This photo transfer to wood tutorial is here with the best step-by-step photo instructions you can find online. I love different photo crafts to display pictures at a wedding, party, or celebration. These are so simple and inexpensive to make! You will find a million ways you can use this technique in your own home decorating. Or you can make birthday and Christmas gifts for just a few cents each. I made these for about $1.25 a piece and you won’t believe what part of this project caused me to bleed….
Why I Love This Project
For my daughter’s wedding, we wanted to incentivize her to stay on budget and allow us to DIY most of her decor. To do so, we set her a very modest budget for the whole wedding and told her whatever she did not spend, we would double and give to her as cash. We felt it allowed her to use her creativity to stretch a dollar. And, it gave her the opportunity to start off her marriage with a bit of extra cash in savings. She did an amazing job! You’ll find many of the projects we did to save money here on the blog.
One of my favorite parts of a wedding reception is looking at the fun photos of the couple. I am honestly disappointed when there aren’t any on display! I made 8 of these photo transfers to wood pieces to scatter around the reception area so while people mix and mingle, they will get to see all my favorite pictures from their engagement photo shoot. And don’t worry…..I was the photographer for their shoot so I didn’t break any copyright laws 🙂
I love this photo transfer to wood because my daughter will use them in their own home as decor. I love something that serves double duty! I’ve also used this technique to make inexpensive Christmas and birthday gifts for family and friends.
I have a whole series on throwing a wedding on a budget that is simply gorgeous! You can see all 16 different articles by clicking here.
What is a Photo Transfer to Wood?
A photo transfer to wood is a simple process of transferring the ink from a printed photograph or text onto a piece of wood using a matte gel medium. The gel medium allows the ink to transfer onto the wood. Then you remove the paper by getting it wet and rubbing it off. It’s as close as you can get to printing onto wood without an expensive piece of equipment. Once the paper has been removed, the surface is sealed with matte Mod Podge to be sure the ink stays on the wood.
Supplies Needed to Transfer a Picture to Wood
Many of these supplies you might already have at home, or can purchase quite inexpensively at your local store or from Amazon using the links in this article.
- Wood plank – either a manufactured one all ready for art projects, or cut your own from a piece of wood from your local home store.
- Sandpaper – you’ll want both a rough grit (60 grit) and something finer (100 or 200 grit) depending on the surface of your wood.
- Thin printer paper – since you will be wetting and rubbing off the paper after the photo transfers, you do not want to use your quality, thick printer paper for this. Definitely, something less than 20 lb paper is best.
- Laser printer – if you do not own a laser printer, you can ask a friend to print your photo or take it to a local print shop and pay about $0.20 per sheet to print. Unfortunately, an inkjet printer will not give you the same results.
- Matte gel medium – this is the magic sauce in the success of this project. Using it will result in the cleanest and sharpest transfer of the ink from the paper onto the wood surface.
- Mod Podge – you can decide on the finish you would like. I used a matte finish but you can also get this product in a gloss, semi-gloss, or satin finish. Think about where you will be displaying the project and if there will be glare from overhead lights or the sun. If so, go for the matte or satin finish so there won’t be a glare.
- Wide foam brushes – using two works best so you can use one for the gel medium and one for the Mod Podge.
- Wood stain (optional) – I added stain to the exposed wood because I wanted a darker finish but this certainly isn’t required if you like the natural look.
How to Photo Transfer to Wood
As long as you have to proper supplies, listed above, it is quite easy to transfer a picture to wood by following the steps below. More detailed directions can be found by clicking on each step, or by scrolling down further in the article.
Time needed: 1 day
How to Photo Transfer to Wood
- Prepare the wood
You want wood that is free from major blemishes and that has been sanded smooth with fine-grit sandpaper.
- Prepare the photo
Print the picture onto thin paper using a laser printer and cut it out so there is little to no excess white paper.
- Apply the gel medium to the wood
The gel medium will allow the ink from the photo to transfer onto the wood cleanly.
- Place photo face down onto gel medium
Rub the photo down firmly so all the ink makes contact with the medium and let it dry for 12 hours.
- Remove the paper
Wet the surface of the paper with water and carefully rub away with paper until only the ink remains.
- Sand edges of photo (optional)
Use some sandpaper to soften the edges of the photo so it blends into the background a bit more naturally.
- Stain the unfinished wood (optional)
Use a wood stain to apply stain to the remaining exposed wood. If there is any exposed gel medium on the wood, it needs to be sanded away or the stain won’t be able to penetrate the wood beneath it. Dry for 10 hours.
- Seal the photo transfer
The photo transfer to wood needs to be protected and this is best done using a matte or satin Mod Podge. It will not damage the ink and will dry completely clear, even though it goes on white.
Photo Transfer to Wood Step-by-Step Instructions
Step One – Prepare the Wood
When choosing your wood, the rougher the wood, the rougher the image transfer will be. Knots and dark spots will show through the transfer so keep that in mind as well when placing your photos. I bought the smoothest piece of wood I could find because I wanted as clean of a photo transfer to wood as possible. I sanded the rough spots before beginning with 60-grit sandpaper. Then I used fine-grit sandpaper (100 or 200 grit) to perfectly smooth the wood. This is key for a successful ink transfer!
I used a 2 x 10 x 8 pine board that I bought for $8, then cut them into eight 12-inch lengths. I wanted something thick that could stand on its own when displayed. However, you could easily use any scrap piece of wood or something thinner. You can also grab one of the pre-cut and pre-sanded wood plaques that are made for a variety of art projects.
I debated making large, thin panels from large sheets of plywood to hang on the walls of the reception. However, that would require me to have the pictures poster-printed and would have cost a good chunk of change. In the end, I decided to use pieces of wood sized to go with a normal sheet of copy paper I could print at home. If you want something bigger, go for it and have it printed at your local print shop instead.
Step Two – Prepare the Photo
To begin, print your desired picture or text design on regular paper (not photo paper) from your laser printer. Use thin printer paper since you will have to rub it away. Nothing thicker than 20-pound paper.
You can print your photo in color, black and white, sepia, or any other version you would like. You must print it from a laser printer or it won’t work well. Also, keep in mind that your image will be a mirror image of your original picture. If you have any words in your design, they will come out backward unless you mirror that image before printing it.
