Create a one of a kind, custom canvas using Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium.
I adore the look of black and white canvas photos and Plaid’s new Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium was totally calling my name from my basement stash for this project. Just like our last house, we’re working on this house a little bit at a time. Last week I got a little ADD with my painting: I painted the hallway – most of it anyway, I painted the stairs (project coming soon), I started painting our master bedroom, I painted a little of the basement family room. And so far none of it is finished! But I did tackle this one *complete* and EASY personalized piece of art for our bedroom, this easy custom canvas using Mod Podge Transfer Medium.
Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium Project
Supplies
- Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium
- Canvas
- INK JET printout of photo
- Two foam brushes
- Scissors
- Water
- Sponge
- Paint
Instructions
1. Choose your photo. Using a photo editing software (I used GIMP), size to fit your canvas. If desired change mode to grayscale. Print photo on PLAIN paper. Photo paper will NOT work. Trim photo to fit canvas, leaving about a half inch space for border around the edge. Transfer Medium doesn’t dry clear, so be sure to trim right to the edge of your image or you’ll have a white outline.
2. On a protected surface (you don’t want glue-ish stuff all over, do you?!), using a sponge brush to spread a thick layer of Transfer Medium all over the FRONT SIDE of your photocopied, trimmed photo. (Ask me why FRONT SIDE is in all caps.) All you want to see is WHITE.
3. Without touching the sticky surface, place your photo paper sticky side down onto your canvas. Tap gently in the center and then smooth outwards toward the edges on all sides, removing air bubbles as you go. LET DRY FOR 24 HOURS.
4. Softly press a fairly wet sponge onto the image on canvas until the entire thing is damp to wet. Now squeeze out the sponge into a cup. Using a circular motion and the damp sponge, rub the paper off the canvas; you’ll see it sort of rub off in small pieces Continue until all you see is your transferred image. Gently brush off any additional paper pieces and let dry.
5. Using a foam brush and black craft paint, carefully paint just the edges of the canvas.
And voila an easy custom canvas in just 5 simple steps!
I think this Photo Transfer Medium is going to come in VERY handy for a whole bunch of projects brewing around in my little ol’ brain – since it makes it SO easy to personalize any surface with favorite photos or even graphics created on the computer!
What do you think of our canvas art?
xo,
Shannon
wow, nice picture it’s just great :O
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I tried this with all the correct material but for some reason it did not turn out. When I wet the paper it seemed to take the ink off too. What did I do wrong? Could it be the paper I am using?
The ink is definitely more faded, but it shouldn’t all come off. You really have to soak the paper and it really does have to sit for 24 hours before you wet it.
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If you’re going to be printing you’ll want to select from between 150 and 300 pixels per inch (also referred to as PPI).
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Does it work with a color print out?
It should, yes!
Hi there! I love making image transfers and this is a great article! =)
I had a few thoughts that might be helpful.
First of all, as Natasha said, be sure to print at as high of a resolution as possible, at least 150…
I think you’re meant to use a laser printer (a printer/copier that uses toner rather than ink) for best results. The ink from ink-jet printers tends to run and wash away a bit from the water (and maybe the medium too?). Sometimes the vintage/faded look is ideal, but if you’re looking for a crisper image with more contrast, try using a laser print.
Also, I’ve had the best luck making transfers by keeping the paper at least as wide as the canvas–either way you can leave a white (or whatever color the canvas is if you’re using a medium that dries clear) border around the photo if you want to, but this way you don’t have two different textures and a fine line where the image layer cuts off onto the canvas. Instead, the whole canvas is a smooth surface.
And you don’t have to be stuck with a white medium to make image/photo transfers. You can use any acrylic medium and I believe that most will have a clear finish unless otherwise stated. I find that Liquitex’s Slow Dri Blending Acrylic Gel Medium and Golden’s Semi-gloss Acrylic Gel Medium both work well, especially if you use multiple coats in opposite directions on the canvas and let those coats dry before applying the image layer.
Good luck with your transfers!
Thanks for the tips, Mira!
So I tried this, and it has the vintage look that I like, but the texture makes it look kinda dry and scratchy up close(maybe there’s something I did). Is there a type of finisher to place on top to make it more smooth?
Hmm. Mine dried okay. Did you try maybe applying regular Mod Podge on top as a sealer?
What kind of paper did you use? I read one site and it said to use 20 lb paper but that did not work.
I used the Mod Podge Photo Transfer Medium, inkjet printer, inkjet 24lb bond paper onto a canvas that I painted a background with oil paint.
My plan was to transfer the photo image onto the canvas with a painted background.
I followed all the steps and the print did not transfer at all. I rubbed the paper away, but it did not rub off completely. The Mod Podged print just peeled off like a thick coat of paint. The photo did not transfer at all.
Any thoughts?
Well, my best guess is that the oil paint and water-based Mod Podge don’t mix well together!
A lot of the sites I have been reading says to use a laser printer. Mist says an inkjet printer won’t work. Is this true and why are they saying this. I have an ink jet printer. Can you help me and explain?
I’m not sure about the actual chemical reasons why, but it is true. I tried it with my ink jet first and it did not work. So I sent it to be printed on a laser printer at Staples/Office Depot.