Best & Easiest Way to Transfer Images to Wood & Canvas
Best way to transfer photos & art images to wood, canvas, etc! Mod Podge vs gel medium No rubbing technique. Great DIY crafts & decor ideas!
When I started this blog in 2014, one of my first tutorials was on how to transfer images to pallet wood crates! It’s still one of my favorite projects, but I have always wished to find better and easier ways to transfer photos and art to wood, canvas, ceramic tile, and other surfaces.
The wax paper technique worked well but sometimes it would cause the printer to jam. Another popular technique is to use mod podge and regular copy paper. It can be time consuming to rub the paper off, and if you rub too much the images can come off.
Finally I think I have found the best and easiest way to transfer photos and art images to wood! The image transfer quality is really nice. No rubbing needed, and no more printer jam either! So, what is the secret? 🙂
Table of Contents
- Check out the video tutorial or skip to written tutorial below!
- Materials and tools to transfer images to wood
- Can I use either inkjet or laser printer?
- Which medium is better for image transfer: Mod Podge or acrylic gel?
- Step 1: print images
- Step 2: transfer images to wood with mod podge or acrylic gel
- Additional tips on how to transfer images to wood
Check out the video tutorial or skip to written tutorial below!
*Some resources in article are affiliate links. Full disclosure here.
Materials and tools to transfer images to wood
Label sheets( Peel off the labels and ONLY use the glossy side of backing paper!) a printer, Mod Podge or acrylic gel (see comparison below)
Can I use either inkjet or laser printer?
Both inkjet and laser printer will work nicely. Laser printer works a little better for this technique with a bit more clarity and details in the transfer.
Which medium is better for image transfer: Mod Podge or acrylic gel?
Below is a side by side test I did with gel medium on the left, and Mod podge on the right.
I got great results with both. However, Mod Podge dries much faster, and it’s easier to find, so Mod Podge wins! I used the gloss Mod Podge, but the matte Mod Podge will work great too!
Step 1: print images
We will be printing the image on the the backing sheet of a label. Tape any score lines so the backing sheet stays together as a full 8.5×11 sheet.
Print on the glossy side, and set the print paper settings to “Glossy Photo Paper”!Because the transferred image is mirrored, you might want to Mirror the image first before printing.
If you are using an inkjet printer, be very careful not to touch the image as it may smudge!
Step 2: transfer images to wood with mod podge or acrylic gel
Brush 1-2 coats of Mod Podge onto the wood surface, not too thin or too thick.
Carefully lay the printed image on the wood, with the printed side facing down.
Use something like a credit card to smooth out the paper and press the paper down on the wood surface so there are no puddles of mod podge.
Wipe off any excess medium.
After a few hours, the mod podge will be be completely dry . Peel off the label paper, and admire the beautiful results!
You can use acrylic gel the same way. It takes a lot longer to dry. It’s a good idea to let the piece dry overnight so you are not tempted to peel it off too early. 🙂
Additional tips on how to transfer images to wood
You can also use this technique to transfer images to canvas, metal, painted wood, etc.
You don’t need to seal the image transfer because mod podge and acrylic gel are both sealers as well.
As you can see, the lighter color the wood is , the more variations of tones will show in the transferred image. In other words, only colors darker than the wood itself will show clearly! Keep this in mind when you choose photos especially.
If you want to use the wood pieces as wall art, saw-tooth hangers or tab hangers like these are great for hanging.
You may also love: how to make Anthropologie style trinket dish from oyster shells!
Happy creating! See you soon!
Has anyone found that over time the images on the wood fade or turn orange? If so any suggestions for how to prevent this?
Probably *very* late to the party, but since the post says you recently edited it, maybe not too late:
If you have access to an inkjet printer and like crafting with fabric at all, instead of discarding the label, you can use it to print directly on some fabrics! Cotton and Canvas Drop cloth are ones I’ve heard positive reports about.