Cut out the picture or design. This just removes any excess paper before you photo transfer to wood. Again, you will be rubbing away the paper so cut away any paper that isn’t part of your design to save you extra work.
Step Three – Apply the Gel Medium
Use a damp cloth to wipe the surface of the wood completely so it is clean and slightly wet. The slight wetness helps the ink transfer onto the wood with better quality. Use a wide foam brush to apply the matte gel medium. Apply it evenly and thick enough that you can see it on the surface of the wood.
Be sure you apply on the wood only where you will be placing the photo. It will cause problems if it is on the wood where you are trying to stain the wood in step seven.
Step Four – Place the Photo
Carefully line up your picture or design, face side down, before pressing it into the gel medium. Once you put it down, it will be hard to adjust it so be cautious. I like to curve the paper so the middle is closest to the wood, then work my way to the edges. Press down firmly and smooth out the picture. Be sure to rub the whole surface of the paper so the gel medium will meet with every point of your picture. Wipe away any gel medium that oozes out from under the photo with a clean, damp cloth.
Do not remove the paper. Allow it all to dry for at least 12 hours before continuing on to step five.
Step Five – Remove the Paper
After drying for at least 12 hours, wet the surface of the paper very well with water. Allow the water to soak through the paper completely then begin to rub off the paper with your fingers.
As you rub, you will remove the paper and the ink will be left behind on the wood. Continue to add additional water as needed. Be sure to only use the pads of your fingers because the ink can be scratched off if you use something more abrasive.
Once you have removed all the visible paper, allow it to dry for about 15 minutes. As it dries, you will see white paper residue appear as a haze over your photo. Keep wetting and rubbing and allowing it to dry. Don’t use more pressure or you will rub away the ink.
This step took me about 8 cycles before I was able to remove all the paper residue so be patient! After I completed the rubbing on all 8 pictures, I saw I rubbed away the surface of my fingertips. They were bleeding!!! So if you are doing more than one photo transfer to wood, grab some friends to help with this step. I wore band-aids around my fingers for days afterward.
Step Six – Sand the Photo Edges (Optional)
This step is completely optional. I wanted a more rustic look to my finished product so I grabbed some 60-grit sandpaper and sanded the edges of the pictures. I didn’t like the crisp edges and wanted something softer that blended into the wood. Since the transfer isn’t perfect on the wood, I thought the softer edges looked better with the imperfections in the transfer.
If you have any gel medium that didn’t get wiped away in step four, this is the time to remove it with the sand paper. If you don’t remove it, any stain you apply in the next step won’t be able to get to the wood under the gel medium.
Step Seven – Stain the Wood
You can leave your photo transfer to wood completely natural if you would like, but I decided to add a quality wood stain. You could certainly stain over the whole picture if you want. I only wanted the edges stained so it wouldn’t mess with the colors of my photo. I used a clean, dry rag to apply the stain and a different clean, dry rag to remove any excess stain and to blend the stain. Allow the stain to dry for at least 10 hours before moving on to step eight.
Step Eight – Seal the Photo
Once the stain has dried for 10 hours, you need to seal the surface of the photo or design so the ink doesn’t get damaged or scratched. I used the matte finish Mod Podge that I had left over from the glitter vase wedding project. This product also comes in a gloss, semi-gloss, or satin finish. Think about where you will be displaying the project and if there will be glare from light or the sun. If so, go for the matte or satin finish so there won’t be a glare.
Photo Transfer to Wood FAQs
The best way to transfer the ink of a photo onto wood is by using a gel medium. It provides the cleanest, sharpest transfer of the image without losing the intensity of the color. Other methods transfer some of the ink. A gel medium transfers all of the ink.
Glossy photos that are printed onto photo paper, or printed at a photo shop, will not work to transfer onto wood. It needs to be a photo or design printed onto regular paper with a laser printer. Inkjet printers will not work as well.
What kind of paper is best to use for a photo transfer to wood?
Because you will need to rub away the paper once the ink of the photo transfers, you want to use thin printer paper. Or you will be rubbing away for hours. Nothing more than a 20-pound printer paper.
What kind of wood is best to use?
Any type of wood will work. Generally, a wood that is light in color allows the colors of the photo to come through best. Whatever you choose, be sure it is well-sanded and smooth. You can use wood you already have on hand, a wood plaque made for art projects, or go buy wood from your local home improvement store and cut them to length.
Can I use an inkjet printer instead of a laser printer?
While inkjet ink will transfer, it won’t do a very good job of it. Laser ink will transfer cleaner and more true to your original colors. If you don’t have access to a laser printer, you can always take your file to a local print shop. They will get you set for just a few cents per page.
Can I stain the wood before transferring the photo?
Yes, you can stain the wood before the photo transfer. Be sure it has dried for a few days before you try to use the gel medium. Also, keep in mind that the color of the stain will alter the color of your photo. It’s for this reason that I waited until after I transferred the photo to add the stain to the remaining wood.
Project Variation Suggestions
- Take the same photo transfer to wood concept and try using the same instructions included below to create a text to wood design instead. Just be sure to mirror the image before you print it or it will be backward when you transfer it onto the wood.
- Instead of staining the wood after the photo transfer to wood is complete, you can keep the natural color of the wood and just seal the whole project with Mod Podge. The natural grain and color of the wood will emerge beautifully.
- If you like a monochromatic look in your designs, try a black and white or sepia toned photo to transfer instead. This variation would work very nicely for a more modern decor.
Looking for More Inexpensive DIY?
If this gorgeous and inexpensive photo transfer to wood was just what you were looking for, be sure to check out these other three articles to help save money on your next DIY project!
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**My friend, this post contains Amazon affiliate links which means I receive a small compensation, at no additional cost to you, if you make a purchase using my link. If you decide to give this project a try, I will be your bestie if you would use the links from this post. And no worries….I only link to products that I both use and love! ~Carole
Anonymous says
I love this idea and think they are beautiful.
Caleb says
Can I stain the wood first or do I have to do it after
I haven’t tried that before Caleb but others have done it successfully.
Kelsey says
I was wondering the same, i stained my board prior to putting the image on. I did this but instead of using a picture I printed out the words “hey y’all” in white (with a black outline so I could still see where to lay down the paper onto the board) using a laser jet printer at Staples and when I rubbed the paper off only the black outline of the hey y’all was there, all of the white disappeared. Does it not work with colored letters?
