My #1 post that I consistently get the most hits from is my Wax Paper Transfer Method and the most asked question from that post is: “How do you seal it?” So today I thought I would answer that question and give you some of the different ways you can achieve a sealed finish.
There are two ways I have found that work the best to seal printer ink from a wax paper transfer or freezer paper transfer. (This is only a wood and metal sealant tutorial!)
1. Spray on sealer. This method is my favorite and causes the least amount of ink bleeding. My suggestion is to use a few light coats. Also don’t spray too close to the transfer. The lighter the mist, the less chance you will get of the ink running.
I did a test of bare wood and painted wood. You can see the results in the image below. The painted piece of wood had a little bit of a bow and the transfer didn’t take as well, but the sealant did not affect the image.
2. Clear Wax. This technique can cause the ink to bleed slightly. A lot of people who use this transfer technique are using it over Chalk Paint, so I wanted to let you know it’s an option. (You can also use a wax over latex paint too.) You can see in the picture below that it made the image slightly blurry.
I don’t have any pictures of using a liquid sealer, but it WILL make the image run more than the first two methods. My suggestion is always to test the sealant on a scrap piece of wood first with the paint and image you are using. (Especially if it is a big piece of furniture or unpainted wood!) If you mess up on a piece of painted wood or metal, you can always just paint over it and start over! 😉
If you have any other questions or a suggestion, please leave it in the comments section. I always love to hear how your projects are turning out!!
I also find if you let the ink dry over night it is less likely to smear or bleed.
That was the question I was gonna ask, thank you!
I have been doing mixed media for the last three years in a limited way but one of the best things I learned about was Krylon Workable Fixative. Comes in a spray can and seals inkjet printer images, alcohol inks that are not permanent and a few more things that I don’t remember. You can spray Krylon Sealer over top of the Fixative for a more permanent seal.
p.s. let the inkjet image dry thoroughly before spraying with the fixative.
Kerry thanks for the tip!!
Thank you i will try this on my larger table
If you find a way to seal freezer transfers on fabric, please let me know! I want to do memory t-shirts with my class of 4-year olds using this method. The ink washes out in the washing machine. Help!
Are you familiar with a product out there that you can spray on shoes, tents, etc. and it makes the thing you are spraying waterproof? I have bought it in the shoe section at Walmart. After 2 coats water just beads up and slides right off of our shoes. It dries 100% clear. Idk if it would work but could be worth a shot?!? Oh! I would heat set the inkjet printer ink on the t-shirts in the dryer on med-high for at least 30 min, then allow them to completely cool before spraying them with the waterproofing product. Good luck ma’am!
You can buy iron on transfer paper and print whatever you want on it. It fades a bit, but holds in the wash
I have done the transfer and then go over it with fabric markers. Throw in the dryer on hi for about 15 minutes and voila image is permanent.
I have been using Krylon Workable Fixative for years as well. My tip is to make sure you clean the spray nozzle after every use, though. For some reason their sprayers get clogged up and you discover it by getting a “blop” of fixative on your project. Usually in the worst possible spot! You can just hold the can upside down and press the sprayer to clean it out, so nothing builds up over time….
Thanks for the tip!
Hola, me pareció muy interesnate como trabajas las transferencias, pero lamentablemente no puedo seguir muy bien las indicaciones porque los productos que uds. usan seguramente se encuentran en mi país (Chile), pero no los conozco.
Si alguien me puede ayudar se los agradeceré.
Gracias !
If I use the wax paper to put my picture on a painted wood sign and seal this way. Would it be weather proof outside?
Please advise. Thank you.
If you do a few coats of the spray sealer it should. Hopefully that helps! 🙂
Can I wax paper transfer onto a chalk painted project that has already been waxed and buffed?
Laura,
I’m not sure? My suggestion would be to put wax onto a scrap of wood and test it first.
