Transferring Images to Pottery - THREE EASY WAYS!

Ann gets several requests on how to transfer images to pottery. While she hand paints all of her designs, she loves to find short cuts for QUICK and EASY ways to make images look great on pottery. This video is for you if, (a) you want to learn some easy techniques for transferring images, (b) you are bored, (c) you like to watch someone else work. Check it out!
Answers to questions we get all the time:
We typically bisque to Cone 04 and fire to Cone 5-6
Ann uses Standard English Porcelain no. 365
Ann glazed the blue mug with her white liner glaze AROUND the design
Here is a link to Ann's White Liner Glaze: imgur.com/a/w8PP8Gy
If you would like more in-depth information on how she paints the non-transferred stuff, check this out: vimeo.com/showcase/6725318
If you would like to BECOME A MEMBER of the the LSP Research Facility team and earn a cool title that you can put on your resume, we invite you to hit the "SUPER THANKS" button or the "Buy Ann a Coffee" button to help us unite the world through pottery. We so appreciate how generous you have been recently! It has helped us upgrade our filming gear to produce (we hope) better quality videos for you. THANK YOU!!
Check out Ann's Etsy site with the link on the video.
Ann also creates sought after custom mugs that she paints exclusively for individual clients. If you would like to learn how Ann paints with underglazes - check out her Video Workshop Series here. These workshops are very detailed (typically 1.5 - 2 hours in length) where Ann provides step by step instruction and are designed to help potters take their work to new levels of craftsmanship and artistry. vimeo.com/showcase/6725318
Here are links to some of the tools we use:
Alcohol Inks: amzn.to/3DMoyqO
Styrofoam Mold: amzn.to/39KoL0U
Painters Trim Guard: amzn.to/39C5TAX
Hole Punchers: amzn.to/3JutWyu
Brushes Ann Uses: amzn.to/3SqfZGk
Xiem Tools X-Bevel Bevel Cutter for Pottery and Ceramics:
amzn.to/3rZnmKi
Diamoncore Tools: diamondcoretools.com/
ProPlus Sponge: amzn.to/3x8Ye50
Best Red Ribs: amzn.to/3sU7qbF
The Cameras we use: amzn.to/3JJfGCd
Best Cheap Lens we film with: amzn.to/3I6Eljy
Best Good Lens we film with: amzn.to/3s1NuUW
#pottery
#imagetransfer
#handbuiltpottery

[@rondacorkhill1654]

You never fail to help guide the rest of us looking to pottery.

[@linzajchowski1803]

I never have to wait til the end of your videos to hit the like button! Always great inspirational tips. Thank you.

[@annruel1982]

that is so sweet Lin! Thanks so much!!

[@fruitlessbeast]

Lin is right

[@annruel1982]

@@fruitlessbeast Aww....thanks so much fruitless!

[@fruitlessbeast]

@@annruel1982 I often return to your videos and re-enjoy them. Pity I can give it an additional like.

[@annruel1982]

@@fruitlessbeast That is so sweet. Thanks Fruitless!! Im glad you are enjoying them. Thank you for watching!

[@janethastings6417]

You do such good work ! I've learned a lot. I'm 62 and on disability low income. I made a pot that you taught me how to do! It is so cute. I can use all the help I can get. Please continue to teach ...you are very good at it. Thanks

[@annruel1982]

That is so sweet of you Janet! I appreciate the kind words and I really wish you luck with your pottery too 🙂 That makes my day!

[@bauerjanet7887]

Another way to get the leaf vein design, is to place the leaf under the newsprint paper on a hard surface and rub gently with a soft rubber rib. Make sure the underside of the leaf is facing the paper. The veins will transfer a green design to the paper.

[@oliverzutton3710]

I love your videos. As a beginner pottery teacher, I get a lot of inspiration on how to give instructions, as well as learning new tricks. Thanks for all you do to help rise the tide for learning potters! You're making a difference in this world.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Thank you so much! We always envision the kids who are starting out hoping to provide some encouragement and inspiration - it warms our hearts to hear that!

