How to print on wood without any weird stuff you have to go to the store for. You need a printer, a piece of unfinished wood and waxed paper. That's it. Maybe a Tom Collins if that's your thing.
I'm funny. Sometimes ha-ha funny, sometimes left-out-of-the-fridge-too-long funny. But as we all know, there are times for funny and times for seriousness. This is one such time. For seriousness that is.
So this post will involve no funny. No laughing, no snickering, no coffee spitting. Because the information I'm about to introduce you to deserves a reverence that can't be accomplished when diluted with hilarious jokes or cutting sarcasm. When I first published this post in 2014 it got a bit of attention. Mainly because it takes a simple idea and allows you to do it at home without any special equipment.
I'm going to teach you how to transfer any photograph or picture onto wood.
You don't need mod podge or any other weird thing that you don't have on hand.
You don't know it yet, but this is the greatest day of your life. You get to produce something beautiful without any pain or tearing of your woman bits. Plus it won't turn into a whirling, dangerous ball of hormones in 13 years.
I decided I wanted to try making something but it involved transferring a photo onto wood so I did a little research. Most of the tutorials I came across involved a few specialty materials like matte gel and the backing paper of printer labels. I didn't have any printer label paper handy and don't even know what matte gel is. Like most DIYers I wanted to DIY, NOW. Right this second, NOW.
So I kept looking for a simpler solution. Mid search I suddenly remembered my mother mentioning something Mag Ruffman had done a couple of years back. It was the perfect solution and it works GREAT.
Table of Contents
Can you transfer a regular photo to wood?
You bet you can. That's what this is all about. You can use this same technique to transfer photos, text or anything else you can print onto wood.
What kind of paper do you use to transfer pictures to wood?
All you need is regular old waxed paper. And a dream of course.
That's right. All you need is a regular inkjet printer (this one is the newer version of the one I use) and regular waxed paper. I have an HP wireless printer and this technique works with this printer. It's the only printer I can guarantee this works with, although it will work with most as long as it's an ink jet.
(update: since posting this a couple of years, there's been a lot of success stories and a lot of frustration stories, mainly due to the printer you're using. I can only guarantee this works with the kind of printer I have which is a cheap, old HP printer I got at Costco. )
How to Print Pictures on Wood
1. Cut a few sheets of wax paper to the size of a standard piece of printer paper.
2. Find a smooth, light coloured piece of wood. Actually find a few so you have some to practice on.
Find a high resolution image you like. Or make your own. The Graphics Fairy is a great place to start for copyright free, high resolution images.
3. Once you have an image you like, reverse it using whatever photo program you have on your computer. If you're not sure how to do that just Google it.
4. Put a sheet of your waxed paper into the printer and click print.
5. As the waxed paper comes out of the printer, gently guide it. You have to be careful it doesn't roll under itself or touch itself in any other way because it will smear the ink.
6. Put your image exactly where you want it on the wood. Remember ... this can be any unfinished wood. A bench, table, box, or anything!
Once you place your image you can't move it. Do not move it. It will smudge. You will be sad. Then you will cry and it will smudge some more.
7. Holding the transfer tight to the wood, and working quickly, swipe the edge of a credit card across the image. This pushes the ink from the waxed paper down into the wood, which absorbs it.
Don't be wimpy about this. Push hard, but not so hard that you rip the waxed paper. You can gently lift the paper to see if it's transferring well. If you notice spots that haven't transferred, rub it some more with the credit card, this time burnishing it.
8. When you're pretty sure that you've transferred as much ink as possible lift off your waxed paper and get ready to call someone. Because that's the first thing you're going to want to do because this method works so well.
You'll be stunned.
You'll naturally want other people to be stunned. It's a DIYer thing.
I tried a few images just because it was so fun.
Like I said earlier you can use this technique on any smooth, unfinished wood like old crates, tables, or chairs. For anything that's going to have wear and tear, just remember to spray it with a a clear matte finish after you do the print. Any wood sealer will protect it.
If you don't have a table, chair or dresser you want to print on, you can just find a nice old board and prop it against the wall, or hang it.
Quick Reference Directions:
Waxed Paper Transfer
1. Cut sheets of waxed paper to the size of computer paper.
2. Print your image onto the waxed paper with any Inkjet printer. (must reverse image first using whatever photo program you have) In answer to some of your comments, no, it doesn't matter which side you print on. Both sides of waxed paper are waxed.
