6 Simple Ways How to Transfer Photos to Wood to Get Awesome Results

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Photo transfer techniques are becoming ever more popular, particularly for those looking to add something unique and personal to woodworking projects. If you’re looking for different transfer methods, then you’ve come to the right place! We’ll take a look at how to use different tools and materials to get your photos from paper onto wood surfaces.

There is a good range of ways for transferring images, including Mod Podge transfers, iron-on transfers, image tracing, and transferring with tracing paper, as well as acetone or Xylene and wax/freezer paper transfers – the possibilities abound!

No matter which option you choose, you’ll enjoy the unique result each method produces. If you’re looking for a fun and creative DIY project, photo transfers are the way to go!

Image transfer to wood surfaces can give you a lot of possibilities to make some unique designs. DIY photo transfer projects make great gift ideas or even home or holiday decorations.

If you’re thinking about giving your upcycling projects more artistic edge or simply want to try something new, this is a great way to do it. So hang tight, and let’s get transferring!

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Learn how to transfer photos to wood with these methods below:

 1. Using Freezer Paper, Label Paper, or wax paper

Yes, you see that right. In this first tutorial, I want to show you how to use a simple freezer paper or labeling paper for photo-to-wood transfer.

Tools and Materials needed:

  • A freezer paper/labeling paper/wax paper
    I hurry to explain what labeling paper is. It’s simply the back of a sheet of self-adhesive stickers
  • an inkjet printer
  • A photo editing software, don’t worry, anything fancy 🙂
  • A clear finish like Mod Podge to preserve your photo
  • A wood surface like a wooden block or wood slice

Step-by-step method

  1. In the first step, you need to mirror your photo. This way, you’ll make sure that it’ll come out correctly if there is any text in it. Then you print it on a glossy side of the freezer/wax paper. Important! You must be careful not to touch it. Otherwise, it’ll smear and will be ruined.
  2. Make sure that the wood surface you transfer the photo on is clean, free from any finish, and sanded smooth. Porous surfaces take in the ink better. A light-colored piece of wood works best here.
  3. Put your photo face down onto the wood, and please don’t move it.  You’ve only got one shot at this. Otherwise, it will smear. Press it down. You can use a bit of thin stiff plastic to smooth it out gently.
  4. Once you’ve done that, you can remove the paper from the wood. The photo is ready and dry. No need to wait for 24 hours for it to be ready; yay! You can seal it with some clear spray lacquer or a layer of Mod Podge.

You can have a look at how it’s done here:

2. A Typography Transfer Using Chalk, Ballpoint Pen, and Paint 

This method allows you to transfer any type of graphic/photo, mainly writings, onto wood or wall, etc. It’s very easy and straightforward, although the most time-consuming, in my opinion. All you need to do this is:

tools and materials

  • digital image files or photos printed on a regular printer paper
  • a piece of chalk, a soft pen, or a pastel crayon
  • a ballpoint pen

The whole process consists of 3 simple steps.

  1. Covering your photos with chalk or pastel
  2. Putting the photo/graphic onto wood, wall, or furniture
  3. Tracing the outlines of the photo/graphic with a ballpoint pen to transfer

All that’s left to do is to use a small paintbrush or a pen marker and fill in the contours, and voila!

If you need your image blown up, you can use a free website called Block Posters and then print it on several paper sheets. Here is an excellent example of how to do it on a piece of wood furniture.

3. Iknjet Printer, Glue and Mod Podge Method

This method allows you to use inkjet print photos to be transferred to wood using Mod Podge – a medium used for many different crafts including photo transfers. I found out that most people say you can’t use it with inkjet prints but only with laserjet printer ones.

This method that I’ve found on matsutakeblog.blogspot.com shows that you actually can. You can use normal printer paper or a piece of cardstock for the transfer.

All you need is to put some Elmer’s glue on it before printing your photo. Remember to let it dry first! You don’t want to break your printer :))

transfer photos to wood

The glue should be on the side on which you want to print the image. After drying is time to print. Remember to mirror your image as well, if needed. Once the photo is printed, put a layer of mod podge on the piece of wood.

Mod Podge Image Transfer

Now you press your image facing down onto the wood surface. Make sure you don’t move it once it’s stuck to Mod Podge. You can use a piece of plastic to smooth the surface out and get rid of all air bubbles.

Inkjet Image Transfer to Wood

You have to let it dry completely overnight, preferably 24 hours, and you’re ready for the next step. Now the fun begins. You can immerse the wood piece in water, or if it’s a large one like a furniture surface, etc., you soak it wet with a sponge or use a spray bottle.

Soaking Mod Podge Image

When the paper is completely soaked, peel it off gently. You can hold it under running water for the small wood pieces. Then gently rub the rest of the paper pulp off with your fingers.

