Thermofax --- From Photo to Cloth
For those of you who have never used a thermofax machine, I am going to show you one of the ways that I use it.
This is an original photograph that I took with a Nikon digital camera. It is an older building in downtown, and I love the lines of the window and the brickwork.
I opened the photograph in a photo editing program and cropped it to what I considered to be the most interesting aspect. I then proceeded to change the color photo into a black and white image and printed it out on an HP inkjet printer. I have always been told that thermofaxes need a good carbon print to burn the thermofax screen, but I know from experience that my HP inkjet printers work fine.
Next step is to run the black and white image through the thermofax with a piece of thermofax film. The film is available from Welsh Products. Many artists attach this exposed film to a plastic frame. I wrap duct tape around the edges and use it without a frame.
This is a sample of the screen print in black ink on a hand dyed cloth background.
8 comments:
this is great to know about the inkjet!
are you pinning the duct taped screen down over the cloth?
can the films be rolled up for storage?
well i'm a quisitive somebodee, huh?
No pins --- I hold the screen in place with my left hand and squeegee the print with my right hand. No fancy squeegees either --- usually a bondo scraper from the hardware store or a fake credit card from my junk mail.
I lay the films flat for storage. I supposed you could roll them, but you'd want to flatten them out before screening through them.
I can see the pictures now, and well worth the wait, interesting to know you can use inkjet prints,
a lovely image
Karen, which inkjet are you using? I have an old HP Photosmart 1315 - it would be awesome if it worked! Thanks, Laura in Andover, MA
Laura --- I have a Deskjet 722C and a Photosmart 1218. They both work equally well with the thermofax. I have not tried my Epson printer yet.
Awesome Karen. I cannot wait to try out my photosmart. We have a thermofax in our studio (Lowell Fiber Studio) and I have yet to take advantage of it...but wiil give it a try now.
Your work is wonderful.
Laura
will the thermofax machines used by tatoo places work for this??
Judy Barry
I don't think so. I haven't tried it since I have access to a thermofax, but I have heard from others who have tried it.
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