[@walkerpottery9296-Natalie]

I had no idea you could make your own transfers so easily!! I’ll be trying these ideas out too! Thanks for making such a great video!

[@annruel1982]

Awesome!! Im glad I could share it. Have fun and thanks for watching!

[@vzeimen]

Laser printer ink is not water soluble but Ink Jet ink is.

[@annruel1982]

@@vzeimen AWW....thanks Vicki. I will have to check and see which printer i have.

[@dawndonovan3589]

I use a pencil to trace a design using tissue paper. I then tape the tissue paper to my plate, cup, vase etc. using painter's tape. Using a fine point Sharpie I trace my design onto greenware or bisque. The Sharpie tracing goes through the tissue paper and onto your pottery.

[@embee7434]

They all turned out so well! It's hard to pick a favorite... Your work is just so lovely.

[@annruel1982]

Hey Em! Thanks so much!! Give them a try!!!

[@lindamahoney8265]

I love all your videos. As a newbie I constantly look to you for how-tos and inspiration. Thanks for your generosity!

[@dot_t]

So many wonderful ideas! Thank you!

[@bobm2331]

Well done and major thanks. I plan to try all three techniques.

[@1812coffee]

I so appreciate you and your amazing videos! Thanks Ann!

[@annruel1982]

Wow, Sharon!! so good to hear from you!! You are so awesome!!! As always, thank you for your support!! Keep an eye on the upcoming videos as we will welcome you to the LIttle Street Pottery team and Jim will bestow upon you an official title 🙂

[@easterazali9237]

Absolutely gorgeous! 🥰

[@aileenhammer7230]

I love your videos; they are so well done! The way you explain things in your tutorials is outstanding!! Thank you!!!

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Glad you like them!

[@darlink57]

Thank you!! You always make it look so easy! 😁

[@annruel1982]

Im so glad you liked it!!! thanks for watching!

[@wunwun3708]

Thank you so much for sharing these amazing techniques! I can actually imagining myself applying them as they don’t seem to be complicated or expensive at all!

[@LittleStreetPottery]

You can do it!

[@kathleenfreeman1696]

Hi Anne, thank you so much for the information you provided in the video. I had no idea about the Gerstley borate transfer type and found it very informative.

[@annruel1982]

Awesome Kathleen. Erin Furimsky was the one who I got that idea from. I was surprised at how well it transferred details.

[@SallyRoperPottery]

Super video Anne. Love the hummingbird 🇯🇲

[@annruel1982]

Hey Sally! Thanks so much! I appreciate you watching. Give them a try!

[@chrisp7548]

Great ideas! Like always, thank you so much for sharing!

[@annruel1982]

My pleasure Chris! Thanks so much for watching!

[@annettebowen1540]

Let me start with your plate technique! ❤. Great tips

[@letigre4923]

I noticed you are a lefty who cuts with your right hand, me too! I don't see that often :) Cool transfer techniques too, TY

[@paulahill472]

Thank you for your inspirational ideas!

[@annruel1982]

Yeah! Thank you so much for watching Paula!!! Im glad they we inspirational.

[@renatabacaleinick737]

Thanks so much, I love your channel... Greetings from Brazil!

[@annruel1982]

Aww...thanks so much Renata!!! Cheers to Brazil from Florida!! I love that people all over the world watch our videos. :-). have fun in the studio!

[@sofimodi5817]

Ann you're the best!😃 and videography 😉

[@sofimodi5817]

what a team !

[@annruel1982]

@@sofimodi5817 Aww...that is so sweet of you Sofia! thanks so much!! Happy potting to you!

[@bauerjanet7887]

You could also use a peeled crayon to rub the paper over the leaf using the edge of the crayon. The leaf and vein pattern will show up on the top of the paper. Paint the under glaze on the pattern. The wax might even help the dried glaze to release.

