Can't gel transfer your own photos? Watch this! Gelli plate image transfer technique

Very beginner friendly process. Learn the basics of gel (gelli) printing your own photos!
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NEW FROM NITSA 🤩🎉🥳
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👉 The NEW Mixed Media Photography Book (Amazon): amzn.to/3QxRWFI
👉 Image Transfer Tutorial Pack / 3 digital DOWNLOADS (Save 30%) - www.etsy.com/l...
👉 Gel Printing Photos / digital tutorial (PDF) - www.etsy.com/l...
🌼 Digital tutorials by Nitsa Malik: artbynitsa.ets...
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MY BOOKS (Amazon):
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📚 The NEW mixed Media Photography BOOK: amzn.to/3FPak9O
📚 The mixed Media Photography BOOK on AMAZON: amzn.to/36wIGLc
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DOWNLOADS & TUTORIALS
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👇 E-Book DOWNLOAD from Teachable: photo-art-clas...
👇 Mixed media & photography techniques on Etsy.com: www.etsy.com/s...
🛒 e-Books Shop: / @nitsacreativestudio
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ONLINE CLASSES:
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👩🏼‍🏫 Image and photo transfer ONLINE CLASSES: photo-art-clas...
🌈 My favorite supplies on Amazon: www.amazon.com...
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SUPPLIES USED IN THIS VIDEO
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Gel Press 10802 Gel Plate 8"X10": amzn.to/2FLYxMO
HP LaserJet Pro M15w Wireless Laser Printer: amzn.to/35eEoYd
Office Depot Copy Print Paper: amzn.to/34bcj4J
Royal Talens Amsterdam Standard Series Acrylic Color, 120ml Tube, Van Dyke Brown:
amzn.to/31jivFZ
Speedball Deluxe Soft Rubber Brayer, 3-Inch: amzn.to/35feOCE
Canson Artist Series Sketch Book Paper Pad, for Pencil and Charcoal, Acid Free, Wire Bound, 65 Pound, 9 x 12 Inch, 80 Sheets: amzn.to/3o86gWz
Strathmore 333-11 300 Series Printmaking, Lightweight, 11"x14": amzn.to/2IIntFX
👍 Great news! If you make a purchase on amazon after clicking a link above, the price wont change and my channel earns a small affiliate commission from amazon.
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LINKS TO OTHER VIDEOS
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Make your own home made gel plate for monoprinting:
• Home made gel plate fo...
best paints for gel printing
• Testing best paints fo...
Check out artbynitsa.com for more tutorials, books and workshops!
#gelliplate #phototransfer #NitsaCreativeStudio

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Let me know in the comments below which one was your favorite print 🥰

[@Bostoncrocus]

How do I print onto a T shirt or fabric please? Im an upcycled clothing creator. Thank you from Lavoie Boho in NC USA 2024.

[@maria-giulianalatini1724]

I also love that you have this no nonsense approach without wasting time chitchatting about unrelated things and then using a relaxing, pretty background music.

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

That's very sweet of you! thank you Maria 🥰

[@janalovespaper]

It baffles me how laying a picture in paint transfers the image to the paint so you can stamp it onto another surface. So interesting and so cool!

[@carolbarnes7520]

I had forgotten that I bought your book two or three years ago though I much prefer to learn from you on KZbin because I love your accent and your clear delivery. I am sure I will fall back in love with my gelli plates.

[@callycatus]

Love Gel printing and transferring ! and I'm so glad you did it without all the drying and painting over with white that a lot of other vids show ..I never found I needed to do that either ..Loved the first print the best but like them all 😁

[@yolandamcclellan643]

I just subscribed to your Channel. I love everything about your video today. And, yes, I tried your methods, and now, I feel like a Rock Star! I’ve seen so many videos on Gel Printing, but,I prefer yours to so many others. You don’t waste time with useless chatter and nervous laughter (excessive) by other presenters. You are amazing! And, more importantly, please me know where you got your gloves! I love them!

