Transferring images to polymer clay

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the team. I've been experimenting with transferring my photos onto polymer clay and making pendants. So far I've had frustrating results and was wondering if there were any like-minded people in the group? The first batch that I did, I used a photo transfer paper from Joanne Fabrics, and even after following a tutorial from The Charm Lady, (using the correct heat and time), all of the transfers bubbled. The second batch I did for a shorter amount of time, and had the same result - bubbling. I was also disappointed in how the t-shirt transfer paper made my images look washed out. When I covered them in Sculpey glaze afterward, the color popped a bit more, but not as much as I would have liked (not like the originals). I wasn't happy with the finish of the Sculpey glaze, so I tried putting resin over the top. The doming is really nice, but I'm not exactly sure how to apply the resin to the clay pendants. I'm used to filling a tray, and that does the spreading work on it's own. :)

Anyway, next I tried Lesley Riley's TAP Transfer Artist Paper. Total failure. Even after sitting for 30 minutes with water on them, and burnishing, etc... the images just flaked off when I lifted them, like a horrible cheap temporary tattoo. Total waste of money!

I'm going to try Avery t-shirt transfers tonight, in hopes that it's a quality issue with those.

If anyone has tips or successes the they've had in the past in transferring images I'd love to hear them!

Thanks,
Sarah
www.avenue49.etsy.com

[playsculptlive]

Hello Sarah,
Just checked out your shop, nice stuff! As far as transfers, I feel your frustration. I have also tried many techniques and have not had much success. Although I did manage to do one that worked. It's not even a transfer as such anymore but the results are the same. I cut my piece of clay and spread the clay with tls, very thin. then I put my photocopy of the photo on top and cover it with more tls. I've done it a couple of times and have never had bubbles. I think the trick is in how thin your spread the tls. Since, I've discovered Kato liquid clay and that one bakes to a beautiful glass shine. If spots are a little thick, I use a heat gun to bring out the shine. Looks like glass.
Good Luck

[Former_Member]

I bake clay "blanks" that are roughly the size of the image. Once they cool, I spread a super thin layer of liquid sculpey, place the image, (printed on t-shirt transfer paper) lightly burnish it, then bake it again. Wait for it to cool before you peel! You can trim the "blank" edges easily. I found that having a firm base to place the image helps a lot to prevent distortion, and the bubbles are prevented from the burnishing. Needless to say, they don't all turn out perfect, but i've had decent luck doing it this way :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks for your tips! playsculptive - what is TLS? I'll check out the Kato liquid clay too.

[playsculptlive]

Sorry, tls is Translucent Liquid Sculpey. Available at Micheals and other places, fairly common. hanagarden has a good idea about baking first. You'd be burnishing on a hard surface, not distorting and eliminating your bubbles that way.

[Former_Member]

I have tried many techniques and very few have worked. What I have found to work for me is: print my images on t-shirt transfer w/an ink jet printer (mirror image,) preheat my oven with a ceramic tile already in there heating up too, working directly on another tile, I burnish the transfer paper on the raw clay (white clay works best,) I flip that tile upside down on top of the already hot tile in the oven. I put another tile on top of that for weight and bake it. I don't remove the transfer until everything has cooled on its own. Then and only then do I trim the clay down to size so as to not ruin the image. I actually use very sharp craft scissors and cut the clay like paper (even if on the thickest setting.) This process works great for me.

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much all of you. USCGwife, I'll try that technique. I need to get myself some ceramic tiles, though. :) Do you guys think I need to get some liquid Sculpey? Sounds like that sometimes helps the process too. I bet you all understand this, but I've been like someone possessed, buying different kinds of transfers. What the hell do I do with all of these transfers now? :) Must make some t-shirts, bags, bibs, whatever! :)

[playsculptlive]

You could take pictures of your pieces, transfer them on to t-shirts or bags.