How to Transfer a Vintage Graphic Using a Transparency

Hi everyone! I hope you all had an great week-end. We attended the wedding of good friends from church, and enjoyed our time of chatting and catching up at the reception. Today I’m sharing a quick post about how to transfer a vintage graphic to a painted surfaces.

How to Transfer a Vintage Graphic Using a TransparencySeveral months ago, I tried the “Citri-solve” transfer method, with absolutely no success. It plain didn’t work for me. I figured out later that this method only works with laser printers or those that use toner. I own an ink-jet printer. Duh.

Graphic Transfer Methods That Did Not Work

white tray for vintage graphic transferThis is the tray I that I had tried the [failed] citri-solve method on. I picked it up at a yard sale a while back. After reading several blog posts from other bloggers about wax paper transfer, I worked up the courage to try again because I loved the results.

Problem #1: On the day I decided to give it a try, I had no wax paper. Sigh. Wouldn’t you know. But I thought I had read about other crafters using parchment paper. So I tried that instead (cutting and taping it to a piece of card stock). In fact, I gave it two tries. No go.

Problem #2: Next I used a piece of waxy paper that had once held address labels, but when I went to transfer the image, I realized I had forgotten to reverse the graphic, LOL.

So, I wiped off the ink, dried the surface, reversed the graphic, put the paper in the printer, and jammed the printer(!). Wetting this particular kind of paper caused it to tear in the printer. Oh my. Time to go back to bed…

The Graphic Transfer Method That Finally Worked

transparency filmSo now we come to my ultimate solution, and one I’m SO happy about. After removing the paper bits from my printer, I got to thinking about what would be the “perfect” surface to apply the ink to, and old fashioned transparencies came to mind.

Many of you probably remember your teachers using them to project information onto a white wall. I dug out a package that I had purchased a while ago for 99¢. I hear you can buy them by the single sheet (and you’ll only need one) at office supply stores.

transparency with graphicThis is what a transparency looks like lying on the surface of my tray (after I had already completed the graphic transfer). It has two sides–a completely flat, smooth side and a rough, textured side. You must print your graphic onto the flat, smooth side.

staged paris graphic transfer trayAfter printing the image, I laid the transparency, ink-side down, on my tray. I taped it to the tray to keep it from moving, then rubbed the back very hard with a spoon, making sure to rub every inch of the graphic.

Then I removed the transparency and voila, the image appeared on my tray. Keep in mind that not all of the ink transfers. In fact, looking at the transparency afterwards, it seems that none has, but looking at your project you see that much of it has. The transfer is not perfect. It has a kind of haziness that adds a vintage quality to whatever your decorating.

staged paris trayAfter the image had thoroughly dried, I lightly applied a few coats of finish. I used a spray matte finish and it worked well.

Transparency Graphic Transfer Materials & Directions

staged paris trayFor easy reference, I’ll list the materials and steps altogether here:

Materials:
Ink-jet printer
Transparency
Spoon
Masking tape
Object to decorate

1. Find computer image you’d like to transfer. Reverse it if it has any writing. (I found my image at the Graphics Fairy)
2. Print the image on the flat, smooth side of a transparency.
3. Quickly take it to your object and place it ink-side down where you want it to appear.
4. Quickly tape it down with masking tape.
5. Firmly rub with the back of the transparency with the back-side of a spoon.
6. Lift one corner to make sure the image has transferred properly.
7. Remove the tape and lift off the transparency.
8. Allow it to dry thoroughly.
9. Apply 2 or 3 coats of acrylic spray finish, being careful not to apply too heavily or you might cause the image to run or blur.

staged paris tray The tray sold at the Shaker Christmas craft fair I do every year for $25. I used this same process to create a farmhouse style sign that is pretty darn cute.

Thank you Karen, The Graphics Fairy, for providing this awesome graphic
and for featuring this project on your blog!

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I’d love it if you’d pin me 🙂

How to Transfer a Vintage Graphic Using a Transparency

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15 Comments

  1. This is one of those things that I always want to try and never get around to doing. Thanks for the tutorial – pinning this!

  2. How wonderful that you figured out all the things that could go wrong so hopefully we won't mess up! I appreciate your honesty in sharing the things that went wrong, and right! I have some old transparencies as well, and this is a great idea! I saw an idea this weekend at a farm store where someone had covered a canvas frame with burlap, painted the burlap, and then transferred an image onto the burlap, and it was so darling and vintage. I wondered how they did it. Maybe something similar could be done with your tutorial. Thanks for sharing your helpful tutorial with us 🙂

  3. Sometimes the best ideas are discovered completely by accident. This would save the step of having to tape your wax paper to card stock or risking it getting stuck in the printer. I'm definitely going to try this method. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Inspiration Party. Pinning!

  4. I can just feel your frustration when the paper was chewed up by the printer. That would be me!!! I love how it looks, worth your efforts! Thanks so much for the tutorial…I would love to try it!

  5. You post made me smile – to know that others have this same problems made me feel better! I enjoyed reading about your trip to success! This looks like something I would love to try! Thanks for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!

  6. oooooooohhhh goodie! I'm so excited to try this…I use a lot of transperancies for different applications, but I have to take them to the local print shop because I don't have the right kind of ink to not rub off….now I know what I can do with them at home!!

    p.s. Check out my blog if you have time…I love to decorate too! http://www.adventuresofabusybee.com

  7. Beautiful tray … worth all the trial and errors. Thanks for all the tips.
    Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

  8. oh, it's adorable. I like how it came out kind of aged and hazy, perfect patina! Thanks for linking up to Thrifter Share

  9. I have a couple of transparencies. I'll have to try this method. I have done the modge podge method and it was kind of fun, but love this look! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

  10. Pingback: DIY Tray- Transparency Transfer Method - Reader Feature - The Graphics Fairy
  11. You have a kind, gentle heart that comes through when looking at your work, lots of which I have pinned. I am so happy I have found your site!

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