Image Transfer Problems

[silentscribe]

So I have been trying to transfer a black and white stencil type picture to leather using the acetone method and it does not seem to work at all for me. The only thing that happens is the leather gets damaged, like it melts to the paper sorta. I am using a simple picture from an HP Laser Jet printer, 100% acetone and lightly tabbing on the paper before using preasure from an old credit card to "burnish" the image but the best I have gotten is just spotty black dots. Any tips on why this isn't working or lost cost alternative methods?

Edit: Tried the iron method. No transfer at all, some parts of the leather stuck to the paper but that was it.

Edited February 20, 2016 by silentscribe

[PAMuzzle]

Print onto regular paper with a laser printer (not an inkjet). Do not use plastic transfer, the acetone will melt it. Make sure you reverse the image. Turn the paper printed side down on the leather and rub with a cloth wet with acetone.

Edited February 21, 2016 by PAMuzzle

[silentscribe]

As stated I AM using a laser printer.

It was normal paper, I tried dabbing to make it damp then burnishing and just rubbing acetone on it.

[PAMuzzle]

Sorry, I was just re-emphasizing that it must be laser (since HP refers to all their printers as "jets' I did not want someone else to think INK jet would work.)

What type of leather are you using? Acetone can damage the finish on dyed leather.

Found this on LeatherGoodsConnection.com...From a US Leather Tannery: Most leather, and all our leather is made with water based finishes. If a oil or conditioner has a solvent in it, the solvent could destroy the finish."

I just did this the other day to transfer a holster pattern and it worked fine. I was using bare veg tanned leather. Image came out perfectly and I didn't even burnish, just rubbed with the cloth with acetone.

I used to do this in my photo business years ago.

My process:

Photoshop to reverse image

Print with a laser printer onto 20# paper (plain paper, not image transfer, not wax paper)

Place pattern printed side down on bare leather.

Wet cloth rag with acetone and rub on paper. Lift pattern corners to make sure all has transferred and redo areas if necessary.

When done, remove pattern.

Edited February 21, 2016 by PAMuzzle

[MikeG]

I have some projects in mind that need a really nice image transfer. Although others do it, I am concerned about using acetone on leather. I have heard of using mod-podge and if you look up Billy 2-shews you will find a link to his video. He is a master at this and uses a product called "Picture This."

https://www.plaidonline.com/picture-this-transfer-medium/95/product.htm

I hope you find a good solution, and that you will post back your success!

[silentscribe]

http://m.michaels.com/artminds-leather-trim/M10332929.html?gclid=CjwKEAiA3aW2BRCD_cOo5oCFuUMSJADiIMILpTwp3F7UavgJoPEIDIGQz9FnWcp-cX2MxOm7WFF1XBoCGE3w_wcB&cm_mmc=plasearch-_-Google-_-PLA-_-M10332929#top

This is the leather i was using. I got it to try the transfer as an attempt to learn poor mans gold foiling with books. I plan to ultimatly use mainly imitation leather for costs reasons. I am binding books and was looking at Hollanders imitation leather.

My ultimate theroy was trying to adapt toner transfer and the iron on the gold like they do with card stock, laser printer and laminator. But leather, laser and an iron.

I started to think the leather itself isnt a good type for this but i did get some black spots on my first attempt. Which raises the question can only veg tanned leather have the transfer? Which of course would blow the attempt to be economical with imitation leather.

TL;DR

My leather is probably the wrong kind. See link for what I used. Let me know, thanks!

Edit: Posted twice... weird... I blame my phone

Edited February 21, 2016 by silentscribe

[Ferg]

Okay,

To begin with, if you want a very artistic transfer you are going to need to "Heat Transfer" plus white leather or as near to it as possible.

I have gotten reasonably good black transfer onto most any leather but Veg Tan works best.

There is a lot more to the transferring of images to leather than I am going to go into here.

ferg