Hey Kelsey! The white should work if it is truly printed on the paper. Are you sure white ink was used or was the white just left blank?
George says
I just did a picture that I was wearing a white shirt. It seems the white cane off very easy compared to the other colors in the picture. ( my wife and I in front of a Christmas tree)
joriel says
what kidn of photos (paper or ink?) should I use to do this?
Carole says
joriel – if you read the directions, it explains that they are pictures printed on regular copy paper on your printer. Good luck!
Toni says
Will it work if I print it on a work paper? Or just it need to be a special printer?
Hi Toni! You can use just regular printer paper, but it must be printed using a laser printer or the ink will run away. Good luck!
Katie says
I just finished a trial version and what’s left of my black and white picture at the end is an image with only a purple-ish tint. It was printed on regular paper on our home printer. Did I rub too much off or do I need to get a printer center to make a copy?
Hi Katie! What type of printer and paper did you use? Do not use photo paper. Just standard white paper. Also, only a laser printer image will work. Not ink jet.
kc says
Ink jet wont work…. laser copy!
Natasha Lemons says
Beautiful! I do this all the time with mod podge matte to both transfer and seal the photo. I also use an ink jet printer and it works just fine. You just have to let the picture dry fully after printing before transferring.
Thanks so much Natasha for your great input and experience!
Annabel Jung says
I love this! I want to make an oversized ruler for my toddler as a height chart. I can use this idea to add pictures of him at different ages. Thank you for sharing this xx
Carole says
I really love that idea Annabel! Thanks so much for sharing.
Celeste Gray says
Tried this does not work
Carissa says
I’ve done this alot. It works really good. You should find out what happened n where you went wrong, and try it again.
Carole says
Celeste- I’m sorry you didn’t have success. Can you be specific as to what went wrong? I had never tried this before either and it went very smoothly. Maybe I can help you troubleshoot what went wrong.
Wendy says
Can i stain my board 1st then let that dry and then apply the gel and picture?
Hi Wendy! I honestly don’t know the answer because that isn’t the process I used. If you try it, please come back and let me know how it worked out!
Celeste Gray says
The ink is just smearing I’ve tried three times and the same thing happens. I was really excited to do this but I can’t get it to work it all goes well until removing the paper
Jake Pranski says
Hey Celeste,
I had the same thing happen to me. A couple things I learned made a huge difference. First, make sure your gel medium is a gloss. The higher the better. Also, use thin paper. I recommend having your imaged printed at Kinkos or such. It’s about $0.50 and well worth it. The colors come out way better and they have a really light paper. Hope this helps.
amanda clark says
In the instructions you say use gel matte? Now high gloss?
Hi Amanda! You can use either a matte finish or the high glass option, it is up to you
Carole says
Wow Celeste! The main thing that comes to mind is to be sure that the picture has set for at least 8 hours to dry before trying to remove the paper with the water. Also, just to be sure that you are using a picture printed on regular office paper, right?
Celeste Gray says
Yes I’m using office paper. I also let them sit for twelve plus hours. Once I get them wet the ink smears or rubs off completely
Carole says
My final two thoughts and then I am stumped: 1. Are you using a gel medium on the wood before laying down the picture and not Modge Podge? 2. Are you using an ink jet or laser printer to print your picture? I would trying using the opposite of whichever you used. Wish I was there in person to help you out!
josh smith says
i used modge podge not a gel medium and mine came out beautiful
Angela vining says
Is it gloss gel medium? I can’t tell what the bottle says? Or is it matte gel medium?
Carole says
Good question! I used matte but either will work.
Melissa says
I think I am having the same problem as Celeste Gray. After a few hours my photo begins to bleed through the white paper. After the 8 hours your paper is still white. My photo can is seen clearly through my paper. How should I fix this, or am I doing something wrong?
Carole says
What happens when you rub off the paper with the water?
Rick Begert says
You cannot use an ink jet printer as the product is water based and no matter how long you try and let it dry it will always smear.
Head to your local office supply store (photo copy station) and get them to laser print your image onto the lightest paper they have.
This should fix any issues you have had before.
alyssa esseltine says
I tried this and it went smoothly i just rubbed to hard and some of the ink came off in places but i love it!
Jeanine says
I’m doing this for a Vacation Bible School project for teen boys and girls. I’m practicing now, for the upcoming week. It’s going GREAT! I came to THIS site, to find out why I kept scratching the ink off my picture, and found out that I need to use my fingers, NOT SO MUCH the wet rag, to rub the paper off, AND I need to be much more patient, letting it dry a few minutes, then rubbing some more. As for the comments of it not working, I really think it’s because you may be using ink jet, instead of a laser printer. I went to my local print shop and they ran copies of my pictures for me, on their laser printer. I live in a TINY, SMALL town, and our print shop has both laser and ink jet printers. SO you may have to call around, but I’m sure you can find a laser printer. Thank you for your tutorial. I started out with another website tutorial, which is also GREAT, but I came to yours to find out why I kept scratching off my ink! THANKS!
Carole says
Thanks so much Jeanine for your helpful comments! So glad you got it to work! -Carole
Marilyn says
I cant wait to try this. I’m sure your info will be very helpful. I have seen different directions for this but so far this one seems the most informative. Thank you.
Tara says
Ok I have done two of these and the first one looks like my ink smeared almost like the pink just ran everywhere. Then the second one worked a lil better but was almost to light u can barely see a face in it
Tara – what type of printer did you use? It has to be a laser printer or it won’t work properly -Carole
Terran says
I love this idea! I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m so excited to do it 🙂 I have a question though. If I would like to do a large photo, where could I order that from??? I have an idea to transfer a photo of my hubby and I on an old wood door to hang above our head board in our bedroom. It needs to be much larger than 8×10. I’m not sure what type of ink these printing companies use. Will it work on photo paper? And tips would be helpful. Thanks!!!
Terran- photo paper will not work unfortunately. This will fail miserably if you can’t use the type of ink in the directions. I would call your local printers to check and see what type they have available. Good luck!
Jenna says
I had a photo that needed to be bigger than a 8×10 so I just edited the photo and cropped it half way on each side and printed off and 8×10 of each half. A door will take several of those but im sure you can match them up
Haley says
This is a great idea I hope to try it soon. Inverting the image before printing would result in the finished transfer being identical (and not the mirror image) of the original image – I’m fairly certain that this can be done on microsoft word.
