How to Cook Transfers onto Clay

Almost any image that can be printed on paper can be transferred to clay.Since all images will be reversed when transferred to your clay any words that you wish to transfer must be printed as a reverse image (mirror image) on your paper.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Printed image
• Polymer clay
• Oven

1. Print the image you wish to transfer onto paper. Images can be printed using an ink jet printer or a laser printer. The better the image quality on the paper the better the transfer will be. Use photo copy paper for the best results.Keep in mind that images transferred to clay will be reversed, so any letters must be printed in reverse (mirror) image on your paper prior to transfer in order to read correctly on the clay.

2. Lay the image to be transferred onto the surface of your damp polymer clay with the printed side of the image down, touching the surface of the clay. White clay will make your images seem brighter when transferred.

3. Burnish the image onto the surface of your clay. This must be done carefully and thoroughly. All portions of your image must be touching the clay surface. Any spots not adhering to the clay will not transfer.

4. Bake your clay piece with the paper transfer in place in a pre-heated oven at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 minutes.

5. Remove the paper very carefully, peeling it up from one edge. All of the ink on the paper should now be transferred to the surface of the clay. Return the clay to your oven and bake as per the clay manufacturer's directions.Your image should be bright and clear on the surface of your baked clay piece.

Tips & Warnings

• Burnishing your image to your clay surface prior to baking is the real key to making your transfer work properly. Any portion of your image which is not burnished down firmly to the surface of your clay will leave a white area in your transfer after baking.