How to Transfer a Photo to Canvas

[@LIBERTYVIEWS]

Important to remember that the image will be reversed on the canvas. So if your photo/image has lettering, etc. you must print it on the paper using the REVERSED or MIRROR option so it will transfer correctly.

[@feline501]

Where can you find the reversed or mirrored option? I'm having trouble figuring out where that is.

[@LIBERTYVIEWS]

@@feline501 Some printers have that setting, but it may be easier to do in the image software instead. For instance, bring it into a blank Word doc and find the "flip vertical" setting there, or in your favorite software.

[@DanaNoir]

AH!!! I went to a specialist for canvas printing. It costed me over $500. I'm having regrets now. I wish I had seen this before but thank you very much! This looks simple yet perfectly done.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Yes, you want the gel to be wet when you applying the printed paper of the photo. We even recommend placing the gel onto the photo as well before placing down onto the wet canvas to ensure a good transfer. When it's completely dry, use a wet soft sponge to gently peel the paper off of the canvas to reveal the transfer.

[@tr.6349]

My dad did this 30 yrs ago. So happy you posted this as I've lost his step by step thanks! Blessings

[@slicedpage]

That was amazing,I had no idea one could do that,thank you very much for this fascinating video. And the fact you made mistakes shows how genuine you are in not trying to cover them up.

[@michelledempsey3707]

Brilliant 💯

[@junethompson4751]

Thank you, I've had that gel medium for quite sometime to use for transfers, now I can do all the canvas projects I've wanted to do for quite sometime. I'm going to try this on a board & see what happens. Hopefully it will turn out .

[@benwitt1]

Thanks for keeping it simple and not tossing out a bunch of "brand names"

[@rickjr111589]

you can do the same thing with mod podge and pretty much any flat surface. One time I drew a wolf, scanned it in and transferred it onto a piece of wood.

[@nohaali4288]

The original one (Sealer, glue and varnish) or the one specially for photo transferring ??

[@sumithkks3852]

richard fravor a

[@nealwarrenjr5724]

Transferring photos to wood using alcrilic

[@fadelmaulanaalqadria5365]

can i use inkjet printed photo? i have tried this method on Wood, but only laser printed photo would work

[@BobsonofZeus]

Rick Fravor It gave your wood some bark.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Yes, you are correct! That is something we forgot to mention. Any images with text, numbers, etc. should be printed in reverse. Not all images needs to though, just depends on if it's applicable and preference.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Regular white printing paper. You can also use white copy paper as well. Yes, the image will be transferred in reverse, so you can always flip your image on your computer first to print so that it transfers the way you like (especially if there are words/letters, etc.).

[@jenburlock377]

wow this gets my artistic juices flowing, going to try this in the future!

[@mayloo2137]

I did two photo transfers recently - one directly onto wood, the second one transferred to a piece of canvas then glued onto wood. The first one worked okay. On the second one, I used too much gel medium. The resulting picture had a wax-like surface. One last note. A picture done this way will be the reverse of the original picture. A person in my art group forgot about this when she printed her picture, so the photo transfer was reversed. So, if there are any words or numbers in the photo, remember to print the image in reverse before applying the medium. Last note: I originally tried this transfer technique with packing tape and small images. I didn't have to reverse the image in that case.

[@heathert4315]

Acrylic Gel Mediums have a range of opacity and thickness, its a transparent acrylic paint (no color added). Traditionally this used to make your existing acrylic paint last longer. But you can also use it, depending on the thickness, to create depth and texture in your artwork. It also works well as a semi-permanent bonding agent, hence the ability to transfer ink from material to material. This medium is water based so be careful on how much water and pressure is used. I have also tried to remove a painting from stretcher bars and flatten it using a machine that uses heat and vacuum and this caused the acrylic texture to flatten the image. :\

[@heathert4315]

I would recommend maybe a thin glazing on the finished artwork, or thinning out the gel medium since you can obviously see her brush strokes in the final image. beware that using a glazing can cause an attraction of dust over time.

[@gregmorling9872]

Thanks Christy, this has been so helpful and as I am changing my working medium from pastels to acrylics and include pictures on my canvas.

[@Danman4u2]

Very helpful, thank you very much. I liked that you showed the "mistakes"

[@Znobishtucon]

YES, indeed. Preferably use the MATTE finish version, because it provides more tooth to adhesion. Gloss will encourage the removal of the image (because of the amount of slide/gloss, naturally). I've worked my way through many matte mediums to do transfers. Watch out for heavy-body matte gels (like Liquitex Ultra Heavy matte) because the buckling of the paper due to moisture will leave an impression on dried canvas. Also, I have done this on large canvases to great effect-- 24"x36 and over.