I like that idea Haley! Thanks for the great suggestion -Carole
liz cullen says
Hi Carole,
Your tutorial is great, just wondering, if the glue goes on the board and the photo or just the board ??
your help is much appreciated,
Liz.
Great question Liz! Just on the board and be sure it is a nice layer of the Modge Podge -Carole
Missy says
How hard do you push down in the first process
With the gel medium? I have read other places
That they used a key card to scrape the paper
Do you just smooth it over or push the gel out? Sorry. Have done both, and now have to wait too see how it turns out:) fingers crossed
Missy- you definitely want to make sure that there is firm contact between the picture and the gel but I only used my hands. Good luck!
Katie says
Carole Hi! I just wanted to ask if you used the acrylic gel medium matte or just gel medium matte? I am hoping just the Gel medium matte because that is what I bought. Thank you so much! Katie
I did not use an acrylic version so I think you are good Katie
nichole says
Every other post about this days you HAVE to use an inkjet printer because the ink is water based and transfers. I myself tried with both laser and inkjet, and only had success woth the inkjet :/ I’ve called all over the city u recently moved to and nobody has a inkjet printer. But I am going to try it once more with the Laserjet now that I seen how successful this was!
Missy says
Hi carol, I just have to say thank you!! This worked out AMAZING!! I found by using a card to push the gel out gave a better finish as the photo was flat against the wood and made it a bit easier to rub away at the edges ( to give the worn look) also with the black and white photos I put the stain over the whole picture! BEAUTIUL. What a great idea.
So glad it worked so well for you Missy
Thanks Phil for having me clarify. The gel medium goes down on the wood to transfer the photo and then the Modge Podge goes over the finished product to protect it
Veronica says
if my pieces of wood are already stained will it still work?
Veronica- I don’t know the answer to that but I think it is worth a try on a sample piece and see. Let me know how it turns out for you
Chris says
Did this work Veronica? I’m trying to decide if I should stain it first because the last time I did letters the stain would not soak in where ever I put the gloss medium
Brielle says
Same question! Did this work on wood that has already been stained??
I had one person who said yes, it did work. Just realize that the color of the stain will effect the color of your photo transfer. Dark stain will equal a dark picture
Vanessa :) says
Thank you sooooooo much for this!!!! I started making one as a gift for my boyfriend’s dad and so far it has come out greater than expected!! Now I’m just waiting for the stain to dry. THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!
You are welcome Vanessa! Come back and try out something else new
Amy says
I really like this but I don’t have a laser printer. Will an Inkjet printer work? If not, do you know why?
Amy- if you use ink jet, your picture will smear and run. Do you have a friend who has a laser printer? If not, you could have your pictures printed at a copy place on their laser printers
Sondra W says
This is awesome, we just recently made 8 of them for Christmas presents and they turned out great!! My husband used a router around the edges and it looks so nice!! Thank you for the idea!!
Sondra – I love the idea of using a router on the edges! Thanks for coming back and sharing your experience with everyone -Carole
Eshte says
Hi Carole,
I saw this yesterday on Pinterest and fell in love with the idea! It’s so special and creative, and I’m trying to make a couple for my Mom’s Christmas gift. My Walmart didn’t carry any of the Gel Medium Matte, so I tried Michaels instead. I got a jar of “Ultra Matte Gel.” Is that the same thing? The brand is Liquitex, and it says Gel Medium on the container as well, but it’s a creamy white color, and from the pictures it looks like what you used is clear. Did I get the right/wrong stuff? I’d SO appreciate any pointers you might have before I start smearing this stuff all over the wooden plaques I bought! 🙂
Thanks for your time!
That is the same stuff Eshte! Good luck
Eshte says
Thanks! 🙂
Heather says
Hi Carole!
I love this idea! I’m trying to transfer a picture onto to wood for my husband for a Christmas gift. The transfer worked (Yay!!) – I would suggest to anyone trying for the first time to get 2 copies of your picture at Office Max in case you mess up the first time…..just sayin’ 🙂
I’ve wet it 4 times and rubbed off paper residue, but there is still a very fine layer. I’m afraid the ink will rub off soon if I keep working it (it already is in a few spots) Should I keep at it, or will the last bit disappear with the application of the Modge Podge?
Thanks so much!!
Heather
Heather – I kept wetting it and rubbing. I don’t know if the mod podge will make it disappear. It does lose a few spots from all the rubbing, but the effect is supposed to be rustic, not picture perfect. Thanks for coming back and letting me know how it turned out for you! -Carole
Heather says
Okay, I’ll keep at it! I’ll let you know how it works!!
Olya says
What kind of stain did you use?
Olya – it was an oil based stain that I had already in my basement. The color was light walnut -Carole
Olya says
THank you. I’m doing this right now for a X-Mas gift and it is turning out beautifully!
Aimee says
I made large photo boards for my entire family using your directions…they are so amazing! Cannot wait to see their faces. We have had 3 deaths in our family since May so I made some memory boards as well. It has taken me 3 weeks because I used several photos per board. But i am so pleased and will be doing this again! Very theraputic.
Thank you
Aimee
Aimee – first off, I am so sad to hear about the tough year your family has had! I am glad this project was able to bring a bit of peace and joy. Thanks so much for coming back and sharing with everyone -Carole
Bonny says
Carole, I love this idea! Will this method work on wood that is painted or old, distressed wood? Thank you!
Bonny
Bonny – I don’t honestly know how it would work on painted wood but I would not try it on distressed wood. All those bumps and imperfections will cause too many imperfections in your photo transfer -Carole
Ricky says
Hello. Thank you for your blog. This seems awesome. I’ve tried several and each time I end up with several places where the ink just comes off with the paper. I’m following all the steps (I think); smooth wood, slightly wet, gel medium thickly and evenly on the paper, no bubbles, wait 12 hrs, then wet, let soak, rub, dry, repeat. Any advice?