[@estherwit1124]

It’s not working when I try it !! I have good quality paint a gelli plate printer paper and all kinds of magazines . What am I doing wrong ? I even let the picture sit for a while . I tried at least ten pictures and there was one coming out nice … very frustrating … in all the videos I watched no one explained how long you must rub or let the photo sit . Or a thick or thin the layer paint must be … or if it’s the room temperature? It’s much more difficult then the videos show

[@debbiegarland7124]

She’s using laser copied pictures and her paint is heavy bodied so reasonably thick and wet. Good luck

[@gri7]

I'm just attempting this this week and I'm having issues I don't have the heavy body acrylic maybe I should try that I was using thinner speedball printing inks and some Thin golden acrylic. Made some high contrast laser copies but it was just pull off all the ink

[@9liveslisa]

Thanks for sharing. I just replaced my inkjet that went kaput with a laser printer and I can't wait to try this technique!

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Yay!! Good luck! 👍

[@indianmotorcycleofmetromke]

I can’t seem to make this work. All the paint comes up with the paper. I used a very high contrast laser print on copy paper. I tried a thinner layer and a thicker layer. Ideas?

[@7msjster]

I like the chair. I'm new to this and I am enjoying the freedom in creativity. BUTT my images are not transferring and I have a jet printer. I'll try to edit with more contrast. I love the cartoon filter on my phone, it has great contrast. I also love creating my own background design and usually copy my art on to my art....my paint might be old.

[@amittsanhani477]

my favorite was the first photo, the floral one :) very pretty! thanks for the easy to follow tutorial!

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Thank you Amit!!💙

[@tanyahunter7320]

Thanks for sharing this process 😊

[@nattyw495]

Enjoyed video found it interesting and informative, liked all your photo images very lovely..💛✍🎨🇨🇦🇺🇲💛

[@renig5059]

Back to basics is always a good start.. thx for sharing... they r all great 👍🏻👩🏻‍🎨

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Thank you as always 💜

[@donnamealy4877]

I so wish you had been one of my art teachers. Your class would have been so much more fun!

[@antoniyaart]

You always make it look amazing! Unfortunately I just got a brother laser printer and I cannot get a print out of the gelli plate... If you do mind mentioning how many times do you run the picture throughout the printer would be great? Thank you!

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Hi Antoniya, I just print once but I edit my photo to have high contrast 👍

[@richiebricker]

It doesnt copy like silly putty? But does transfer with ink and destroys the original?

[@SkyLightinTime]

Yes same one was my favorite

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Thank you!!💙

[@sivantsanhani5422]

This is so creative and fun to watch!

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Thank you Sivan 💚

[@DrJones-nh4my]

I love the chair

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Sweet! thank you 🧡

[@Bostoncrocus]

Did you say heavy body acrylic paint? Whats that please? Ive got plenty of basic acrylic paint. Im going to try it. Thanks so much!

[@J3nnycat]

This isn't working for me. I pull my printed picture off the gelli plate and all the paint i rolled down just transfers onto my printer paper...no image is left.

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Hi Jenny, gel printing photos is not a difficult process but it takes time and practice to get all the variables to line up. It's difficult for me to tell what you're doing wrong without seeing your process, but just keep playing and practicing until you get it right 👍

[@Bostoncrocus]

Please explain why you made a second print from the gelli. Did you reject the first one? Do we always get 3 prints from each paint application? I can see that experience is going to be the best teacher.

[@fijiconcepts4785]

love it!! what happens if u use an inkjet printer image? Is there a way to work around with inkjet in this technique?

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

This particular process works with laser only. But maybe some other way it can be done with inkjet? I'm not sure. maybe I'll experiment with the idea one day.

[@StephanieGagos]

loving your videos..do you have a video where you show how you edit your photos..are you making them black and white and increasing the contrast?