I actually found your tutorial trying to figure out if there’d be something to do with the back of the label with the label method, since I didn’t like the idea of trashing it but *did* like the idea of being able to easily get it around the corner and not having to pay for freezer paper (which here in Europe is HIDEOUSLY expensive) and then either still have to cut it to the right size, or pay even more for a pre-cut version.
As I’m not sure if I’m allowed to put a link into a comment, you get directions instead:
Karen from thegraphicsfairy has several guides on printing on fabric, and also links us on to Gail on myrepurposedlife who has a tutorial on specifically using label paper for it – searching both their blogs and printing on fabric in your search engine of choice should find you the things!
If you aren’t lucky enough to still have a pigment ink printer, (several of the epson workforces still do, for example, but other than that it’s mostly the better photo printers these days), you’ll definitely want to pre- and post-treat the fabric for being able to wash it, but if it’s for something you don’t intend to wash anyway – say, making a folding fan with wooden sticks and fabric – you can probably just slap a label on the prewashed fabric, cut the fabric to label size, and go wild.
(There’s prepped treatment for the fabric that Gail talks about at the bottom of her post, and Karen also links a homemade pre-treatment from another blog in her overview that is less expensive if you’re gonna do it a lot.)
hi Kitty! thank you so much for sharing your experience in such detail! Karen and Gail are both great and I have enjoyed chatting with them both in person! 🙂
I printed with normal paper settings. When i print pictures on picture paper i change to appropriate settings, gloosy, matte etc to match paper used.
Mine is drying now but i have low expectations as the ink smudged. Has anyone tried setting paper type to glossy?
hi Cheryl! thank you so much for bringing this up! i just added this important info to the post: use glossy photo paper setting when printing! 🙂
Hi Ananda,
I have been a subscriber for a few years now and I love it all. However, if I could make a suggestion…
If I haven’t downloaded something in a while, I always seem to forget where the button is. And you kindly tell everyone it’s a red button at the bottom of the weekly newsletter. So I always keep scrolling down the webpage to find it. Then I finally remember that it’s at the bottom of the weekly newsletter EMAIL! Just adding that word clear up some confusion with others also.
Crafting is my happy place, Toni
Hi Toni! thank you SO much for such a great suggestion! i will make sure to add that in all future posts, and as i update older posts! 🙂
Hi, can you recommend a good color laser printer for home use for image transfers? Thanks!
Hi Heather! sorry the comment got lost somehow! we like HP or Cannon brand printers 🙂
I tried this technique and unfortunately I haven’t had the good results others have had. I used Avery Easy Peel Mailing Labels, removed the labels, and printed my image on the shiny side of the paper, using an HP inkjet printer. The image was barely visible, so I edited the image to make it darker and the result was the same. Do you have any thoughts why this happened?
sorry for the late reply Haley! did the images look good on the backing paper coming off the printer?
Have you ever tried this technique on a painted surface?
I tried printing on my laser printer using the label backing you suggested and some toner came off onto the printer rollers. Now my print outs have flecks of color on them. Have you run into this issue?
hi Richard, no we have never had this issue. not sure what might be causing it.
Hi, I realise I’m probably being really dense or maybe it’s because I’m on my phone, but I can’t seem to find the link to the printouts. Please be kind x
hi Tracy, there is a red button in each week’s newsletter, which will take you to all downloads 🙂
Quick question… If I’m to print using inkjet printer, do I need to wait or let the ink dry out a little bit before sticking it onto the modpodged surface? Thank you!
