Many people like to use photo transfers to make unique artwork out of plain glass. These customized pictures on glass make a great DIY Christmas or birthday gift. And they can spruce up your decor without breaking your bank.
The easiest and most common technique for transferring a photo to glass is to use the decal method. A decal is a photo that you stick to a glass surface that can be permanent or temporary. Today, we’re going to look at how to use Mod Podge to transfer pictures to glass.
The technique of transferring photos on glass is simple and doesn’t take long to perform. And the biggest benefit is that it’s affordable enough to suit all budgets. Let’s look at how to transfer a photo to glass with Mod Podge.
When doing photo transfer to glass, the preferred technique is to use the decal method, which relies on Mod Podge, a type of paint that works for photo transfer to your chosen glass.
Mod Podge is an all-in-one photo transfer medium polymer that works as a glue, sealer, and finisher to adhere to materials like paper or fabric to a porous surface. This product contains polyvinyl acetate. You can use this water-based chemical on surfaces such as:
The Decal Method can take some trial and error before you get the hang of the process. Don’t get discouraged if you fail the first, second, or tenth time. Just keep trying. Once you get the hang of photo transfer to glass, the process is pretty fast.
To use the decal method to photo transfer to glass, start by printing your images on printer paper. Do not use photo paper, as this won’t let your photo transfer to your glass surface. For the photo transfer to your glass, you will need to remove most of the paper, leaving behind a thin layer with the photo.
Be sure you edit your photo before printing so that your words are reversed. Trying to photo transfer with the words normally placed will result in backward words. The same goes for images that need to face a specific way to look right.
Another thing to remember about photo transfer onto glass is that you should use a laser printer instead of an inkjet. Most home printers are inkjet. If you don’t want to invest in a new laserjet printer, you can use a professional printing service to create the images for a few dollars.
You may be wondering why the type of printer matters. Using the wrong printer can create graphics that mess up during the photo transfer.
An inkjet printer uses wet ink to print your photos. This type of ink tends to bleed or smear when wet, resulting in damaged images.
A laser printer uses powdered ink (toner), which is pressed by heated rollers. This process fuses the color into the paper. Images printed with a laserjet won’t mess up if wet.
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There are some tips to use for doing successful photo transfers to glass. Following these tips will give you better final results.
Apply the Mod Podge in a thick layer to where you can’t see any of the photo underneath. Doing this keeps your decal from tearing and helps it stick to the glass better.
Use a thin printer paper, so there’s less to rub away to create your decal. Any paper less than twenty pounds would work for your decal.
Be aware of which Mod Podge you choose, as there are different types. You’ll get the best results with a photo transfer medium formula.
Avoid rubbing your photo too hard, or you can tear the paper. Instead, you should wet the paper, rub some of the material off, let the area dry, and then repeat the process until it’s to the thinness you want. It may take a few different sessions to get the look you want.
Your photo transfer will work best on a clean glass surface. Wash your glass with soap and water or use a glass cleaner before applying your decal.
There are a few things you will need for a photo transfer to glass. First, you will need your chosen glass decor. If this is your first time using the decal method, you may do best with a flat glass surface instead of a curved glass shape.
You’ll also need to have a bottle of photo transfer medium formula Mod Podge. You can find this at any craft store or online.
Other materials you’ll need are the photo you want to use as a decal, printed on plain printer paper using a laserjet printer, a pair of scissors, a few sheets of wax paper, a foam brush, a sponge, and some water.
Photo by Petra Blahoutova licensed under Pixabay
Once you’ve collected your materials, the photo transfer to glass or picture on the glass process is ready to begin. It doesn’t take long to complete the method, but it will take a day or two for the product to dry and be ready for use.
Follow these step by step instructions to photo transfer to glass. Failure to follow these steps can result in a defective decal that is permanently stuck to your glass.
Pick out what image you want to use and edit it for printing. Make sure you’ve reversed the image if needed, so it prints correctly.
Many people send their images as a word document rather than a jpeg to send to a professional printer. Give specific instructions to use plain paper instead of photo paper. And make sure the business you choose will use laser printers. Smaller companies may use inkjet.
Once your photos are printed, use your scissors to trim the white space. You’ll want the picture to trim down enough to fit on your glass surface. Leave a ½” to 1″ border around your image.
Spread your wax paper down on a flat surface. If you don’t have wax paper, you can use a silicone mat.
Place your trimmed image down on your paper, face up. The wax paper will keep the mess to a minimum and keep your paper still while you’re working. Set aside the rest of the wax paper for later use.
You may find it useful to place something heavy on the ends of your wax paper to keep it in place. Or, if possible, tuck the ends under the edge of your counter or table.
Once you’ve set up your work station, dip your foam brush into the Mod Podge and apply it to the front of your picture. You can also add a large glob of Mod Podge directly to your photo and spread it over your image using the foam brush.
Use broad strokes to cover the entire area with a thick, even layer of Mod Podge. You should not be able to see through the layer of Mod Podge.
For the best results, keep your strokes going in the same way, either horizontally or vertically. And try to keep the strokes even so you don’t end up with a decal that’s bumpy or lopsided. You may want to apply more than one layer.