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Yes, this tutorial is part of the online class 👍

[@YooperGranny]

How much pressure are you using with your hands on the initial pull? It looks like you are using a very light touch and then heavier when you pull the final print. Thank you. Your videos are very pleasant to watch.

[@kirstenweidinger3416]

thank you for sharing this tutorial, Nitsa! I love most the palm-and-house and your little grandson :-)

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Aww that's so sweet of you! 💚

[@jenniferstancavage7877]

I do not have a laser printer, will photos from a ink jet printer work??

[@venicegal89]

I love your grandson!! So cute 😍

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Thank you Noa! 💚 He is very special!

[@missem3515]

Thank you for making this video

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

My pleasure!

[@siuhayu]

Excuse me, the photo printing must print from ink jet? or both ink jet or laser jet also work?

[@nycgweed]

Can I use a ink jet photo?

[@thewaterytart3250]

Can I use an ink jet printer?

[@Marlg]

Hi! I tried printing this way for a while a few years ago but abandoned it as a tool for printmaking as I could not get the image sharp and detailed enough. Since then, I primarily use the gel plate for making materials for collage. After seeing your video, I decided to revisit it as I was reminded how simple it should be. I’ve done it at least fifty times (again) with different images, different contrast, different brightness, different paint and different paper and I just can’t seem to get a sharp and even transfer. I understand that the process is simple but I’m wondering if there’s some small detail I’m somehow missing. Any advice? Regardless, Thanks for the video.

[@glassman304]

Try a different brand of plate

[@Marlg]

@@glassman304Well, that was my first thought after some basic trial and error but the person I learned this from used the exact same plate with near perfect results. Not a big deal. I can paint and draw and use xerox and silk screen etc. with similar results. The attraction to me was the potential simplicity of the plate. I still use it for textured materials. 👌🏽 Thank you for your thoughts. 🙏🏽

[@valeriemichelangelo8896]

Can you use an inkjet printer to do photo transfer?

[@venicegal89]

This was sooooo informative

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

I appreciate it! 💜

[@jenniferstancavage7877]

I just discovered gel painting, so excited to get started. Thanks for this great video. One question, is the receiving paper a specific type??

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

You can pretty much use so many different type of papers. If you have a moment, you can check out this video where I test different receiving papers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5rcpGedgLuWoa8

[@joecruz6237]

I have a question maybe you can help me with. I am using an inkjet printer and my homemade gel plate. My printed image does transfer to the clean plate with nothing on it but I can't get the transfer from the plate to paper? Is there anything I can try? I've tried adding paint to the plate but only the paint transfers to paper.

[@maribellongueira]

Las fotos están impresss en láser o injet

[@danjaart4586]

wonderful!

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Thank you! 💚

[@ardstrum]

Are your black and white photos printed on a color laser or on a black/white laser printer? I've read and seen that many people are having problems, including myself, with prints from black and white lasers. Just checking if this is our problem since others have mentioned the same issue. Cheers.

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Both my laser printers are monochrome (black and white). Its hardly ever the printer that causes the problem. Gel printing photos is all about finding the right combination of paints with the amount of paint you're using to the pressure you're applying 👍

[@ardstrum]

@@NitsaCreativeStudio Thanks. I'll keep testing. Cheers!

[@barbking2708]

Thanks for the back to basics, I love your videos. My favorites were the chair and the tree, as well. Will this work with an inkjet printer also?

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Thank you Barb!! 💚 Unfortunately I wasn't able to make this process work with inkjet

[@maria-giulianalatini1724]

I just bought a laser printer according to your recommendation! Thank you. Anybody want to buy a new HP inkjet printer?!

[@rogerhagger7967]

@@maria-giulianalatini1724 why not combine the two processes! Make some parts with the inkjet printer and then print over it with the Gelli plate?!

[@treasahernandez]

I have the same question, can this be done with an inkjet photocopy? Love your tutorial !!

[@carlossantiago2975]

I followed but mine didn’t transfer😢I peeled it off and no image was left on the gel plate

[@catfury360]

How would you transfer a black n white ink jet photo to gelli plate ?