Transferred Image

Images courtesy of matsutakeblog.blogspot.co.uk

And that’s it! You have a nice and smooth surface with your photo transfer on it. An easy method for DIY photo transfer to wood with glue.

4. Using Acetone or Xylol/Xylene

This is a fantastic method you can use on wood, metal, and many other surfaces. I really like it because it is extremely easy. I found it on villabarnes.com.

It’s another great way to make your upcycling projects more unique and exciting.

tools and materials needed

So what do you need? The simplest way is to buy a blender pen. You can get it in most craft shops or on Amazon. But if you’re in the middle of a project and your blender pen stops working, you can use a different solution.

First is an old, well-known Acetone that can be used as a transfer medium. But not the nail polish remover kind unless you have 100% pure acetone without any additives.

A second way is actually using the solvent found in the blender pen, which is called Xylol/Xylene. For example, if you have a large image to transfer, you can get a big container in hardware stores.

In both cases, you must be careful while using them. They damage the skin, eyes, and respiratory system, so wear gloves, safety goggles, and face mask/respirator and use them in a WELL-VENTILATED AREA.

Use the solvents in a glass container and only small amounts at a time- they evaporate quickly. You can either dab your empty pen in or use a sponge.

Put the photo/graphic you want to transfer on the wood surface(remember to mirror it) and apply the acetone or Xylol. You can secure it by using some painter’s tape.

Aceton image Transfer on Wood

Image courtesy of villabarnes.com

Try not to overdo it with the solvent because it may cause the ink to bleed. Several thin layers are better than pouring it over the image.

The next step is to rub the picture with the back of a spoon or a bone folder. Apply firm pressure but don’t rush. You don’t want to damage the paper.

Peel off the paper from the wood and let the transfer dry. Just to mention, this only works with laser-printed or copied images.

5. Using Gel Medium and Mod Podge

I think this is the most popular way for photo transfer to wood. It works with black and white or colored ones. It’s very similar to Mod Podge and glue method, but instead of glue, a gel medium is used as a transfer medium and Mod Podge to finish off. All you need is the following:

Tools and materials

  • Laser printer or already printed image/picture- laserjet ones are best, or Xerox copies; for color images, you can print them on photo paper(the quality of the photo is far better than normal paper) and then have it copied in color
  • a surface to transfer to, like a wood slice
  • a gel medium
  • a Mod Podge

First, make sure the wood is clean and dry without any finish. Then spread some of the gel medium on it and on the photo itself. Put the photo on the wood facing down and press.

Get a credit card or similar tool and get rid of all air bubbles and excess gel.

Let it dry overnight/for 24 hours, and then the same way as previously, wet the paper and rub it off. The last step is to put a layer of Mod Podge on top to seal it off.

A nice video to show you the steps:

6. Photo Transfer Using an Iron

This is the most, in my opinion, surprisingly easy way of transferring any color photo.

tools and materials

  • a hot iron
  • photo printed with a laser printer on regular paper or
  • a photo printed on “iron on” paper using an inkjet printer
  • piece of the wood surface like a wood slice to transfer to

Then you have to follow some simple steps:

For “iron on” paper, follow the steps:

Looking through many tutorials online, I’ve found all the different uses for Mod Podge. For example, some use it as a sealant, and some as a photo transfer medium. The same goes for using inkjet and laserjet prints.

I guess this is a bit of a trial-and-error method. So pick one and if it doesn’t work, try another one until you find one that produces the best results.

If you want a more vintage look but only have new wood to work with, check my post on how to distress wood and make it look old and weathered.

FAQs

Technically, yes, you can use Elmer’s glue to transfer a photo to wood. You’d need to follow the steps in the glue and Mod Podge method and swap the Mod Podge for Elmer’s glue.

A PVA glue can be used to transfer photos to wood. You either follow the Mod Podge/glue method found above but replace the Mod Podge with PVA glue using a normal paper and inkjet printer.

Or you can use OHP Transparency Sheets instead of paper to print the image on. You have to cover the sheet with PVA glue and let it dry completely before printing. An inkjet printer has to be used in this case.

This is as simple as covering the piece of wood you want the picture on with Mod Podge -covering an area slightly bigger than the image.

Next, place the photo on top. You can use a credit card or something similar to remove any excess glue/air bubbles. Once dry, the Mod Podge turns clear and is not visible.

Using a regular photo/glossy photo printed on photo paper won’t work. You either have to make a copy of that photo on the photocopier or print it on regular paper using a printer(laser or inkjet).

Depending on the method you choose, you can use the following:

In simple words, a gel medium is a binder without pigment, and its primary purpose is to change the consistency and/or appearance of acrylic paint. It can be used as glue, for example, for adding mixed media to paper or painting.

If you have different experiences with transferring photos to wood, failures perhaps? I’d like to hear from you. My favorite is the transferring photo to wood with glue method, mostly because you can use your home printer to print the design/image.

