Things You'll Need
Brushes
Spray Polyurethane Finish (if Using Metal)
Stones Or Metal
Acrylic Matte Medium
Photocopy Or Printed Images
Pan Of Water
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How to Transfer Images to Stone or Metal Using Acrylic Matte Medium. A three-dimensional surface can take on a new look with the right superimposed image. This technique will allow you to transfer a photocopy or printed image with virtually no equipment.
Prepare the Surface
Step 1
Choose your stone or piece of metal. Keep in mind that an image will show up better on a light surface.
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Step 2
Prepare the surface: Wash or wipe it down; scrub it if necessary to remove loose particles. Degrease it with rubbing alcohol if necessary.
Step 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).
Step 4
Coat a stone surface or sealed metal surface with two coats of acrylic matte medium and allow it to dry fully.
Prepare the Image
Step 1
Coat the image side of a high-quality photocopy (color or black and white) or an image from a newspaper or magazine with six to eight coats of acrylic matte medium. Make sure you don't get any medium on the back side of the image.
Step 2
Allow it to dry for 24 hours.
Transfer the Image
Step 1
Soak the coated image in lukewarm water for several hours or overnight.
Step 2
Remove the image from the water.
Step 3
Place it on your work surface, image side down.
Step 4
Rub the paper backing off the plastic-like surface gently. The toner of the photocopy image or ink from the printed image should stay embedded in the plastic-like surface of the acrylic matte medium while the paper rubs away. (You may need to do this partly in the tray of water.)
Step 5
Coat your stone or metal with a layer of matte medium.
Step 6
Coat the side of the image from which you have just removed the paper with a layer of matte medium.
Step 7
Lay the freshly coated surface of the image onto the freshly coated surface of the stone or metal and smooth it out.
Step 8
Allow to dry at least an hour.
Step 9
Use acrylic medium to create a seamless, smooth surface (for example, to smooth over the point at which the transferred image meets the stone or metal) and to coat.
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