Transfer to Fabric LaserJet Laquer Thinner

We got a Laserjet Printer at an auction a few weeks ago and I remember a craft I wanted to try. I have never been pleased with the finished product using iron on transfer paper on T Shirts I found this tutorial and am gonna give it a try.

How to transfer a b/w picture onto almost any surface using paint thinner

Hey there!

It's a great technique to transfer pictures onto a shirt, designs onto fabric for embroidery, etc. It's also used to prepare metal surface for etching.

From my experience, I can say that this is fairly permanent on fabric, I've been mercilessly washing my printed shirt, and though slightly faded, it still is undeniably present. That's why I wouldn't recommend it for the use with delicate embroidery, but if you're going to cover all of it with (dark) thread, it could as well work.

It's really quite simple, but I have to inform you: we will be dealing with potentially dangerous chemicals, that means: no smoking, no inhaling, eating & drinking of the paint thinner, and no kids left unattended! Really! I don't want anybody to be harmed in this process, so open your windows for fresh air and pay attention that nothing spills!

what you need:

• a computer
• a laser printer (more specifically, something printed on a laser printer ;) copyshop will also work!) EDIT: It recall it working with newspaper/some magazines, too!!
• paint thinner (EDIT: as some people have pointed out, the proper stuff to use would be lacquer thinner — mine contains xylene and benzine, just so you can re-check an see if the problems might have to do with the chemicals you use) 
• q-tips a solid, flat, smooth thingy (letter opener or so...)
• a surface to transfer the motif onto (fabric, paper, cardboard, wood, metal,... it works with a lot of stuff)

directions:
First, prepare your picture (size, resultion etc is pretty much irrelevant, this technique also transfers fine details!) with a graphics program so it is b/w or grayscale. There have been rumors it works with color, too, as long as it's laser printed, but I myself only work monochrome.

Then — and I can't stress enough how important this is, even more so with actual lettering in the design — FLIP it horizontally. It should be mirrored, because we will put it on the surface with the printed side down!

Next: print! Check double if it's really mirrored (stand in front of a mirror and if you can read your text, you've done well :D).

Cut out your design with a generous border (for easier orientation etc.) and pin/tape it down (with the printed side DOWN) to the surface if necessary. Be careful not to cover/prick any of the picture area, but only the border. Small pictures also work without fixation, you can just hold it down with your fingers.

Dip your q-tip in paint thinner and rub it on the back of your printout — it will become translucent! Unlike me, you should hold it down while rubbing, but I didn't have a third hand for handling the cam :D

Then, take a solid, smooth anything (I used a letter opener made of bone) and carefully but firmly rub all over the picture, so the ink transfers well to the surface. Larger pictures may need step-by-step action, as the thinner quickly evaporates (hence the open windows and no inhaling rule... otherwise you would feel dizzy soon).

Peel away and adore :D

I just tried this on a piece of painted mdf wood and it worked. Amazing. You do need to tape or hold the image down or it will get messed up. It transfered right away and the paper moved and it transfered again so the image came out messed up. If I were paying attention I am sure it would have worked perfectly.

What a fun craft idea....

Transfer print outs of coloring pages to any fabric/wood surface for the kids to paint.  Transfer to walls for a mural. Transfer to canvas to paint. Transfer to leather, T-shirts, pillows to fabric for embroidery. It is so exciting!!!

It just worked on plastic. We have a very old school electric pencil sharpener with a plastic case/body. I just transferred a picture of Woody from Toy Story onto it. It did distort/etch/melt the plastic a little. It is really just more discolored around the image so I guess you would have to be very precise with plastic. For this test, I figured who cares what it comes out like, the pencil sharpener is old and looks crappy anyway. Now it has Woody on it.

I had an idea a few years ago for recycling old 2 liter soda bottles. I thought if they were cut you could use it as sheet plastic. But I could never really get anything to adhere to them to my satisfaction. I bet the coloring page transfer with some gallery glass paint would work. Then using popsicle sticks to make a frame for it. I am going to try this technique on that next.