The other day I mentioned that I’d added an Image Transfer page to the new Resources Section on the website. Today I thought I’d demonstrate one of the lesser known products on that page – “Picture This” image transfer medium.
I bought this product a long time ago because I just happened upon it and it was cheap, and it’s been rolling around the bottom of my image transfer container ever since. However I’m shortly teaching an image transfer workshop here in Central Florida so I thought it was about time to give this product a look over. So let’s see just exactly what “Picture This” can do.
The product information reads
Easily transfer black and white or color copies of favorite photos or prints onto fabric and other surfaces. Waterbase opaque formula is specially designed for use on dark or colored fabrics. Machine washable.
So first of all it’s only suitable for photocopies or toner-based prints; it won’t work with inkjet prints. So I’ve cut out an image of a lotus flower from a magazine.
Next place the image on a piece of plastic to protect your work surface and then squirt some of the medium onto the image and using a paintbrush or your finger, spread the medium over the image.
You want to make sure that the image is completely obscured by the medium. Not too thick though.
Now place the image face down on your fabric, and using your finger, smooth it out onto the fabric making sure there are no wrinkles.
Now we have to leave it for 24 hours to dry.
Finally … it’s dry.
Now we have to remove the backing paper, so wet the surface of the image with some water …
… and gently rub the surface with your finger until the backing paper starts to ball up and the image becomes visible.
Keep rubbing until all the backing paper is removed.
I rubbed a little too hard in this area and rubbed away some of the image. You could however use this as a technique to weather and age your image.
But overall it looks good. The image feels a little “plastic-like”, like those t-shirt transfers, but it looks good.
And it’s soft.
I kind of like this result. It’s not as good as printing directly onto fabric, but it resulted in an excellent image reproduction so it would probably be suitable for certain applications, particularly where washability was a factor.
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Great possibilities for using this product. Is this usually available at a store like “Michael’s” or “JoAnn Fabrics”?
No Picture This is not available at JoAnn’s–Michael’s or Pataton’s I Called all 3 places (Youngstown,OHIO any-way) I used this Yrs ago..Loved it then & a friend is doing a project for Church & Really Needs this product & I’m having a hard time finding it. I did find an on-line place that had it..But the s/h was more than the product & that was with ordering (2)bottles of “Picture This” the s/h was more than the (2)bottles So I cancelled out the order….
I’m not sure if you can find it in stores; however I posted a link in the Resources Section where you can get it from Jo-Ann.com online:
http://www.linda-matthews.com/resources/image-transfer/mediums/
Linda
Hi! I’m looking forward to try out this product. Thanks for showing the process. Just wondering though if you know of a similar product that can be used on inkjet prints? Would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Hi Valerie, I don’t know of any product that works with inkjet prints. When I transfer an inkjet print I usually do it with copy paper and gel paste. I don’t have a tutorial online that explains how to do this, but if you do a google search for “gel transfers” I think you should be able to find lots of examples.