloaded to write Faith, Hope, Love, but I can’t figure out how to use them. Do I need to download something else before I can write with the fonts?
    You do a great job!
    Thank you,
    Sally

    Reply

    • Hi Sally, Most all of the font sites have a help section, go ahead and consult that, they’ll be able to walk you through it. The process can vary depending on what type of set up you have on your computer. 🙂

      Reply

  89. Hi Karen, I tried to use Block Poster last night and it’s a great tool but it only accepts jpg files and your files print in pdf format. Has anyone else had this problem?

    Reply

    • Hi Terry, Instead of saving the PDF file, just click on the picture of the transfer in the post. You can save that picture and use it instead, as it’s in JPG format. I hope that helps!

      Reply

  90. Karen,Came across your web site yesterday.Amazing I Iike the idea how you personally connect with each person.Rarely do see that.Some of us are just learning Your willingness to help is so appreciated.I’m sure i speak for all who are just learning.’THANK YOU’. I’m sure i will be a regular.

    Reply

    • Thank you Trudy. I wish I could connect with every person, but unfortunately it’s really tough to find the time anymore! I hope you will enjoy yourself here and visit often though!

      Reply

  91. Hi Karen,
    How can I transfer a large graphic onto fabric (say 24’x15′ onto a cotton)? Would I need to have a printer (kinko) print it out for me and then citasolv it with a paintbrush, or can i have a printer’s print it right onto the fabric? I realize this is not quite DIY – but would be if I could laser large prints!!
    Thanks

    Reply

  92. I decoupaged a color print onto a Americana Decor Chalk painted desk top. The color image transferred really nice but the white of the paper background adhered to much to the desk and is also leaving a halo affect around the color image. Does the chalk paint have to be sealed first? Is there any way to remove the white background completely. It just won’t rub off no matter how wet I get it?

    Reply

    • I realize this is too late to be of much help to the original poster, but there are a few ways to avoid the ‘halo’ sometimes left by the background; 1 – some printers have an option that will allow you to choose to ‘turn off’ background graphics (usually in advanced printer settings), 2 – use an exacto knife to cut out only the desired portion of whatever you printed for use (not a good method to use with the wax paper method – takes too long and ink dries/soaks into paper and runs before transferring), 3 – use a photo editing software program or app to ‘erase’ unwanted parts of image, and 4 – (my personal favorite) after base coat is painted/stained and piece is ready to receive transfer, print a plain copy on regular paper to figure out your exact placement, then apply very thin layer of vaseline to anywhere that you do not want to transfer ink to and after transferring image and letting ink dry – vaseline wipes right off and you can continue as normal

      Reply

  93. I have an easy way to transfer things to any hard surface. A friend of mine showed me this years ago and I was able to paint Disney babies on the side of my son’s crib. These days I use it to make customized gift bags. Find an image you like and print it, doesn’t matter what kind of printer. or if you’re like me and too cheap to buy ink (seriously I can just buy another printer cheaper than the ink for mine!) hold a piece of paper up to the computer screen and trace it (if it’s simple enough!) After you have your image, turn the paper over to the wrong side and mark where the top, bottom and sides are of your image. Keeping the paper on the wrong side, color in with a pencil (I just use a standard no. 2 pencil) and color in where your tick marks are. You have to color the entire back of the image with pencil, using a little pressure. Then turn the image around and retrace over the image onto your surface. Take the paper away and now you have your image on whatever it is (in my case, those paper brown gift bags!). You can then paint the image. After the paint dries, go over the outline again with a fine tip sharpie, and fill in details like eyes, mouth, etc.

    Reply

  95. Hmm. Still missing method of Annie Sloan chalk paint transfer to chalk painted surface using decoupage, I know it can be done but don’t have copy of her book. Decided after I painted (before wax) to do transfer but no one seems to have relevant details. Do I remove some of the existing ascp? Does it have to be smooth? Do I put the AS decoupage OVER the printed image, or just on the furniture side?. Only utube I found was saying to use inkjet copy &.I know THAT is wrong. I don’t want to wreck it. Sigh.

    Reply

    • Siobhan, Before doing a big project, I always recommend testing out your transfer method on a scrap piece of wood first. Practice makes perfect and since we are all using various different types of paint, and different printers/copies and different waxes, it’s really the best way. Grab a couple of scrap pieces of wood and do some practice boards and take notes on what you did and which products you used, then you will have your own perfect recipe and the confidence to work on your larger pieces!

