How to Transfer Images to Stone or Metal Using Xerox Roll Up

A three-dimensional surface can take on a new look with the right superimposed image. This technique will allow you to transfer a photocopied image onto an uneven or rounded surface.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Setswell Or Plate Oil
• Etching Or Lithographic Inks
• Glass Or Plexiglas
• Photocopied Images
• Spray Polyurethane Finish
• Stones Or Metal
• Acrylic Matte Medium
• Gesso
• Bowl Of Water
• Cellulose Sponges
• Gum Arabic
• Brayers (rubber Rollers)
• Mixing Spatulas
• Magnesium Carbonate

Prepare the Surface

1. Choose your stone or piece of metal. Keep in mind that an image will show up better on a light surface.

2. Prepare the surface: Wash or wipe it down; scrub it if necessary to remove loose particles. Degrease it with rubbing alcohol if necessary.

3. Coat a metal surface with two coats of spray polyurethane and allow it to dry fully to seal the surface and prevent it from rusting.

4. Coat a stone surface or sealed metal surface with two coats of acrylic matte medium and allow it to dry fully.

Prepare the Ink and Image

5. Loosen the ink up by adding either Setswell or plate oil. It should be loose enough to run off a mixing spatula freely - what's called a very loose ink in printmaking parlance.

6. Add about an equal amount of magnesium carbonate. Work it into the ink until the ink is very stiff again - when you lift it on the spatula, it won't move.

7. Spread a ribbon of ink onto a smooth surface (glass or Plexiglas).

8. Use the roller to lay out a slab of ink about as wide as the roller. The ink should be fairly even and thick.

9. Pour a small amount of gum arabic onto a flat surface and spread it around with your hand.

10. Place your photocopy image-side-up onto the gummed surface.

11. Wet your sponge and squeeze water onto the surface of the photocopy. Rub the sponge over the surface, wetting the paper completely.

12. Pour a small amount of gum arabic onto the wet photocopy (enough to cover the image when you spread it out). Smear it over the whole image area.

13. Wipe off any excess gum with a damp sponge.

Transfer the Image

14. Roll the inked-up roller quickly back and forth over the surface of the image until most of the ink has moved from the roller to the image (a maximum of six passes).

15. Use your damp sponge to rewet the image (the sponge will remove the excess ink).

16. Recharge your roller and repeat, rolling in a different direction. Again, use the sponge to rewet the image.

17. Repeat these steps until the entire image is covered in ink.

18. Pick the image up and flip it over onto the target area.

19. Smooth, press and rub it with your hand or a roller, depending on the shape of your surface. If it's a flat piece of metal, run it through a printing press - but a flat piece of stone such as slate may crack under pressure.

20. Lift the paper off and allow the image to dry.

21. Coat with spray polyurethane to protect the surface.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that this technique transfers the image by flipping it - so whatever you see on the original image will be backward once it's transferred. If your image includes text, the text should be backward before transfer so that it will be readable after transfer.
• A line image is better than a tonal image for this technique.