[@joanhowan8961]

Thank you for this tutorial! I've got lots of art projects in my head and want to use this way of transferring photos onto canvas!

[@BFranklinCrafts]

We have used Mod Podge to do a photo transfer, but there is now a Mod Podge Photo Transfer formula available. You may want to test the Mod Podge on a small area to see if the image transfers before moving forward with your project.

[@Stetson17]

What a great Christmas present idea.We are going to attempt this project this weekend.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Yes, it will be reversed when you transfer it so you would need to flip the image (if necessary) before you transfer it (but, it's not required).

[@namasterick]

Very cool, looks fun, and creative. Thanks

[@sylviakeller1043]

On a large canvas you must seal the canvas first with an Acrylic sealer, otherwise when applying the gel medium it will soak into the canvas too quick and dry before you can apply the image for transfer.

[@judyvargas]

thanks. it was the best demo. I had doubts about the inkjet printing. it was cool to watch the mistakes we could all make. thank you a lot

[@Nidhi.Gupta..]

Thank you for an amazing video. The process has been explained extremely well. I have a quick question… Can I use oil paints to enhance the printer transfer on the canvas?

[@BFranklinCrafts]

I believe so, but we have not tried that technique.

[@lightfusegetaway]

Thanks for this video. I had been searching for a way to do this but everything I came across sounded more complicated than necessary. This is a very simple way to accomplish what I was looking to do.

[@Pipsterz]

TIP: Use a plastic credit/debit or ID card to smooth out air bubbles evenly.

[@WobblyAruku]

Or ruler

[@sylviac.6778]

@@WobblyAruku Yeah, she needs needs a squeegee, a wallpaper smoothing tool made out of Teflon would help.

[@eleanorprendergast1495]

Giorno Giovanna g hug xx SF b Id V

[@BFranklinCrafts]

We have not heard of using white acrylic paint. What we use is Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi Medium in Matte, which is a gel medium that is acid free, archival, non-yellowing, dries clear for gluing, transfers, sealing and more.

[@appleblossom345]

noticed most people are asking about gel medium.... you can find it anywhere you can find acrylic paint (like for actual painting, not craft paint). comes in glossy, matte, semi gloss, etc. all work for this, just choose what you prefer the finish to look like. mod podge doesn't work the same since it's glue and gel medium has a different use entirely.

[@christyfuller2366]

thanks!

[@SusieLaLonde]

I absolutely love this video/tutorial. I watched it one time being careful to listen and even pause the video where I was wanting to take notes as not to forget any of the steps or materials needed. I highly suggest this to anyone that has questions about this project because when I was finished watching the video and reading all of the questions and comments made I DID NOT have any additional questions and I pretty much know how to go about this from start to finish. :)

[@SStiles0414]

What a cool project...going to do one of each of my grandchildren

[@123onlyoneme]

2

[@simchafreedman8351]

Thank you for responding so quickly, personally, I don't think it should matter which gel one uses, but the problem is possibly in the printer. I will try a different one. Where are Claudine Hellmuth Studio products available?

[@nancyreyner8417]

I'd like to add that these images are not lightfast, so adding a layer of gel with UV protection (Golden has this product) or a UV varnish on top of the image as a final layer will keep the inks color lasting longer.

[@gailradley8841]

Use Kodak Inkjet paper and they will be lightfast - or any other printer that uses PIGMENT inks.

[@janiemoses4248]

oh wow, im so excited to see this! I grew up in Lake tapps/Bonney Lake area. Bought so many craft items and had many pics custom framed! I now live in Maui, Hi I was suprised to see a ben franklin at the maui mall..triple the price of my hometown BF, I guess because were in Maui!

[@BlueOceanBelow]

Great technique, thanks! I was wondering though, could you do this with a background already painted (in acrylic) on the canvas, put the gel medium on top of that, then transfer a print of black silhouettes on top of it, leaving the painted background visible? Just wondering if the gel or process in general would disturb the acrylic paint too much, thanks!

[@xiomara525]

Very good demo. Clear and concise. Thankyou

[@tuteevidschannel6710]

I dont think that there is a problem with the way of printing . I've tried with a regular print in one of my videos and it came out very good!!

