Transferring outline to canvas

I have an illustrator file that consists of a complex outlined illustration, I want to transfer this outline to a thick piece of canvas board. At my disposal is an a3+ home printer which will print the right size to fill the canvas. The canvas is both too thick to print onto, and too thick to trace onto.


I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for an economical method of transferring the design. I have looked into screenprinting but the local screenprint organisation requires a yearly membership, I only need one print.


 


 

Try this:

Print out your illustration (black and white printer, not colour) or scale it up by b/w photostat if you need to enlarge it (tile it if necessary by stapling, not tape as this will soften and not be secure in the following process).

Place this printed / photostat illustration black ink-side down onto layout paper - in your case, canvas board. (Don't forget to flip the illustration as you'll be transferring it face down).

Wet the back generously with benzene, wiping firmly to transfer the ink onto the canvas. Be careful as it is flammable and don't breathe it in, although it is a gentle solvent (I use it all the time to take labels off book covers, plastic, glass etc). Of course keep the illustration firmly in place. If printer / photostat ink is still the same formulation as before, you should find the illustration transfers to the canvas.

I'm not sure if printer ink works the same as photostat ink, I think it did in the old days. I'm sure you'll run a test, or experiment a bit with this technique, I'm certain it will still work.  It used to give a great, clear result every time.  Let your canvas dry thoroughly before working on it, this shouldn't take long at all.

ETA: to clarify

(Edited on 2011-01-06 23:39:55 by MaxDahlia)

Thanks MaxDahlia, that sounds like just the kind of solution I was hoping for, unfortunately benzene seems to be banned from being sold in the UK.


I can get something called toluene, according to wikipedia it is a solvent thats able to dissolve paints and printing inks. Do you think that will do the same job as benzene?

Not tri-nitro toluene, I hope.

(Had a post here, meant to edit but clicked 'delete' - sorry!)


Anyway, I wouldn't get anything too strong, I see that there is a derivative of benzene called benzine, or benzol - I don't know about toluene but it may do the trick.  I'm sure anything you can get at a hardware or chemist will be safe to use if handled with care, but watch the fumes and don't forget that solvents are highly flammable.  I'd just try to lay my hands on a few samples or small bottles - try it out and I'm quite sure you'll find something that works.  If I come across any more info here (paging through some of my old chemistry books) I'll let you know.

There are places online that will print digital files onto canvas.

I have to say thanks to OP for asking this question! I have a digital toner-based laser printer (plastic toner, not an ink cartridge). I have wanted to do something like this myself but didn't know what to ask.


Out of curiosity, do you know:


can this transfer the above type b/w or even color image using this process? Or does it need to be inkjet (I do have a small inkjet)


can this transfer to other fabrics? Example: we have an old coat (a ski coat, Nylon shell with Polyester shell and insulation, that I suggested creating a stencil and spray painting but this would be so much more accurate and exact.

I'm sure image transfer can be made from various sources and onto various substrates, I'd just experiment away and see what happens!
Co-incidentally I was watching an episode of Miami Ink last night and wondered how they tranferred images onto skin prior to tattoo-ing - I've just googled 'tattoo image transfer' and a lot of interesting info and video how-to's popped up. It seems there may even be specialised products on the market just for image transfer.

One url (sorry, haven't linked it, do a copy/paste..)

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-transfer-tattoo-picture-skin-261069/

ETA: Taking things a step further, the dye-sublimation process of printing onto clothing gives amazing quality halftone results and full colour - wiki or google this process for your ski coat (I know CafePress use the process for their clothing as single items can be printed - there's no outlay on screens etc).

(Edited on 2011-01-10 23:58:51 by MaxDahlia)

Here's what I do: Flip the image horizontally in Photoshop. Using an inkjet printer, print onto a sheet of overhead transparency film. Apply a layer of acrylic matte medium to the canvas or board. (Canvas needs to be removed from stretcher and placed against a hard surface.) Place the printed transparency sheet ink-side down onto the wet (but not too thick or gooey) acrylic medium. Use a hard implement (eg. a spoon) to rub the back of the transparency until the image is transferred.You won't get a perfect copy, but it makes a nice imperfect grungy version, or a rough outline that you can subsequently fill in. I have created several large paintings on canvas using this method.

You should find a printer with a large Flatbed Printer.  They can basically print on anything solid.  Below is a link to what I'm talking about:


http://www.large-format-printers.org/UV-curable_flatbed_rigid_roll-to-roll_inkjet_printers/reviews_Mimaki_IPF_1326_flatbed_UV-cured_printer.php