13 Comments so far

1. Garlinda Price on October 16, 2007 6:10 am

   Hi Heather, where can I find the transfers to use. Colored or black and white/ I tried the Doverbooksat the library but they aren’t cute.

2. Melanie Dilday on October 16, 2007 2:49 pm

   I agree Heather. I’ve been a great fan of this method for years. The only problem is that it doesn’t work for curved surfaces, you know, like inros. So for non flat surfaces I use the laser printer method (see Donna Katos new book)

   Mel

3. Margaret Donnelly on October 17, 2007 4:45 pm

   Hi Heather! I’ve tried this method, and I’ve found that with my favorite type of clay (Kato Polyclay), this method is definitely not “foolproof” (although I could be the major fool–LOL!). I’ve found the easiest method to be one that incorporates a specific product (JudiKins TranzIt Rinse Away Paper) and a laser printer or toner copier (B&W or color). You place the printed and trimmed image face down on the uncured clay, burnish, wait five minutes or so, and then run the clay under water. Voila! Instant transfer! I’ve detailed the info on the paper and the step-by-step on my blog. Just thought you’d like to know about this!

   Best,

   Margaret

4. heather powers on October 17, 2007 5:36 pm

   hi margaret,
   i used it with premo, my clay of choice, and i have to give it two thumbs up for super easy to use. of course, i’m not a transfer expect, so thank you for sharing the information.
   melanie -donna’s new book is filled with all sorts of good info. thanks for pointing that out.

5. arch on October 18, 2007 5:16 am

   i only use gin to transfer images…

6. Lunes on October 19, 2007 5:07 am

   I find this method hit and miss it doesn’t work every time.

7. heather powers on October 28, 2007 8:29 am

   just like everything in polymer clay, it seems there are many ways to create a desired effect. If this one doesn’t work out for you, try another method until one does!

   FYI: I use an epson printer, HP Iron-on Transfers with white Premo clay. The results are amazing.

8. Angie on November 25, 2007 9:56 pm

   Ok, well I’m just now tring to figure all of this out. After you print on iron on paper do you put it on before or after you bake? I haven’t tried the jin method but I have tried using the mineral spirits but it didn’t work. I’m looking for the best way where I can do it using my inkjet printer.

9. Shelly on May 31, 2008 11:53 am

   I have been able to make the transfer onto the clay but I am having a problem with the photo being easy to scratch once made into jewelry. Is there any coating or sealer that will not leave the piece tacky or sticky.

10. heather powers on May 31, 2008 4:08 pm

    Hi Shelly,
    I’m not expert on this, but I use a little future. I dab it on with my finger, wipe off the excess and then I heat it up for a bit with my embossing heat gun. I like the matte finish of polymer clay and hate to add glazes, but this does the trick for me.

    You might want to ask this question on the polymerclaycentral.com message board. I’m sure you could get a better answer!

    -Heather

11. Jamie on November 8, 2008 8:00 pm

    I am totally new to clay and I am trying to make photo pendants to go on some jewlery I am making. I have read a lot of different techniques and tried many and I am getting a transfer, but they are either spotty or they leave a film that I am having to scrape off and then they usually get messed up in the process. I am using Avery t-shirt transfer paper and sculpty clay. I have layed the transfer on the clay and burnished it with water or alcohol and even tried using liquid sculpty and then laid it image down on a ceramic tile and placed another tile on top (I am trying to make two sided as well)and bake for 15 min. I did try first not putting anything on top and leaving it face up, and I tried taking it out at 5 min and peeling it off, but none looked very good. I am wondering if it is the brand of paper or just me. I also was wondering what the trick is to keeping the clay from sticking to the work surface and to making a hole for the eye pin through the entire pendant. Please let me know if anyone can offer suggestions.
    Thanks

12. Melodie on November 29, 2008 4:13 am

    I use Avery transfer papers, burnish VERY well and remove the paper before baking. This seems to be the only way I can properly trim and shape after the image is transferred.

    Jamie – I get the film with Avery too (I’m going to try HP after reading here). After throwing out about a 1/2 dozen or so yesterday, I just popped one in the oven to see what would happen, and the film simply disappeared (after the full 30 mins)! You couldn’t even tell. Oh, joy! If they contort during baking, just put a ceramic tile on them as soon as they come out of the oven, and let them cool. They will be perfectly flat when they are cool. Don’t put the tile on top while they bake though, because the film does not disappear if not exposed while baking.

    For the work surface, I use a small piece of parchment paper. You can bake right on it, move it around while burnishing and pick it up and peel it out from underneath your piece. This greatly reduces the chance for distortion. I don’t move mine off the paper until it come out of the oven. Burnish, trim & bake.

    I’ve tried leaving the paper on for a few minutes in the oven, but then the clay comes out partly cured and does not cut well and is no longer pliable. Not good for me.

    I’d love to learn more about how you do your two-sided. I’ve never had the nerve to try that.

    Shelly – The secret to a beautiful matte finish that is not sticky is a can of FolkArt Clearcote Acrylic Sealer in Matte finish. I take them outside on a poster board and spray lightly until the surface is shine-wet. When they dry, it’s like there is nothing on them at all and they are waterproof! They are velvety smooth and not sticky at all. My only warning is to do this before attaching it to other non-transferred on clay. Clay without the transfer on it may remain sticky if it gets too much on it. Which can happen since the transfer sucks it up like a sponge and you use much more than you would on a normal surface.

13. Janet on January 27, 2009 1:13 pm

    Where can I get the best pictures for photo transfer onto polymer clay? Can I use magazine pictures to transfer onto paper and then onto the clay????