Transfer Photos to Wood with an Inkjet Printer

Learn how I transfer photos and stencils to wood using a wax paper technique. This is simple, fast, cheap, and doesn't require toner. I have been using this technique for several years and it has saved me a ton of time. I hope it helps!
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@madravenwoodworks
Check out tons of past projects and a few DIY plans on my website:
madravenwoodworks.weebly.com

[@landoncollins1069]

The first half of the kzbin.infoUgkx3ICSK6nSknaL_45CU2NmFSoXjarGMDiJ book is everything about wood: types, tools, finishes, setting up shop etc. The second half is all about doing projects for inside and outside of the home. The color pictures are helpful. After reading a dozen of these types of books, this is probably the best overall (layout, color photos, plans). Only detraction is that many of the projects use a table saw/router/planer, which are usually expensive and take up space, so the plans are less friendly to newcomers and the budget conscious. But I know I can use a drill, circular saw or a jigsaw to make the projects.

[@henrymcgill3413]

Absolute miracle! I’m making a beer games table for my college daughter, with time running out to parents wknd. I literally thought “I need a graphics breakthrough here” - to avoid taping off logos, matching school paint colors, etc. Then I found this vid. You da man!

[@InterWebGuy99]

Great idea! And it seems to work as good as the other more messy, time-consuming methods. Well done and thanks for sharing!

[@southbreeze6745]

wax paper, or the sticker paper won't go through my printer without shredding, so I cut it to fit a regular size printer paper, taped them together and it worked. A few extra steps, but it's good.

[@kristinstoepkerbumgarner1440]

FYI EVERYONE! If you have a print shop in your area or know anyone who makes stickers from vinyl like with a cricket or Autocad... They throw this type of paper into the trash by pounds a day! This way no waste at all. Cut to fit the printer. I use it alot!

[@wallacesheckells9280]

This is one of the easier and cooler ideas I have seen. Great video.

[@71alew]

I love that you added the labels were being "thrown away" at work. I hear ya. Good video. You're very easy to follow along with. Thanks!

[@landoncarter6452]

Thanks for the tip to sand it really smooth.

[@woodscrew5612]

That is a cool trick mike! Awesome video

[@justinprewitt245]

Looks great man

[@LutherBuilds]

You could apply it and hold it in place using some painters tape. I'm gonna have to try this. I'm making another mallet for my shop.

[@ScottKershawRX]

Good instruction, Mike!

[@tpobrienjr]

Thanks. I will try it!

[@stevebaldock4967]

Great trick!

[@ChamberlainCody]

I love your videos bro I'm just starting out. 🙏🏻

[@evangelistgrizzle112]

awesome video bro thanks for the info

[@DuanDao]

That's pretty cool

[@javierzapanacaceres2933]

Thanks a lot, finally the video I was looking for? You are amazing

[@Yahoomediaclub]

Great Video, Thanks for sharing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@MultiTom1956]

This is great! loved the end result:-) what paper did u use? or I missed that part:-), thanks !

[@ms.downer429]

"Put onna your fingers in the Middle and pray for the best"- funny 🤣🤣🤣

[@BuiltByN8]

Nice tip!!

[@erikabott8444]

Thank you I finally found a Video that show me how to put Pictures on Wood with my Inject printer could It be done with Family photos?

[@ivy4559]

Thank you so much! Question: can you stain the wood first? Or will the ink not soak into the wood as well? I appreciate this so much!

[@deborahelliot1311]

You could do this for a painting guide so you could then paint over it with acrylic paint using fine brushes for the detail. This would give a more bold look and it would be perminant. Plus you can coat it after with a polyuthetane ( can get in in paint cans in wall Mart for just over 5 bucks and one can can could coat over 100 of these so it would be economical to do it that way too) / varnish.

[@mellorgray]

Hi what spray finish do you use please. Good tutorial thanks x

[@NYGuy84]

Hey, I stumbled across your videos and subscribed, nice job! Anyway I'm not 100% sure it'll work for every inkjet printer, but I just use a roll of regular kitchen wax paper and tear/cut it to about 8.5" wide. It actually ends up being like 8.5" x 12" because of how wide the roll is, but you can either trim the extra .09 inches off to make it 11" long or with my printer I just leave it and its feeds the extra inch through without any issues. Anyway, just thought I'd share... it might save you some time and/or money if you run out of the backing from stickers or whatever.

[@themagnet61]

Can you tell me what printer you are using?? I have a Epson 420 and it has been terrible printing on label paper. I also have a Brother laser printer but it is just black and white. I would like to upgrade my ink jet and looking for some recommendations..

[@donnafisher5532]

Thank you for this information. Do you have suggestions for sealing a photo on a butcher block cutting board ? Food Grade of course .

[@yemarican]

thank you.

[@ironwill4706]

Nice job! Could you do a video showing how to properly use a nice finish on it?!

[@amitjainjaipur]

Does it requires to sand the wax paper too just like the label paper before printing on it.

[@laurenmollin5923]

Can’t believe how super easy this is! Do you know where you can buy the plain label paper so I don’t have to waste the labels when taking them off the paper. This paper worked great! Thank you!!

[@jennrebel848]

Can transfer paper be used as well instead of the labels?

[@marzy57]

AWESOME! NICE TO KNOW!

[@RichardsonForge]

Nice man! I saw Jay Bates do this a long time ago using a wood burner to transfer the ink. Mallet looks sweet.

Thank you.. nice

[@zulegnuzzu]

Grazie mille sei unico spettacolo

[@yourvapingdollar]

Great video. Is there a time limit from when the image is printed till it is applied?

