How to Make a Photo Mug
You cannot go wrong with a gift that is useful, practical and personalized, especially if it is meant for a close relative, friend or loved one. A photo mug is one such gift. Here you will learn how to make a photo mug that your loved ones will cherish for the personal touch it has, as well as its practical use.
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Things You'll Need
- Ceramic coffee mug, preferably white
- Transfer paper or water slide decal paper
- Color copier or printer
- Photo editing software
- Scissors
- Bowl of water
- Digital photo or scanned picture
- Fixative spray
Instructions
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Choose the picture you want to transfer onto the mug. Make sure that this picture has a good resolution, is clear and shows sharp detail. Edit the picture with a photo editing program to enhance color and contrast and to perform red-eye reduction and other corrections. Add text if you wish. Resize it to fit on the mug and save the final image as a new file.
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Test the image clarity and size by printing it out on plain white paper in the size and resolution you have chosen. Hold it up against the cup to verify if the result is what you want to see.
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Once you are satisfied with the image's resolution, size and color, print it out on transfer paper or water slide decal paper. Make sure the image is printed on the glossy side. Transparent paper works better for white mugs and white paper should be used for a colored mug.
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Spray the printed image with fixative spray, according to the manufacturer's instructions. This will prevent the ink from running. Leave the paper to dry completely. This will take a few minutes. If needed, trim around the picture to make it fit on the mug.
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Place the cut-out image in a bowl of water. This will loosen the image, the paper will begin to curl and the backing will come off easily. Stick the printed decal side onto the mug, taking care to align it properly. Blot it lightly and set the photo mug aside to dry.
Alternatively, you can bake it in an oven to make the image harder and then allow it to cool. -
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Seal the photo mug with a resin sealer so that it withstands washing without damage to the photo.
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Tips & Warnings
Instead of making your photo mug at home, you can choose to order one online at any of the websites offering the service. Simply search for photo gifts or photo mugs. This is more expensive but saves you the time and hassle of doing it yourself.
