Q&A for How to Transfer Photos Onto Canvas

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How can I transfer a drawing to canvas?

Kelly Medford
Professional Artist
Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.

Kelly Medford

Professional Artist

Expert Answer

Make the drawing that you want to transfer the same size as the canvas on tracing paper. Making the tracing paper a little bit larger than the canvas is ideal so that you can tape the sides down when you go to transfer the drawing.

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Question

Which gel medium do I need to transfer a photo or print to canvas?

Community Answer

You can use any type, including acrylic and brilliant gloss gel medium.

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Question

What is a gel medium?

Community Answer

This Liquitex Gloss Gel Medium is a great item for both beginning and experienced painters. The gel can be used as a thick glaze for extravagant impasto effects or can be mixed with acrylic paints for a glossy appearance.

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What type of photo paper should I use?

Community Answer

Don't use photo paper. Regular printer paper is what you need for the first method and, as stated in the second method, you use tissue paper.

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Question

Is it possible to substitute acrylic gel for mod podge?

Community Answer

It depends on what the gel is for. You could use an acrylic glaze.

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Question

Do I need to use a laser printer for both of these methods, or would an ink jet printer work well enough for method 2?

Community Answer

The ink jet worked fine for me. As long as you have the right size tissue paper, it should work.

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Can I scan and print a photo from my regular printer?

Decor42

Community Answer

As long as you have colored ink or toner and the printer is also a scanner.

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Is there a way I can use a photo that was enlarged at the store?

Community Answer

Rasterize the photo to make it bigger, or use a vector imaging program to shrink it.

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What should I use to scrape off the wet paper?

Community Answer

You can just scrape off the wet paper with your hand.

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Where do I get canvas to transfer my print onto?

Community Answer

You can get a canvas from most craft stores or superstores, like Walmart, Michael’s, and Jo-Ann's.

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