Can I use an inkjet printer for photo transfer? | Let's compare to a laser print
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- Опубліковано 16 гру 2023
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Image transfers are a fabulous way of adding an extra layer to your mixed media work or for making photo canvases or signs. There are lots of different ways of doing them, but the standard way is to print out a reversed image, stick it in place and then remove the paper with gently rubbing and water to leave the ink image in place.
However this process is usually recommended for a laser printer, so what can you do if you have an inkjet printer? In this film I compare a laser copy to an ink jet copy to show you what the difference really is and where the problem lies, and then I try and work out ways in which we can improve the situation. After all, you don't want to have to buy a new printer, do you?
I test out and compare:
Heat fixing the print
Varnishing the print (using Ghiant H2O varnish)
Using two different types of workable fixative (Ironlak and Krylon)
I use Pebeo Studio mat gel medium for the transfer medium, but you can use Mod Podge or your favourite medium.
This is a real learning situation for me too! And the results are really interesting.
If you have a go and use a different fixative or varnish, please share in the comments, so that we can all learn together!
You might be interested in this image transfer and mixed media piece: • How to do an easy imag...
Or here is a flip through of my travel journal with the photo transfer at the end: • Holiday sketchbook tip...
I love transferring images - it feels a little bit magic. Of course you could just stick the photo down and collage on the paper, but it is great to be able to transfer the image seamlessly with no sign of how you did it. I think I might be a little bit addicted and want to transfer onto canvas next (stay tuned) - if you want to see that experiment, let me know too.
Every week I share a tip, trick or technique I wish I had known when I started painting, so if you enjoyed this please like, comment and subscribe. Or if you have a watercolour problem, let me know and maybe I can help?
If you want to have more in depth courses please head over to www.lizchadertonstudio.co.uk. I also run a friendly Facebook group: / watercolourstudiowithl... .
#lizchaderton #imagetransfer #mixedmedia
If you want to see the process and then using it in a mixed media journal page, you might like this film: - Розваги
Mystery solved! Thank you for testing this for us!
Happy to help!
Thank you Liz for doing this experiment for us, it is appreciated❤️
My pleasure 😊 I wanted to know
I luv all your experimenting! It’s so interesting!
You never know where it will take you....
Wow just beautiful
Thank you! Cheers!
Some people report good results from first choosing color print even for a bl and white image in the ink jet print settings. Then run your printed image thru your ink jet printer a second time, laying double ink on the image. And yet another person told me you can get another type of ink for your ink jet… (she had an HP ink jet printer as do I) they’ve said these things give you a workable image for gel plate transfer too. I’ve yet to try these methods, so I can only pass on recent tips from others hoping it might prove worth trying.
The double print is an interesting idea!
A while ago I made a Christmas card consisting of an colourful image and a poem. I reversed it and printed it using an ink-jet printer onto the "wrong" side of an ink-jet trasparency sheet. Then I immediately after printing I pressed onto the cardstock and it came out beautifully. But I have to admit that I prefer the laser printer method 🥰
I’ve seen people do that onto waxed sheets but not tried it myself
@@LizChadertonArt This is my preferred method using baking parchment / greaseproof paper or any kind of waxed paper. It gives really interesting results for use in mixed media art.
I will give it a go!@@lynnbradshaw6279
Like your experiments. The comparisons are interesting.Thanks
Thank you! I will keep looking for better options
Wow 😯! Thanks for sharing this informational video & doing this wonderful testing for us!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for this experiment @Lizchaderton I found it very helpful as I’ve been wanting to play with image transfers for mixed media collages, but have an inkjet printer’
Glad it was helpful!
I would love to see more on photo transfer. How to on painted and collaged surfaces. I loved this video. It was hard to find one on inkjet transfers. Thank you.
I have made one on transferring to canvas, so that should be out in a couple of weeks. if you press the notification bell, you should get alerted.
@@LizChadertonArt
I will thank you. I'll look forward to that.