Once you’re through applying the Mod Podge to your image, leave it to rest on the wax paper for twenty-four hours.
During this time, it’s essential to keep the images still and face up. Depending on the humidity of your area, it may take additional time to dry completely.
The best results come from doing this process in a room that stays at a consistent temperature between 60 – 80℉.
Do not use a heat source to dry or a fan. Your product should have time to air dry before you start to use your decal.
After your image transfer has completely dried, transfer it to a clean piece of wax or another non stick paper. Flip it over so you can access the back of the page. Dip your sponge into the water you’ve set aside.
Don’t wring the sponge out before applying it to your picture. You want the water to break down the construction of the paper so you can create your decal.
Place the sponge on the back of your paper and blot the area where you want to work. Press the sponge onto the paper to release water and rub. You may need to frequently wet your sponge throughout the process, depending on your image’s size.
Other people use a spray bottle instead of a sponge. Or they run their image transfer under the faucet to dampen the photo. But we find the sponge technique gives you the best control of thinning your paper without tearing it.
As you wet the back of your picture, apply medium pressure and rub against the paper using your finger. You will notice the material starting to peel away.
Continue the rubbing as you work your way across your picture. Do not rub too hard or stay too long in the same area, so you don’t risk ripping your image. If the area starts to dry out, rewet it before continuing.
In most cases, you will not remove all of the paper in the first wipe. The best option is to rub your picture down once, let it dry, and then repeat the process.
It will most times take two to three repeats to get the results you want (depending on paper strength). The thinner your paper, the faster you’ll have it worn down.
Once you’ve finished rubbing your paper down, set it aside to dry. Once finished, check to see if there are areas where the paper is too thick and needs to be rubbed more.
If you’re happy with your final product, it’s time to move onto the final step – transferring your image to the glass.
It’s best to precisely get your decal the way you want it before you try to transfer it to your surface. Once adhered, the decal can be challenging to remove without damaging.
Once your picture is completely dry, do any final trimming to remove excess white space. You may need an Exacto knife to trim any excess Mod Podge photo transfer.
Carefully transfer your Mod Podge photo transfer decal from your wax paper to your glass surface. The image transfer will stick, so you have to be careful where you place the decal.
Do not apply pressure to the image transfer until you’ve got your decal positioned appropriately. Use your fingers to smooth the Mod Podge photo transfer against the glass and remove any air bubbles.
Photo by Mayron Oliveira on Unsplash
Since Mod Podge photo transfer works as a three-in-one product, your image transfer should stay permanently on the glass surface.
But some people do apply a thin layer of sealant over the top of their photos to ensure it lasts. If you’re going to be using your glass item frequently, such as glass, it’s best to add a protective layer over your photos for longer-lasting results.
Here are a few common questions people have about transferring photos onto glass or photos on glass. These answers should help you have a better understanding of the process.
The easiest way to transfer photos on glass is to use the Mod Podge technique we’ve explained. But you can also apply your image transfer to glass using sticky photo paper or packing tape.
To transfer photos on glass using Mod Podge, you apply a thick layer of this chemical to your image and let it dry. Then you remove the paper’s back layer, leaving behind the Mod Podge layer, which contains the image you’ll stick on your glass.
If you choose to use an inkjet printer for your photos, it’s best to let your photos dry for a few hours before you attempt to apply the photos on glass, so the ink has time to set into the paper.
Then use a decoupage/transfer medium to cover your image transfer and adhere your photos on glass. Mod Podge is the best option for transferring photos on glass, but there are other brands you can try.
From a drinking glass with a decal to that labeled bottle of wine, you probably have many glass items around your home that were printed. Perhaps you’ve stopped and wondered how it’s done, as you’d like to attempt a similar job yourself. Can you print on glass, and if so, how?
Yes, it’s possible to print on glass, but you need a glass printer to do so. Then you can print flat items like glass coasters or panels as well as cylindrical objects such as drinking glasses or bottles. Before you begin printing, you must prep the glass with a primer or precoat so the print sticks to the surface.
If you’re curious to learn even more about how the glass printing process works, this is the article for you. In it, we’ll delve into the steps to follow to print on glass. We’ll also discuss some other options you may consider if you can’t get your hands on a glass printer.
Let’s begin!
Can You Print Photos on Glass?
If you’ve only worked with standard inkjet or laser printers, then to you, it might seem impossible to print on glass. You can’t fit a glass item in your printer, and even if you could, wouldn’t it shatter instantly?
It sure would. That doesn’t mean printing photos on glass is impossible, though. Here’s a video example doing just that courtesy of YouTube. You only need a specialized glass printer to begin:
This is one such printer from Direct Color Systems. Their Direct Jet UV LED inkjet printer allows you to design your own text, logos, and photographed images and then print them onto a glass surface. From coasters to drinking glasses, bottles, glass signs, and everything in between, you can create professional-looking printed glass items for your own personal use or resale.
The VersaUV LEF flatbed printer from Roland is another good option. This glass printer is intended for printing on glass food containers, fragrance bottles, beer and wine bottles, and other glassware. With clear ink texture effects for higher-quality projects, this printer gives you more bang for your buck.
