Xerox Transfer Project
by Juliette Lagman, 2005
 Step 1: Prepare your surface (canvas, matte board, untempered masonite, etc.) with gesso and possibly an acrylic color base/background. Make sure each layer dries fully.
Step 2: Sand with a fine sandpaper if you have some available.
 Step 3: Xerox image. Must not be a color copy or lazer print. For image to transfer properly, you must use a Xerox machine (black & white photocopy). Keep in mind that your image will be reversed horizontally later, so if you are working with text or other unsymmetrical material, make sure to print your original mirrored horizontally. Many copiers have a function to reverse the image.
 Step 4: Roughly cut a square from the xerox copy that contains your image. Brush on a generous layer of acrylic matte medium on the image side of the xerox copy using a foam or other choice brush. Put a layer of matte medium down on top of your primed/colored surface about the same size as your cropped image. Proceed immediately to next step before the medium dries.
 Step 5: Place the xerox copy, image face-down onto the prepared area of the surface. With medium still wet, dampen the back of the xerox with a wet paper towel. This will help remove any bubbles that may have formed in-between the surface and the xerox and will help the corners of the paper not to curl up. You still want a good layer of medium in-between the paper and the surface as you do this.
Step 6: Allow project to dry overnight. This is very important as the pigment from the xerox image will soak into the acrylic matte medium.
 Step 7: The next day, take a wet paper towel and gently rub the paper pulp off of the image. Don't be afraid to soak the paper, as this will help it soften for removal. You may need to do this a couple of times. The first time will remove large pieces/chunks of paper. Allow the area to dry so you can see the white areas that still need to be rubbed away. Gently rub in circles until no more white pieces are visible when dry.
 Finishing Touches: You can use watercolor or watercolor crayons to add color after you put the image down. You can also use graphite, pastels or charcoal to give the project a rich collage/mixed media effect. I like to use an acrylic gloss varnish to make the piece look finished. This will also cause the leftover white paper pulp to not be so apparent.
Final: Click here to see final piece, along with some other of Juliette's artwork. |