3. Carefully place the image on your wood (wet side down) and then rub over it with a credit card.
4. Removed waxed paper and the ink is now transferred to the wood.
5. Seal with a matte spray wood sealer if you like.
TIPS
- Use smooth wood. Rough barn board won't work, but smooth barn board will.
- Darker colours on lighter wood works best.
- Dampening the wood a bit with a sponge will make the transfer darker, but it might blur and smudge if you're not extremely careful.
- If the waxed paper won't feed through your printer, tape it to a piece of regular printer paper before feeding it into your printer.
- Some readers have also had success by using the slippery side of freezer paper so you can try that.
I made my piece of printed wood into a rustic planter. Read how to make your own in this post.
How to Print an Image on Wood.
Print anything on wood with wax paper and a printer.
Materials
- Wax Paper
- Unfinished Wood (board, tray, table, stool etc)
Tools
- Ink jet Printer
Instructions
- Cut a few sheets of wax paper to the size of a standard piece of printer paper.
- Find a smooth, light coloured piece of wood. Actually find a few so you have some to practice on.
- Once you have an image you like, reverse it using whatever photo program you have on your computer. If you’re not sure how to do that just Google it.
- Put a sheet of your waxed paper into the printer and click print.
- As the waxed paper comes out of the printer, gently guide it. You have to be careful it doesn’t roll under itself or touch itself in any other way because it will smear the ink.
- Put your image exactly where you want it on the wood. Remember … this can be any unfinished wood. A bench, table, box, or anything!
- Holding the transfer tight to the wood, and working quickly, swipe the edge of a credit card across the image. This pushes the ink from the waxed paper down into the wood, which absorbs it. Push hard but not so hard that you rip the waxed paper.
- When you’re pretty sure that you’ve transferred as much ink as possible lift off your waxed paper and get ready to call someone. Because that’s the first thing you’re going to want to do because this method works so well.
Notes
- Once you place your image you can’t move it. Do not move it. It will smudge. You will be sad. Then you will cry and it will smudge some more.
- Use smooth wood. Rough barn board won’t work, but smooth barn board will.
- Darker colours on lighter wood works best.
- Dampening the wood a bit with a sponge will make the transfer darker, but it might blur and smudge if you’re not extremely careful.
- If the waxed paper won’t feed through your printer, tape it to a piece of regular printer paper before feeding it into your printer.
- Some readers have also had success by using the slippery side of freezer paper so you can try that.
Laughter may now resume.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Melissa
The ideas are great and very useful but in the beginning you talk about nixing the jokes and reverence then you go on to talk about tearing woman parts and then much later about crying? You either have a terrible sense of humor or are just trying to insult women by feeding into sad and silly stereotypes.
Karen
Yup. It's definitely me that doesn't have the sense of humour Melissa. Clearly it's me. ~ karen
Katie
Great and diplomatic answer! ?
Karen
Well thank you. ;) ~ karen!
Lenita
Girl, you are freaking me out. First the ingenious firepit, now this! This is BRILLIANT!! I love transferring stuff. Always happy to find another substrate! Lowes may have to ban me from the lumber department...
Karen
I know. It's a horrible, horrible, dangerous thing to know about. It's WAY better than the fire pit if you ask me, lol. ~ karen!
Sharon
Having a problem. Have been printing on wax paper but now the printer won't do it. If I put a regular sheet of paper in, it will print on that just not the waxed paper anymore! Frustrated!!!
Have tried another brand of waxed paper and parchment paper but nothing seems to work anymore. Any suggestions? My projects are falling behind! Thanks
Karen
Hi Sharon - Try taping a piece of waxed paper to regular paper and see if it will feed through that way. If all else fails go and buy a new printer. You cannot fall behind on your printing on wood projects! ;) ~ karen
missy
Does this do any harm to your printer like to the print heads or anything as it being waxed ?
Karen
Hi Missy - No, it shouldn't harm your printer at all. It doesn't come into contact with the print heads at all. ~ karen!
Karnk
Yes I tried this very, very carefully and totally jammed in my printer. Had to remove rear access to get it out.
So this does not work on any inkjet printer.