[@TraitorFelon.14.3]

Yes. A year is too long 😁

[@guytiips3906]

I am shock it's very easy ------------ No Laser Print No Iron heat No Acetone ------------ Only wax paper (you can find in brochure, catalogue Or wax paper behind sticker) #From Thailand thank you

[@bit-tuber8126]

Some type of somewhat flexible plastic (not metal) putty knife maybe to get a more consistent pressure across the image?

[@49carol]

I am assuming you printed on the shiny side? Am I right?

[@abigailfleming2163]

Would Shellac work for colored images on wood as a finisher?

[@kidsaccount1348]

You should get a little rubber roller

[@janad3845]

Can u use this paper for other purposes because I’m using the same sticker photo paper and the ink gets smudged I don’t know why!

[@ShowMeCrows]

💖💖💖

[@moulyaphotostudio1964]

is that wax paper is not problem for printer

[@doragarber7626]

a little question for you..... do you print on the flat or shiny side of the sticker paper?

[@Ben-dk8xq]

shiney side!

[@themusicifeel]

what about epoxy resin over it for the protection?

[@misternewman1576]

Can this method be used on plywood?

[@jrbass62]

Wax Paper works to print on

[@mertkars1463]

what type of paper is it? transfer paper?

[@_Alter_Aesthetics]

What happens if the print sits out for a few days on the paper? Does it need to be burnished right after printing?

[@TraitorFelon.14.3]

Yes. The ink can be easily transferred while wet. When dried in the air, you can still transfer it onto a surface covered with a thin layer of glue.

[@dogggodcrusader7854]

THX

[@nicolasrouch7374]

hey what is this paper? thanks

[@ajsmercantile7704]

Save your poor fingers! Spray a light mist of water on the wood & then run the back of a spoon over the image. Much easier on your fingers. Especially if you’re doing a large image. Love your videos!!

[@chadlindsey7736]

Clowny Brownie how did it come out after you sprayed the most of water on wood using inkjet printer?

[@ajsmercantile7704]

Chad Lindsey it actually works REALLY well! The image transfer is nice and dark. I had to burn a large memorial for my grandparents & I used the water/spoon. It was a lifesaver. But just make sure you lightly mist the wood. You don’t want it soaked.

[@chadlindsey7736]

Clowny Brownie black and white or color?

[@ajsmercantile7704]

Chad Lindsey I only have experience with black and white but I would imagine, if your wood isn’t too dark, the color would show up pretty well. It might even remain on the wood if your put some type of clear coat over it. I burn over the images so color isn’t a factor for me.

[@chadlindsey7736]

Clowny Brownie what type of wood do you use?

[@eszesfilms1651]

wont work. Maybe my inkjet printer doesnt enought inkjet?

[@EmpoweredHeads]

I cannot get this to work for the life of me. My ink comes out like powder on the sheet. Advice?

[@seangholland3055]

This seems the easiest method with the lowest cost.

[@bluebyyoublue839]

I wonder if it would work using wax paper?

[@bluebyyoublue839]

Just tried.....IT WORKED!!😂

[@hollyhelmer8235]

Or if you're a Cricut crafter you can keep your vinyl backing and use that instead of wasting labels.

[@ccccen]

good and better idea instead of using glue

[@SeverinoBiil]

Is it whasheable?

[@joeysmith7886]

what computer program do you use to flip the image, so the words come out right?

[@garycomerMusic]

he used paint, but almost any program will do it. there are even web pages that will do it for you.

[@PowerOnYT]

use a spoon to preess

[@dsingh1183]

Great stuff. Why don't you recommend brushing the polycrylic on the image? You suggested spraying it on. . .

[@MadRavenWoodworks]

+Del Singh the ink doesn't actually penetrate the wood. Or at least much of it doesn't. If you make brush contact with the ink, you'll likely smear it

[@anniekook2787]

I use an old credit card or a cheap spatula

[@BGFazakas]

What is sticker paper? Is that just the paper behind stickers??

[@rovliadi3112]

Alexandra Fazakas exactly

[@joeofnotrades]

Can I treat the wood before hand like with an oil and let dry obviously or does it have to be virgin wood?

[@DEVILDoG-0311]

2 finger technique! nice! Jenny25 will like that

[@mohamedshafi5384]

Hi what is the printer used here? Model name? Wax ink printing? Is the same image can transferes to steel plate also know instead of wood?

[@ShowMeCrows]

yeah he is,I can save you a ton of time and just give you my number

[@anitaramirez163]

Do you mirror image

[@buddycarroll9641]

Yes.. mirror it or it will come out backwards.

[@bracoop2]

I’m not computer smart. So I can’t do this lol.

[@evelynbravo-sanchez1920]

I have an inkjet printer and it DID NOT work. When it printed on the waxy label paper the ink was not solid.

[@spikren]

But that is for a really really small printout. How about a big A4 print?

[@MadRavenWoodworks]

+Renos Christou yeah this is totally restricted to 8.5x11. I've out some thought into going bigger, but haven't come up with anything

[@paulwilliams819]

Probably do better to use two fingers......that's what she said.

[@Lord_RavnFar_Tannerwise]

why not just use wax paper itd be cheaper and less tedious to use

[@TechSupport100]

You can use wax paper, and I have. It's likely to be a little more fussy about going through your printer than this sticker paper, and of course there's the extra step of cutting it to size, but give it a try. Freezer paper can be used too, and would probably be less problematic in the printer. I remember in the past there was something called a "carrier" that would be used to take off-size or weird paper through a printer but don't know if that's still an option.