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

I probably wouldn't as it might damage the gel plate

[@leomelbat3064]

How can I make or buy this Gelli

[@juliegriffiths4272]

I love both of them. Did you apply a transfer resist on to your photo?

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

I'm not sure what's a transfer resist? But probably not as I didn't apply anything 😅 Thank you Julie 💜

[@linacard94]

Help! What do you clean your gel plate with? I can’t seen to get a good layer of paint on my gel plate. It appears to have a lot of open areas. And I cannot for the life of me get an image to transfer to the plate. I just lift off whatever paint was on my plate.

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Hi Lina, I clean my gel plate with baby wipes in between prints and every now and then soak it a little in soapy water. Did you use anything that might have damaged your plate? Like glossy photo paper? or did you have it too close to a heat source? For a successful photo transfer, it is very important that you are able to spread the paint smoothly and evenly.

[@linacard94]

I keep the gel plate in my garage. I live in Florida and it’s quite warm. Probably not a good idea

[@brionycrawford1421]

Im new to gel printing and I cant get my images to transfer. Does it only work with heavybody acrylic paint?

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

It's a combination of things and one of them is the type of paint you are using. I had better success with heavybody paints 👍

[@brionycrawford1421]

@@NitsaCreativeStudio thank you i will give them a try!

[@acidpunk7423]

Hi Nitsa ;can I use photocopies,thanks in advance.

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Yes they work just fine 👍

[@stephaniek2913]

How fresh are the copies you’re using? What is the oldest photo copy you have used successfully? I have never gotten this to work with the local UPS store laser printed copies or even from magazines as is often shown on You Tube. I have the same paints and have tried many other brands too. I’m baffled. Perhaps I will try a copier from a different facility. Thank you.

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

The copies don't need to be fresh so you can use very old copies. Also all printers and toner based copy machines that I tried work fine. This process is really not about the printer you are using (as long as its laser) its more about the paint, the amount you're using, the pressure you're applying and also the contrast of the photo you are using 👍

[@stephaniek2913]

@@NitsaCreativeStudio Thank you so much. Your reply was so helpful. I thought the focus was actually on the type of printer so you saved me a lot of time from running around town trying different copier businesses. I have tons of old photocopies I’ve made & saved so I’ll give it a whirl!

[@WATCHTHISSHIT]

​@@stephaniek2913 Were you able to make a transfer? I'm having the same problems as you. I can't get a good dark transfer onto the plate.

[@stephaniek2913]

@@WATCHTHISSHIT Nope! Not at all.

[@WATCHTHISSHIT]

@@stephaniek2913 I was unsuccessful many, many times. I used 3 different laser printers and even bought one on Craigslist. Tried all kinds of acrylic paints, tried different wait times and pressure. The laser prints will sometimes transfer but they are very very faint. None are bold black prints like all the videos. It's made me go a little bonkers : )

[@HeiderosesPhotograph]

I tried today some gel transfers with laser photos it did not work.

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Hi Ann, transferring photos with a gel plate is not hard to do but it does take some time and practice to get it to work 👍

[@Flrosey]

Do you use an inkjet printer?

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

This process only works with a laser printer, but check out the other processes on my channel for inkjet printers 👍

[@BestOfPowerSlap]

Does it have to be printed with a laser printer?

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Yes, laser printer or a toner based photocopier 👍

[@rajalakshmisetty1670]

How do you make gel plate?

[@yelenakukharets5492]

It doesnt work for me. Is there another trick?

[@crislelia]

I bought a laser printer HP M118 just for this. Needles to say, not even one the the images printed transferred 😢Failure after failure and I don’t understand why.....

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Hi C M, It's hard to tell without seeing all the steps in your process. But try to follow the steps in my tutorial video as the best you can. If it's still not working for you, try changing things around in your process. Sometimes it can be something simple like too much or too little paint 😃 Good luck!! 👍

[@WATCHTHISSHIT]

​ Were you able to make a transfer? I'm having the same problems as you. I can't get a good dark transfer onto the plate. Very frustrating.

