Wood Transfer Paper Tips & Tricks
Product Information:
- Is the NuFun Activities Wood Transfer Paper non-toxic?
- Yes, this is a non-toxic product.
- Is it UV proof?
- The transfer is not UV proof so some fading/yellowing should be expected upon prolonged exposure to sunlight.
- Do you offer a pack with more sheets in it?
- Does this have a white background or clear? I don't want to cover the grain of the wood.
- The background of the transfer is clear so you can still see the grain of wood. We love the natural look!
- Is it water resistant? Can I use it to make coasters?
- Yes, you can make coasters, but you will need to put a coat of polyurethane on the wood once you're finished to protect it.
Pre-Application:
When transferring several images, be sure to cover all applications to ensure none of the transfers are damaged from direct exposure to heat.
- Do you print on these with Inkjet? Or Laser Printer?
- You can use either InkJet or Laser for our NuFun Activities Transfer Paper for Wood.
- Can I print in color?
- Yes, absolutely - you can print in color on either your inkjet printer or on a color laser printer.
- Does this need to be used with pigment ink?
- Our NuFun Activities Wood Transfer paper can be used with pigmented or regular die inks. Please note that our NuFun Activities Wood Transfer Paper is also compatible with laser printers/inks.
- Does this work on painted wood?
- NuFun Activities Wood Transfer works best on untreated, craft wood. However, depending on the type of paint/stain etc used, transfers may still be possible. We recommend testing a corner of the painted wood or another painted piece all together before you create your finished product to ensure that it transfers how you would like.
- We also recommend that you refrain from painting the wood a very dark color, as the transfer will show up better with a lighter paint color or wood grain. In addition, when painting the wood, try to use the least amount of paint possible (i.e. do not continue to layer the paint on as think layers of paint may cause bubbling) just use as much as needed to cover the wood completely.
- Am I using my heating tool to transfer the print to wood?
- Print your image and you can place the print side directly against the wood. The line side will be facing up.
- Set your iron to "Linen" settings and you can place the iron directly on the lined side of the paper to iron the image onto the wood. Make sure to pre-iron the wood to release any moisture. This will allow for better adhesion and transfer.
- Lift up a corner of the parchment to make sure it is transferred completely. If it isn’t, replace the parchment paper and continue ironing.
- Overheating / burning the transfer may cause bubbles to appear
- Alternatively, you can use a heat gun without the parchment paper instead of an iron or a heat press. Using a heat gun WITHOUT the parchment allows visualization of the photo and the transfer process without burning and bubbling and splitting. You can sand the image off wood with a belt sander.
Post Application:
- Can I apply a clear coat of varnish to the wood after the transfer is applied?
- In general, you can apply a clear coat of varnish after transferring it but we recommend testing it on a sample before you clear coat your main project as some varnishes may be too harsh for the transfer. Most work but we always like to test just in case!
- Can you paint/lacquer over the transfer to make it permanent? Spray paint over it?
- I use Krylon clear over it.
- Why do I have a sticky residue after peeling, and why does it bleed some?
- Maybe you moved the iron. When I used it, I put the iron on the paper protecting the transfer and left it for about 15 seconds. It came out perfect.
- Is there a way to remove the transfer from the wood if the entire image did not transfer properly and I would like to retry?
- Unfortunately, there is no good way to take the transfer off after you’ve applied heat. If you do want to try, you can lightly sand it down to the point that the transfer disappears, but it is important that the surface of the wood is still smooth for you to re-transfer upon.
Misc. Questions:
- Image is not coming out clear, and the ink looks bubbly/almost waxy – here are some tips:
- Use a heat gun instead of an iron, it comes out perfect every time.
- Has this paper been used on a cutting board before, if so does it need to be sealed with a good safe sealant afterwards
- It depends if you are going to use the cutting board for food. Most sealants are not food safe. Also, if using the cutting board to cut something, cut marks would show up. I would only recommend using a cutting board to hang up as a display. I would also recommend testing it first on scrap wood first.
- Will this product work on concrete?
- Concrete is too porous, unless you can smooth to a glass finish. We do not recommend it.
- Will this transfer hi-res images to fiberglass?
- This transfer requires a porous surface and would likely slide off of fiberglass. We do not recommend utilizing this product on fiberglass.
