2. Natural Ideas for the Classroom
Photo Transfer
Natural Ideas for the Classroom

5. Images flip in a photo transfer. Images will loose some realism.
A photo transfer is a black and white or color image where a solvent is used to transfer the ink from the image to another material.
Images flip in a photo transfer.
Images will loose some realism.
2007 Mary Bailey Thomas, “Joy in the Morning”

6. Xerox transfers made with Citra-Solv
Citra-Solv can be found at most health stores.
Pleasant orange scent, no toxic fumes.
Will not harm the environment, even if poured down the drain!

7. Images can be added to with painting and drawing media
Images can be added to with painting and drawing media. Left is transfer, right is worked with prismas.
Mary Bailey Thomas, “Bethabara Historic Park Log Cabin Steps”, 2007

8. Xeroxing the Image Images can be enlarged and altered.
Only LASER copies work, not ink jet.
Take a small amount of solvent when copying before you find out they don’t work.
-Kinkos copys tend to work well.
If using images from magazines be sure the works are distorted or altered enough to not break copyright.

9. Solvents
Citra-Solv, Grumbacher brand "Grumtine" (an orange-scented turpentine alternative), or try essential oils: peppermint, wintergreen, etc. – Experiment.
Transfers can be done with harsh chemicals such as paint removers and lacquer thinner. These work but are harmful.

10. There are two successful ways to create transfers.
#1 pre-soak your image with Citra-Solv and flip face down onto your paper.
#2 lay your image face down on your paper, tape down and wet with Citra-Solv soaked cotton balls.
Both methods require
equal burnishing
and time.
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

11. Dab small amounts of solvent onto the back of the image.
Tape down 2 edges.
Dab small amounts of solvent onto the back of the image.
The image will start to appear through the back of the paper.
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

12. To complete the transfer you will need to burnish the back of the Citra-Solved image.
Clay tools, finger nails, butts of screws, spoons, bone folders, brayers… these will all create different effects.
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

13. Rub in multiple directions to ensure the entire image is transferred… or scratch through spots to create effects.
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

14. Canvas Paper
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

15. School Grader Watercolor Paper
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

16. Wooden Birdhouses
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

17. Hot Press Watercolor Paper
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

18. Handmade Paper
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

19. Tracing Paper
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

20. Acid Free Foam Core Board with Matte Surface
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

21. Black and white silver gelatin print scanned, laser printed and then transferred using Citra-solv on cold press watercolor paper
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

22. After sanding the surface, clean and dry before transferring.
To transfer on metal surfaces; prepare the metal first by sanding in several different directions, creating a “tooth” on the surface of the object.
After sanding the surface, clean and dry before transferring.
After the transferred image completely dries add varnish or lacquer over the image to prevent rust.
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

26. Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

27. Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

28. Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

29. Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

30. Flip your image and transfer multiple times to create pattern.
Image 2007 Mary Bailey Thomas

31. This method is useful for making large-scale composite works
This method is useful for making large-scale composite works. *Robert Rauschenberg is famous for incorporating transferred images in his work.
Robert Rauschenberg
1963, Untitled

32. Robert Rauschenberg and are copyrighted.
All Images by
Robert Rauschenberg
and are copyrighted.
All Images by
Robert Rauschenberg and are copyrighted.