Hi Ricky! Are they big spots or small spots? It isn’t meant to be a perfect transfer. I too had some small little areas where the photo did not transfer or it was rubbed off with my hands. -Carole
Tracey says
Hi Carole
I am working away on some gifts but each time I do a pass to rub paper away more ink gets rubbed off!? Any suggestions? Less rubbing each time? THanks
Tracey – I have a couple suggestions. Use the thinnest paper you have so you don’t have to rub off so many layers of paper. Second, understand that it isn’t supposed to make a perfect, unflawed picture. Mine has spots rubbed off as well. In fact on one of mine, it rubbed the tip of my son in law’s nose rubbed off 🙂 -Carole
penny says
do I have the pic I want to have copied flipped before I go to have it copied, or do they do that at the print shop?
Penny – If you don’t mind a mirror image, you don’t have to have it flipped at all. I did not flip the image for mine. I think most print shops will be able to flip it for you if you don’t know how to do it yourself -Carole
Sarah Allen says
What are you supposed to use to ” rub ” the paper into the gel ? A wet wash cloth? It isn’t very clear
Sarah – just your hands 🙂
Sarah Allen says
Just your hands to apply the photo ?
yes
Cassi H. says
I used a dry hand towel instead of my fingertips, and it worked perfectly!
Great tip Cassi! Wish I had that tip when I made them because my fingertips were painful for days on end -Carole
Cassie says
We are having trouble getting the excess transfer medium residue on the edges of the picture off of the board. The stain isn’t taking to that part of the board.
Cassie – my only suggestion is to sand off the residue as best you can because you are correct, the stain will not take if the medium is between it and the wood -Carole
Teresa J says
I live in a very small town, all my walmart had for the transfer Was a product called Gesso ? Will this work instead of gel?
Teresa- I honestly don’t know because I have never used gesso. If you end up trying it, let me know how it works
katie says
No gesso will not work. Gesso is not a medium like this. It’s more like a light cement that would rather glue the paper to the wood not transfer the ink. People use gesso to reinforce canvas to make it thicker
Julie says
Has anyone had spots of paper that are very hard to get off, if so how did you get them off?
I don’t think I had specific spots that were hard to get off Julie, but as I mentioned in my post, it definitely took multiple times of wetting and rubbing to get the all paper off. I literally rubbed my fingers raw! Good luck and thanks for your great question -Carole
Amber says
I have a difficult time seeing how your fingers ended up bleeding after doing this. I felt I could barely rub the paper off because the ink would come off. I ended up doing in three times and the picture is still disappointing to me with the “holes” throughout it. I used an inkject printer and I tried to increase the amount gel matte each time to see if that would help. Do you think it could be because it was not acrylic matte or did you have to be just as gentle as well??
Amber- what did you use if it wasn’t acrylic matte? Carole
John says
My understanding from reading this is that you can’t use an ink jet printer because that ink rubs off too easily.
That is partially true John. It does rub off easily and it doesn’t transfer quite as well. Thanks for your comment! -Carole
katie says
CAROLE!!!!!! help!!! I tried to do this and the picture turned out ok except for a big hole in the middle!!!!!!:-( when i went to rub off the paper the ink came right with it:-( i’m sooooo upset!! any ideas on how to fix this? could i try to re-transfer just that one little spot? it looks like i must not have had enough medium or an air pocket or something. this is supposed to be a wedding gift for tomorrow!!! blah
Katie – so sorry for the trouble! I think you are correct with what went wrong. I think it is worth a try to just transfer that one missing spot before doing the whole project over again! Good luck -Carole
katie says
What about trying to layer something on top of it? Have you ever done that? Like with mod podge or something…thoughts? A poem, or another photo of sorts? The other thing I was thinking was rubbing the rest of the paint off in that area in like the shape of a heart or something and then painting in their wedding date. I’m trying to trouble shoot with what ive got on hand. I dont have immediate access to a laserjet or the medium… Do u think any of that would work?
I am sure you could layer something on top of it before you add the layer of mod podge over the entire surface. You could try rubbing off more of the image, but i think you might run into trouble trying to get enough control over what comes off and what doesn’t. -Carole
Jackie says
Hi Carol,
Will the transfer work on a painted piece of wood or does it have to be bare wood?
Jackie- I’ve never tried painted wood before so I can’t say with certainty. If you try it, please come back and let me know!
Paige says
I’ve tried this several times with no success. The picture will transfer fine. I can see the picture after the paper is rubbed off. I put my layer of Mod Podge on and after a couple hours the picture completely disappears. Getting frustrated.
That is crazy Paige! I am completely stumped as to why in the world that would happen! Is it just wood left when it disappears or is it a hazy white?
Michelle says
i also have some areas where the paper simply will not come off. I have gone back and rewetted it multiple times, let it soak for a bit and still…won’t budge! I am wondering if there might have been an excess of the gel medium in those areas. Ink jet definitely does not work as you say…image came right off! I used my office copy machine, with an inverted image and the image looks great…where the paper has been removed. Great idea on sanding down the edges!
That is quite a bummer Michelle! I wish I had a solution for your struggle but for the 12 of these that I made personally, my instructions are the exact process I used. Please come back and let me know if you have any more luck!! Thanks
Jerrika says
I making this for a friend as a wedding gift, would you recommend using any type of sealer over the stained wood? so it “fixes”the stain? i plan to make it so they will have it hanging on a wall. Thanks in advanced!
The ones I made did not have any type of sealer over the stained wood but I’m sure it would not hurt. Once the stain dries completely, which will take a couple of days, it won’t come off
Julia says
Hi! After the sealer is on, am I supposed to sand it like the directions on the bottle says or just let it dry?
Just let it dry
Gale says
How long does it take for the mod podge to dry?
It depends on temperature and humidity but usually a couple hours
Emma says
Thank you so much for this amazing idea!! I’m giving one to my boyfriend with one of our prom pictures on it and it’s coming out perfectly!! A long process but it’s so worth it! I might have to redecorate my room with this new craft 🙂
So glad it turned out so well for you Emma! I hope your boyfriend loves it
Miriam says
Do you think this would hold up displayed outside? I’d like to do this and hang it on my fence. Great tutorial!
Hmmm….that is a good question. I think if you wanted to try it outside, you would need some type of clear varnish over the whole piece of wood. Let me know if you give it a try!
Lori says
Well, wish I’d seen this before ordering copies of my photos on PHOTO paper. I guess they won’t work then? Our laser copier, at the office, only uses B/W ink, so that won’t work, unless, of course, I want B/W photo images on the wood. Guess I’ll need to take my image USB storage to a printing place to have this done. Bummer!
