How to Make a Picture into a Window Cling
People young and old, all around the world, have come to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of window clings---transferable painted images and printed vinyl decals. Made with glass paint that allows light to become part of the art as it shines through the design and accentuates the colors, window clings decorate glass and other transparent surfaces. Window clings mimic stained glass or sun catchers, but are much easier to make, without the expense or labor of working with colored glass.
Things You'll Need
- Pictures (photographs or drawings)
- White paper
- Clear vinyl sheet or cling sheet
- Water/heat resistant window or glass paints
- Brushes
- Blending tool (optional)
- Scissors
- Photo-editing or desktop publishing software
- Printable self-adhesive vinyl sheets
- Inkjet printer
- Toothpick or needle
Instructions
-
Paint Trace Method
-
1
Place a photograph or drawing on a piece of white paper on a flat surface. Position a clear vinyl sheet or cling sheet over the photo or drawing.
-
2
Outline the picture using water- and heat-resistant window or glass paint (see Resources below) by gently squeezing a bead of paint along the outline.
-
-
3
Use a paintbrush to paint the interior of the picture, using the photograph or drawing beneath the vinyl sheet as a guide. After painting your image, use a small brush or blending tool to blend the edges.
-
4
Set aside and air-dry for at least 24 hours.
-
5
Pull your painted image away gently from the clear vinyl sheet in the same way you would remove a sticker from a sticker sheet, taking care not to tear it. If you used a vinyl cling sheet, cut out your painted image with scissors.
-
6
Affix your paint-only cling or painted cut-vinyl cling to a window, mirror or other glass surface.
Inkjet Print Method
-
7
Upload or scan your picture to your computer.
-
8
Use your photo-editing or desktop publishing software to crop or resize your picture to get the image you want for your window cling; you can also embellish your image with a border, clip art or text.
-
9
Load a single printable vinyl cling sheet into your inkjet printer so that your image can print on the coated side of the vinyl sheet.
-
10
Select the glossy photo, transfer or transparency printer setting and print the picture. To print a reverse or mirror image for automobiles or inside window clings with text facing out, select the flip, reverse or mirror printing option.
-
11
Air-dry for at least 24 hours, then cut out your image, pull the paper backing from the vinyl window cling and affix the cling to a clean glass surface.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Certain glass paints have a thin consistency or look milky when wet, but will dry bright and transparent.
To confirm that your inkjet printer ink and/or printer works with vinyl cling sheets, check the instructions or contact the manufacturer.
Bubbles can form at the tip of the paint bottle or in the paint as it dries if you shake the paint bottle before use. Do not shake paint bottles unless instructed by the manufacturer to do so. If bubbles form, use a toothpick or needle to pop them as you work.
Water and heat can cause inkjet ink to dissolve, drip or fade. Spray a clear laminate or enamel over an inkjet-printed window cling if you plan to affix it to an outdoor glass surface.