I want to know how to keep image from washing out when washed. I did T-shirt with freezer paper. Image stayed color washed out. How do I keep the color.
Dorothy, the only way that has worked for me is to soak it in vinegar and dry in the dryer to set it before washing. I would also only wash by hand. It will still fade but hopefully won’t all wash out.
I am new to this method. Do you have to seal the ink if the project is going to be used only indoors? I am planning to make a sign to hang on the wall.
Karen, if it’s just artwork then you definitely don’t need to seal it! 🙂
Could this be done on a wood cutting board? Could you use it for food or would the ink run? Is there a food safe wax?
Kaela, I’m not sure how it would work on a cutting board? If you wanted to add something small to a handle it might work better than on the part that you will be using to cut.
I was considering the same thing. I think if you hand wash & use the design on a decorative side then leave the other side for food, this could be a solution.
Seal it with a food safe resin such as ArtResin. As long as you don’t color the resin it is considered to be food safe. FDA approved.
I have tried multiple ways of doing transfers onto wood and have had no luck. I tried the freezer paper method, I have used mod podge on the wording I am trying to transfer (printed on to card stock) no luck when I tried to remove the paper with a damp sponge the entire wording came off:( very frustrated I would love to know how this works so I can create some neat Mother’s day gifts. Any thoughts?? I even thought it was my printer so I printed off what I wanted and then used a copy machine to ensure the ink wouldn’t rub off.
If you aren’t having any luck, you might try using a piece of label paper without the labels. It’s really just like wax paper but heavier. It works great for me. Just make sure the image is backwards and when you go to transfer that you don’t move it. The wood you are using needs to not have any poly on it or the image won’t stick. Hopefully that will help! 🙂
I am going to try the wax paper method and I sure hope it works
I love our blog. A great learning blob. Thanks
Pat, I hope it works well for you too!! I recently did a video for it too: https://www.unexpectedelegance.com/2015/05/22/wax-paper-image-transfer-tutorial/
Hello. This has been very useful and helpful tutorial. I have one question. I actually use water base poly over my chalk paint. Does the transfer work well on the poly surface or better to put it right on the chalk paint and then spray a sealer over it and poly after? I tried to poly over the entire surface after the fact and it caused the image to bleed.
I have not done this, but my guess is that it will stick better directly onto the paint. I would use a spray over the image (maybe a few coats), let dry and then use the poly. Hopefully that will work!! 🙂
Krylon Kamar spray is perfect for this. 3 – 5 think coats and then the poly. Also works great with alcohol inks.
I am so glad i came across this tutorial!!!!!!!!!! i have been waiting weeks for a stencil to do my dining room table and it still hasn’t arrived. That’s a whole issue on its own, but I’m wondering, I want to stain my table. should i stain the top then do the transfer or transfer then stain? I’m new to DIY, but I’m hitting the ground running! thanks!
Christina, I would probably stain it first. Depending on how dark the stain is, it might not show up as much as you’d like? I would just test it on a scrap piece of wood first to make sure it looks the way you want it. Good luck!! 🙂
To keep the wax paper still when transferring the image to wood. stick a small piece of masking tape to the back of the paper so it overlaps the top edge. Stick this carefully to the wood before putting the ink on to the surface of the wood. The tape is easy to remove from the wood and the paper afterwards.
Love your tutorial would the wax paper transfer work. For a coffee cup mug
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Well I’m new to this but through trial and error found the perfect way to seal over the wax paper transfer method. I had painted an ugly wood desk a soft white and transferred some really cool images – I am a calligrapher so I wanted some old neat lettering – to the top and drawers of the desk. I waited over 24 hours and went to seal it with Minwax water based Polycrylic and it RAN!! I freaked! Fortunately I did it in an area that wouldn’t matter. So I went back to the hardware store and bought the same but in a spray form. I LIGHTLY sprayed only where the images were, let it dry, and sprayed 2 more times -lightly. Then after 24 hours I coated it with the Polycrylic in the can and it is B E A U T I F U L!!!!!! 2 more coats to go – with light sanding in between coats – directions are on the can – and I can put my studio back together again.
