Transfer Designs Using Wax Paper and an Ink Jet

If you have an inkjet printer, you can easily transfer text and pictures to a piece of wood, using some waxed paper, tape, and a credit card.
It should also work transferring to a textile ( such as a T-shirt ) but the material should be of a very tight weave

Step 1: Materials:

Wood plaque to be printed on
Waxed Paper
Printer paper to fit your ink jet

Clear tape ( the easily removable type would be best)

credit card, or something similar to use as a squeegee

Scissors

Ink jet printer

Step 2: Step 2, How To

Create your design, using text and images and then inverse them so that you have the mirror image of what you want. Some printers have this ability , or use a paint program

Step 3: Cut And...

Cut a piece of wax paper the same size as your printer paper and tape it to the paper top and bottom. Make sure the edges are smooth.

Insert the wax paper /printer paper into the printer so that the ink will print on the wax paper and print your image.

Trying not to allow the wax paper to touch the wood , center the text over the wood and then lay it down lightly in place.

Using the card card or something similar ( stiff but flexible), rub the paper onto the wood. This will transfer the ink from the paper to the wood. Sometimes if the wood s slightly dampened, the design may appear darker.

Allow to dry COMPLETELY, and coat with clear urethane to preserve the design, and you're good to go.

Comments

[PamelaP43]

I wanted to preserve much of my writings onto a unique medium (wood). I found the tutorial about wax paper transfer. I even went out and bought a $400 laser printer. BIG problem- the wax paper persists in jamming. My printer is NOT the kind that I can manually feed so I've no control over the wax paper. HELP! Please.....

[CraigS104]

Laser jet will not work for this project. You need an ink jet printer.

[raulduke1029]

Craig is absolutely right and here’s why, Laser jets melt toner powder to creat an image/text which drys rapidly and the heat is enough to melt the wax enough for the image to transfer, as where an inkjet sprays ink onto the paper. The reason this works is because the wax stops the ink from permeating into the paper and sits on top.

[AmyW215]

I tape the wax paper onto a regular peice of paper. It needs taped at all the corners and the middles, so I end up using 12 little pieces of tape, but that keeps it from jamming.

[ssddkramer]

Wax paper has 2 sides, which one do you place up?

[AmyW215]

How do you keep the ink from smearing as the printer is working? Mine comes out all smeared more often than not. Sometimes it's little enough I can touch it up, but other times it's unusable.

[JessicaC212]

Do you have to transfer the image as soon as it comes out of the printer? Will it still work if the ink has dried?

[AmyW215]

I find that it stays wet enough for several hours after. So you can't leave it until the next day but don't have to rush either.

[LakshyaS6]

can i print it on my t-shirt I'm have an inkjet paper .

[LakshyaS6]

can i print it on my t-shirt I'm have an inkjet paper .

[tixrus]

After trying this, I will say this works. It is best if the design is SIMPLE and blocky, fine lines and details will be lost. It does transfer the image (I used B&W) but the blacks are not dark black. Also the surface to be transferred to needs to be flat, smooth, yet somewhat porous. Fine-grained smooth wood and tight weave textile sample worked. T-shirt somewhat. Plastic DID NOT WORK, it was too smeary.

[elizabethkitchen42]

[M3G]

Cool idea!