[@BFranklinCrafts]

If you're using Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi-Medium in Matte, it is also a sealer/finisher. So you would apply a thin coat of that when the canvas is completely dry. You can also use Mod Podge to seal the canvas or any other sealer.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Supplies needed are a canvas, foam brush, and Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi-Medium in Matte, and a sponge. The photos must be printed on regular copy or print paper from an inkjet printer.

[@bipashachakraborty995]

Some ppl saying it won't work with a inkjet printer printout why is that?

[@blondelebanese9922]

Bipasha Chakraborty I think it's bc if you it seems other methods of transfer with an inkjet printed image, it will smear the image. Unlike a laser printed image which is safe to get wet with water or medium, the inkjet image is very delicate. But it is easily transferred if you are very careful....not everyone can afford a laser printer after all.

[@AliBurger2007]

I am totally loving the sponge idea vs. a spray bottle!!!!

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Once the image is transferred on, it is permanent, but we recommend hand washing any fabrics with photo transfers.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Most places that print documents for you use laser printers, but for this project, you would need to use an ink jet printer. Use regular print or copy paper and if you transfer the photo onto an 11" x 14" canvas, you would need to print it on 11" x 14" or 11" x 17" paper. We don't sell canvas online but if you were to purchase the canvas at our Bonney Lake store only (as each of our stores are independently owned), it would be around $9 for a double pack.

[@jahbeeh]

Can you apply mod podge matte to finish it off instead of that gloss you used?

[@sherenanicholas3175]

Yes

[@idahoblondiecreations7903]

Great job Christy! Can’t wait to try this.

[@showard2004]

Awesome video! Excellent instructions! What size paper did you use for this? It looks larger than the 8.5 x 11 standard paper.

[@vayangels3]

Excellent tutorial. Jus one question though. Can u paint the base n then use the medium to image transfer?

[@revathigovind9549]

Hi Great explaination. I tried this for the first time in a small canvas but my picture was not clear. After 24 houurs i started peeling the paper but the colour is also coming out. Kindly explain me what mistake i had done. Thank u very much.

[@CustomizeYoLife]

I know this is very old but I'm having the same problem right now. Did you find the answer to your question. if so could you please share with me?

[@amandaparish9794]

I know this is even older by now, but did either of you happen to find a solution?😬😊🙏

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Because of the way photo paper is made, we don't think the image would transfer. We suggest printing the photo onto plain print or copy paper. You can scan your image to print it out.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

It's a gel medium. Here, we used Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Multi-Medium in Matte.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

@@emsguide9247 Mod Podge does not work as well

[@zadokcoaching3528]

Can one use a paint roller to make the studio gel smoother and then again once you place the photo on the canvas. Also can you use just a canvas sheet verses a canvas that is on a wooden frame?

[@artboy181]

Thanks for sharing! I can't believe I didn't know about this. As a professional artist this will really help me. I could print my art on canvas' and make a good profit.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Yes, you should apply a thin coat of the medium to seal it. It should not affect the transferred image. We have applied the medium over the image without any issues. Just make sure the image is completely dry before doing so. We recommend letting it dry overnight just to be cautious.

[@carlosalenduran4630]

I totally love this .Thank you for all this information .now I have some ideas for my Duran Duran posters. :)

[@BFranklinCrafts]

We have seen photos transferred to fabric using Liquitex and also Mod Podge Photo Transfer formula. We have not tried it on fabric using Claudine Hellmuth Studio, but we suggest transferring the photo to fabric first before wrapping it to the canvas.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

No, we haven't. Have you? If so, how did it turn out? We did it this way to allow anyone to create an artistic work of art.

[@melodyjean8762]

Can you paint these pictures on the canvas before putting a sealer on it?

[@BFranklinCrafts]

It's an adhesive/sealer/finisher called Claudine Hellmuth Studio Medium Matte. You should be able to find it at any local craft stores and online.

[@hddiamonds6660]

My picture is smaller than the canvas size. Should I paint a frame before or after transferring the photo onto the canvas? I am worried the gel will mess up the acrylic paint frame....

[@kellielarsen7756]

Hi, thank you for showing us how to do this, as it will certainly save people money. I didn't know that it would be so simple. I would however like to make a suggestion. I feel you could get a smoother finish with the Gel Medium and also the Gloss Protectant finish at the end. Just a thought!! Thanks again.

[@JanninesPhotos]

Very, very, very good and detailed tutorial that finally makes sense!! :) Thanks for sharing!!

[@BFranklinCrafts]

We haven't tried to correct a spot like that, but we believe it would work. Try removing any particles from that area (from the previous transfer) and try it again.