Anyway, feel free to comment below or use contact page. And don’t forget to pin it to your Photo Transfer board 🙂

Have a fantastic day!

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23 Comments

  1. Hi there,
    Your tutorials are very easy to follow by the way! I would like to transfer photo’s on wood, but I wanted to age the wood beforehand, using vinegar, steel wool and hydrogen peroxide.

    Would you know if the photo’s would stick ok, to the treated wood?

    Lisa

    1. Hi Lisa!
      I’ m glad you liked it 🙂 As for your question I think the picture would stick as long as you won’t seal the treated wood. When you age wood this way whatever you put on it goes into the wood fiber.
      It’s still pretty much raw wood so I can’t see the reason for the picture not to stick to it. The only thing is it might not be as clear/visible as on light colored/plain wood but that might be the look you want to accomplish.
      Have a nice day!
      Kasia

  2. Super easy one is, Mod Podge now make a photo transfer medium. So all you need to do if use a photo copied picture of your choice. Cut to fit your unfinished wood. Add Mod Podge photo medium transfer to the copied picture side of your picture as well as the wood. Then you stick your picture glued side down. Let dry completely. 5 hours worked perfectly for me. Then set a warm clothe over your dried wood. And scrub of gentle with your fingers to reveal your picture to wood transfer. Top it off when completely dry again with a finish of your choice.

  3. I want to try the mod podge but a little nervous that i’ll mess it up somehow. Is it easy to di?

    1. Yeah, it’s pretty easy. But if you feel you will mess it up I’d suggest printing off a couple of images and make a test image. If it turned out not quite how you like it, you can always sand off the wood and start over 🙂

    1. Hi Ashlie, unfortunately, the iron method won’t work with the inkjet printer. You could try the mod podge or transfer medium method. These are great for transferring images printed on inkjet printer.

    1. Hi Jennifer,
      I’m sorry for a very late response. I imagine any PVA-based synthetic glue would work. Elmers brand is a very popular one available on the market that’s why it was used. I hope that helps.

  4. I use copy paper. with the picture
    face up, slide the copy paper behind it. with the ink side toward the wood. Tape it
    down and with a ball point pen, trace the picture the basics. Take off and burn it.

    1. Hi Carlette,
      I’m afraid a regular photo printed on a photo paper won’t transfer. It’s the ink that gets transferred from the paper to wood. And since regular images are developed using chemicals, the transfer won’t work. I’m sorry I couldn’t help.

  5. Hi
    I would like to use my inkjet printer to print the pictures on photo paper. If I just apply the mod podge on the wood and then on the picture and stick it on, then apply mod podge couple times over the picture. Would that work as well??

    1. Hi Sherry-Ann,
      This way, the photo won’t transfer to the wood but will be glued to the wood with the mod podge and sealed as well. So if that’s what you want to achieve, it sure will work. Thank you for stopping by and I hope this helps 🙂

  6. Very easy to follow instructions!! Thank you!
    I’m trying to decide between transferring a photo to wood or, sealing it on top like Sherry-Ann mentioned.

    Kasia, Do you happen to have more info on how to seal a regular photo to wood? I’m not able to find very much info about it. Mainly if it matters what the picture is printed on, developed at store vs. home? Also I’d like to know how long the process might take?
    Thanks!

    1. I’m glad you have found it helpful, Stori. When it comes to sealing a regular photo to wood, the only option is to use mod podge to glue it to the wood surface and then seal it with another mod podge layer or leave it as is. This shouldn’t take longer than for the mod podge to completely dry clear.

      For the transfer to be possible, the photo must be printed on regular paper using a laserjet or inkjet printer, depending on the method. Photo paper simply won’t work, I’m afraid. The workaround would be to make a color/b&w copy of the photo you want to transfer on the xerox machine(or similar) and then transfer it to the wood surface.

      I hope this helps!

  7. Hi,

    My local print store printed the photos on thin cardstock. Would the transfer work? I am just curious if it will be difficult to rub off the paper after.

    1. Hi Rheanne, as long as it’s not photo paper (matte or gloss) it should be ok. I’d think you would need to soak it more. I’ve never tried the photo transfer with cardstock paper so I can’t guarantee it will work. I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful.

  8. Hi,

    I used Dala s transfer glaze for a wooden sign and the image is slightly raised.
    How do I get it smoot as to not see the outline in the wood surface?
    Thanks
    Lizelle

    1. Hi Lizelle, I need some clarification on this issue. By raised, do you mean the wood grain is raised where the image has transferred? If that’s the case it could be due to wood not be sanded smooth enough before transfer. This happens usually if you apply anything to wood-like water, stain, or paint. I’d make sure that the surface is sanded smooth and wiped and dried. Hardwood is best for image transfers. I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, let me know. Thanks for stopping by!

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