How to seal the dark color t-shirt after transfer is done.
Does anyone know if pouring resin over a wax transfer on wood is a bad idea? I just did my first successful transfer and I really don’t wanna mess it up.
Samantha, I’ve never tried resin. I would suggest making a scrap piece with a transfer and trying it beforehand. My only concern would be that the resin would cause the transfer to bleed. Let me know if it works!! 🙂
This is the 1st time i have been on your blog & i have to say its a GREAT blog. I was wanting to know if you knew if this technique could be used on glass, ceramic, or on mirrors. I am a master craftsman/handman but I have never done the ink transfers on any of my projects yet. So I want to try it out & I didn’t know if it would work on any of the materials that i listed above. I know i could paint over the glass, ceramic and mirrors & it would work but I would like to keep from painting them if I could.
I would love to know the answer to your question as well. I put an image transfer on a couple of glass pitchers/jug using my ink jet printer, It looks beautiful but I’ve been unsuccessful in finding a way to seal it.
Good Luck with your project & Let me know if you have any success?
Thanks, Alpha
I am wanting to transfer a photo onto a metal mail box. Please ,. How should I do that.?
Kathy, metal is very slick and the transfer works best on porous surfaces. My suggestion would be to either give it a light sand or add chalk paint on top of it.
I am trying to transfer an image printed from an inkjet printer onto one of the white plastic 5 gallon buckets you can buy at walmart. Will this wax paper technique work it still just wash off like the other methods I have tried. Any tips are much appreciated.
Valerie, I think it might was off, but I’m not 100% sure.
hi my printer won;t work now!! can;t even see any of waxed paper inside ..so i can take out..Did i mess up my printer?
Your blog looks interesting, however your choice of pale grey, instead of black for text makes it very difficult to read.
Freda, thanks for letting me know!! I will see if there is a way to chance it to a darker color.
YR CRAFTS R TH GREATEST ! I’D LIKE TO ASK CAN TH WAX PAPER WORK ON CAVES AS WELL AN CAN I USE A COLLERD PRINTER? THANKS SO MUCH 4 SHARING ! AN GOD BLESS U
Hi….awesome video (and blog)! Does it matter which side of the wax paper you print on? Thanks! Nancy
Nancy, you can use either side of the wax paper. If you decide to use freezer paper, just make sure you use the shiny side.
This is exactly what I needed to find thank you! Do you have a specific spray on sealer that you would recommend? Thank you
If you find a way to seal freezer transfers on fabric, please let me know! I want to do memory t-shirts with my class of 4-year olds using this method. The ink washes out in the washing machine. Help!
so happy to show your article, thanks for sharing.
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Can you use this method of wood that you have stained?
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Hi, this is so cool. Just so I understand correctly, do you have to apply the printed wax paper to your surface fairly immediately? I don’t own a printer so I am wondering if it would work to print it at a shop and then take it home to do the transefer. Thanks!
Hello, I became disabled a few years ago, I was not into crafts I worked and brought up 3 girls. I had to tell you because I have going to Pinterest and I’ve learned so much. The one thing I could never find the right answer and all of the answers to my questions about transferring with wax paper. I’ve sat here and read everything, watched videos I finally know how to transfer, what products, and so many other ideas.
I noticed the dates are older in reply to this blog I really hope that you are still doing this site because you’re the best and you make people feel at home, you’re not trying to sell products like so many others, you did what I came here for.
Thank you, God Bless you,
Brenda
Keep on working, great job!
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So happy to find your blog! I have a large dark grey filing cabinet I want to chalk paint and transfer images to. Is the technique for transfer to metal the same as for wood?
Thank you,
Eleanor
Yes, as long as you are using chalk paint over the metal first it should transfer just fine! 🙂