Say you have a great drawing you'd like to put on polymer clay-- or maybe you'd like to turn a photo of your pooch into a pendant or a key ring dangle. Both are possible, using a transfer technique.
There are many ways to transfer images to polymer clay and many products that can do the job. Different techniques and products produce different results. Each person has his or her own favorite combination, so you many need to experiment a little to find your best process. You'll do well to research the methods specific to each type of transfer medium before making a purchase.
These are just some of the products that people use to make image transfers:
- Photocopies-- Requires toner. Printouts from inkjet printers won't work.
- T-shirt transfer paper-- You can print on these using your home inkjet printer. It is also possible to draw or stamp the desired imaged on them. (Brands: Epson, HP, Avery, Canon)
- Tattoo decals-- Can be printed on inkjet printers. May be called "tattoo paper" or "decal paper".
- Lazertran transfer paper-- There are three types and each work a little differently. Inkjet printers will only work on Lazertran Inkjet. Unless you own a laser desktop printer (which works with Lazertran Silk), the other two types (Regular and Silk) will have to be photocopied or laser color copied.
- Pre-printed papers-- If you want to skip the process of selecting images and having them printed, you can purchase themed sheets full of already printed images.
- "Found" images-- Certain magazine papers, for instance, can be used for image transfers. Of course, you can produce only one transfer from each magazine image.