R&F Handmade Paints Forums

enchante@roadrunner.com · 2010-07-29 23:34:30

Hello,
I have found that imgaes printed on parchment paper transfers easily and beautifully onto the wax. The parchment paper is thin though and a copier doesn't recognize it if you try to load it into the machine. If you glue it or tape it to a piece of cardstock or regular computer paper, the people at the copy store won't use it because they are afraid the tape or glue will mess up their machines. The parchment paper works with Laser Ink printers, but I don't have a color Laser printer because they are very expensive to puchase. The black and white copiers are less expensive but I really want to do well detailed transfers in color. I would like to know how to get a regular color copier to take the parchment paper, (which is heavier than tissue paper but not quite as heavy as computer paper,) without jamming up the store's machines...I'm frustrated with not being able to do a really good quality color image transfer. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you

Phyllis Lasche · 2010-10-10 15:57:24

I use Bak-O-Matic Parchment Paper, #35 Silicone Greaseproof - Purple Label, which I purchased in bulk from another artist, Gretchen Papka (gpapka@gmail.com). This particular paper is pretty heavy and it goes through the printer with no problem. I had tried making parchment transfers using a Canon and also a Xerox Laser printer at the local copier stores, but the ink would not pick up completely (probably a heat roller incompatibility).
Out of frustration, I have just purchased an HP Color LaserJet printer ( I got the CP1518ni). It was around $400. It picks up both the paper and the ink beautifully. If you set the printer to accept transparency paper (the heat rollers are cooler and do not set the ink "hard" into the paper on that setting), it does a great job of releasing the ink.
Gretchen uses ann HP3600, no longer on the market. I know you can find the 3600 online "refurbished" and "used", for less that $400. Possibly other HP printers work reliably too.
Hope these hints will work for you!

Robert Kays · 2010-11-08 17:25:17

Can anyone tell me whether an ink jet or a laser printer is preferable for doing image transfers onto wax?

Phyllis Lasche · 2010-11-08 21:21:02

Hi Robert,
I use the Gretchen Papka method: with an HP color laser jet printer, print onto parchment paper (Bak-o-matic parchemnt paper #35 works really well) setting the paper type on "transparency" so that the processor uses reduced heart when making the image onto the parchment.
The image made this way transfers very well with just a gentle braying effort, coming off the paper completely - no water, no scrubbing.
Gretchen has sold that paper in the past because she did the research and found the "best" parchment. You might want to contact her to see if she still sells the paper.. She is an IEA member (so can be reached thru the IEA website) and probably uses the R&F blog too, I imagine.
G'luck,
Phyllis Lasche

Robert Kays · 2010-11-09 16:46:45

Hi Phyliss: Thanks for the reply. I will follow up on that and contact Gretchen. But you did not respond directly to my question, which is: which type of printer, laser or ink jet, is best for image transfer work? I am in the market for a new printer and would like to make the right choice. Thanks again.

laura · 2010-11-12 15:12:07

Hi Robert,
I think you missed something, or is "an HP color laser jet printer" not direct enough?

Robert Kays · 2010-11-13 13:37:16

Thanks, Laura. I did note that, but I was primarily interested in finding out if there is a concensus as to whether ink jet or laser printers in general work better for image transfers onto wax. I have read all the posts I could find and people seem to be using both. So I guess the answer is that there is not a big distinction.

laura · 2010-11-13 13:59:44

I suppose it depends on what method you use to do your transfers. It's gotten more sophisticated these days with the discovery of bakers parchment, but back in the old days when we used water to dissolve the paper carrier sheet, you would not want to use an inkjet because the ink would run when you applied water.

judywood · 2010-11-13 23:37:30

The ink running is an issue with the type of ink, not the type of printer as such. Pigment based inks are waterproof and some inkjet printers use them ( eg Epson Durabrite inks) . Many inkjet printers use dye-based inks which will indeed run if wet, and are also not as fade-resistant as pigment inks. That said, I have tried to do image transfers (black only,not colour) from my inkjet images and in the end bought a cheap laser mono printer as the toner based prints do seem to transfer better onto the wax.

color me softly · 2011-11-24 20:12:36

Thank you.
I'll stay away from the office parchment and buy parchment for baking.

Thsnks

SURF JUICE · 2011-12-09 11:54:22

The Purple bak-o-matic parchment paper is no longer available (and email for Gretchen). They say the subsitute for the above is Orange Label #27SGP, but I can't find where it can be purchased. Anyone know? Please tell me what you are all using for transfers that you run through the printer that you like best. Thank you.

