I’ve been itching to transfer some images for some time now. I came across some information about using Citrasolv, a natural cleaner and degreaser, and thought I’d try it. Citrasolv is sold at health food stores.
I picked an old picture from my stash and printed it out on my laser printer. (Ink jet prints will not work.)

I then turned it over, put a little of the Citrasolv on a cotton ball, rubbed it across the back of the print. Immediately, the print appears.

After rubbing the complete image back and forth, I lifted it up and here is the print on my journal page.

That was ok, but I wanted to try it with a different picture.
I chose this one I took in my garden a year or so ago.

I printed out of my laser two images – one color and one black and white so I could compare. This is how they turned out in my journal.

I really like both of them, although the black and white one seems a bit more interesting.
Now to move on to other materials. I tried transferring on fabric. I think the black and white print would have worked better. Also, I should have stretched and taped my material down.

Then on to canvas.

Not as clear of an image and again I would have liked the black and white copy better. When I first lifted the print up, I couldn’t even see an image but after it dried it appeared.
On to tyvex. This is the material that some envelopes are made of. I bought this tyvex online for a class I was taking. Really interesting material.


I really liked both of these.
Last test was on vinyl material.

On vinyl, the image is transferred on one side and you look at it through the other side. I have it sitting on a piece of white card stock so you can see the design.
After it dried I turned the vinyl over to the back side where I’ve transferred and painted over the design with a white paint.

Now you can see the transfer better, but I’m not done with this yet. There will be more painting on this medium. I’m not finished with the other samples either.

Now for steps for this process. [print_link]
- Use a laser or a photocopy of your image. Ink jet will not work.
- Put image side down on your printing surface (material, paper, etc.)
- Put a little Citrasolv on a cotton pad and rub over the back of the print. You don’t need to use a lot of this cleaner.
- Rub up and down and around a little more.
- Remove the print and you’ll see your transfer!
Some tips:
- You might want to tape down your print so it doesn’t move on your surface. Stretching fabric with tape would probably make a better print.
- This cleaner smells good at first. However, if you do as many transfers as I did in a closed room, it gets to be real stinky. I’d recommend doing this in an open area or open the windows. The smell will leave the transfer.
- You can draw or color on your print before you transfer.
- Experiment with color and black and white prints.
- Transfer on printed fabric for a layered design.
- Paint in and draw on the transfer.
I really loved this technique. If you’ve tried it, I’d love to see and hear about your results and any suggestions you might have.
Hi Lyndah:
Very interesting work … you might be interested in my new book, which not only covers the lovely Citra Solv, WHICH I LOVE, see my pixiq site and the video I did on it, but also over 3 dozen step-by-step processes for transferring onto almost ANYTHING;-))
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Image-Transfer-Creating-Photography/dp/1600595359/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302354598&sr=1-1
All best,
e
Wow…that is great! I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for the tip.
I’m thinking a repeated pattern on a lampshade would be super cool! Thank you for sharing!
Stasha, That would be pretty cool!
Sage Butterfly, Be sure and post what you do. It’s way fun and oh, so easy!
Nice transfers, Lynda! I have done this with black and white photo but I do not have a laser printer, so I always have to go hunt up a toner copier. Any of those you are not happy with would always be great foundations for collage work…and then you can make a sketchbook cover!!!!! I do love the “decayed” look.
Thanks for sharing all of your experiments.
Kathy, It’s funny how I’m more drawn to the black and white ones than the color. Although the color tyvex might make a good cover. Too many projects – so little time!!
Neat project. I especially like the color tyvex image. Love to see what others out in cyberspace are doing!
Has anyone tried washing the one printed on fabric? I think this is such a great idea. Thanks.
This is a great idea and I can’t wait to give it a go. Citrasolve… I was actually cleaning my stove with it last month and it took the enamel right off! I had to keep going and now what used to be the white back is now silver. I have to admit, I like it better now.
Nicole, i think you gotta be careful with this stuff…I hear it eats through plastic…but that makes me wonder what the bottle it’s in is made of!
Nicole, That’s pretty scary about your oven. I need to clean off my stove top, but surely don’t want the enamel to come off. Here is a link to their recommended usage. It says not for some plastics and it is a paint remover!
Laura, It says here that it can be washed. I’ve not washed mine yet.
I have tried this and it wont work. I am using a laser printer i dab some citrasolv on a napkin rub it on and i get nothing what am i doing wrong??? Help please
Serena,
Are you placing your picture face down on the page? Maybe you don’t have enough Citrasolv on your napkin. The only other problem may be the type of toner in your laser printer. One of my students in my class said her laser uses soy ink and it won’t transfer. Hope that helps. Let me know.
Thanks for sharing Lynda. It’s nice to know that this product is easy to get a hold of. Lately we’ve still been using Wax-Free Tracing Paper *(when making address plaques or signs) and I’ve been contemplating a projector for other projects. It’s nice to have this knowledge, as we usually find….each creation/situation demands a specific method. I could see teaming up Citrasolv prints w/ Lamination Glue under stained glass or on an object as decoupage. Very nice project & article. I like the Black & White best also! 😉
Randy, Thanks for stopping by and commenting. This process is pretty stinky. We did this in my art journal class and not everyone liked the results since it’s not a picture perfect transfer. But that’s what I like about it. Would love to see what you come up with it if you try using it. Lynda
Nice to see this done in color! I have been doing black and white, printing out(ink jet) great graphics from the graphics fairy then taking to the 7-11 and making copies with toner and transferring onto flour sack towels. A tip I learned from the graphicsfairy, if you are transferring onto fabric iron the area when you are finished it will take away the strong orange smell from the citrosolv. I need to save some (i have a lot) of images and take them to make copies. Also, you can use the back of a spoon to rub your image. Thanks for sharing your work!
I just looked at the date of the previous comments….2011 not 2012!
Kim, Thanks for your info. I’ve not done much with citrosolv since that post. I’ll try ironing it next time. And thanks for dropping by!
This comment is for Jayne who left me a voicemail, but no email. I can’t respond without an email. Jayne you have to use Citrasolv cleaner and degrease for this to work. The dish soap won’t work. Did you check out my other post on image transfer? https://lyndaheines.blog/2011/11/image-transfer-frenzy/ Thank you for your kind words. Sorry I couldn’t respond to you via voicemail.
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I wonder what it would do on vinyl (fake leather) ? What are your thoughts. I am wanting to make a wall hanging and love the grain of the vinyl.
Shawna, I have no idea if it would work on vinyl. Why not try it on a scrap piece?
would this process work on something that is already painted? I have 3D paper mache letters that are painted black with acrylic paint and I want to find a way to transfer song lyrics onto the 3D letter in white font.
Elise, I really don’t think so. What I would do is either make a stencil with the lyrics on it and then stencil with white paint OR have a thermofax screen made and screen print white on the letters. Sounds like a great project. Thanks for dropping by.