2.13.2009

transfer prints with disperse dyes

While I was in Quincy last weekend, Ann and I had a play date making these:



These are regular paper that we painted on using thickened disperse dyes. After the paper is dry, you place it upside down on a polyester fabric and iron it until the dye transfers to the cloth.



Not the best picture, but it shows the paper being pulled off the cloth. The color in the paper isn't exactly what you get on the cloth. Here's a better look at a print:



The colors are quite bright, but not real intense in this piece--I think I need a hotter iron. And for some reason, both Ann and I are having some problems getting the blues to print--takes a long time and a lot of heat. I used some black dye that I thus far have been unable to transfer.

Here's another look at a print and the paper that made it:



One of the nice things about this method is that you can get multiple prints from each paper--maybe 9 or 10. Each will usually be a little lighter than the previous one. They do not change the hand of the fabric at all. The only downside is the whole manmade fiber thing, but even that isn't so bad.

Here's a small 'sketch' I made with one of the prints:



In person, it's pretty cool--a little shiny which makes it hard to photograph, but very nice.

That is all.



4 comments:

Jacque Davis said...

This is lovely the colors are vibrant. Not what I expected when you told me about it.

What will you do to it next?

You have the foundation for a beautiful piece.

Good thing my birthday is coming up!

: )
Jacque

Ann said...

Very nice

The only other possibility with the blue/black issue is that maybe I need to add more powder when making the dye liquid. I used an amount between what's needed for lights and what's necessary for darks. (Cuz I'm so cheap). And maybe they are not transferring.

I did get the blues to disperse though but it seemed to take forever.

bj parady said...

so I can blame it on you, Ann? Cool. Thanks. That's what friends are for...meanwhile I continue to search for a hotter iron...

Anonymous said...

This is very lovely, Barb.