Aw, that is a bummer Lori! I hope it all works out for you in the end 🙂
Barbara Crosby says
I just recently purchased a laser printer with this project in mind.I tried it last night and rubbed off this morning.I looks fantastic! Now to stain and seal.Thrilled with my results, thank you so much for your detailed post.
I’m so glad Barbara! Thanks for coming back to let me know how it worked for you -Carole
Sandy says
Art supplies are very limited in Zimbabwe. Could I make a ‘homemade’ gel medium? For the Mod Podge I will use glue with a little water……has worked in the past. I am looking forward to having some fun. Thank you.
Hello Sandy! I honestly don’t know if you can make a homemade gel medium, but if you find something that does work for you, I would love to hear back from you about what you used. Good luck – Carole
Kerishay says
You need to mix 60% Linseed oil, Poppy oil or Stand oil and 40% Turpentine. If you want it thicker then reduce the percentage of the turpentine.
Suzi says
Hi, thank you for this amazing idea and great tutorial. I am looking forward to trying it
I have a question, is there any reccomemdation regarding the wood that I should use?
Thanks again
Hi Suzi! I would suggest any wood that is smooth and with little to no flaws because they may keep the image from transferring properly. Good luck! -Carole
Kelly says
Hello Carole,
What did you do after you applied the Mod-Podge? let it sit or did you have to wipe it off?
Great question Kelly! You just let it sit. Once it dries completely, it is clear and becomes the protectant layer -Carole
Mandi says
Love this idea and can’t wait to try it! My only question is, what will happen if I use a wood sealer on it when it’s done? We recently lost a much loved family dog and my husband wants to try this method for his headstone. I’m hoping to deliver for him!
Hi Mandi! It should be just fine if you allow it all to dry properly before applying the sealer. Good luck and big hugs for losing your dog -Carole
OKI C831-TS T-shirts and More says
I made 8 of these photo transfers to scatter around the reception area so while people mix and mingle, they will get to see all my favorite pictures from their engagement photo shoot.
That is an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing -Carole
angela says
Did this and (with modge podge to adhere the laser picture) unfortunately I was left with hazy cloud over the picture. Any tips?
Hi Angela! It sounds to me like a couple things may have happened. My first guess is that there was still some leftover paper on your picture. That will leave a white haze when it dries. It took many many times wetting and rubbing until I got all the paper off. Let the surface of the picture dry completely before applying the modge podge because you will see the white haze when it is dry. Secondly, be sure the modge podge completely dries and turns clear before adding any additional layers. -Carole
angela says
I hope you can help. I removed the paper and covered it with a gloss luster modpodge but it still looks filmy. how to do I make the photo more vivid?
Angela- if it is still filmy, you have one of two problems. First, your mod podge later on top hasn’t completely dried yet. Second, you didn’t fully remove all the paper residue before you added the top coat. Good luck
Ricardo says
This is great, I used it as an anniversary gift! It also has a rustic feel to it. I made this and also had one printed by a company called plak that to make sure it turned out crisp. But the homemade look is fantastic
I’m so glad you were successful in creating your anniversary gift! Thanks for letting me know Ricardo
Tess says
Is it possible to use a poster. Will the ink work? Is the paper too thick?
I don’t believe that will work Tess
Tracy says
Hi Carol! Please help!!! I just tried my second attempt to this project and both times while rubbing the paper off with my fingers, certain spots rolled right off taking the photo with it, leaving just a blank spot if wood. It’s not like I rubbed the ink off, it’s more like the paper was peeling off the wood. I think it may be what I used to connect it to the board. I used mod podge photo transfer. Do you think this is the problem? Thanks!!!
Hey Tracy! I would definitely only use the gel medium matte for a quality photo transfer. Even with that stuff though, I had a few small spots that rubbed off as well but nothing major. Also be sure your picture is printed on a laser printer! Good luck
sharon says
I haven’t seen this question but then I didn’t read all the comments. I have a picture that I printed of the computer that I want to do this with. Will it work to have it printed from a laser printer?
Howdy Sharon! If you read the whole post with all the details, it explains that you must use laser printed photos or it won’t work. Hope you enjoy the project!
Erin says
Hi. Thank you so much for this tutorial. I am going to try it tonight. One question I had is about the drying time between each removal of a layer of paper. Does it take a long time for the paper to dry between the rubbings? If so, do you think it would work to use a hair dryer to make it dry faster? By the way, you are very patient despite the many questions about having to use a laser printer vs. an ink jet! 🙂
Thanks Erin 🙂 My kids would love to debate the word “patient” when describing me! The dry time is quite short….5-10 minutes. I would hesitate to speed it up because this is the post fragile part of the project.
Margaret says
Hi Carole. I read all 136 comments posted thus far and I really have to say… YOU ARE A SAINT! So many questions you took the time to read and write a response. Thank you so much.
I have a very specific question that I have not been able to find the answer to anywhere. Is there supposed to be a clear thin layer left behind after I finish rubbing off the paper? I’m not talking about anything white or hazy. It’s totally clear.
I have been trimming my images (text or photos) with a scissors so there isn’t an excessive amount of paper surrounding the image that I have to rub off. But then after I rub off the paper I can see an obvious difference on the surface of the wood from where I rubbed away the paper (leaving the clear layer behind) and the completely clean, untouched areas of the wood. If I try to rub off the clear layer I end up removing my transferred image so it’s making me think that the clear layer is supposed to be there. I printed it at work and I’m honestly not 100% positive if it’s laser or inkjet.
So again, my question is…. Is the clear layer normal? If so, I’m going to have to stop trimming away my paper and make sure it covers the entire piece of wood so the clear surface layer is consistent over the whole piece. Ya follow me?
Howdy Margaret! The ink does have a bit of sheen to it so I think that is what you are seeing. Once you put down the protective top layer of mod podge, the sheen will be the same over the picture and the wood.
Leah Casey says
When you printed your pictures on the paper did you fill the entire paper with one picture? What size was your picture to get it to look like that on that sized wood?
I used an normal sheet of paper and it filled most of the sheet but obviously, to print on a normal printer, there has to be a border of some type. I just trimmed it before transferring it.