Interesting. As to "inkjet" you have to distinguish (a) pigment-based inks from (b) dye-based inks, and (c) some may be "waterproof" and others are not. (a) inks are significantly more expensive - these inks contains solids in the way some artist's inks do too. (b) these inks come across as completely liquid. Type (a) inks often have a "best before" date but - in my opinion - that relates to the pigments settling down in the carrier liquid over time than anything else. With type (a) you can make archival or museum quality prints, while cheaper (b) inks may fade within a short time (especially when exposed to light).
"Blackness" can often be influenced via the "dots per inch" setting, and/or other parameter settings in the printer driver's dialogue.
A printer's minimum droplet size (if specified it's in pico-litre) will also influence its potential for blackness or saturation as well as ink consumption and the colour space it can cover. You'll generally see Epson pigment printers be able to go to extremely small droplets.
Note that pixels per inch follow from the photographic resolution of your image related to size and then dots-per-inch is the printer's resolution to print that. Somewhere in the chain of processing steps between imaging software, printer driver, operating system, and the engine/firmware in the printer, conversions will be made that you can influence yourself. Other factors like the distance from the print-nozzles (in the device that squirts the ink) to the paper often can be adjusted in the printer's parameter settings (aka Preferences, but device related so they may be a level deeper than the normal print dialogue).
Why not inkjet-print directly on your artsy paper? Because rubbing the paper away is time consuming.
Watercolour (aquarel) paper may suck the ink fluid in differently than serious photographic inkjet papers (e.g. see Hahnemühle) but as explained above, with different kinds of inkjet printers, you have adjustment options that give you more control.
Some inkjet printers can print on very thick papers and have a separate straight through paper path for that. Some also can print on textiles - not for you likely but as indication that there are more options than the office laserprinter and paper for that.
Paper manufactured for use in a laserprinter has some coating on one or both sides to facilitate the laser process better - this might work against an inkjet printer.
Thank you for such a detailed explanation. You make lots of good points. Although I am aware of the archival nature of inks and that some printers have more specialist adjustments, I was aiming this film at the home artist with a basic printer set up and little technical knowledge, so simply dividing printer technology into laser or ink jet was the easiest way. I don't think someone with a more sophisticated printer set up, such as some you describe, would be looking at a film like mine.
Printing directly would limit your painting size to A4 (few people have A3 printers at home) and most basic home printers struggle with thicker paper. If you want to transfer onto wood or canvas you would need to do the paper rub off.
@@LizChadertonArt - all valid. My printer is A2. While you make valid points, my assumption would be that people with sophisticated printers at home would look at your "film" (I'm sure not to be the only exception).
This was very useful - thank you. An alternative may be to use a photocopier at the local library (which should be using the same technology as laser printers) - but it's been a while since I got a photocopy at the library - so I don't know if the technology has changed.
yes, a photocopy is the same tech as a laser printer. A copy/print shop or library would be able to help, but I don’t know if they would have a colour photocopier?
My local library does have a color copier/printer and it’s free to print up to 20 pages per day
Wow, that’s generous. You can not be in the UK surely?@@Harper.s_Art
Have you ever used a gelliplate to transfer an image? its so much fun!
Yes I have, but only with acrylics and generally I like to stick with watercolours
Oh my goodness - your fingers got a workout!!😁 Thank you SO much, Liz for doing SUCH a thorough test! 🥰 I was definitely looking forward to this as I wanted to use my own inkjet printer. A quick question - if printing a photo and not text, you print it on regular printer paper as well, not some kind of photo paper, right? I have glossy, semi-gloss and matte photo paper, but I imagine it wouldn't dissolve and come off as easily?
yes, just regular paper. Photo paper wouldn’t rub off. I have seen some people use wax paper to print on so the ink stays wet and then you transfer. Might try that next!
Yes, ordinary printer paper. Photo paper won’t rub off…..
Thanks, Liz! I always have waxed paper as I use it in the kitchen and as protection for my table where I paint, but I'll let you experiment first!😁😅🥰@@LizChadertonArt
😆@@tracylamarca575
Great video, interesting results too, can you not print directly on watercolour paper and then use the sealant before you paint? Thanks Liz for all your videos 😁
if your printer can take thick paper you could, but all your paintings would have to be A4 or smaller….
That’s an idea I haven’t thought of!
I tried image transfer on air dry clay with laser printed images and it didn't work.
What happened?