[@amapolas3586]

Gracias por compartir hermosa tranferencia !!

[@lorrainedalby5560]

Gday Anne, your work is so inspiring, and opens up new ideas. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work. I have just finished a large bowl, and I have transferred different birds around it, then sgriffitoed around the whole bowl. Took me nearly 7 hours. Totally enjoyed every second, every scratch lol. Love your stunning work. Lorraine from Adelaide, south Australia.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Gday to you! Thanks for watching - would love to see your work!

[@lorrainedalby5560]

Slip slop pots

[@annruel1982]

@@lorrainedalby5560 Nice to meet you Lorraine. I looked up slip slop pots as I thought that might be the name of your pottery, but didnt find a website. Do you have a website?

[@lorrainedalby5560]

@@annruel1982 sorry Anne, but no I don't. It's on fb. I'm a bit reluctant to get a website. I'm a bit unsure what would happen and I'm not sure how to go about to get a website.

[@annruel1982]

@@lorrainedalby5560 I looked on fb and found your site!!! Those are great! I love your decorating style!! Thanks for sharing that with. me!! Happy potting,,,,down under!!

[@mellissabushby2712]

This is wonderful! Thank you 🌻

[@annruel1982]

Thanks so much Melissa for watching!! Give them a try!

[@laurabowne3409]

Thanks!

[@annruel1982]

Yeah!! Thanks so much Laura for your support. Keep an eye on our upcoming videos and you will see your name where we welcome the newest members of our team. Jim will bestow upon you a title too 🙂. Have a great day and thanks for watchingl

[@vickisullivan9417]

Loved a few new ways to transfer designs to clay. I have one I use often. As I love to draw I use my own designs that I have transferred using tracing paper from the dollar store. I use fine tip water based children’s pens, the darker colors work best for transferring on to damp clay. Second step turn your penciled design over and redraw with the colored pen of your choice the whole picture. Lay the tracing paper down and rub it quickly in one direction as the tracing paper will start to wrinkle. Soon as tracing paper is flat the water based pen drawing will have transferred to your green ware slab. I then use my tiny tipped flexible rubber tool to outline once again my design. I bisque fire my piece then use an antique process to accent the I’m used designs. Then I wash off the underglaze color I chose being careful to not wash it all off. Voila design ready to color with more underglaze colors. I clear glaze the whole thing. Works really well for me 🥰

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Great ideas!

[@laurencedecombejean4013]

Thank you 😊😊😊

[@bethgarrison1751]

Another way to transfer images is thru Mishima, an inlay technique. Trace image onto thin clear plastic film w/fine point Sharpie. Tape image to pot. Use calligraphy pen to transfer image to pot. Paint underglaze into fine inlayed lines. Let dry. Then carefully scrape away excess underglaze w/metal rib.

[@annruel1982]

thanks Beth. Is it like the last demo I did in the video with the leaves?....Let me ask about the transfer method. Im not sure I understand. So you traced the image onto a sheet of clear plastic with a sharpie, then turned over the image to the clay and tranferred the sharpie ink to the clay? I usually think of Sharpie ink to be permanent and not come off easily from a surface it has been applied to, but perhaps the plastic just doesnt take the sharpie ink permanently??? is that right?

[@factsmatter8449]

I love your work, you are very talented. I watched a woman make beautiful transfers by painting glaze on newsprint, she painted in layers with the first things you will see to the background as the last layer, which goes on first. It was a beautiful flower garden when she was done. ❤ I wish i could recall her name, it was an unusual name . Anyway, it's fun to watch , and i am going to try it !!

[@annruel1982]

Thanks for the idea. That sounds like something I would like to experiment with.

[@Sheepdog1314]

excellent - thank you

[@annruel1982]

My pleasure!! thanks for watching. Give them a try!!

[@moniqueoberholzer1282]

Thank you Ann, this is going to help alot and safe money not buying transfer paper!🤗

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pereiraheloisa6280]

Amazing !!😍

[@annruel1982]

thanks so much Periera!!

