Acetone Transfers on to Porcelain Bisque

Take the design or lettering you are wanting to transfer and make several copies on a Laser type copier. Desk Jets will not work.   I normally make a half dozen copies using different tones of darkness (there is a button on the copiers to lighten or darken).   If you get the design too dark it will be bold and not very appealing on the porcelain.   Best to keep the copies on the light side.   On the other hand if you make the copy too light, it won’t transfer because there isn’t enough ink to transfer.

The design will go INK SIDE DOWN onto the porcelain.

With your scissors, cut around the design leaving enough paper to scotch-tape to the surface without the tape getting on the design.

Use several pieces of tape, and tape securely.  You do not want the design to move!

Once in place, using a soft facial tissue (White Cloud, Kleenex, etc) folded into quarters.  PRESS the tissue FIRMLY over an open can of Acetone and tilt the can just enough to wet the tissue.   Immediately replace the lid on the acetone can so it won’t evaporate.

This part is important you will need to move rather quickly for these next steps… Using your thumb and index finger quickly work the acetone into the tissue, so that the tissue is not soaking-wet from the acetone… just damp.  This only takes a few seconds.

Immediately apply the dampened tissue over the design using a “blotting” motion, blot the acetone tissue over entire design. Use enough pressure that you can see the “wetness” of the acetone wicking onto the paper.

Let the transfer set on the porcelain for a couple of seconds, un-tape, carefully lift the design off the surface.   Discard the design as it can only be used one time for the acetone technique.   Remember the paper and tissues are impregnated with acetone!  Discard the tissue so that it will not cause harm to your work surface and keep it away from your kiln. Acetone fumes can be flammable.

You can paint or letter directly on/over the design after you have un-taped it.  Fire as you normally would.

Lettering
If you are doing lettering, you must have a “mirror” image of the design.  When I’m lettering, I choose my font and key the data into Word.  Next I print the documents on my desk jet and check to see if it fits the area I want to use it.  Next I scan the document on my scanner and save it as a "jpg" file.  Now I flip the document so that it is a mirror image.   Print on my home desk jet and take to Kinko’s to make laser copies. 

A quicker way to get a mirror image is to print the document on Velum paper.  Velum is very translucent.   When you make copies on the Laser copier, the INK SIDE of the velum paper faces you!

If you are not happy with the way the design looks on the porcelain, redampen the tissue with acetone and wipe the design off.   Use a “new” transfer and reapply.

Like anything, it takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it, but if you were to watch it being done, you would see how quick and easy it actually is.
Yes, fingernail polish can be used in place of acetone. The higher the acetone content, the better the performance.

It's best to get permission from the artist prior to making copies of art that is not your own.

To do lettering, I use Adele Holt's nibs, pen oil, pen ink mixed with Rich Brown china paint... I truly swear by it! To order from Adele.