Here’s a long video about printing on glass cylindrical objects from Roland that’s very much worth watching:
How Do You Print Photos on Glass? 7 Steps to Follow
If you intend on printing a photo on a glass item only once, then you might want to let a professional print-on-demand team handle it. That said, if you’d like to sell glass items on your Etsy shop or elsewhere online, it’s worth investing in a glass printer.
Once you buy your printer and it arrives, how do you get the glass printing process started? Here are the steps to follow.
Step 1: Choose Your Glass Item
First thing’s first, you have to pick the glass item you’d like to print on. As we discussed in the last section, you have a wide array of objects at your disposal. These include glass coasters, panels, bottles, jars, food containers, and more.
In knowing the size and shape of the glass item you’ll work with, the next step becomes much easier.
Step 2: Select Your Photo
That step is picking out the photo you’d like to print. Don’t worry so much about the size right now, as you can and will adjust that later.
Depending on the glass printer you have, it’s important to keep an eye on the color composition of the photo. For instance, the VersaUV LEF flatbed printers from Roland, specifically the LEF3-200 and LEF-300 models, are designed to print full-color graphics. Other glass printers may be as well.
If your glass printer by chance cannot print a full range of colors, then choose a simpler photo or even one that’s in black and white.
Step 3: Size the Photo to Your Glass Item
We said you’d probably have to resize your photo, so that’s what you want to do now. Use your favorite photo editing software or tools to shrink down the photo so it’s within the parameters of your glass item.
Make sure you’re not stretching, pinching, or otherwise distorting the photo too much. It will then be of a lower quality, which may be noticeable when you print. Also, keep in mind that a wraparound photo such as one printed on a glass bottle may have to be a bit longer than it is taller depending on the look or style you’re going for.
If you want to see some glass printing on a truly large scale, click here for this video on YouTube. While you probably won’t print a glass item nearly as huge, it’s still cool to see what can be done using industrial-sized printers.
Step 4: Add a Primer or Precoat
How can you ensure your printed design will adhere to the glass and not just slide right off? You need to prep the glass first. To do this, you can use primer ink or a precoat depending on your glass printer model. The Roland glass printers we talked about above include primer ink so you hardly have to think twice about prepping your glass.
Here’s a YouTube video showing glass precoat being mixed and applied:
You’d then use a paintbrush to coat the glass surface that you plan on printing. Make sure you cover the glass evenly throughout or else the photo might not print on all parts of the object.
Step 5: Load the Glass Item into the Printer
You’re about ready to get started now. Next, you want to fit the glass item into your printer so it’s secure. If your printer requires you to orient the item so it’s facing the right direction (such as face-side up) for printing, then don’t forget to do this. You wouldn’t want to print on the wrong side, after all.
Step 6: Print
Power on your glass printer, send the image to the printer, and you’re all done. You can usually watch the printing as it happens so you’re certain the process is going as intended.
Step 7: Admire the Results
When your glass printer finishes, voila! You should have a one-of-a-kind printed glass item with your favorite photo transferred directly on.
Are There Other Methods for Attaching a Photo to Glass?
If for some reason you cannot use a glass printer nor can you find a print on demand service, you’re not totally out of options. You can still attach your printed photo onto a glass item using other methods. As a word of caution, these won’t look as good as printing the photo directly onto glass, and the results may not last as long either.
Using Mod Podge
The first method relies on an adhesive like Mod Podge. First, you want to select your glass item, then your photo. Next, you want to resize the photo as you did before.
Print the photo using a standard inkjet or laser printer. Then, take your Mod Podge or your gel transfer adhesive of choice. With a craft brush, coat the adhesive to your glass, but only where the photo will go.
After that, push your printed photo onto the glass, applying firm pressure. Once the image is mostly stuck on, a squeegee can push the air bubbles up and out. Then it’s just a matter of waiting, sometimes upwards of 24 hours for the image to fully dry.
Here’s a handy video showing you how it’s done:
Printing, Soaking, Then Adhering
The next method takes a little longer but still brings you to the same results. Start as you did before, picking first your glass item and then your photo. Print it using a standard laser or inkjet printer, double-checking that it’s sized to your glass item.
Next, take some packing tape and cover the entirety of the picture. Using a squeegee or a credit card, remove all air bubbles. Then, cut any white surfaces that are not the image from the printed piece of paper.
When you’re done, fill a bowl or basin with warm water. Take your printed, taped image and dunk it in the bowl, leaving it there for at least five minutes. When you take it out, begin rubbing at it until all the paper comes off the tape. This may take a few soaks to finish, but you only want to keep the paper in the water for two minutes at a time after that first instance.
Dry the packing tape with a hairdryer until the backside is sticky. You can then tape the printed image onto your glass item.
Check out this video on YouTube to check out the process in action, although this person doesn’t soak their paper:
Conclusion
To successfully print a photo onto a glass surface, you need a glass printer. The image should be sized to your glass item, then prepped with either a coating or primer. When you print, the results will astound you.
Now that you know how to print on glass, you can make homemade, personalized gifts for friends and family they’ll love. You can also start selling amazing glass items online that will surely earn you a big following!
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