[@crislelia]

@@WATCHTHISSHIT unfortunately not. I tried countless times and give up …

[@minnahumble2294]

Have you ever tried pulling a color print for the transfer? It seems like you could use a gel medium instead of an acrylic paint as the base layer to get a transfer in color instead of a monochromatic image.

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Yes, definitely I've worked with color prints and also used gel medium for image transfer 👍

[@thenakedandfamousS]

​@@NitsaCreativeStudiohow do you guys mean this exactely? ..do you print the actual colours of the picture then? ..how would you do that - with some sort of transparent colour that would get coloured from the original? 🤔 (im very new to this. and just try to figure out the limits.. :))

[@oneclickawayasmr]

Could someone help me with this question. I've been searching for months now but I haven't found it yet. Does anyone know what kind of paper I could buy to make A3 prints of my own photos? What kind of A3 paper do I need to buy to accomplish this and what kind of printer should I use? Thanks in advance xxx

[@KJFirestarterFilms]

What kind of paper is recommended for transferring the final print on?

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Many papers work just fine! If you have a moment, check out this tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5rcpGedgLuWoa8

[@johna2932]

what am i doing wrong??? Help. My paint all ends up on the photo i am trying to leave on the gelli...

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

There are a few variables involved so be sure to change things around in your process until you get the winning combination 👍

[@frygal209]

Do you have to use a laser printer?

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Yes, a laser printer or a toner-based photocopy 👍

[@ritastern4501]

How long do you leave receiving paper on Gelli plate before pulling?

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Just about a minute or so, just enough to let it dry

[@Nyiera]

@@NitsaCreativeStudio Weird. I do the same, and when I go to pull the paper nothing shows up at all. Laser printed, high-contrast, black-and-white, and just nothing. I'm so frustrated :(

[@gamerbullies5753]

im not sure what i am doing wrong my printed images will not transfer to the gel pad!

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

There are a few variables involved so be sure to change things around in your process until you get the winning combination 👍

[@hollyahner2137]

Me too! I’ve taken your class. I’ve experimented with printer paper and paint. It’s just not working.

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Feel free to email me with a detailed description and a few examples of your process.

[@jackiegeary8967]

I can never get mine to transfer

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Maybe try to go step by step and record everything you're trying. When I developed this process, I only succeeded when I was organized while testing different materials.

[@michellehoward96]

Hello. Will this work using a photo I printed off using my ink jet printer ? Thank you

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Hi Michelle, I wasn't able to do this particular process with an inkjet printer. You are welcome to check out other tutorial videos I have on my channel for processes that use an inkjet printer, as well as many inkjet transfer processes in my book, The mixed media photography book. Good luck 👍

[@michellehoward96]

@@NitsaCreativeStudio Many thanks!

[@jenniferlacovara9190]

hi nitsa i tryed and tryed and tryed and tryed and tryed again to use the gelli plate to print my photos im not at all successful im very frustrated ! i used black and white laser prints as you said and everything else you said to do ... what else can i do?? HELP

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Hi Jennifer, try changing things around in your process. it's not a difficult process but it takes some trial and error to get all the right variables to fall in place. good luck 👍

[@phillipstroll7385]

What's the point of you already have a picture? I don't get it.

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Hi Phillip, sorry but I'm not sure I understand your question... Do you mean that if I can take a photograph, I should not bother to make a painting or any other type of art?

[@tinaheald]

In the first step, my paint stuck to my photo rather than to the plate. 😢

[@jackiegeary8967]

Mine too

[@SeverinoBiil]

But you waste the original print.

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

It's not exactly the original, but you're right, you can't print from the laser printout again

[@swagger013]

Lyric wins for me

[@NitsaCreativeStudio]

Of course! Thank you Sam 💙

[@nfartspace]

Where we get gel pallet?