[@jennifertaylor2893]

I am thinking I am finding a new use for my rolling pin ;) Great video

[@ginettelilavois4254]

Jennifer Taylor h

[@connylarsen4944]

Jennifer Taylor

[@BFranklinCrafts]

We haven't use that brand of gel medium, but since it is a gel medium, it should work. We suggest testing out a small area before moving forward with your project to make sure it all works out.

[@karissakendall-fontaine4302]

Thank You for this economical way of transferring photos to canvases You’re awesome

[@MsGabrielgaby]

Very good, informative. Learning this craft.. Thank you

[@Heyblomharvest]

What the actual! you just changed my life forever! ha YAY thank you

[@BFranklinCrafts]

You can use any sealer you would like, however, if you're using the Claudine Hellmuth Studio in Multi-Medium, it also acts as a sealer.

[@diadang3891]

Thank you for all the good tips!

[@SUNNYSUTARIYA]

What can be used as a Gel medium

[@AbstractsByAdrienne]

A sponge would probably work better when applying the medium to the canvas. Also, a brayer would help to smooth out the paper and eliminate bubbles.

[@donnacriscione]

What is a brayer?

[@meerabanerjea9835]

Beautiful demostation. What kind of gloss is food.? I have spray gloss which I use for ceramic tile coasters. Or any gloss. Need your help.

[@AMATEURDECORATINGLIKEAPRO]

Best tutorial ever on this technique. Thank you!

[@55estella]

What’s. The staff you brush the canvas with

[@BFranklinCrafts]

You can try it but we are not sure if the results will turn out the way you'd like. We suggest testing a small area to see how it turns out first before moving forward with your project.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Yes, Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium. It's a new formula they released this year.

[@aidantang2054]

Seems like a lot of work. I tried the joseph nogucci vitaframe and you can print your image directly onto the canvas. Looks great! Would highly recommend it.

[@DreamingFilmArtist]

Can you use a gloss photo for this?

[@BFranklinCrafts]

We have not used Golden Open Acrylic Gel for a photo transfer, so we are not sure of the results. Office copiers are usually laser, as all the photo transfers we have done have been on an inkjet printer, which most people have at home. If you were to use Claudine Hellmuth Studio Medium in Matte and a photo printed on an inkjet printer, you would wait for the paper to dry completely before scrubbing it off. If there are still paper fibers, you will need to use water and a sponge to scrub it off.

[@prettyme1648]

can we use mod podge instead of gel medium?

[@sandrap3089]

Yes

[@Danica_Fajardo]

What kind of mod podge po?

[@2legit64]

This is awesome. I got a couple of canvases as free gifts at Michael's a last year and had NO idea what to do with them as I'm not a painter. Now I know! Thanks.

[@MySpace662]

Thanks for sharing your video on image transfer, I enjoyed watching it. I have a suggestion to make, try using a putty knife to distribute the gel evenly across the canvas; It's available at any hardware store.

[@noelwoolridge9300]

My Space n

[@starburst2245]

Hi thank you so much for this very great and informative tutorial video. I was just wondering which kind of photo paper works best for this type of DIY art on canvas? 🙂

[@SirDavidHaddon]

Funny to see a similar Art Techniques that I came up with 45 Years Ago. I was taking the film image off of a Photograph Paper and applying it to Custom Cars or a Motorcycle Tank and Fender then applying acrylic clear to the product.....Shows you that a good idea never goes out of style...........

[@BFranklinCrafts]

The milky residue would be the fibers from the paper. The image isn't crystal clear as there will be a small amount of residue from the paper fibers left on the transferred image. If you didn't put enough gel medium on the transfer, your photo would not have transferred properly so not sure if that is the cause. Once you seal it, the fibers won't be as noticeable.

[@ZsuzsaKarolySmith]

Does this really work with an inkjet print? I always thought it had to be a toner-based laserjet or photocopy for this technique to work!

[@michellerericha3127]

On Wood laser is what u need

[@rashmikhurana5294]

Please mention the meaning by gel, means what type of gel ? And which brands are the best option. Thanks for your video ..love it

[@mychanneltoletyouknow]

google or search youtube for "modge podge" that's the easiest, least expensive way, to introduce yourself to this technique.

[@persnicketypirate]

if you do this with words, I would assume you want to print the words backwards?

