Photo transfer magic

One of my favorite DIY techniques is the photo transfer. It's relatively easy and it gives great results. 

Photo transfer allows you to make something fun, creative or sentimental from your favorite photos or images. These make great gifts as well J

All you need is:

• photo-editing program (nothing fancy, most of the simple programs will do fine)
• a digital photo (if you want to use an old photo, made before the digital era, you can scan it)
• a laser printout of that photo / image (has to be LASER printout)
• photo transfer medium (I use this one)
• brush, scissors
• surface you wish to transfer your photo onto (like canvas, wooden board, even textile)
• Mod Podge

Step 1: Edit your photo. Do whatever you need to make it look as you want – crop it, enhance the color, contrast, brightness... Maybe you want to work with a black and white photo - these look nice because transfer is rarely perfect, so... B&W photo + little damages = pretty vintage masterpiece; if you know what I mean J

Additionally, you can reverse the photo. Because when you transfer your  photo, you will get the reversed image (keep that in mind). So, if you want to get the image of the original photo (facing the right way), you need to reverse it.

Don't forget to size the photo to fit on the surface you are transferring it onto.

Step 2: Print out your photo.  It has to be a laser print. So if you don't have a laser printer at home, you'll need to take it to a photo studio.  If you are working with a B&W photo, ask for a color print anyway – this will enhance the quality of your photo and the result will be better. Print the photo on a fairly thin paper, trust me, it will be easier later.

Step 3: Cut out the printout of the photo.

Step 4: Cover the surface with the photo transfer medium. Cover the top of the photo as well. Work fast because the medium dries fast.

Step 5: Lay your photo face-down on top of your chosen surface. Use something (e.g. a ruler, credit card, roller brush...) to smooth out and flatten any air bubbles underneath the photo.

Step 6: Let it dry.

Step 7: Now it gets messy. Get your fingers wet (or you can use a sponge / wet cloth, etc.). Rub the back of the photo with your wet fingers. Keep doing  this until you reveal the photo. Be careful and gentle – you need to get rid of the white paper fibers, but you don't want to destroy the photo.

Step 8: Let it dry.

Step 9: If you see any paper fibers that still need to be rubbed off,  repeat the step 6.

Step 10: Let it dry completely and seal your work with Mod Podge.

Here are some additional ideas:

Another canvas transfer

Photo transfer on a wooden board

Really proud of this one. It's a photo transfer on a textile bag. The procedure is the same, I just used the Mod Podge for textile to seal my work and I ironed the image over the baking paper (in order to make it resistant to washing).