      Reply

    • Hi Jo Anne, I don’t own a laser printer, so I’ve never tried it. I know that there are products that are made just for laser printers. Lasertran is the name of one I believe.

      Reply

  100. I have only recently found your site and it is great. I have a question though. I haven’t done anything other than painting furniture yet, but does the image transfer work on what we in the UK call emulsion paint. Please Thank you, Pat

    Reply

  101. Woo Hoo! I’ve been trying to transfer my rather complex original design onto a dark blue fabric for embroidery. I didn’t want to trace it because I wanted to get the line thicknesses accurate. I tried sew and tear but the fabric was too stretchy. I then tried the print and iron method but both the original and the copy on the fabric was much too faint. Finally I read through your post and all of the comments and I tried the wax paper/freezer paper idea (although I used transparency film – because I have lots of it-that was agreat suggestion) and it worked! I am so happy. Thanks to you and your commenters I can finally finish this project that has languished for months.

    Reply

  103. I have found that using the overhead projector transparency sheets (not the inkjet ones) work really well. The ink stays wet and allows a great transfer without having to cut paper to size!

    Reply

  104. I did read the above comments however I would like to use these as wallpaper to attach
    to the wall. What method would you use or do these come as wallpaper? I’m most interested
    in the Vintage Robin, Bird Nest Frame and Bird-Frame-Vintage.
    Any help you can suggest would be most appreciated. Thank you.
    Kathleen

    Reply

  105. Hi. Could you please guide me a bit?
    I have a few pieces of wooden ply-board and want to transfer using mod podge. Can it be transferred onto ply-board. If yes, then do i need to smoothen the board with sandpaper or a slightly rough texture will do??
    My boyfriend’s birthday is in a week’s tome and i really wanna make a photo transfer in wood for him.. Please help.

    Love,
    Bhavana.

    Reply

    • Hi Bhavana,
      You should be fine with the wooden texture provided it isn’t splintery which might make it harder for the Mod Podge to adhere. I always recommend that it’s a good idea to try any project out on a scrap piece of wood first just to get the technique down, practice makes perfect 🙂 Good luck with your project!

      Reply

  106. Do you know how I can make colorable images with raised lines so kids can stay inside the lines EASIER? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Wonderful! That is exactly what we offer at The Graphics Fairy! All of the images on the blog at thegraphicsfairy.com are free of charge for you to create whatever you wish 🙂 Enjoy!

      Reply

  112. Would someone be able to tell me how I can transfer/save my children’s drawings on the bottom of my dining room table? I want to save the “artwork” but not the table.

    Reply

  114. I got a mirror for a present with a family foto on. Can’t see how it’s made. Will you maybe be able to help me?

    Reply

  115. Hi there! I LOVE your site and I’ve found it to be very helpful. However, if it’s possible, I’d like to see some kind of printable for “Home and Family.” Is this something that you might be able to add to the site? Thanks a bunch and have a blessed day!

    Reply

  116. Hi there,

    Just wondering, can you transfer an image from a poster? I was wondering if I bought a poster and wanted to transfer the image to several tiles, would it work or do I absolutely need to print out the image to be transferred?

    Reply

    • Hi Jeannette,

      I have never tried that before so can’t really say. Perhaps give it a try onto a scrap tile to see if it works before trying on your finished project piece? Good luck 🙂

      Reply

  117. Dear Karen,

    I wanted to pint

    Dear Karen,

    I wanted to make transparent film art on a flat glass. Could you please let me know how to it.
    Your help is most appreciated.
    Thank you!
    Henry

    Dear Karen,

    Reply

  118. I hope you don’t find this to odd a question. I am trying to find a method that would allow me to transfer color prints to thermoplastics (e.g KYDEX) materials. is this anything you could help shed some light on. thanks in advance for any help or advice you can give.

    Reply

  120. I’m looking for a transfer method to apply lettering to brass or aluminum plates for an acid etch process.
    The applied black images need to resist acids like Ferric Chloride, Hydrochloric Acid…
    I had a company silkscreen apply some patterns on and that worked great but that company is now gone.
    I’ve heard there is an iron on method…What can you recommend ??

    Reply

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