[@melissahart1362]

persnicketypirate Yes you would. If you're using MS Word, simply use 'create a text box' and reverse the image 180. Make sure to deselect having a border around the box and you can type beautiful word art using this method.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

You can paint directly onto the transfer after it's completely dry. It will not affect the transferred image.

[@Cathy20440]

Fabulous thank you for putting this up! I will definitely be trying this :) xx

[@BFranklinCrafts]

To reduce more of the cloudy fiber from the paper, you would need to make sure the paper is completely wet, then gently scrub it off. If you scrub it too hard or if it doesn't have enough water, it will remove the ink. You can seal it with Mod Podge, Claudine Hellmuth Studio Medium in Matte or another type of sealer.

[@amandaparish9794]

I realize this video is from 8yrs ago, so hopefully you’ll still get this comment. Thank you for your video, just had a question, my paper seems to not stop coming off. It looks like it’s off and then it dries more and the picture is almost like a light coat off paper to peel off again. I’ve rubbed it off about 5 different times. Have you encountered this problem? It’s just regular printing paper.

[@cosmiccowboy1]

excellent tutorial....You explained materials clearly so I'm amazed how many comments from youtube'rs are freakin' idiots! Just replay the video if you are too lazy, then don't even attempt this project or turn up the volume....merry new year!

[@frandavies0]

im4coupons no idea what gel medium is in UK

[@mddell58]

Fran Cambettie-Davies Decopouge.

[@kaycityrose8873]

I wonder if this technique can be used a guideline to paint on the canvas as well? This could be a fun way to help get depth on a canvas painting. do you think that that would work?

[@bluecatblz]

KayCity Rose totally. This was my exact thought. I took a photo of a still life, edited it in photoshop and am going to transfer it with the intention of painting on top. Should be interesting!

[@kaycityrose8873]

Sounds awesome! I'd be interested in seeing that as well!

[@johngrantncsu]

Did you do this? Did it work well?

[@christyfuller2366]

Yes, this works really well!

[@ASGREENE123]

have you every tried this using a small roller to put on the medium

[@dnomarsenoj7063]

at first I thought you were going to do decoupage, but you did a transfer. pretty cool. Thank you

[@JeanetteHafke]

(Color) inkjet only? or (Color) laserjet too?

[@saritathyng6441]

Most people say laserjet gives better results.

[@dorisosborne9981]

Try both & see which one you like best.

[@Ctrl-Alt-Elite]

i never knew it was this easy, thank you for your video

[@vanshikagupta2210]

what is the gel medium can i use fevicol glue..??

[@nickyhzodinsanga9876]

Dude have you try with fevicol. And if you do. Did it work?

[@BFranklinCrafts]

You would use Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi-Medium with a canvas, your photo printed on regular white paper (on an inkjet printer), a soft sponge and a foam brush.

[@theresatorres87]

I love this! Thank you so much!!

[@notnowplz1766]

People make mistakes. It's still an awesome idea and works

[@liznutile250]

Can you use mod podge as a gel medium?

[@gailblackmon2376]

[@lindagonzalez1529]

+Liz Nutile Liz, did you ever get a reply to this question? I am wondering the same thing.

[@Angelique_V]

You can. I used it before.

[@NexxusLovatic]

+Liz Nutile Pro tip: Mod Podge works best if you use it as a sealer instead of in place of gel medium though it does provide the same function

[@anneviles5323]

+Liz Nutile Modge podge is glue

[@bhaskishiva3074]

Thanks for the teaching how to transfer on any surface. Where can I buy the glue media? Expect more vedios.....

[@IamCharz]

Inkjet print? Other 'how to' hints suggest it has to be a laserjet print - Anyone know if it works with an inkjet printed image?

[@kellyaylor-jarrell1947]

I'd like to know as well

[@MadameLeeLaNoir]

ink jet works with high pigmented ink. I use ink jet but laser has better quality. How do you know it is high pigment print it drop a few drops of water on it see if it smears.

[@paultrudeau95]

If you have a "photo ink" cart for your InkJet, it will work better (see high pigment comment here).

[@jorgekalkman2772]

Inkjet works but LaserJet is way better and is recommended more. Inkjet fades in more color than laser bc its adhesive to maintain color is compromised

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Yes, but the image may not show up as easily as if the background were white. You can check out our blog to see the most recent post on how to transfer photos to a canvas and you will see examples of painted ones.

[@TheIka95]

Thank you! everything went perfect! (:

[@gazzaschmo7814]

Interesting. It was pretty clear to me. Is there any need to intensify the colours for better transfer. Could it be done on a Tee Shirt. cheers