How to Transfer a Photo to Canvas

Christy will show you how to transfer a photo to a canvas using Ranger Multi Medium and an ink jet printer.
UPDATE: We may no longer carry some of the products used in this video. We continually upgrade our selection of craft supplies, so it’s best to come into our store or call to see what other products could be used to accomplish the same or better result.
For more projects, visit our website: www.bfranklincr...
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BEN FRANKLIN CRAFTS and FRAME SHOP
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BEN FRANKLIN CRAFTS and FRAME SHOP
19505 Hwy 2, Monroe, WA 98272 | 360-794-6745
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[@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

[@benwitt1]

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

[@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 .

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

The gel medium is Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi-Medium in Matte. There is a link available in the description above to purchase it from our online store; or you can purchase it at your local craft store or online.

[@SStiles0414]

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

[@123onlyoneme]

2

[@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]

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.).

[@Stetson17]

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

[@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.

[@jenburlock377]

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

[@karissakendall-fontaine4302]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@AliBurger2007]

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

[@AMATEURDECORATINGLIKEAPRO]

Best tutorial ever on this technique. Thank you!

[@55estella]

What’s. The staff you brush the canvas with

[@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. :)

[@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....

[@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

[@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!

[@dnomarsenoj7063]

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

[@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.

[@idahoblondiecreations7903]

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

[@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.

[@everydayasecret]

with wahat i can replace this gel ..becouse i dont realy know what is it ..thank u

[@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!!

[@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!

[@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.

[@xiomara525]

Very good demo. Clear and concise. Thankyou

[@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?😬😊🙏

[@paulasandritter2281]

Awesome process. Thanks for posting.

[@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.

[@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.

[@jennifertaylor2893]

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

[@ginettelilavois4254]

Jennifer Taylor h

[@connylarsen4944]

Jennifer Taylor

[@notnowplz1766]

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

[@prettyme1648]

can we use mod podge instead of gel medium?

[@sandrap3089]

Yes

[@Danica_Fajardo]

What kind of mod podge po?

[@MsGabrielgaby]

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

[@DreamingFilmArtist]

Can you use a gloss photo for this?

[@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!

[@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!

[@jbabella45]

Very Super explanation and clear speaking of english

[@christieheyblom]

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

[@andrewjenery1783]

Always wanted to know how this was done, so thanks for sharing.

[@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

[@13Moondancer]

Thanks for sharing, great idea.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

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

[@fatoomgierdien2181]

THANK YOU for a Great video. Simple and effective.

[@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

[@Ctrl-Alt-Elite]

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

[@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.

[@italiagorino6358]

Super great idea !

[@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?

[@djkortezis]

This is a great technique to incorporate to my mixed media collages. Thank U.

[@BFranklinCrafts]

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

[@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.

[@JanninesPhotos]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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?

[@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.

[@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...........

[@joycurry31]

I do love that idea thank for taking time show your video

[@Cathy20440]

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

[@bryanmclendonjr9942]

Thank you for the information. I have to make coloring canvases for a customer. This will help.

[@theresatorres87]

I love this! Thank you so much!!

[@artifexmom3824]

Thanks for sharing. ☺️👍🏻 God bless you ma’am.🙏🏻

[@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

[@avijitbose1317]

Nicely explained Madam. ..thank you.

[@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.

[@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

[@BFranklinCrafts]

We recommend using Liquitex Matte Gel Acrylic Medium Gel instead of one that is a medium and varnish (is a sealant). You can also use, as we have used here in the video, Claudine Hellmuth Studio Medium in Matte. We have not tried using it on a primed canvas, but we suggest using a plain canvas with the formulas we mentioned.

[@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.

[@neyamammu]

great art work i will try it

[@ASGREENE123]

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

[@BFranklinCrafts]

Christy used Claudine Hellmuth Studio Medium in Matte and yes, we do sell it in our store. We do not have an online store, but you can call our store to special order it by phone.

[@StephRenee812]

So u can't just use any kind of printer?

[@lisaquan1989]

Wow! I got it ...successfully 🤗🤗 but still a little bit defective while I rubbed it but looks ok , thanks for your video

[@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.

[@ART-DESIGN-SHOP]

Great tutorial!

[@TheIka95]

Thank you! everything went perfect! (:

[@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.

[@nigelsdebbie]

Thank you creating thought, I will try it on regular computer paper as Staples printed it on a photo type paper

[@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.

[@jahbeeh]

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

[@sherenanicholas3175]

Yes

[@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.

[@susanmeadows9146]

that so cool,I love it, something I can afford! its like when you wanna bake but you dont want to buy 25 ingredients !0! :-0

[@marthatrujillo4706]

Beautiful job thank you for sharing