Karen
Karnk - Just because it didn't work the first time doesn't mean it doesn't work. I've had many things that end up jamming my printer where I have to remove it from the back. If you're truly interested in this technique I'd try it a few more times. If not ... then of course you don't have to. Hand feeding the paper helps. Just guiding it down to make sure it catches in the rolleres. ~ karen
missy
could you tape it to a regular piece of paper or card stock for more support
Karen
Yup. Definitely. ~ karen!
Wendi Clement
Have you tried using a photo? I would like to transfer a photo of my husband's dog onto wood. Thanks!
Karen
Hi Wendi. A photo would work perfectly. Just make sure it's a good clean shot. It'll work best of course if the dog is dark and the wood is light. If the dog and wood are the same colour it won't be as effective. ~ karen!
Shawn Sum
I am speechless! I never in my life thought that it would be this easy!! Thank You! Will definitely impress my wife with this trick!
Aïda
Wow you are witty and I like it! I also very much like the printing on wood idea! Thanks a bunch for sharing it and your wit! Have a great day!
Melinda
OMG. I stumbledupon your site-I'm so happy I did. You're amazing.
" Both sides of waxed paper are waxed." Dying laughing at this. Who'da thunk it?
Karen
LOL. Who'da thunk it indeed. Glad you found my site Melinda! ~ karen
James
I built both of my children's beds from pine and thought this would be an awesome way to personalize their beds. Alas, no matter what I do, I cannot get this to work for me... I tried taping paper to the leading edge and even tried taping the whole sheet of wax paper to a regular sheet of paper. All it does it get eaten inside of my printer without even giving me a glimmer of hope. I will try and get some freezer paper and see if that works...feeling discouraged...
Karen
Hi James. Well that's no good. From the sounds of it, it's your printer. Aside from buying a new one I would suggest cleaning the rollers inside your printer. It could be they aren't grabbing the paper properly. Also check to see if your printer has a thickness selection for paper and choose the thinnest paper. Finally, fiddle around with changing the printers settings (try photo for instance, or if you're using photo, try regular paper). Good luck! It really does work, lol. Promise. ~ karen!
Laurie
have you ever tried this on canvas?
Karen
I have not, but it would probably work on any very tightly woven fabric. I did however, do a post today on printer on fabric by running it directly through your printer. https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-print-on-fabric/ ~ karen!
Tabby Clark
I have tried it on canvas at Christmas to see how it would be, it was perfect..I wonder if it will let me show one of my paintings.
Now that being said Canada is a material fabric, so with all the questions which was asked to Ms Karen. I think I safely say yes y’all can do this on fabric. But glass this would be an NO. Now my sister and I are thinking outside of box about the glass situation and will let everyone know what we come up with
Karen
Excellent! Thanks for letting me (and everyone else) know. ~ karen!
DIY Fun Ideas
Karen,
This is the coolest thing since sliced bread! Seriously. I've featured it on my website: http://www.DIYFunIdeas.com. It's a hub for all kinds of really cool DIY projects (plus a few of my own). Anyway, here's the direct URL to the post: http://diyfunideas.com/how-to-print-photos-on-wood
Thanks so much. It really is awesome! ~Jenise
erin
...Whoa!
Vanesa
Shut-the-door-fabulous...love it.
Cher @ Designs by Studio C
OMG!! That is so amazing and I cannot wait to try it!! Thank you for sharing!
gogothrift@etsy.com
so like you to find the cheapest and easiest way to do something that could be incredibly costly and irritating
that's why we love you!
By the way, my milk jug hot houses are sprouting.....I live outside of Philly and we just had snow last week. You must try this!!!!!!
Patti
Love this idea !!!
I make Wedding Plates from Wedding invitations and pressed flowers on the back of large clear glass charger plates.
This would be Awesome using the wedding pictures as a collage.
Laura Bee
Having spent the last day & a half down & out because of ingesting something funny, I fully expected no funny. But I has a few smiles. This is fantastic. The bf actually repaced our wonky laser printer, scanner copier with a basic inkjet printer. Guess I should thank him now.
tajicat
Awesome! TFS! :)
Sue T.
Any way to use a laser printer for this ?
Karen
I'm don't believe so Sue. You need a printer that literally spits wet ink onto the paper and a laser printer doesn't do that. ~ karen!