R&F Handmade Paints

R&F Handmade Paints Forums

#1 2010-07-29 23:34:30

color image transfers

#2 2010-10-10 15:57:24

Re: color image transfers

#3 2010-11-08 17:25:17

Re: color image transfers

#4 2010-11-08 21:21:02

Re: color image transfers

#5 2010-11-09 16:46:45

Re: color image transfers

#6 2010-11-12 15:12:07

Re: color image transfers

#7 2010-11-13 13:37:16

Re: color image transfers

#8 2010-11-13 13:59:44

Re: color image transfers

#9 2010-11-13 23:37:30

Re: color image transfers

#10 2011-11-24 20:12:36

Re: color image transfers

#11 2011-12-09 11:54:22

Re: color image transfers

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enchante@roadrunner.com Member	color image transfers Hello, I have found that imgaes printed on parchment paper transfers easily and beautifully onto the wax. The parchment paper is thin though and a copier doesn't recognize it if you try to load it into the machine. If you glue it or tape it to a piece of cardstock or regular computer paper, the people at the copy store won't use it because they are afraid the tape or glue will mess up their machines. The parchment paper works with Laser Ink printers, but I don't have a color Laser printer because they are very expensive to puchase. The black and white copiers are less expensive but I really want to do well detailed transfers in color. I would like to know how to get a regular color copier to take the parchment paper, (which is heavier than tissue paper but not quite as heavy as computer paper,) without jamming up the store's machines...I'm frustrated with not being able to do a really good quality color image transfer. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you

Phyllis Lasche Member	Re: color image transfers I use Bak-O-Matic Parchment Paper, #35 Silicone Greaseproof - Purple Label, which I purchased in bulk from another artist, Gretchen Papka (gpapka@gmail.com). This particular paper is pretty heavy and it goes through the printer with no problem. I had tried making parchment transfers using a Canon and also a Xerox Laser printer at the local copier stores, but the ink would not pick up completely (probably a heat roller incompatibility). Out of frustration, I have just purchased an HP Color LaserJet printer ( I got the CP1518ni). It was around $400. It picks up both the paper and the ink beautifully. If you set the printer to accept transparency paper (the heat rollers are cooler and do not set the ink "hard" into the paper on that setting), it does a great job of releasing the ink. Gretchen uses ann HP3600, no longer on the market. I know you can find the 3600 online "refurbished" and "used", for less that $400. Possibly other HP printers work reliably too. Hope these hints will work for you!

Robert Kays Member	Re: color image transfers Can anyone tell me whether an ink jet or a laser printer is preferable for doing image transfers onto wax?

Phyllis Lasche Member	Re: color image transfers Hi Robert, I use the Gretchen Papka method: with an HP color laser jet printer, print onto parchment paper (Bak-o-matic parchemnt paper #35 works really well) setting the paper type on "transparency" so that the processor uses reduced heart when making the image onto the parchment. The image made this way transfers very well with just a gentle braying effort, coming off the paper completely - no water, no scrubbing. Gretchen has sold that paper in the past because she did the research and found the "best" parchment. You might want to contact her to see if she still sells the paper.. She is an IEA member (so can be reached thru the IEA website) and probably uses the R&F blog too, I imagine. G'luck, Phyllis Lasche

Robert Kays Member	Re: color image transfers Hi Phyliss: Thanks for the reply. I will follow up on that and contact Gretchen. But you did not respond directly to my question, which is: which type of printer, laser or ink jet, is best for image transfer work? I am in the market for a new printer and would like to make the right choice. Thanks again.

laura R&F Staff	Re: color image transfers Hi Robert, I think you missed something, or is "an HP color laser jet printer" not direct enough?
	Laura Moriarty Director of Exhibitions & Workshops R&F Handmade Paints laura@rfpaints.com

Robert Kays Member	Re: color image transfers Thanks, Laura. I did note that, but I was primarily interested in finding out if there is a concensus as to whether ink jet or laser printers in general work better for image transfers onto wax. I have read all the posts I could find and people seem to be using both. So I guess the answer is that there is not a big distinction.

laura R&F Staff	Re: color image transfers I suppose it depends on what method you use to do your transfers. It's gotten more sophisticated these days with the discovery of bakers parchment, but back in the old days when we used water to dissolve the paper carrier sheet, you would not want to use an inkjet because the ink would run when you applied water.
	Laura Moriarty Director of Exhibitions & Workshops R&F Handmade Paints laura@rfpaints.com

judywood Member	Re: color image transfers The ink running is an issue with the type of ink, not the type of printer as such. Pigment based inks are waterproof and some inkjet printers use them ( eg Epson Durabrite inks) . Many inkjet printers use dye-based inks which will indeed run if wet, and are also not as fade-resistant as pigment inks. That said, I have tried to do image transfers (black only,not colour) from my inkjet images and in the end bought a cheap laser mono printer as the toner based prints do seem to transfer better onto the wax.

color me softly Member	Re: color image transfers Thank you. I'll stay away from the office parchment and buy parchment for baking. Thsnks

SURF JUICE Member	Re: color image transfers The Purple bak-o-matic parchment paper is no longer available (and email for Gretchen). They say the subsitute for the above is Orange Label #27SGP, but I can't find where it can be purchased. Anyone know? Please tell me what you are all using for transfers that you run through the printer that you like best. Thank you.