hi Olivia! no need to wait for the ink to dry, just be careful not to touch any ink when touching the paper 🙂
hello I love watching all of your creations you inspire me so much! I have a question regarding transferring photos to items like you’re doing here but I don’t have access to a printer mine is broken husband is cheap lol
is there a way to take an existing photo you know that was printed at the photo store is there a way to put that onto an item? sorry I hope this is not too dumb of a question I am new to this world and I do want videos and I take notes but me being me I lose my notes lol but I have lots of services I would love to add photos to I’m just not sure where to start I have tried the napkins with the mod Podge I thought that it looked bad but husband said he thought it looked great but I am my own worst critic as most of us are lol any advice would be greatly appreciated and again apologizing for pretty sure dumb question lol but I’m new to this world I’m in and only because you have inspired me to be in it and I love watching everybody create and make such gorgeous items I have gathered quite the collection of materials from here and there husband tells me to stop bringing home junk lol I tell him that’s not junk that could be anything I wanted to be he won’t let me borrow his power tools lol so I’ve been buying my own what’s now he’s jealous because he says my things are better than his lol sorry I don’t mean to write a novel I have the unfortunate gift of Gab lol but any advice on picture transfers would be greatly appreciated thank you in advance keep up your gorgeous inspiring creations I’m always in my happy place when I’m watching you create I believe I can honestly say you are my hero for I did not get started in this until late in life myself and I owe that to you thank you have a blessed day happy crafting creating and just being you and your awesome self thanks for everything and again sorry for my gift of gab and this big old novel I just created for you lol ❣️🤣🙏🛠️👷♀️⚒️
Hi Lori, sorry i just saw your comment! yes you can use this method for photos, you could also practice a bit using a thick magazine cover photo that you like, now it’s the holiday season , we all get plenty of those! 🙂
This is awesome. Help me understand. You’re sending the sticky side of a label through the printer and it doesn’t get stuck? Or is the label upside down in the print drawer?
Also did anyone try modge podge photo transfer medium?
Crafting friend,
@skippydust
hi Eileen! you discard the label and use the shiny side of the backing paper to print on. i haven’t tried mod podge photo transfer medium, but i do plan to! 🙂
Have you tried the shiny side of freezer paper?
hi Cheri, no, i’ve only tried wax paper and this label paper, the latter worked so much better!
Hey! I was just curious:
I do a lot of matte medium transfers in my practice. I’ve never heard of printing on label paper. I always use the rubbing teqnique. I would absolutely love how to make this process faster! What kind of label paper are you using specifically?? Is it transparent? And where do I find it!? Thank you!
hi Kerry! this is the label paper i used –http://amzn.to/3Fxt5dR
just print on the glossy backing side, it worked really well! 🙂
Hi! I did a few and they came out awesome, thank you! But right now I’m looking at one and it’s a picture for Father’s Day for my goddaughter’s father and I cannot even tell who they are. I have to toss the wood panel and everything. I did exactly what was shown and all of them came out “vintage” looking which I love but this one isn’t even vintage lol
Do you have any tips?? Thank you!!! Ali
hi Alison! if you had good results before, then it might have to do with the wood. maybe the wood isn’t as smooth or dense as what you have used last time? 🙂
I appreciate your idea. Printing on wood and canvas are very popular nowadays. Thank you so much for wonderful blog.
Very nice information about how to print on canvas, wood and glass. Thanks for sharing.
this is really looking amazing and so beautiful. nowadays this is one of the trends, people would like this. thanks for sharing this amazing article.
Such an amazing article and a great blog thanks for sharing this lovely and wonderful and helping us information about the transfer images to wood
It’s a great and easiest way to transfer images. Thanks for your information!!
Dumb question…is the label still attached when you run it through the printer?
hi Judy! the labels are peeled off, and we print on the glossy side! 🙂
LOVE this tutorial so much! I tried it with a gift idea, mod podge on wood, and it worked so beautifully! Thank you!
thank you kate! so glad you enjoyed it!! 🙂
Have you ever tried that white freezer paper?
this is really looking amazing and so beautiful. nowadays this is on the trends, peoples would like this. thanks for sharing this amazing article about transfer images to wood.
Love this idea, would it work just as well on heavy card stock, which printers do not like.
hi Anthony! yes this would work nicely! 🙂
So you have to use the back of a label? Is there other type paper you can use?
hi Julie! i have tried wax paper, it can cause jam. transparencies may work, but the label paper is the best solution so far! 🙂
Hi Julie you discard the label and use the shiny side of the backing paper 👌