[@pereiraheloisa6280]

@@annruel1982 😍💖

[@serenityjewel]

Great video. PS You have the cutest voice.

[@escolaria1]

Merci pour votre belle vidéo. Bonjour depuis la France

[@annruel1982]

Aw...thanks so much for watching, Carmen!!! Cheers to France from Florida!! I still cant get over that people all over the world can see our videos. 🙂

[@OriginalOrlaith]

i generally just draw on printer paper, then use a ball ended tool to push down while tracing the drawing. this inscribes the image into leather hard clay. i've also used the graphite method, but on leather hard clay with much success.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Great tip!

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

Thanks so much! Those look easy. Btw…. If you need a really sharp tool to mark your design on the piece after it’s been traced, try a leather workers awl. I use them for everything. That and hemostats, that My friend calls the jaws of life. Lol🐝🤗❤️

[@annruel1982]

Great tip Deborah!!! Thanks for that!! I love to hear what people are using as tools 🙂

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

@@annruel1982 You’re welcome🐝🤗❤️

[@annruel1982]

@@deborahdanhauer8525 😁

[@traceyhughes2773]

I use a app called camera Lucida it’s like a light box..take a photo, then you can steady the tablet of phone above paper or clay and trace the pattern you can see both hand and pattern ….eye hand coordination skills needed 😊

[@LittleStreetPottery]

interesting...will have to check that out!

[@janbuitenga]

In the traditional way a design is drawn on a piece of paper, the lines are pierced with a needle, next the design is copied to the clay by tapping is with a piece of cloth filled with very fine charcoal. Next trace the lines (fine points) with the fine brush and glace. The design can be used on more than one object….

[@LittleStreetPottery]

good tip!

[@carolthomas6337]

Thanks.

[@annruel1982]

You are so welcome!! Thanks for watching Carol!

[@wendyharris1710]

I’ve use a lot of the same methods with the contour, lines and tracing, but instead of tracing it with a pencil or pen, or underglaze I use a pin tool, and I told my students it was like using a sewing machine. I would doubt around the outside of the contour design I guess you only get one use out of it, but it puts a little holes in that someone can connect the dots, and it was easier for students to do that than applying the right amount of pressure at the time on the tracing. I enjoyed your videos and I’d love to learn more about underglazing and using mason, stains you know who what when where why it’s like what’s the condition of the clay leather hard dry and also how you can add different colors of clay by creating colored clay with mason stains as well Thanks.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Great tips and thanks for sharing your perspective! We have a couple vids using mason stains but I'm sure there will be more to come!

[@teresaabatelli2782]

Sei la migliore,,,sono italiana

[@jasm6094]

Great, txs

[@annruel1982]

Wonderful! Thank YOU for watching!!

[@merlejankelowitz7389]

Your videos are so well put together thankyou! always such a help! I have never heard of News prep paper? is that the same as tracing paper? Sunny South Africa

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Not exactly tracing paper - more like packing paper. Thanks!

[@dalvalopes4431]

Muito bom. Eu que não sei desenhar poderei passar as imagens de fotografias. Gratidão!

[@annruel1982]

Wonderful, Dalva! Im glad I could give you some ideas. thank you for watching. 🙂

[@carolynpollack1083]

You have given me some great ideas. When you were making the plate, what was the name of the form you used to make it?

[@annruel1982]

Hi Carolyn. I think you mean the foamular. You can purchase a 12 x 12 sheet of it in any Lowes or Home Depot. It is just the foam sheets they line the walls with then constructing houses. People use them for crafts and other construction projects so they sell them both in huge sheets and also in the smaller 12 inch x12 inch size. I use that all the time for templates and push plates for pottery projects.

[@fruityasasmoothie]

given the absence of Ger Borate, can Gill Borate be substituted? If so, what ratio?