Jeanette says
Hi Carol, fantastic tutorial. I’ll be trying this tomorrow after I get my laser printed photos from Kinkos tonight. (Inkjet printer at home.) One question…in the blog post you said this:
“I also used a finer grit paper (100 grit) to sand the wood on the front around the wood. I wanted to remove any of the gel medium that was left on the exposed wood so it would accept the stain.”
I think you meant “…to sand the wood on the front around the PICTURE.” As in, where the gel medium might have gotten on the wood but there’s no image there. But I wanted to double check I wasn’t misunderstanding. Is this correct?
You are correct Jeanette! Have fun
Christi says
I’m not familiar with “Mod-Podge” could you use polyureathane or varnish instead?
Hi Christi! It is sold in arts and crafts stores. I *think* a poly or varnish would work, but I’ve never tried it. I worry a bit about the strong chemicals in those two options messing up the ink or the gel medium. If you try it, I would love to know how it works so please come back and let me know!
Cu Chi says
I’ve used polyacrilic (water based) as a medium instead of matte gel and it works great.
Thanks for the great tip!
Susi says
I have tried this project multiple times. I am using a lot of pictures with faces in them. I like the vintage look, but I constantly have to start over once I rub off someones head 🙂
I use a credit card to smooth out the photo onto the wood, and all the excess comes out of the sides. Is it possible i’m doing this too harshly, and not leaving enough for the photo? Or is it more likely that I am not being patient enough and rubbing to harshly? (it also takes me 8-10 rounds to get the white paper off completely)
Hey Susi! I think you should only use your hands as you smooth out the photo. If you get rid of that gel medium, you lose the ability for that photo to transfer properly. Good luck and do use extreme patience when removing the paper
Kelsey says
Would it work to stain the entire sheet of wood before you apply the picture with the gel medium? Or do you think the picture wouldn’t transfer right?!
I honestly don’t know Kelsey. I would try a small test first before trying it on a whole project. If you try, I would love to hear if it works!
Cu Chi says
I’ve stained the wood, then covered with poly and it worked great.
Did you stain the wood under the photo transfer?
Cu Chi says
Stain, dry, poly, place photo, dry. Then try your best to remove the paper. Finish with coat of poly.
Julie Brown says
Hello Carole ~
You are the best!!! You have WAY more patience than I would have with some of the questions that were answered like 20 times…lol!!!
I just picked up all my materials but am waiting on my photos to get printed.
I was given an old wood ironing board, so my plan is to put a collage of my favorite photos on there. I might be doing more than I should, but it’s worth a try. If it doesn’t work, I will just stand the ironing board up and display pictures in frames.
I’m so glad I came across your site, because I was going to stain it first, but now I will do that after.
Thanks!!!
Julie
Good luck Julie. I hope it turns out for you !
Cu Chi says
I enjoyed reading your tutorial and many posts. I’m new at this whole picture transfer business so I’ve done tons of reading and experimenting. My project is to transfer favorite family pictures onto tree branch slices and planks. The slices are about 6″ in diameter and the planks are 8″ long. I am able to get all the steps accomplished until the rubbing off of the paper. Perhaps I’m not patient enough (ony 3 cycles) until my frustration level kicks in. That’s when parts of the pictures comes off. I’ve used oily furniture polish to bring out the picture before sealing it. In the end I have a substandard product.
Please help. I love the project, but need to get to the finish line with a great looking picture.
Cameron Burns says
Ok I’m trying to do this for my girlfriend for valentines day but I don’t know where to get a laser printer if I print a picture from an inkjet and let it dry for a couple days will it still work?
Unfortunately Cameron, no it will not work. The inkjet ink will just rub away when you remove the paper. Do you have a friend with a laser printer or a copy store like Kinkos or Office Max?
Cameron Burns says
Not that I know of but I can look and fined one
Cameron Burns says
Does officemax actually print stuff off for you or is that just a place where I can go and get a laser printer?
It depends on the store but most of them have a print shop inside of them. You should be able to upload the picture to their website and have it printed.
Cameron Burns says
Ok so I got on FedEx and they are asking what type of paper I hit “general use” then it asked me “laser(24 lb.)” So I clicked on that is that correct or am I doing this wrong?
The type of paper doesn’t matter. Just that it is laser printed
Cameron Burns says
ok one last question does it have to be matte finish mod lodge because i have gloss-lustré-lustre
It does not have to be matte finish….it is just a matter of preference of the final product
Dawn says
Hi! I am working on this right now for my sister’s Wedding shower. I have a question about the stain. Did you only rub the stain over the edges of the picture, or did you run the stain over the whole picture? Thanks!
I only stained the wood that wasn’t covered by the photo.
Tom says
This is a great tutorial! I wish many of those who make some of these responses please read the tutorial, entirely!
Thanks Tom
Susan McDevitt says
Can you stain the wood FIRST, or is it better to stain it last?
Hi Susan! I’ve only done it on untreated wood. Read through the other comments because I believe others have attempted doing it on stained wood
Rebecca says
I love this idea and I’m currently working on it but I’m in the final stages and I’m putting a lot of water and rubbing gently and the foggy quality of the pictures won’t go away. What can I do to get the rest of the paper off or do I need to just keep at it? Thanks!
Just keep at it Rebecca. I wasn’t kidding when I said I made my fingers bleed doing all those photos 🙂
Pamela Hildebrandt says
I have tried this sooo many times and every time i go to rub the paper off after wetting it, there’s some sort of white blob somewhere on the photo, OR i rub a portion of the photo off. I love the idea but am so frustrated.
Howdy Pamela! That is a bummer and I can understand your frustration. It will never be a perfect photo transfer because of it going onto wood but there are some tips to getting the best result. All of mine had some flaws in the transfer as well. Use the smoothest piece of wood you can and be sure you sand your wood first to get rid of any bumps or imperfections. You have to be patient with the rubbing off of the paper. It is going to take many, many times to get it all off so rub gently to remove just a bit of the paper, let it dry and go again….and again….and again 🙂
Carol says
What kind of wood do you use?
Hey Carol! I used pine
Debby says
I want to transfer a picture onto a ceramic tile. Will this work, even though the tile is coated.? And one more question. I also keep getting holes after I rub off paper. How can I prevent this from happening.
