How to Do an Image Transfer Onto Wood (Easy Label Paper Method)

1. 1

   Step 1: Gather Gel Medium and Supplies for the Wood Image Transfer

   Watch this step · 1:28

   Enlarge

   You need very little for this transfer. A cheap paint brush, paper towels, a piece of bare wood and a scrap of wood or a card to push out air bubbles. For the glue, the Crafsman uses Liquitex gloss heavy gel medium, which most craft stores carry. Acrylic polyurethane works too. Put on gloves if you like to keep the gel off your hands.

   Tip:

   A dollar store chip brush is plenty for spreading gel medium.

   Mark step done

   Used in this stepLiquitex Basics Gloss Heavy Gel Mediumchip paint brushes 2 inchnitrile disposable gloves

   Back to all steps

2. 2

   Step 2: Peel the Labels Off the Shipping Label Backing

   Watch this step · 3:06

   Enlarge

   The secret ingredient is a sheet of shipping labels. You are not using the sticker part. Peel the labels away and keep the slick backing paper underneath. Save the labels for mailing, or give them to the kids to decorate. Look at the backing and you will see one dull side and one glossy, shiny side. The glossy side is the one you print on.

   Tip:

   Half sheet labels are cheap and fit a small board without trimming.

   Mark step done

   Used in this stephalf sheet shipping labels 8.5 x 5.5

   Back to all steps

3. 3

   Step 3: Laser Print the Image on the Glossy Label Backing

   Watch this step · 4:04

   Enlarge

   Feed the backing sheet into a laser printer so the image lands on the glossy side. Color or black and white both work. This method needs laser toner. Inkjet ink tends to smear on the slick surface. Remember the image will come out reversed on the wood, so mirror any words in your print settings. Trim the print to the size of your board.

   Tip:

   Free vintage images from sites like The Graphics Fairy make lovely transfers.

   Mark step done

   Used in this stephalf sheet shipping labels 8.5 x 5.5

   Back to all steps

4. 4

   Step 4: Prepare a Clean Bare Wood Board for the Transfer

   Watch this step · 4:10

   Enlarge

   Choose a smooth piece of wood with no paint, stain or finish. Light-colored woods like pine or birch show the image clearest. Sand any rough patches, then wipe the board with a dry paper towel so there is no sawdust left on it. Dust caught under the print shows up as specks and gaps in the finished transfer.

   Tip:

   Unfinished craft plaques come pre-sanded and ready to use.

   Mark step done

   Used in this stepunfinished wood slices

   Back to all steps

5. 5

   Step 5: Brush a Thin Layer of Gel Medium Over the Wood

   Watch this step · 4:36

   Enlarge

   Scoop out a generous amount of gel medium and spread it over the board with the brush. Then keep working it, brushing it out into a thin, even film that covers the whole area where the picture will go. The thinner the film, the quicker it dries and the clearer your image. Thick spots leave cloudy patches.

   Tip:

   Brush with the grain so streaks blend into the wood.

   Mark step done

   Used in this stepLiquitex Basics Gloss Heavy Gel Mediumchip paint brushes 2 inch

   Back to all steps

6. 6

   Step 6: Lay the Printed Image Face Down on the Gel Medium

   Watch this step · 5:00

   Enlarge

   Hold the print by its edges, image side down, and line it up over the board. Lower it gently onto the wet gel. Get it where you want it the first time. Once it touches, try not to slide it around, because moving it even a little can smear the toner. Press it down lightly with your palm to tack it in place.

   Tip:

   Curl the print slightly and lay it from the middle out to trap less air.

   Mark step done

   Back to all steps

7. 7

   Step 7: Scrape Out Air Bubbles From Under the Wood Transfer

   Watch this step · 5:44

   Enlarge

   Take a thin strip of scrap wood, an old gift card or a plastic scraper. Press it across the back of the print and push from the center out to the edges. Work slowly in overlapping passes. Every bubble you leave becomes a blank spot in the picture, so take your time. You will see the image show through the paper as it bonds.

   Tip:

   Do not press so hard that the gel squeezes out from under the print.

   Mark step done

   Back to all steps

8. 8

   Step 8: Wipe Excess Gel From the Edges and Let the Transfer Dry

   Watch this step · 5:48

   Enlarge

   Gel medium squeezes out around the edges as you smooth. Wipe it away with a paper towel so it does not dry into a shiny ridge. Then leave the board alone. The Crafsman sped things up with a heat gun and waited 45 minutes. He suggests leaving it overnight to be safe, which gives the gel time to grip all the toner.

   Tip:

   Peeling a corner too early lifts the image with it. Wait.

   Mark step done

   Back to all steps

9. 9

   Step 9: Peel the Backing Off to Reveal the Image on Wood

   Watch this step · 6:24

   Enlarge

   Once the gel is fully dry, lift a corner of the backing paper and peel it back slowly and evenly. No water and no rubbing needed. The slick backing lets go and the printed image stays on the wood, crisp and bright. If a spot sticks, stop and let it dry longer. Seal the finished board with a clear coat to protect it.

   Tip:

   A satin polyurethane topcoat keeps the image from scratching.

   Mark step done

   Back to all steps

Keep going

How to Draw a Raven (Realistic Pencil Sketch)

→

Tools we recommend

• E6000

  E6000 Craft Adhesive, Clear (3.7 oz)

  The industrial-strength craft glue that bonds glass, wood, ceramic, metal, fabric, and concrete. The one adhesive most craft projects reach for.

• Gorilla

  Gorilla Dual-Temp Full-Size Hot Glue Gun

  Dual-temp so it handles delicate florals and heavy materials alike. A precise nozzle and built-in stand make it the everyday craft-table gun.

• OLFA

  OLFA 18" x 24" Self-Healing Cutting Mat

  The pro-standard cutting surface. Gridlines for square cuts, self-healing so blades never leave grooves, and big enough for paper, fabric, and leather.

Tags