[@hispathofLIGHT]

Thank you for all your wonderful videos! What was the material you used to form the cute plate? I thought you said 'formula" but it must be another word.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Foamular (get it at Lowes etc) - I lost a tooth so my diction is suffering while my new tooth is being made.

[@emilyhabel6295]

Can you do underglaze-paper (monoprinting) transfer with bone dry green ware?

[@annruel1982]

Hi Emily. I prefer it to be on bone dry greenware. If I mess up, I can sponge off the design and try it again. If the piece is bisque fired, the underglaze is tougher to remove. Good luck.

[@darlink57]

Can you do a underglaze and paper transfer on to a bisqued piece?

[@annruel1982]

Good question. You can get some of the underglaze to transfer but it was not as clean as it was to the wet clay. Maybe if I practiced more or figured out some tricks to do it perhaps, but when I did it on top of the fresh slab, thee was no muss or fuss or trying to figure out anything. The image came out clean and the underglaze was nice and dark and I didnt have to go over it to get it any darker or anything.

[@vzeimen]

Hi Ann, One thing you didn't mention... when you added more to your little plates, did you do that on raw clay or after you bisque fired? This video is really timely as just last night I transferred an image onto leather hard clay just by printing out the design on my laser printer and then applying it to the clay using a damp sponge on the back just like you did the hummingbird. It worked better than I could have hoped. Of course I now need to carve out the design or line it with a brush or slip trail etc.

[@annruel1982]

Hi Vicki. Good question. I added the extra designs right before I bisque fired...when the clay was still greenware. I work on porcelain, and underglaze is much easier to clean up (sponge off) on greenware than bisque. And thanks for the tips about the laser printer. My printer is not working or I would give that a try. does the ink have to be fresh to transfer?

[@vzeimen]

@@annruel1982 Since the ink is water soluble, I don't think it has to be fresh but I'm not sure. I believe that Laser printer ink is not water soluble but Ink Jet ink is.

[@annruel1982]

@@vzeimen Thanks so much Vicki!! I appreciate the tip!!

[@smartjecarina]

love this.. so much .. i will try it for my self.. may i ask what paper you used for this? thanks for sharing your tutorial

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Just packing paper - but any clean paper should work

[@smartjecarina]

@@LittleStreetPottery thank you ! 😄

[@auntielhandmade2099]

I used to trace onto tissue paper with a pencil, the lay the tissue on my piece and go over the pencil with a extra fine sharpie

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Good idea!

[@Moharani21]

Thanks a lot. Did you use a special kind of paper?

[@LittleStreetPottery]

no, just packing paper.

[@atiyawu3351]

Hi for the first technique if I would like to use underglaze to fill the color in. But what happen if the color got on top of the line. Would that effect how it comes out when fire or I just have to make sure the underglaze is within the black line?

[@LittleStreetPottery]

The beauty of doing it on greenware is that you can fix it by scraping away with your needle tool etc. Good luck! A mess will never be improved by firing :)

[@Spinquilter]

Could you use just black underglaze instead of the Designer Liner. Thank you.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Yes - sure can!

[@tnlpottery4294]

What kind of paper are you using for the transfers? Thank you so much for looking the helpful information:

[@theabristlebroom4378]

Newsprint. Now that newspapers are going the way of the dodo bird, it may be harder to find. I save the paper that comes as packing material, or you can look online for a source.

[@tnlpottery4294]

@@theabristlebroom4378 thanks so much. I was going to use carbon paper to transfer the designs and then paint. Then I found that carbon paper is hard to find now too.

[@annruel1982]

The paper that I used for this video was actually from a childrens drawing paper book that was really cheap and I.am sure you can find it in any store with school supplies etc. Thea is right that packing paper would also be a good source. Any cheap paper would work I would think. Good luck!!

[@annruel1982]

@@tnlpottery4294 and Thea....The paper that I used for this video was actually from a childrens drawing paper book that was really cheap and I.am sure you can find it in any store with school supplies etc. Thea is right that packing paper would also be a good source. Any cheap paper would work I would think. Good luck!!

