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  • Ambassador
Posted

I use a product called Saral transfer paper to transfer designs for my masks and quivers. It looks like carbon paper in that it is coloured on one side, but the package says that it is wax free and after the design is transfered the colour from the paper just brushes away. It comes in graphite, white, blue, yellow and red. It is quite expensive but i have been using the same piece for the last 15 projects and expect to use it for a while yet. It also washes out of material and can be used on ceramic, glass metal etc. I purchased it from an art shop.

cheers

  • Members
Posted

I've never heard of that, leatheroo... is there a web site that shows the product info on that?

Since we're talking about transferring artwork onto the leather, the method I use is to print the artwork onto a transparent sheet of acetate ("overhead transparencies" that you can buy at Staples or Office Max) using my inkjet printer, turn it over, and rub the ink right onto dry leather.

It's better to apply the design soon after it's printed on the transparency, and once the transparency is in contact with the leather, it must not move or shift around, or you will get smudges. To make this easier, I've been poking some register holes around the perimeter of the design, but the push-pins might work even better - I'll have to try it.

The results are very clean, and I only pay about $.60/sheet for the transparencies.

Kate

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  • Members
Posted (edited)

That's the spirit, Peter!

In my opinion, a given method or technique may be "better" or "worse" depending upon the particular result you are trying to achieve, but when it comes to art, there are no "rules" or "proper ways" of doing anything. There may be methods that other artists use that you may want to learn about and incorporate in your own work, but that doesn't mean you have to do everything the way others do. Being creative means "making something new", which means at some point you have to fearlessly try something that nobody else has thought of trying.

Besides, nobody has to know about it until the results are in.... nowhutImean?

So rock on, Bro! :red_bandana:

Kate

BTW, I am glad to know that all those messes I made must not have been because I'm a lefty, after all! :biggrin: But nowadays, I use gloves and aprons when I'm messing in the dye.

Hey Kate... My "teacher" says she loves talking to me about what I'm up to because I keep coming up with new ideas for her to try. There are definitely benefits to not being taught the way to do things and figuring out your own.

I found it amusing that someone working professionally in the craft was using a technique I had been (somewhat forcefully) steered away from. And the ink on the hands thing... one of those pet peeves, I guess. I've ruined my share of shirts, messed up papers, etc. because I got my hand in the wet ink. And I'm not even a lefty....

Edited by CitizenKate
  • Contributing Member
Posted

Hi Kate,

You confessed to me that you use ink on your leather awhile ago and I let it slide. Now you have admitted it to the WHOLE WORLD! The leather police will be showing up at your door today and taking away your license to carve leather. :o

Really though, I agree with you. If it works, go ahead and do it. And anyone that sees your work will have to admit the ink isn't hurting anything. The only thing that I know you are doing wrong is not posting enough pictures of your work! ;)

  • Ambassador
Posted

Kate- I tried that too(acetate direct to dry leather) but found that the ink smeared when I cased the leather. How do keep it from doing that?

  • Members
Posted

That's right, folks, I've decided to come out of the closet with my dirty little secret! Ha!

Clay, I'm finally going to have some time today to work on that oak leaf tutorial that I promised a couple weeks ago, so you can see what happens to the ink after all the casing, carving, tooling, finishing, etc. Ahhh... a real weekend, finally! How sweet it is!

Kate

You confessed to me that you use ink on your leather awhile ago and I let it slide. Now you have admitted it to the WHOLE WORLD! The leather police will be showing up at your door today and taking away your license to carve leather. :o

Really though, I agree with you. If it works, go ahead and do it. And anyone that sees your work will have to admit the ink isn't hurting anything. The only thing that I know you are doing wrong is not posting enough pictures of your work! ;)

  • Members
Posted

Luke,

My first guess is, maybe different types of printer inks behave differently, but I'm afraid I don't know much about the chemistry composition printer inks. I've got an HP printer that uses Vivera inks, and it has been very stable, even after casing the leather. Maybe some inks require some cure time before casing...?

Kate

Kate- I tried that too(acetate direct to dry leather) but found that the ink smeared when I cased the leather. How do keep it from doing that?
  • Ambassador
Posted

i found a website for the transfer paper i use

www.saralpaper.com/sample.html

they have a free sample offer....

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