Howdy Debby! I haven’t tried it on tile, so I can’t say for sure. If you try it, I would use sandpaper to rough up the surface of the tile really well. I fear the gel medium wouldn’t have anything to stick to on tile. Holes are going to happen because it isn’t a perfect transfer medium, however be sure you use enough gel medium, allow the proper drying times and be gentle and patient as you remove the paper. Don’t rush the process and it will give you best results.
Debby says
Thanks… Another issue is the transfer gel. What kind do you use? Does it say, transfer gel on the bottle. I found the same brand as you, according to what I can see in your picture, however,, mine does not say transfer gel. It just says matte medium gel. Is that the same thing as ,”transfer gel”?
Jenny says
My friends are on their 5th year married and the traditional gift is wood so im *hopefully* going to do a few A5 size using a wooden shelf I bought and cut up. I cant wait to get going this tutorial is the best one Ive found so thankyou!!!!!
I hope it turns out well of you Jenny!
Del says
Why did you use an oil-based stain instead of water-based?
Hey Del! It is just what I had on hand at the time.
Tara says
I want to do this with a large photo. The largest laser copy I can print is 11×17 but I want a larger one. Any idea where I can get a larger laser print?
Sorry Tara but it all depends on where you live. If you have a print shop like a Kinkos or Fed Ex, give them a call and see what they can offer you
Amy says
Hey I’ve already started my project and I’m at the point where I’ve already sealed the picture with modge podge but I wanted to add some words from a laser printer using the liquitex. Do you think it will still work since I already sealed the wood?
Thank you!
Hi Amy! My gut tells me no. I think it will only rub right off of the dried modge lodge.
David Watson says
I stained my wood before the transfer I seen you said to seal the picture first so the ink doesn’t get damaged what should I use to seal it
Hi David! I’m a bit confused about your comment. I think you are referring to sealing the ink after it is transferred onto the wood. I just used some Mod Podge to seal it. I hope that I am answering the intent of your question 🙂
Tori says
I just found this article on Pinterest and am looking forward to doing this project for my 5 year wedding anniversary as a gift for my husband. I ordered the transfer gel from your link 😉 so that makes us “besties” hahaha I just wanted to say thank you sooo much for this tutorial and I appreciate you taking the time to post it.
You bet we are besties Tori….especially with your name. It is also the name of my oldest daughter, so you have won twice over 🙂
Angie says
I actually did this with my ink jet printer. Turned out pretty faint. But I think it gave it a really cool antique look. I actually didn’t notice the “laser printed picture part” until after the fact lol. I’ll try that next time to compare. Thanks for posting this awesome how-to!
I’m glad you got it work for you Angie!
jennifer volosin says
I’ve removed what I think is all of the paper and wet it looks great but when it dries, there is a white residue.
Is that really paper that I still need to remove? Or did I do something wrong?
Hi Jennifer! Yes, that is still a thin layer of paper. It takes time and patience. Get the white parts wet again and keep rubbing it off gently.
jacob rasnick says
hi i have tried to do this on piece of poplar wood with a 8×10 photo. i have been unsuccessful 5 times. it will transfer great then when i use my semi glossy mod pod alot of it turns white. any suggestions?
Hi Jacob! Be sure you use thin layers of Mod Podge and let it dry completely before adding another. Mod Podge does go on white and dries clear. If it is still white, it isn’t completely dry yet.
Aslaug says
I came to your page to find out if you stain the wood first or if you can stain the wood after. I really appreciate the idea of only staining the part of the wood that is not part of the picture. I had already tried to transfer a picture on top of a dark red stain and it turned out very dark. The light blue turned into a very dark, dark blue and the red was practically undistinguishable from the stain below it. The yellow faded into oblivion and the green ended up very dark as well. Ultimately, I would not recommend putting the stain on first over the entire piece of wood unless your stain is very light. Thank you again for the suggestion of staining it afterwards and only the wood that is not part of the picture. That way I can still use my dark red stain.
You are welcome!
Carla says
Hey!! You are a saint!! I love this idea just a quick question, Can I use a hair dryer to speed up the process of the midge lodge drying?
Hey Carla! Honestly, since I have never used that tool, I can’t guarantee anything but I think it is worth trying! Good luck and I would love to hear how it turns out for you
Gary Coker says
Haven’t seen this little tip in the comments: If you wish to transfer something that has text, insert the image into a blank Microsoft Publisher file and use the “Master Page” option found under “View”. It can then be used to make a mirror image of the original. For some reason, I couldn’t print the page with the mirror image on it from publisher so I selected the mirror image and copied it into an MSWord document. Problem solved. It can now be printed on a color laser printer on regular copy paper and when it is transferred, the text will not be backwards. A few little steps involved but it works.
Thanks Gary for your great tip!
Misty Cheek says
Can you tell me where you found the 2x10x8 pine board? I live in Southern Utah and can not find it anywhere.
Hey Misty! Home Depot 🙂 It doesn’t have to be that size so make whatever you have available work for you.
Ryan says
I printed a black and white picture of Steamboat Willie (Disney) and used modge podge to put it on an old scrap piece of wood that I sanded. After that I used a wood burner and traced around the picture and then burned parts of the inside. Came out really well! I’m making a display shelf for some things and will be doing it again but wanted to see if I could stain over it if I use a light stain.
So happy it worked out for your Ryan!
Debbie Billman says
I sent my photo transfers but don’t see them I used temp tattoo paper. Deb
Cristina Smith says
Hi, thank you so much for sharing your project and step by step. Not sure if your said this in another comment, but can I stain my wood before I do the photo transfer?
Thank you!
Cristina Smith
Odessa, TX
Hi Cristina! I have not done it that way before so I can’t guarantee results. I stained after the transfer. I believe if you read through the comments, there have been others who have had success staining first.
Jessica says
I used 20lb laser printed pictures, attempted transfer to a piece of cedar, that I prepared per your instructions. They dried that way for over 24hrs due to me having to work. When I went to wet them and start gently scrubbing away the paper, it all came off super easy, picture and all just sloughed right off, no transfer occured. Where did I go wrong? Was I not using enough matte gel? I felt like I did, and even rubbed over them ensuring it coated all aspects of the photo, squeezing out any excess from underneath. Did I push too hard? Kinda bummed, was excited to give this as a mother’s day gift.
How did you prepare the cedar? It sounds like the wood and the paper / photo didn’t seal together somehow. Usually, that has to do with the wood.