[@Lenle-G]

Can the underglaze one work on (wet?) bisque, or is it just too dry to transfer well enough?

[@LittleStreetPottery]

You can do that but bisque is less forgiving to work on. Enjoy!

[@bigred6815]

Is it possible to use any of the three transfer techniques on a glazed ceramic piece like a Dollar Tree mug (providing that it is the same cone as the underglaze)?

[@annruel1982]

Hi Big Red. I wouldnt do these techniques on any mug that you dont know what material it was made from or how it was fired. It could turn out to be a big mess if fired in a kiln. but. like how you are thinking out of the box.

[@LisabettaMedaglia]

Do you know if the first technique would work on bone dry pieces? Or is that just for clay that's still wet?

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Yep - bone dry is actually preferred.

[@lourdessandoval4681]

Hola, el papel periódico que mencionas de que otra forma se le conoce?

[@vickisheil7478]

Can you use the bone dry technique if piece has been bisque fired?

[@LittleStreetPottery]

You can do it but if you need the moisture from the clay to transfer the image it will not work - also, if you make a mistake on bisque its harder to erase. Thanks.

[@lilianevandenkerkhove853]

Hi, can I ask witch kind of paper do you use? Thanks for your reply 🙋

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Sometimes I used regular tracing paper - for the heavier tasks I use packing paper (newsprint) that I get at Lowes.

[@ImperialistRunningDo]

Carbon paper can be ordered online. I have used vellum to transfer designs onto metal, like copper and brass. Should work on clay.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Interesting! Thanks!

[@jaclynsbeach1307]

Hello,question if i refire a mug with transfer on it will the transfer disappear? Cone 5

[@LittleStreetPottery]

The underglazes I use dont seem to fade on refire at Cone 5. Good luck!

[@Moharani21]

What does the g borate do? Thanks

[@LittleStreetPottery]

It helps melt the stain to melt more evenly to the surface.

[@siiiriously3226]

Help! :) does anyone have an idea for me? I like doing scraffito with underglazes, but i just freehanded so far. How could I Transfer a drawing onto the leatherhard clay with the underglaze on it? Anyone tried chalk paper? The same user for sewing? Does it burn off for sure? I usw scraffito with black underglaze, so dark blue from Tracing paper likely wont show up.

[@LittleStreetPottery]

check out our "Transferring Images" video for ideas..thanks.

[@pearljohnson1216]

Thanks!

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Thank you so much for your support! We really appreciate it! Welcome to the team!

[@darlink57]

Can you do a underglaze and paper transfer on to a bisqued piece?

[@annruel1982]

Good question. You can get some of the underglaze to transfer but it was not as clean as it was to the wet clay. Maybe if I practiced more or figured out some tricks to do it perhaps, but when I did it on top of the fresh slab, thee was no muss or fuss or trying to figure out anything. The image came out clean and the underglaze was nice and dark and I didnt have to go over it to get it any darker or anything.

[@darlink57]

Me again.. I thought you were supposed to put 3 coats of underglaze - is one coat enough? Or do you enhance it once transferred?

[@annruel1982]

@@darlink57 I usually find that the black underglaze is much stronger a color than most other colors and especially when it is concentrated in a slip trail sort of scenario like this. One layer of the slip seems to work great. Now if you were to brush on the black with a detailer brush, you might have to go over it a second time.

[@darlink57]

@@annruel1982 Thanks!!

[@darlink57]

That makes good sense.

[@lindamahoney8265]

Thanks!

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Thank You Linda!! We appreciate your support! Welcome to the LSPRF Team!

[@karenvanderhyde9586]

Thanks!

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Thank you so much for your support!

[@judythstavans4371]

Thanks!

[@LittleStreetPottery]

Thank you for your support Judyth! Look for your team title in an upcoming video!

[@jimruel2121]

Thank you Judyth!