Ink Jet pattern application

[Marty Leenhouts]

I’ve been asked this question a few times so I thought it best to post my reply here…

Watched an interesting YouTube video this morning showing pattern transfer of picture printed from inkjet printer.  Done by Dave Rhoten (Newsletter #230 Inkjet Transfer), a sign maker.  Image is printed on Reynolds Freezer Paper (on shiny side) then he transfers to wood using back of a wooden spoon.  Turned out very well.  I can foresee a potential problem using basswood since rubbing too hard would leave impressions in the wood.  Wondering if you have heard of or tried this technique. 

Yes, I’ve seen a few videos on using this method and know of one relief carver who uses this method
When I was researching to decide what method to suggest as easiest to use, I did try this method and found it a bit tricky
It might have been my ink jet printer I was using or the release paper, but I ruled it out and eventually settled on the Patter Transfer Tool
One other point I’m not too sure about is removing any left over pattern lines.
I think the ink will bleed into the wood and be hard to remove. That’s my best guess 🙂

 

[Norbert Riedi]

Having Adobe’s Illustrator App on my computer anyway, I design all my patterns in this app. The printout is on a Laserprinter. I glue the paper directly on the wood with a water-soluble gluestick. The grainflow I can always check on the board’s flipside—if I can’t see it on the carving side anyways. After finishing I remove all paper’s and glue stick’s residues with a warm humid towel. Sure the board cups with this treatment. But that’s just until the next day. If all is dry again the board is a flat as before.

Removing residues with humidity is also the reason not to take inkjet printouts! Inkjet ink is water-soluble. It bleeds into the wood.

[Marty Leenhouts]

thanks for sharing your thoughts, Norbert! Good insights.

[Julie Pratt]

I have an inkjet printer.   I was able to transfer the pattern on to the back of on of my practice boards.  I tried both the shiny side of a label sheet and a light weight plastic divider.  I think it just needs to be something that won’t absorb the ink.   However, it was not a crisp line.  It was actually worse on the lines that went across the grain.  It seemed to bleed into the wood.  Also, I was not able to remove the lines with the sand eraser.

[Marty Leenhouts]

Good insights into this pattern application method, Julie.

What you experienced is the very reason why I chose the Pattern Transfer Tool as the best and easiest way to apply patterns.

Thanks for sharing!!

 

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