Gel Transfer Tutorial

One of my favourite techniques in my mixed media work is image transfer. Through some trial and error I've come up with what works best for me. 

Supplies used:

-a laser copy of your image

-Golden Self Leveling Gel

-a small sponge

-the substrate of your choice - I've used my altered book journal here in the examples


I start with a laser copy of my selected image - if there is any text in the image I reverse the image in my photo editing software.   In this example I've used a copy of one of my drawings and I've cut around my image since it's a black line image and there is no background to worry about in the image like a photo image would present - more on that later. 

With a brush I apply a layer of the gel on the altered book background that has been previously painted with liquid acrylic using stencils.

 Then a layer of gel is brushed on the image side of the copy - not too thick but you don't want it drying before you attach it to the substrate so it's a balance of the right amount of gel and being quick about laying it on the surface of the substrate.  Please disregard the very messy glue-board I have been using for months and months!!  It has a lovely patina of Gesso and glue ;)

After applying the image on the substrate, starting at the center burnish the paper with your fingers to push out any extra gel and to make certain the copy is adhered well.

Depending on the moisture in the air - drying time can take up to overnight.  This is quite important for a good image transfer - all areas must be dry.  I sometimes use my heat gun to speed up drying time.

When the paper is totally dry - using a wet sponge - soak the paper to rub off the fibers.  Don't rub excessively or you risk taking off parts of the image

Continue using the sponge - rewetting as needed - until most of the paper fibers are rubbed off.  Then switch to your fingers to get a better feel for the image underneath so you don't rub any off.

Keep going taking off fibers - it will seem like you are done - but let it dry and see if you can see any more fibers.

  After letting it dry - my image looks like this - cloudy - more rubbing is necessary for a clear transfer.

 
After more fiber removal - the final transfer -

Here's another example - this time it's a photo - and I've carefully ripped around it instead of cutting around it.  I prefer the look of a ripped image than a straight line - most times.  I have cut around photos before and then intentionally rubbed the edges of the image off while removing the paper fibers to give them a distressed look.
 

I am applying this transfer onto a page that hasn't been prepared - it is a raw vintage book page glued into an altered book.  If I applied this straight onto the page I would end up removing the page around the transfer with the wet sponge - so I've used the gel on the entire page to seal it and protect it from the water used in the fiber removal. Same process with application of gel on the image - brushing on and quickly adhering.

 
After transfer is dry - remove with wet sponge and fingers.

I really enjoy the effect of the text coming through the image!! 

An example of a colour photo transfer - I applied it to a Gessoed page - then I painted the background around the transfer.

Another black and white image applied to a vintage book page - before applying the image I brushed gel over the entire page.  The image was cut not ripped - the left hand side rubbed off quite well and I like the grungy ripped look - but the right side did not cooperate! That is how it goes with transfers - not always as planned.

This example was applied to a collaged surface - kind of interesting how the different colours of the pages shows through.

I hope this was clear and concise - if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.  I will do my best to answer or find answers for you.

Have fun with gel transfers!!